Wrong men in khaki.

To what extend the Indian police force go wrong is evident from The Punjab and Haryana High Court ordering the release of five persons who were sentenced to life imprisonment by the trial court after the Punjab Police falsely implicated them in the murder of a man who was actually alive. The court has directed the state government to pay them a compensation of Rs 1 crore (Rs 20 lakh each) within a month. The quantum of compensation announced by the court is unparalleled and an indication of the seriousness of the crime committed by the men in khaki.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court verdict is direct warning to all police in the country especially for those in Kerala. The duty of the police is to protect people and not to harm them. However the Kerala police have shown no improvement in their old style of hideous functioning.

This I say not because of the media bickering on Paul M George murder by notorious goons. The Kerala CM V S Achuthanandan himself has admitted that that the crimes in the state are on the rise despite all efforts. “Blade and real estate mafias are carrying out criminal activities in the state. Crime against women is also taking place. Robberies remain uncontrolled. Several incidents of cyber crimes are also being reported in the state,’’ said the Chief Minister. The police could not achieve cooperation of the people. He also admitted that a small section in the police force is doing damage to the entire force by indulging in malpractices.

It is true that the thoughtless action of certain police functionaries help criminal to escape safely. So it is a need of the hour not to spare the police violating the law and subverting the criminal justice system through “meticulous falsehood”. Criminal police men deserve no leniency. It is only through stern punishment that the image of the police will improve. The Punjab and Haryana High Court ordering against the wrong doing of men in khaki is an eye opener to all law enforcing agencies in the country.

K A Solaman

Deemed fake universities.

The UGC direction to 130 deemed-to-be-universities not to call themselves as universities is in the right track. Many deemed universities in the country without required infrastructure conduct sub-standard courses and award university degrees. This is a direct assault on those meritorious students who earn degrees after an intense work. The syllabus of deemed universities often seems rather good, nevertheless, they are taught by unqualified persons and examinations conducted very liberally. Not only that, the NAAC accreditation to these universities also should be controlled as the NAAC inspection often concentrates in peripheral matters such as vitrified tiles in class rooms and toilets. The academic matters are often discarded and no opinion is sought from retired persons who have a lot to say about the actual standards of these universities and colleges. It is to be stated that students gain academically little from posh educational institutions.

There should be a noticeable distinction in a university set up under an Act of Parliament or State legislature and deemed university set up under the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.

K A Solaman

A profitable move-The pioneer

JD(S) leader MP Veerendrakumar’s statement that his splinter party is allying with the UDF due to lack of democracy in the LDF is logical. For the CPI in Kerala, which had once stoutly opposed Mr Pinarayi Vijayan’s methods of controlling the Left Front, flaying Mr Veerendrakumar for his decision is nothing out of the ordinary. It was the CPI that had earlier openly accused the CPI(Marxists) of making the LDF undemocratic. It had flayed the Marxists then as well.

Nevertheless, one thing Mr Veerendrakumar need not worry about is seat-sharing as his splinter party is likely to win a sure number of seats in the next Assembly election when the LDF tumbles.

KA Solaman
The Pioneer, New Delhi, 25 Sept 2009

Satellite launch-The Hindu

India’s space scientists had many reasons to celebrate after their ocean satellite was successfully placed in orbit. The fishermen too can celebrate for better catch and profit as the Oceansat-2 starts to streak across the sky. It is a blessing indeed that the satellite is equipped with an eight-band Ocean Colour Monitor that can accurately forecast the movement of fish and help increase the catch. There is, however, one apprehension: won’t it destroy the breeding of fish if greedy fishermen rush in and take away big catch from places where fish are in abundance?

K.A. Solaman,
The Hindu, 25 Sept 2009

Death of despair

Unemployment drove a Kerala youth to commit suicide in the city of Hyderabad on Seventeenth September. The ill fated youth was Jeetu Krishnan, 24 from Kochi in Kerala. He was working for an insurance firm in Kochi. After losing his job two months ago, Jeetu went to Hyderabad in search of employment about 40 days ago. Despite several attempts, Jeetu could not secure a job in the city. He hanged himself to death

This is not an isolated case. The wrong policies of the State Government of Kerala swayed this youth to end his life. The minister who extended retirement period disguisedly for unification of retirement age and all other cabinet members supported him are equally responsible for such deaths. No vacancy has been filled after the unification of the retirement age. This is out rightly against the initial promise by the minister about recruitment at the entry level.

Interestingly an open deliberation has been started in Kerala for enhancing retirement age to 60. The Finance Minister has put his word in favor of age hike before media for discussion. He is in the look out for opinions from opposition members too. Initially when he negates the hike in age there would be demand from various corners and a decision could be taken later as he wish.

I wonder about the fate of all unemployed youths now associated with leading youth organization like DYFI, Youth Congress and the Yuva Morcha. Do they have any concern about the future of the youths with them? If yes, they should respond harshly against the wrong policies of the Kerala Ministry. The youths should be provided opportunity to get job with in the state. They should not be pushed away to other states to hang themselves out of sheer despair.

K A Solaman

Minister with silver spoon

The minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor of the Congress is unfit to the post as he ridiculed the top leaders of the Congress by his comment "Absolutely, in cattle class out of solidarity with all our holy cows." His was replying to the question "Tell us minister, next time you travel to Kerala, will it be cattle class?"

Such a comment is highly unacceptable as majority poor section of the people in his constituency would not tolerate this. What this minister is going to do for the poor people in his constituency? Were his walk and talk with the people during election campaign bogus? Disciplinary action should be taken with this minister with a silver spoon in mouth.

When the government has launched an austerity drive against the backdrop of drought in different parts of the country and rising prices of essential commodities it is the responsibility of a minister to join hand. He disclosure that he stayed at the Hotel Taj Mahal on Man Singh Road with his own expense should be probed. India needs no such free service from born VIPs.

K A Solaman

Killer’s S-knife

My name starts with the letter ‘S’ and I keep a special interest in this letter. I remember my school days when I wrote the letter S in name artistically in my school note books and examination papers and it was a subject of curiosity for many of my friends. One of my teachers once told me seeing the letter S in my name: “it requires King Solomon’s wisdom to judge the beauty of the letter S in your name”. I was much thrilled.

