Kerala Power minister’s joke.

Interesting to see the unique scheme of Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) for domestic consumers which allows them to earn cash back for power saved. KSEB has asked its domestic consumers to save around 10 per cent from their electricity and earn incentives. This is nothing but a joke of State Power Minister Aryadan Mohammed.

To understand the folly of this announcement just wait for one month and watch how many of the ordinary customers have been paid incentives. Presumably there would be no account with KSEB about the consumers who saved power and of course  none would  be paid a single paisa as incentive.

 It is the ministers, politicians and bureaucrats to place before the public the account of the power they have saved during the said period. With huge bills in their households, and offices  and that too paid with the tax-payers' money, people will always look up on them with sarcasm. Power saving and subsequent incentive are intended for common man but they soon recognize that they are hoodwinked. The power bills of ministers will be, of course, higher than that of the previous month.

K A Solaman 

Are film stars above the law?

The film actors and a few Parliament members including Jaya Bachan are demanding pardon for Sanjay Dutt  as if Dutt had  did nothing wrong. They find fault with the Apex court bench which sentenced Dutt to five years in jail for possession of illegal arms at the time of the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai. In my opinion the Court has given only a shortened sentence. 

Dutt's history is too bleak as he was convicted by TADA court for six years. The argument that the film industry might lose  Rs 250 crore with Dutt in jail is a non-sense when one thinks of the precious lives lost by Mumbai Blast. It is to be underlined that no one is above the law and if Dutt is pardoned there will be plethora of appeals from guilty film stars demanding pardon. They of course quote Dutt’s case as a precedence.

K A Solaman 

Sonia’s stand praiseworthy

The return of the two Italian marines to India has been a diplomatic victory for India and Congress president Sonia Gandhi should get her share of praise for contributing to it.

She may be congratulated for her firm stand against Italy. She slammed Italy for its refusal to send back the two marines charged in the fishermen killing case and said "betrayal of a commitment to our Supreme Court is outright unacceptable". This statement should silence her detractors who accuse her of being biased towards her native country.

The Congress leaders in the country had been doubtful about Sonia's stand against Italy. However, Sonia cleared the mist and issued a strong unwavering statement, making it clear that she was as patriotic towards India as any other native.

KA Solaman,via email

K A Solaman Blog: Pardon for Sanjay Dutt

K A Solaman Blog: Pardon for Sanjay Dutt: Film actors are a class and they often demand immunity from punishment for the crimes they commit.  This is evident as more and more...

Pardon for Sanjay Dutt

Film actors are a class and they often demand immunity from punishment for the crimes they commit.  This is evident as more and more film personalities put across moral support for Sanjay Dutt, a convict for possession of illegal arms. Malayalam cine actor Mohanlal demanding leniency to Sanjay Dutt is a gesture in this direction. Lal himself is an accused in the illegal possession of tusker-horn at his residence and if convicted he could also expect similar gesture from his cinema friends.  

Of late, minister- actor K B Ganesh Kumar was under attack for immoral traffic, nevertheless, the film fraternity exonerated Ganesh by expressing solidarity with him. The Press Council Chairman Justice Katju is also seen much interested in Munnabhai’a act and expressed the same opinion as Mohanalal.

Should one think that those honorable Judges in the Apex Court who upheld Dutt's conviction under the Arms Act are little learned than Katju? Or they are persons with less compassion than the honorable Lieutenant Colonel of Territorial Army? Should we need in a country where law takes its own course, divided laws for ordinary citizens and film stars?

K A Solaman 

Pope Francis

The faithful from across the world welcome Pope Francis. It does not matter to which country he belongs. It is hoped that he will help the world establish peace, justice and universal brotherhood.

K.A. Solaman,

Alappuzha The Hindu March 17, 2013

Train Journey to Orissa - ( 1970 poem by V.K. Shenoy)

  

Notes from a diary  :  "Orissa Calls"
At Langiya Sora CPI emblem on walls
Temple on hill at Venkatachalam
A hoarding Ad. for Sapat Malam.
Baffaloes bathing in the Andhra river
Cows crossing on the Orissa brook
Red, green and blue this note is fake
Black birds on the Chilka lake.
Two dozen vultures on coconut trees
Cattle skeletons in the fields.
Hundreds of herons on yonder grove, 
On the housetop there is a crow.
View of Chilka, train from Rambha,
Pure gold sheet for tall Dhwaja Stumbha.
Great Krishna, Grand river,
Neighbour's son has some fever.
Last year heavy floods, 
This year bumper crops.
Paddy fields, at 180 degrees
Mean temperature is 31 degrees.
Bitter cold at R.Udayagiri,
Dirty hotel at Chandra Giri.
Rocks and fields, an hour-up hill walk.
Down we come like a rolling stock.
Blue and green birds, white and brown waves,
Here we see the Khandagiri caves.
                --------    0    --------
- V.K.Shenoy

66 years in photography

K A Solaman Blog: India is her country.

K A Solaman Blog: India is her country.: Congress President Sonia Gandhi may be congratulated for her firm stand against Italy.   She slammed Italy for its refusal to send b...

Sonia stand

Congress President Sonia Gandhi may be congratulated for her firm stand against Italy.   She slammed Italy for its refusal to send back the two marines charged in the fishermen killing case. She said “betrayal of a commitment to our Supreme Court is outright unacceptable,” This statement alone is sufficient to shut the mouth of her detractors saying that she keeps sympathy to her original mother land.

Her remarks are significant as Congress was under attack from the Opposition, The local leaders hereafter could come forward and tick off Italy as madam has given the green signal. The Congress leaders elsewhere in the country were doubtful about Sonia’s stand against Italy. And with the latest speak of Sonia against Italy everything is crystal clear for them.

Sonia has, thus, affirmed that it is not Italy, but India is her mother land. And she is seemingly more patriotic than  any posturing Indian.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express Published 21-3-13

Welcome to new Pontiff.

The faithful all over the world welcomed the new Pope with folded hands.  World leaders sent in their congratulations after the Vatican announced the election of Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio to the papacy - making him the first pontiff from South America. President Barack Obama offered warm wishes to Pope Francis  and said the selection speaks to the strength and vitality of the New World. The atmosphere across Latin America brimmed with excitement and surprise, with people bursting into tears

The foot-ball legend Diego Maradonna said in new Pontiff’s election too there is a ‘hand work of God’ to hold up Argentina. It seems the cardinals made a good choice however they do not fully agree with foot-ball maestro. Doesn't matter where he comes from he needs to guide the church in the right way. It is interesting to see how many Islamist countries went out of their way to welcome the new pope. Orthodox and Anglican Catholics do not welcome the Pope.

Still majority in the world hope the newly elected Pontiff could help the world in matters of peace, justice, and universal brotherhood.  The new pope will surely be a blessing to lead the world and stay strong to the moral and ethical code that has kept the church going for all the years.

K A Solaman
The Hindu published on 16-3-13

Blame game

Italy’s refusal to send back two marines to face a murder trial in India has kicked off a blame game in the State, with the chief minister Oommen Chandy passing the buck to the courts and the Opposition tearing into the ruling party. Chandy’s voice on the issue is grim as he is aware of its possible political fallout in the state. And at the same time the Oppositions are in no mood to give up the opportunity to fish in troubled waters. The whole of Ruling Front and the Opposition are apparently alike in their approach. They resorted to a similar approach to Coimbatore blast accused Madani. All sponsor vote bank politics and none is able to give up a single vote they likely get by a stroppy stance.

The learned Ex-Justice V R Krishna Iyer took a deplorable stand by dragging in the name of Pope by saying Italy is the land of Pope. Iyer’s comment can be put as one like  Surynelli is a place in Krishna Iyer’s State.

The tone in which Krishna Iyer dragged in the name of Pope is unwarranted. Pope is the legal head of Vatican and not of Italy.

K A Solaman 
The New Indian Express published on 15-3-13

K A Solaman Blog: Kurien’s sermon.

K A Solaman Blog: Kurien’s sermon.: Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien asking the government to consider including moral education in school curriculum is rather...

Kurien’s sermon.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien asking the government to consider including moral education in school curriculum is rather ‘devil preaching sermon’. If one asks Kurien to ‘better practice before preach’ in the backdrop of Surynelli rape case in which he is an accused, then it is quite reasonable.

Mr Kurien, if you are a sinner, repent and turn to law and of course to God in full surrender to be saved from sin and hell. And for that do not cry saying moral values were degraded in the society. You are either a sinner or a saint, but not both. All sinners hate society and ask others to improve the society. And there is nothing more than that in Kurien's sermon.  

K A Solaman

Has he more daughters?

There is a saying about late leader K Karunakaran that he opens mouth for two things- one for drinking ‘Paalkkanji’ and other for saying lies. Likewise the PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani, an accused in the 2008 Bangalore serial blast case, opens his mouth for eating biriyani  and for defying rule of the land. It is alleged that that he had flouted the temporary bail conditions imposed by a Karnataka court while permitting him to attend his daughter's wedding at Kollam.

Is marriage of his daughter in his first wife a ridiculous function to abuse the authorities and the rule of the country?  Had Madani more wives and more daughters the chance for replication of the scene of the sort cannot be ruled out. In future courts granting bail to Madani may think about the utter commotion that would be created by such acts. It was really a tough time for the state police to control Madani’s men..

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express published on 12-3-13

Orissa Diary -Poem by V.K. Shenoy

ആട്-ഷേണായിമാര്‍ ആട് വളര്‍ത്താറില്ല 

V K Shenoi- my elder friend 

Sun sets early 4.30 P.M.

Give me ink for my Kalam.

Pure white clothes not to be seen

Last year draught unforeseen.

Dirty houses, liter all around.

Paanwalla dukan, people surround.

Water to be pulled up from deep wells

Fileria foot, no doubt swells.

All round scene is rocky hills,

Night wind is full of shrills.

Dunlop pillow is no good for this cold,

The old man's face is full of folds.