Nevertheless, of late, I have developed revulsion towards the letter S after reading the exciting case of the murder of Paul M George Muthoot with a specially made S-knife. The Kerala police and some thick- skinned politicians have turned God’s own country into a devil’s paradise with story of S-knife. The blacksmith who made the S-shaped knife for CI one Mr Thomas or his aide is the present target of investigation. The blacksmith is an acute state of despair and fear. The interesting aspect is the order for knife was given to blacksmith after Inspector General of Police Vincen M Paul had told the media that an S-shaped weapon had been used to kill Paul. The blacksmith also told the media that the police had taken away the knife the next morning. The police had also recovered the knife from the house of one accused Kaari Sathish. Precisely, the S-knife has embarrassed not only the Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and the entire police force it also annoyed me. Moreover, CPM State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan had given political colour to the case saying that it is RSS who uses S-knife for murder. He even gave an expert description of the use of S-knife. The reason for my recent repugnance to letter S is thus obvious.

As part of the investigation a high level team led by DGP Jacob Punnoos is seeking details about the revelation made by the blacksmith that the ‘S’ shaped knife recovered from accused Kari Sathish’s house, was made as per the instruction of circle inspector Thomas. Thus, the S-knife is the real villain in the Paul murder case. The police investigation may likely to be extended to Ratan Tata who owns the prestigious Tata Steel Company that makes quality steel for quality products like S-knife.

K A Solaman

Second sex

According to a recent survey, Delhi had a positive sex ratio (1,004 girls born for every 1,000 boys) in 2008 for the first time ever. This is a welcome change from the usual reports of female foeticide in India. However, gender-biased abortion is still a big problem in this country. Social evils such as the dowry system have led to the popular perception of a girl child being a burden. Despite sex-determination tests being banned in India, corrupt doctors and clinics allowing such tests under cover have made the situation worse.

To rid society of such awful practices, people’s awareness should be raised, especially among the underdeveloped sections. In this context, the Kerala government’s intention to reserve 50 per cent seats in the local administration sets a good precedent for fighting prejudice towards women. Now that India has several women in key administrative positions, including the president and the Lok Sabha Speaker, perhaps public attitude towards girl children will change in the coming years.


K.A. Solaman, Alappuzha, Kerala
The Telegraph, Calcutta, Aug 30, 2009

Mercy- the woman of noble thoughts.

That was an unfulfilled desire for Vayalar Ravi and his beloved wife Mercy to walk once again in the corridors of Maharaja’s college, Ernakulam, where their love affair was first budded. Mercy is no more. She has departed from her much-loved husband. Seemingly the tale of their aspirations reminds us once again that it is still the God disposes every thing.

No matter what be the untold stories Ravi and Mercy are manifestly good example of inter-caste married couples. Each respected the religion of the other. Ravi was never an impediment to Mercy to follow her faith and Mercy too like wise. Mecry was a good writer too and her columns in a leading Malayalam daily were much alluring for all people especially for the fairer lot. Kerala has lost a good politician and a woman of noble thoughts.

K A Solaman

MLAs not only to write poems……

It is quite shocking to hear that the Government of Kerala have collected a fine of Rs 10 crore 63 lakhs from two wheeler owners alone for not wearing helmets. I think this is much in advance of the fine collected for the same offense in other states. Kerala police seems more vigilant in checking seat bells and helmets rather than inspecting crimes of robbery, illicit liquor trade and women trafficking. The police could not take up serious crimes as easily as criminals involved in such crimes are linked to higher ups.

The huge fine collected by Police personnel and RT men are in addition to extensive insult, manhandling and even killing the two wheeler owners. Even if a person carries required documents the police find reasons to insult the driver. The police officers behave like highway rowdies and fine a person who may be in desperate bid to buy medicine to his ailing child. This should end. The government should so decide to stop collecting fine at spot. The offender can be charge-sheeted and asked to pay money in special bank counters or court offices. And at the same time presently collected exorbitant fine should be slashed. The police men collecting money directly is a bad practice and hence should be stopped. If so, demand from various corners asking police personnel to disclose their assets could be voided.

Should the MLAs now visiting Thekkadi forests, resting in Nature’s lap and writing poems consider the present plight of two wheeler owners in the state.

K A Solaman

Khan’s show business.

It is Shah Rukh Khan’s show business to make an issue as there is nothing serious of the sort in holding him back due to security check at Newark Airport in the US. Shah Rukh is not as famous as Bruce Willis or Tom Cruise; nonetheless they are also checked at air ports in the US for security reasons. Indian Minister Ambika Soni has raised voice against US for their customary procedure and that is too intended to sell her in public along with Shah Rukh. I don’t find anything unlikable in the whole episode and the hue and cry over the issue is insincere. Shah Rukh should learn from India’s former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam who showed absolute patience in facing a similar situation with Continental Airliners and his restrain to make it not an issue. It is only after five months the people of India who loved Kalam so much made the Continental episode an issue and such an admiration is not germane to Shah Rukh Khan.

If one feels the security check by the US is distasteful, then it would be better for him not to visit that country. Abusing the US by saying that people from India are suffering racial bias in the US is a non-sense because people staying their never say like wise. Many educated and technically skilled people earn their living from the US and any abuse against that country would adversely affect these people seeking a further fortune there. It is routine among Left party leaders of the country to abuse the US and still make available the advantages of their medical and technological advancements. Is there any aged communist leader in this country who had ever denied the Amercian medical hospitality? Those who never want to take a chance with their life visit the US for medical requisite.

Shah Rukh need not visit the US in future.

K A Solaman

Reduce number of pending cases.

It is high time to take drastic steps to clear pending cases in all courts in the country. Then only the root cause of corruption could be identified and the law, as an instrument of social change, should help people achieve all that they longed for in society.

Whenever there is a dispute people often approach a lower court. The lower court then issues a verdict in favour of one party depending on the merits and that is too after 5-6 years. The aggrieved then approaches the high court and there the case lies indefinitely unattended and takes a natural death unless the aggrieved takes interest in bringing the case before the court. This must end. There must be an effort to put an end to this practice and every case should be attended in its due course. The cases should be heard by the judges in accordance with the date of filling and no case should be prolonged indefinitely to take a natural death.

It is a practice among some parties including government agencies to file an appeal before high court when there is a lower court verdict against them. This is often intended to harass the opposite party and to exploit the benefit of long delay in the high court. The parties know the delay or natural death of such cases in the high court and thus they are least interested in the settling the dispute. So it is necessary to have legislations to reduce the number of pending cases in all courts in the country.

K A Solaman

H1N1 flu scare in Kerala

The dreadful flu has hit Kerala too. The first critical flu case was reported from Thiruvananthapuram. The official version is that in all 53 persons had so far been hit by H1N1 flu in Kerala. However the true picture may be far from the published. This I say when Chikungunea hit and a few dead, the Minister in charge of Health Services argued that there was not even a single case of Chickungunea death. The minister had later corrected her stand after the interference of the Chief Minister V S Achuthanadnan.
Though the death rate in Kerala due to other fevers and diseases are very high than swine flu the media has spread panic about the flu situation. The precautionary measures taken by the Kerala Health Department to contain the spread of flu and the panic created by it is not satisfactory. Hence it is time for opening more flu monitoring centres to reduce the panic among public. Street sanitation and mosquito eradication should also be done at a war footing.


K A Solaman

Bound to honour

As a former president, Abdul Kalam has certain privileges that we are bound to honour. The way in which he was made to stand in queue with other passengers and subjected to security check is seriously embarrassing. Can the Continental Airlines officials imagine frisking Bill Clinton or Condoleezza Rice? Calling this a standard procedure or saying that the staff failed to recognize Kalam is not enough.

K.A. Solaman
The Telegraph, Calcutta 25 July 09

King of dramatics is no more

Rajan P Dev, the king who evoked memories of an enamored era in Malayalam tinsel world and whose acting was celebrated across the south of India is no more. I, being the President of ‘Alochana’ S L Puram, a state level cultural forum, invited him to our gathering many times and he was present on several occasions. He was a person with malice to none. In one of our meetings he admired his mentor S L Puram Sadanandan and told us he has no personal enmity to Sadanandan for not giving the lead role in the film ‘Kattukuthira’ as some one thinks. Sadanandan was his master and guide, he told us.

Rajan P Dev was extremely well read. I remember the evenings when we at ‘Alochana’ would discuss everything under the sun, from cinema to politics but he never ill spoke. The ceiling fans donated by Rajan P Dev are still soothing people at Sarvodaya Grandha saala, S L Puram. Being the member, of Alumni Association, St Michael’s College. Cherthala, he found time to attend all functions in the college amidst his busy schedule.
He loved Cherthala so much and he is one among the celebrities like A K Antony, Vayalar Ravi, K R Gouri Amma of our place. He used go to the Arthunkal Church every year and on next January 20 we miss him at Arthunkal.

Rajan P Dev had an implausible sense of humour that cannot be matched. His relation with teachers of St Michael’s college, where he completed the Pre-degree course, is full of funny occasions. . And when he recollects those stories none could restrain from hilarity. His untimely departure is really a huge loss to we people at Cherthala and around.

K A Solaman

Restrict Channels with no social responsibility.

I welcome the demands by the MPs for setting up of an independent regulatory body with civil society representation to look into charges of TV channels dealing with obscene and vulgar programmes. The channel operators often resort to offensive and crude advertisements for make a huge profit and thereby to belittle others doing similar business.
It is to be reiterated that most of the TV programmes are bad going and not suitable to view with all members together in the family. A time schedule should made applicable to programmes that are not to be viewed by children. The style of channels exalting mafia dons and irresponsible running after celebrities to market wicked TV programmes should be immediately controlled. The channels giving up social responsibility should be immediately looked into.

K A Solaman

Kerala CPM-CPI quarrel on self finance!

The fight between the CPM and CPI, the two lead constituents of the ruling LDF in Kerala, over the issue of the agreement the Government signed with the managements of the self-financing medical colleges is aimed at distracting the attention of the general public from burning problems of the State. The CPM Ministers namely M A Baby, PK Sreemathi, and G Sudhakaran on one side and CPI ministers C Divakaran and Benoy Viswam on the other side fighting fitfully is a finicky scene where the Chief Minister Achuthanandan stands voiceless.

It is presumable that that Education Minister M A Baby had done a foul play by ignoring the sentiments of vast section of the poor and meritorious students and that even the students wing of the CPM has come against Baby openly. And in that case the disagreement placed by Benoy Viswom is in the right direction; however Health Minster P K Sreemathi has come for rescue of Baby. The Self-Financing Medical and Engineering College Managements are the craftiest people in the state and they all know the desire of all parents that they all want to make their sons and daughters either doctor or engineer ignoring all other options in one’s life. And that is why till now unheard three-tier fee structure and consequent teamwork between Education Minister and the Managements brought such an imbroglio in the State. M A Baby’s immediate reaction that the question of reviewing the agreement between he and managements did not arise at all is indication that he is not clean as Sreemathi thinks.

Further, the more interesting comment came from the vociferous minister G Sudhakaran that one Minister should not intervene in the matters of another Minister’s department. The audacity of this comment will be revealed when one recollects ministers’ visit to Alappuzha Medical College on several occasions and criticizing the Health Department and its minister. His lambasting of Revenue officials and PWD employees can also considered as his non-interference in other ministers’ departments.

No doubt, the Kerala self financing college managements association is a business group. They spent money and collect money for their business. As the sole aim for all business is making money the term “social justice” is some ting to be locked in cold storages. If they fail to get money they planned they will soon convert all the colleges into bar hotels or tourist destinations.


K A Solaman

Anti-pregnancy pills advertisement

An advertisement in channels shows a woman asking in distress over phone to another woman probably her relative something in the manner “what happened and when, without any precaution?” I am worried over answering to my little child the reason for the worry of the woman. The pregnancy and the effectiveness of anti-pregnancy pill are beyond the comprehension of the little one. I think many of the families in India face such undeniable situations at channel shows. Can any one suggest an easy way out from such situations? The channel promoters and the advertisers are seen lost their common sense in airing such filthy ads.

Further the advertisements of the sort would send out a wrong message to the young generation. The possibility of young people taking with them “pills” hereafter to avoid abortion cannot be ruled put. All work places may turn into mating locations where the pills would protect them. No doubt the country is going to the dogs. If the Government of India wants to stop people from spoiling themselves by believing these ads it should impose some restrictions on channel shows and ads.