Jackal calls in the night,

I came here for the filigri sight.

Terrific cold under asbestaus roofing,

In sunlight only, open-air bathing.

School before Britishers, 1760,

Early morning air is misty.

Head Master is also Post Master,

Triangle emblem on Family poster.

Vistas through Mangoe trees,

Coconut oil also freeze.

Termite hills everywhere,

Cows milk in earthenware.

Haystacks of all shapes,

Shadows take new shapes.

Chariot base means Temple of Jaganath,

From here we go to Badrinath..

    ( Poem written around 1975, by V.K. Shenoy)

K A Solaman Blog: Right to time-bound services bill

K A Solaman Blog: Right to time-bound services bill: Touching the heart Welcome to “Right to time-bound services bill’ as it may make life a bit easier for the public and also put pressu...

Right to time-bound services bill

Touching the heart

Welcome to “Right to time-bound services bill’ as it may make life a bit easier for the public and also put pressure on civil servants to be more efficient.

Though UPA Government is merged with several scams let us give credit to it for bringing this law like they brought RTI. Nevertheless RTI was introduced with much fanfare, it has become a white elephant in states like Kerala where more than two years is needed to take up a petition before the Chief Information Commissioner. Still one hope “Right to service” will turn out to be a success and the people's miseries for running from pillar to post end. Today common people watch govt officials with suspicion because they are victimised for not paying bribe.  It is a fact that many government officials are corrupt and they  do job only  for a price- price in the form of cash and liquor. A huge amount of corrupt money gets transferred to politicians also to rescue corrupt Govt officials.

Further the Govt. has to formulate daily duty chart to all Govt officials and their performance reviewed periodically. Those who are not performed well as per the duty chart have to be shunted out immediately after warnings to improve their performance. This has to be strictly adhered to in all departments without fail. Any complaint against an official should be seriously looked into and immediate action should be taken against..

If this bill could create a feeling among government officials that they are public servants in the true sense, it would be a welcome step.

K  A Solaman

We need only Gandhi!

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s suggestion that he may not marry, puts one to think about what is after all a marriage. Is it only an act of procreating children? For many it is a mutual contract of care and respect especially when one is in desperate need for it. Doesn’t Mr Gandhi need this care at his dotage? His comment that 'if I get married and have children, I will be status-quoist and will like my children to take my place,' seems curious because in  all possibility, chance for having children after 42 is rare especially in the backdrop of unchecked and high intense cell phone radiation in the country.


Speaking the fact, we poor Indians are doting of family dynasty of Gandhis and if Rahul Gandhi is unable to provide an opportunity with his ‘ little Gandhi’,   we would ask Priyanka Vadra Gandhi to do the job. It makes us no difference if Nation is ruled by this Gandhi or that Gandhi. We need Gandhi only.

K A Solaman

K A Solaman Blog: New low for Pillai and George.

K A Solaman Blog: New low for Pillai and George.: One wonders about the fate of Kerala ministers if Chief Whip P C George were not there in for action. George says it is his duty to ...

New low for Pillai and George.

One wonders about the fate of Kerala ministers if Chief Whip P C George were not there in for action. George says it is his duty to save other ministers from disgrace. The minister, who got beaten up by his fiancé’s husband, as reported in Mangalam daily, is none other than K B Ganesh Kumar. George is the new saint of God’s own country to save all from shame.

Crisis solving is the slogan of UDF Government. In this case also Oommen Chandy will bring to the fore as the problem solver. However it is a disgrace for the all sons and fathers when Ganesh says entire controversy and the resignation call were part of a conspiracy between his father R Balakrishna Paillai and P C George. If this finding is true, George has fallen to the low and  Pillai  to the lowest.

Minister K B Ganesh Kumar is, in fact, a better minister compared to his colleagues. George is at odds with the minister over his stance on forest lands of Nelliampathi and hence George’s hustle as saviour of morality is aimed at something fishy.  It is George and not Ganesh Kumar to be removed from the UDF.

 K M Mani, the chairman of Kerala Congress, keeping silence over George’s outburst, is disreputable.

K A Solaman 

K A Solaman Blog: Testing time.

K A Solaman Blog: Testing time.: State-owned   oil companies have increased the petrol prices by Rs 1.40 per litre with effect from midnight of March 1, making it the ...

Testing time.

State-owned oil companies have increased the petrol prices by Rs 1.40 per litre with effect from midnight of March 1, making it the second successive hike in a fortnight. Seemingly, the oil companies are the real rulers of the country as this hike is outside Chidambaram’s budget. The “ Nirbhaya “ and “ Women bank” sops are meaningless gestures when this sort of shameless act is sponsored by the government.

The crude prices have declined in the world market taking into consideration of the rupee value, then instead of reducing petrol prices why government allowed the oil companies to impose an increase in the price? Ostensibly, Government does not want an average citizen to live with his daily earnings. It is a testing time for common people of the country whose patience has already been exhausted. It is high time for them think an alternative to Manmohan-Chidambaram Inc.

K A Solaman