Yours faithfully,

K A Solaman, S L Puram

Frisking of Former President

Frisking of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam is an affront to our country. He is the most revered former President of India and not a person to be treated as every other Indian citizen. He has some privileges and we are bound to honour them. The embarrassing manner in which Continental Airlines treated Dr APJ Abdul Kalam should be seriously viewed

It has been reported that Dr Kalam was subjected to security check and even asked to take his shoes off by the airline staff just as he was about to board the aircraft. He was made to stand in line with other passengers. This is quite unbecoming of any airliners operating in India. Could they imagine frisking Bill Clinton or Condoleezza Rice by a security staff? The Continental airline extrapolating the whole episode as ‘standard procedure’ is a non-sense. The lack of general knowledge on the part of the security officials of Continental Airlines not to identify Kalam is a sufficient reason for disqualifying them from the present job.

India need not raise this issue before the US, instead impose an outright ban on the operation of Continental Airlines’ inside the country. No security personals should be permitted to breach Indian protocols within the country.

K A Solaman

Pinarayi approaching the SC

It is rousing to hear that CPM Kerala state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan approaches the Supreme Court against the decision of Kerala governor RS Gavai who gave permission to prosecute him in the SNC Lavalin case. Governor had defied the resolution of the state government, is the official version. Of course, leading counsels Fali S Nariman and Nageswar Rao would find a tough to rescue Pinarayi in the SC

The party official faction decided to move legally against the decision, however they failed to get a positive nod from veteran Marxist and CM of the state V S Achuthanandan in this case. The legal approach would have been taken a little earlier before the Marxist cadres moved against the Governor by resorting all sort of illegal acts such as blocking the roads and burning in effigy the Governor. I think the Governor’s office is not permitted to approach the SC in silly matters.

K A Solaman.

CM should act

The common people of Kerala are outraged at the dismissal of V.S. Achuthanandan from the politburo. But they do not know where to complain and how. A petition registered with the police would remain unattended if it is against a panchayat president drawn from Marxist cadre.

It seems that people really have lost the right to complain as many places in Kerala have seen a rise in violence, with bomb-blasts along transport routes. In this context, Achuthanandan should act firmly as chief minister to put an end to the turmoil.


K.A. Solaman

The Telegraph, Calcutta July 20, 2009

Kerala PSC's Recruitment farce

This letter relates to recruitment to fill up the vacancies of Lecturers in Physics in Government Arts and Science College of Kerala by the Kerala Public Service Commission. The Commission conducted a test in June 09 and for which all the M Sc, M Phil and Ph D qualified candidates attended. The interesting side of the test is though the qualification needed for candidates is M Sc with NET/JRF all the post graduates in Physics who are not qualified in NET are permitted to write the Examination.

In the recruitment notification, PSC had declared the syllabus and that was indicated in the Hall Ticket too. However, the candidates who appeared for test were thunder stricken by seeing the pattern of the OMR question paper. Nearly half the paper contained questions from General Knowledge section. The questions from Physics portion contained some with many answers and some other with no answers. A clear ploy could not be ruled out in incorporating GK questions in the paper.

None could ever argue that Physics Lecturers need not require General Knowledge. Nevertheless it should be informed in advance when the candidates are preparing for the test. Leaking off questions papers and canceling certain questions at valuation are the usual practice of the P S C, it is alleged. All corruption in Kerala University test for recruitment of Assistant grade post three years back, is still under investigation by the HC of Kerala. Is the distortion in question paper by the P S C for Physics Lecturer post intended to protect a few privileged ones related to higher ups in the society?

I understood that many candidates have grievance in the act of PSC. The PSC, therefore, should notify the exact number of questions that are going to be valued and the exact requirement in educational qualification for the post. Are the candidates without NET eligible for the post? The PSC recruitment should be a competitive examination and not a mere circus for candidates for getting experience in similar exercises.

K A Solaman

Search PublishaLette.com dated 15 July 2009

Tough time for CPM in Kerala

Common people of Kerala are on a running spree from the fracas caused by the CPM axing of veteran leader V S Achuthanandan. They do not know where to complain and how. A petition registered with the police would remain unattended if the opposite party is a Panchayat President from Marxist cadres and that is what one see in Ambalapuzha South Panchayat. The good old ‘Ambalpuzha Velakali’ has been patented to Panchayat President and his henchmen of that area and the ‘Velakali’ is performed at NH 47 where his own party men are beaten by sticks used for tying party flag. The flex boards and posters of their once favorite hero lied in muddied water when the fierce drill of beating was in progress. The police force remained mute spectators just because of the reason that the fighters are party men or men oust from party as said by the only PB member and Home Minister in the Assembly.

It seems that people really have lost the right to complain as many places of Kerala turned into scoundrel’s area. If party-men are busy with other engagements the quotation gang will do the job. Even recruiting agents of quotation work earn a good bug by scaring people-it is reported. The only relief in Ambalapuaha is that bombs are not frequently exploded along routes as one see in Kannur and the small scale industry of making bombs has not yet flourished in Amablapuzha. However, rising violence in Amabalapuzha and other parts Kerala have frightened away commuters. I think the last action hero Achuthanandan should finally open his mouth to end the turmoil as the dictates of Pinarayi-Karat yielded no positive result.

K A Solaman

Mammootty to perform TV

K R Gouri Amma, the veteran leader of Kerala is known for her straight forwardness and outright comments. According to her there is no question of returning to the CPM which had expelled her in 1994. Her comments about Mammootty and Mohanlal also stand of note. She said histrionic talents of Mohanlal is better than that of Mammootty, nevertheless the latter is more handsome. This she said perhaps if again enacted Mammootty is more apt than Mohanlal or even Murali(Lal Salam fame) to perform a T V Thomas on the silver screen. Gouri Amma's role, of course, will be played by Meera Jasmine
Long live Gouri Amma and her unambiguous comments!

K A Solaman

Mixed bag

The operation was successful but the patient died. That is what happened on the day the budget was presented. Only now do the investors realize the advantage of having P. Chidambaram as the finance minister.

The Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex dropped by 900 points while the finance minister was presenting his budget. The stock market rejected Pranab Mukherjee’s proposals, causing huge loss to investors. The biggest one-day drop in the Sensex in six months after the annual budget is not at all good news for the Union ministry. The fall of the Sensex on Monday after the budget sent shudders through the Indian economy. Investors can now be sure that they do not have much to expect from Mukherjee.

K A Solaman
The Telegraph, Calcutta 10 July 09

Not a positive sign

This refers to the report, “Spender’s Budget” (July 7). It seems that Budget 2009-10 has left corporate India completely disappointed. The BSE Sensex dropped about 900 points soon after Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee presented it in Parliament, causing huge loss to investors. The biggest one-day drop in the Sensex in six months is not at all a positive sign for our ailing economy.

KA Solaman

The Pioneer, New Delhi Dated 8 July 2009

Taxing perks

The post budget plan of the Government to tax the perks extended by business houses to their employees is unsolicited. It is unwelcome to ask people to spend more funds to meet their tax payments.

The Government has already taxed common man by hiking petrol and diesel prices.
The argument of rising petrol charge will not affect common man is a ludicrous one. Even the hike of aviation spirit will affect common man not because they travel in planes but because of the use of consumer goods produced by those company heads traveling in the planes. The company heads that pay more their travel will collect more money from ordinary people by selling their products like soap and paste ata higher price. Does any one think that common people will not use soap and paste?

It is learnt that perks that are expected to be taxed include car provided by employer, domestic help paid by employer, free or concessional education, gift vouchers etc. Taxing educational concession is very crude joke. By taxing perks the individual's tax pay out is more than what he or she would have to pay actually.

K A Solaman

Budeget shock

The operation was successful but the patient died. That is what happened on the day of posting the Union Budget. Now only the investors understood the advantage of P Chidambaram being the of FM of India.

The BSE Sensex dropped about 900 points while the Finance Minister Pranab Kumar Mukerji presented the budget. Though apparently nothing less cheerful in the budget the Indian Stock market rejected Mukerji’s proposals causing a huge loss to investors. The biggest one-day drop in Sensex in six months after the annual budget is not at all cheery to the Union Ministry.
The falling of the benchmark to 5.8 percent on Monday after the budget is a crude shock to Indian Economy. Investors do not expect much from Mukherji.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express Dated 8 July 09

Legalising homosexuality

Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss is known for his vision in denouncing smocking on screen as many youngsters because of their worship to heroes of tinsel world are prone to tobacco. However his reiteration to legalise homosexuality to tackle the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country is ludicrous. Minister says that 86 per cent of HIV/AIDS cases were due to sexual contact and that could be avoided by homosexuality. Is n’t there any physical contact between homosexuals? Section 377 of the IPC criminalises men who have sex with men (MSM) and other unnatural sex acts and according to the minister this section should be abandoned. Doesn’t it mean those people who put this section in the IPC are visionless?

The Delhi High Court ruling on homosexuals, however, corroborated minister’s views and it brought cheers to the gay community. The lesbian community elsewhere in the country distributed sweets and described it as a progressive move.

I have the firm opinion that though the judgment will make a change in approach towards homosexuals it is something against Nature and its fundamental rules. All human build aspirations against the Nature would finally collapse. Homosexual act among species of animals other than human is a rare phenomenon. Moreover it is against all religions. Whatever the opinion of people about different religions all of them teach the same good thing and human love. And especially for India, as it is a land of innumerable religions, the Delhi Court verdict is against the culture of Indian society. I believe there is no urgent need to legalise homosexuality when there are other burning problems especially in medical field for immediate attention. MSM and WSW are unnatural practices and should be denounced even if it is not considered as a as a criminal act.

It is true that there are people in every religion who are lesbians and what they immediately needed is a psychiatric or rather psychological healing. It is unwise to quote from Vatsayan’s Kamasutra', to authenticate the act of homosexuals. If we legalise gay acts it will be more evident in public places and then even prostitution should also be endorsed. Of course, homosexuality is a crime against Nature, however prostitution is not. Such obscene acts should not be allowed in our country as the community will be harmfully affected.

Stress is good

This refers to the Second Opinion, “Scrapping board exams is silly” by Mr KA Solaman (July 1). Mr Solaman has rightly said, “a little competition and stress is needed to prepare students for the big bad world.” Also, “stress for a school student is the same as that for a college student”.

Moreover, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal’s proposal to replace marks with grades will neither help reduce students’ stress nor be able to assess their exact performance. The proposal, if implemented, will also cause confusion at the time of college admissions.

Finally, I fail to see any mention of compulsory physical training for school students in the reforms suggested by the Minister. It is common knowledge that academic performance takes precedence over physical fitness of students in India. An average Indian parent tends to groom his or her child to focus more on studies than playing sports. Schools also tend to fall in line with the parents by providing very little time for sports and physical education in a student’s daily routine. It’s time the Minister focussed on this aspect of education too.

JS Acharya

Hyderabad. Source: The Pioneer, New Delhi 2 July 2009

Board exams

The proposal to make the Class X board examination optional so as to relieve students of the stress they face is ludicrous.

It appears that the HRD Minister Mr Kapil Sibal has sought lessons from Kerala Education Minister Mr M. A. Baby who has diluted the evaluation system in the State by giving no significance to marks or grades.

A little competition and stress is needed to prepare students for the big bad world. Abandoning examinations is no solution. It is not examinations but parental pressure that has a negative effect on the psyche of students. The authorities need to play a constructive role in helping students manage examination-related stress and make them feel that an examination is just another test in life.

The Government must no doubt reform the education system, but the big changes can wait.
K A Solaman
The Business line, 2 July 2009

Scrapping board exams is silly

Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal’s proposal to make the class X board examination optional so as to relieve students of the stress they face is ludicrous. It seems Mr Sibal has sought lessons from Kerala Education Minister MA Baby who has slackened the evaluation system in the State by giving no significance to marks or grades.

It is paradoxical that almost 100 per cent of the class X and XII students in Kerala pass the board examinations but only a fraction appearing for medical and engineering entrance examinations clear them. This clearly suggests that having no stress to deal with at the school level when followed by a sudden squall of competition leaves students incapable of coping with the pressure of getting into a good college. Suicide among students who fail to secure the desired rank in entrance examinations is a bleak reminder of Kerala’s faulty education system. The fact that Mr Sibal is proposing to emulate this system and apply it across the country is worrisome.

A little competition and stress is needed to prepare students for the big bad world. Abandoning examinations is no solution. It is not examinations but parental pressure that has a negative effect on the psyche of students.

If the authorities want to put an end to examination-induced stress, then all examinations need to be scrapped. Stress for a school student is the same as that for a college student. Thus, we should distinguish between good stress and bad stress. While the good stress that examinations cause keeps individuals alert, bad stress destroys their peace of mind.

It is time that parents and teachers realise that fixing unrealistic targets, making undue comparisons with other children, etc, are actually the main factors responsible for the undue stress faced by students. Moreover, they need to play a constructive role in helping students manage examination-related stress and make them feel that an examination is just another test in life.

At the same time it is the Government’s job to ensure the free and fair conduct of examinations. For instance, it is praiseworthy that the Central Board of Secondary Education gives extra time to students appearing for its examinations to study the question paper. The Government, too, must work on similar lines to reform the education system. Big changes can wait.

KA Solaman

South Asean Media Net, A news and views website
Wednesday July 1, 2009
Source : The Pioneer

Stress is optional

Kapil Sibal’s proposal to make the Class X board exams optional to relieve stress needs reconsidering (“Against odds, plan to make exam optional”, June 27). Perhaps he could learn a lesson from the Kerala education minister, M.A. Baby. Baby has introduced the grade-system in Kerala at the secondary level, reducing the value of these certificates. Almost all the Class X and XII candidates pass the examinations. However, when they appear for their medical or engineering examinations, they are put under sudden stress. No competition upto the age of 17, followed by stiff competition immediately afterwards, ends up not making much of a difference to the stress on the students.


K.A. Solaman, Alappuzha
The Telegraph, Calcutta 1July 2009

Reforms in Education

Mr Kapil Sibal should have first examined the Kerala experience. Its Education Minister M.A. Baby has ruined the school and secondary education as the marks or grades carry no significance. For reducing stress, the evaluation system has been made simpler and every student qualifies in the examination. There is no competition up to the age of 17 in Kerala. But after that, students will have to face tougher tests. Of the 56,000 candidates in the MBBS entrance, only 1,800 were found eligible this year!

While parents and teachers can regulate the examination stress of the students, the government should conduct the examinations in a nobler way. Stress manifests itself physically and mentally throughout one’s life. So, scrapping the Class X Board exam will be illogical.

K.A. SOLAMAN, Alappuzha (Kerala)

The Tribune, Chandigarh 1 July 2009

Education reforms

The UPA government’s proposal to make the class 10 public examination optional is meant to reduce the stress on students. But won’t the move lead to more stress two years later? Stress at 15 is not higher than it is at 17. A little competition is necessary to enable a person to succeed. Competition will always exist among human beings. Stress is a fundamental facet of survival, and abandoning a public examination is no easy way to reduce it. Students should be trained to deal with stress.

K.A. Solaman,

The Hindu daily, 30 Jun 2009

Foolish proposal by Kapil Sibal

Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal has decided to contribute his rubbish too to Indian school education. And for that he placed the views to make classX board examinations optional. He thinks that it would relieve the stress of students. Perhaps he might have sought lessons in this direction from Kerala Education Minister M A Baby. Baby has made Kerala School and Secondary Education into debris as the marks or grades in the certificate these students carry have no significance. For reducing stress evaluation system has been made simple and there would be a sure pass for a student who writes or tries to write the examination. Result percentages of Standard 10 and 12 in Kerala are near to 100. However, added stress will be given to these students at Medical/ Engineering Examinations. This year there was reports of deaths among candidates for not getting the desired rank in Entrance Examination. No competition up to the age of 17 brings a stiff competition after that. Out of the 56000 appeared in the examination only 1800 are eligible for MBBS course!

Actually, a little competition should be there for success in one’s life and without a firm desire to excel none will work hard. Competition will always exist among all human beings to prove themselves more worthy than others. Stress is a fundamental facet of survival, and abandoning examination is not an easy way to reduce stress. If the authorities need to put end to examination stress then all examinations are to be given up. Stress at the age of 15 is not higher than that at 17. The students in their school life should be trained to deal with the stress of sitting examinations.

It is to be understood that there is good stress and bad stress. Good stress keeps us alert to things we need to be concerned about, whereas bad stress undermines peace of mind. It is better on the part of the Government to reschedule TV cricket at the time of examination than abandoning the examination itself. If channels air live cricket at examination time the parents face a tough time put their children for study and both parents and children experience big stress. Dumping of examinations as proposed by Kail Sibal or slackening the examination as did by MA Baby in Kerala are ill-timed ways to remove the stress of children. Instead these children are succumbed to huge stress in their life for survival. Parents and teachers have a crucial role to play in managing the exam stress of their students whereas government’s main role is to conduct the examinations in a nobler way. Mark sheets possessed by the school final children should have a little value than mere piece of paper. As stress manifests itself both physically and mentally throughout one’s life removal of it by abandoning examination alone is a foolish act. No government could abandon all examinations in the life of a person.

KA Solaman

Mindless mission

Ms Mayawati’s mission to build memorials of Dalit leaders and install statues of herself and the late BSP leader, Kanshiram, throughout Uttar Pradesh is mindless. It is a double offence: She is using the tax-payers’ money to fund a personal mission and she is using land that could have been used for building new public hospitals and schools.

KA Solaman

The Pioneer daily Dated 26-6-09

Unsafe to move freely in Alappuzha

Alappuzha is a beautiful place in Kerala with full of lakes and lagoons. It is a tourist destination for people abroad to view the landscapes. Nevertheless it has now become an unsafe place for peace loving people. This I say because every day report from Alappuzha gives the atrocities done by quotation groups. The torture that the quotation group do every day is far beyond any reckon. These groups have agents in school-college campuses to sell drugs. They even recruit new entrants to their company with monthly payment to do all the heinous acts. These groups get blessings from a section of political outfits and even police officers are abused by these gangs.

The situation is quite indefensible and the offenders should be brought to book immediately. Alappuzha’s crime rate is on the rise and the people here are living under constant fright. The awful state of safety in Alappuzha tells the inefficacy of the District administration. It is high time for reforming the District administration to put in jail all the quotation groups in and around Alappuzha.

K A Solaman

Maya stands for statues.

It is right on the part of Mayawati to cancel the order of the so-called State Principals’ Council of aided colleges to ban girl students from wearing jeans on campus. The council of principals and academics often take autocratic decisions elsewhere in the country and hence UP Government’s decision is a welcome step. However, the decision of the UP CM to spend crores from State Exchequer to meet the expense of installing statues of her and her leader Kanshiram elsewhere in the State is out of the ordinary. Later these statues will turn out to be destinations of spoilsport for her political opponents as she could not remain in power all the time in UP to protect these statues.

K A Solaman

VS is scapegoat

It would be wrong to single out Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan for the CPI(M)’s electoral drubbing in this year’s Lok Sabha election in the State. The truth is that the party has lost touch with the ground reality in Kerala. Its poor showing in the polls was largely due to the SNC Lavalin scam and CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan’s decision to ally with the People’s Democratic Party of Abdul Naser Madani. Also, the shortcomings of the State Education Minister and the Health Minister, the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities and the abusive ways of the Co-operation Minister contributed to the party’s rout in the election.

KA Solaman

The Pioneer Daily, 24 June 2009

Biggest Handicap of Achuthanandan government

The CPM targeting its leader V.S. Achuthanandan for the party’s debacle in the Lok Sabha elections is erroneous. The poor show of the party in the elections is largely due to SNC Lavalin multi-million rupees scam and Pinrayi’s decision to ally with the People’s Democratic Party led by Abdul Naser Madani. The other reasons comprise of the failure of the Education Minister and the Health Minister, no control over the ever increasing price of essential commodities by the Food minister and the abusive nature of the Co-operation minister. High way picketing by police to assault two and four wheeler owners for not using helmet or seat belt also augmented the debacle.

It seems that all the 15 members of the CPM secretariat are sycophants and fear that the 88 year old man , the CM, will not protect them in the long run. Or else what is the reason for deserting this honest man who stood always firmly against corruption? Achuthanandan always standing at the receiving end, of late, will not save the party in Kerala.

It is to be doubted that the Politburo have not yet evolved an idea to end the rivalry between Vijayan and Achuthanandan and the biggest handicap of the factional feud is the malfunctioning of the Achuthanandan government. A minister questioning his Chief Minister inside or outside the party forum is out of the ordinary.

K A Solaman

For effective damage control.

The tribal people are not safe under Marxist rule. The leaders like Yetchuri will go else where outside India to discuss with tribal or rather Maoist leaders about the formation of ministry in that country. Yetchuri’s talk with Prachanda of Nepal was an example in that line. . However, in India these leaders find little time to heed the demands of tribal people. For instance look at the strike by tribal people at Chengara in Kerala. Even if one year has been elapsed there were no concrete steps by the left leaders to sort out an agreeable solution to the Chengara enmesh. .

The West Bengal Government too is in the front of a predicament of shocking level. Budhadev has lost his smile and if he fails to handle the worsened situation with wisdom the State has to witness further carnage. The religious minorities and tribes are disheartened with the Governments of Bengal and Kerala. The damage control exercise by the Marxist leaders in both the States has not yet yielded any good result.

The tribals and religious minorities feel that they are a suffering lot under Marxist rule. If the left parties are sincere in their damage control exercise they should invite the affected ones for adiscussion and settle their problems at the earliest.

K A Solaman

Accept the inevitable, dear soap artists.

It is pointless to cry over the work loss of about 5000 independent artistes and technicians involved in the production of Malayalam television serials and family soaps because their fate is inevitable. Like wise the persons behind reality shows will become jobless when these shows to lose their popularity. It is wise, of course, not as punishment for spoiling the society with their soap operas, these people should think of other jobs. Here in the state there are govt-sponsored jobs such as lottery ticket vending and these soap artists too can do it. Why there was none to cry when thousands of printing press owners and their composers went jobless with the advent of desk top printing. Had any one thought of those cinema operators who went jobless when majority of the B and C class theatres closed?

These are all part of world change similar to climate change and the soap artists too have to become accustomed to it.

K A Solaman

Do Christians need more children?

This question started to haunt me for last several weeks as the clergies of my religion began commanding their faithful to procreate profusely. Frequently they quote from Holy Bible: "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth..." (Genesis 1:28).
“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” Corinthians 7:3-5. They say children are a blessing, not a burden. More children mean more blessing. Of course this is quoted by priests who never had a marital relation in their whole life.

But I think if one has more children than he can emotionally and financially care for, he is not doing the right thing. Further only rich people could keep up so many children and they are not able share their love equally to all their children. If one had more he couldn't spend enough time with any one of them. If one has fewer kids then he has more money for their stuff. He can live more comfortably and can spend more time on each of them. When it comes to their upbringing one can put more effort into each one to try and have them turn out better.

Moreover, the country like India is nurturing a population check as most of the people are poor. Then how could Christians in India to stand against it? Are the Christians in India rich enough to care a dozen children in their family? Do the christian women need no rest from labour rooms? Today in the world the largest growing population is Muslims. Do the clergies then need Christians to overtake the Muslims? I hope there will be a rethink by Christian clergies.

K A Solaman

Worth of body massage.

Seemingly Union Minister Prof K V Thomas has now only recognized the ineffectiveness of Musli Power Extra-a herbal therapeutic drug that supposedly create aggressive attraction towards opposite sex. The drug is being manufactured in his constituency for the last several years. Prof Thomas’ ministry has resolved to book all alternative medicine makers who hoodwink large section of the distraught with their product-marketing advertisements in print and visual media. However Prof Thomas could not ignore the magnitude of ayurvedic body massage as it was his ‘body massage’ slot that won his ten thousand plus margin in the election. If his opposite candidate was successful in airing a similar scene, Thomas Master might not have found an opportunity to supervise Madam’s Italian cuisine.

K A Solaman

Superior adviser spits venom

Literary critic and culturist Sukumar Azhikode certifying Kerala Chief Minister Achuthanandan as “an animal that excretes in its own house,” is the latest outcome of his hate practice in the Kerala psyche. The ‘superior adviser’ of Marxist party by his statement has stooped his head once again to filthy drain

For quite long Azhikode takes every opportunity to blemish Achuthanandan with his grubby oratory sponsored by ambassadors of non-corruption in the Marxist party. Achuthanandan’s reaction that his culture did not allow him to react to Azhikode’s low tease is only a mild dose. He needs some thing new and for that the person more suited is Vellappally Natesan. Azhikode has done a crafty act to make the people known that he reads Henry Thoreau while the Chief Minister not. Doesn’t make clear the superior adviser’s superiority to belittle others? Possibly Azhikode has got assurance from party official bigwigs that he will be spared even if he insult the Chief Minister. Or else Azhikode should not have said “He(Achuthanandan) is an insult to his party and the state”

After attacking Achuthanandan like a wile animal Azhikode cunningly adds that the Chief Minister has the habit of attacking his critics like a wild animal. Azhikode should realize that people of the State know the person who started spitting venom first. Strictly it is not Achuthanandan.

K A Solaman

CFL revolution in Kerala

The State of Kerala is to witness a new revolution called CFL revolution. The State Power Minister A K Balan has decided to issue four CFLs to every household at a throw-away price of Rs.15 and thereby to earn 500MW of power every year. However his company has not considered the drawback of CFL usage.

Online sources say that there are disadvantages to CFL bulbs. Some people don’t like the light that they give off. They can make some colors look slightly different than when the same colors are viewed under incandescent lights. The throw pattern isn’t always the same as an incandescent bulb either. Their wattage ratings don’t match up one to one with traditional bulbs because the wattage refers to energy used, not the amount of light it gives off. Also, all fluorescent bulbs contain mercury which is toxic. They can’t be tossed in most landfills and these things can really do some damage to the environment if they are broken open. The CFL contained mercury, with prolonged exposure, can cause problems in brain function and development. Like lead, we need to handle mercury carefully and limit our and our children’s exposure to it. It has been experimentally proved that repeated CFL breakages and repeated mercury exposure can indeed cause serious problems. Broken CFL is a toxic waste and the local authorities are to be checked with on how we should dispose of hazardous materials and damaged compact fluorescent bulbs. The toxic materials should be removed from our regular living area as soon as possible.

So, the power minister’s CFL revolution without any initial home work would bring adverse effect in the long run.

K A Solaman

Kamal Surayya lives in the hearts of many.

I express my deep condolence on the demise of the renowned writer Kamala Surayya, whose fearless and nonconformist views attracted many sensible minds. She is one of the outstanding Indian poets writing in English, although her popularity in Kerala is based chiefly on her short stories and autobiography. Her penname Madhavikkutty is known even by children of lower classes.

She winning of Asian Poetry Prize, Kent Award for English Writing from Asian Countries, Asan World Prize, Ezhuthachan Award, Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award, Kerala Sahitya Academy Award, and others are a source of inspiration for all Indian writers. Though she is dead, she lives in the hearts of many.

K A Solaman

Allow Antony too to join

Union Minister Vayalar Ravi kissing in open his ailing wife Mercy at Medical Trust Hospital, Ernakulam was aired by all channels and published by almost all dailies. It was really a good guidance to all busy and unfeeling husbands in the country. Ravi’s humble desire is to have again a walk with his wife in the corridor of Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam where their love affair has been first blossomed. Do Ravi and Mercy allow their old friend in the College and Ravi’s colleague in the cabinet A K Antony to join them in the campus for a while?

K A Solaman

Balan’s magic

Kerala Power Minister AK Balan said that the Kerala State Electricity Board would not impose any kind of power restrictions on consumers till June 15 despite the slashing of 75 MW from the Central pool and an unprecedented rise in consumption. Then my question is: Where from Mr Balan bring power? By magic?

Balan also told that the effort of the KSEB would go ahead without imposing load-shedding, or power-cut as far as possible. Here the phrase ‘as far as possible’ is a condition. Most of the time there is no power in the state. Then who bothers about power cut or load shedding technicalities.

It is true that the KSEB is advertising in channels to create awareness to bring down consumption. However the people have ignored it because KSEB is not a people friendly establishment. They tax people whenever there is an opportunity. The disreputable Meter rent at the rate of Rs 20 until one’s last is a barbarian act. Minister’s direct appeal to people to impose some kind of control on their own consumption will also bring no fruit as the minister himself proved that he is lavish in spending for power, of course, not from his pocket.

The minister asking students to introduce new techniques to save electricity also shows that his approach to power shortage problem is not at all serious. Withdrawing or not withdrawing the load-shedding is only a part of political game. When Achuthanandan faction gets an upper hand in the party there is load-shedding, otherwise no load shedding. How foolish the decision to withdraw the load-shedding in the context of the feeling that there would be no power crisis till June 15. It is better to create the post of an astrologer in the EB to forecast correctly when monsoon comes and when it goes.
The EB claiming that the load-shedding was withdrawn as a result of the efficient energy management by the board is a fairy tale. Sitting in complete darkness without any light is also a way of efficient management.

K A Solaman

No woman MP for most literate state.

The God’s own country Kerala is known for its most literacy. And Kerala women voters outnumber men. Nevertheless, not a single woman would represent a Kerala constituency in the 15h Lok Sabha. All the national and state parties kept the idea of 33 percent women reservation in cold storage. Will the elected male MPs in the coming Lok sabha get time to deliberate on the reservation of women in constitutional bodies?

All the political parties speak wide-mouth about giving 33 percent participation for women in the law-making bodies but it comes to act they deliberately forget it.
Gender equality is only a slogan unsuited for implementation. Women organizations in the state are also responsible for this pitiable situation. They are little bothered about the neglect they met in the election. The protest by the Mahila Congress against the male chauvinism in the party affairs of the Congress was only a storm in the cup.

The only hope for Kerala women in the Parliament is former UN Under Secretary Sasi Tharoor. His success was mainly based on women votes. Tharoor bagged all the women votes of Thiruvanathapuram because of his Ram like features. And hence one could expect a courtesy act towards women from Tharoor in the Parliament.

K A Solaman

Make a change

The amazing victory in the Lok Sabha elections by the State Congress is not on based their merit but due to the wrong policies of the Pinarayi faction of the Marxist party. Pinrayi’s association with Lottery-Real Estate businessmen and with Terrorist outfits within the state has dug the grave of the party. His distancing from the church and SNC Lavelin scandal have also augmented party’s debacle in the election.
It would be better for the Marxist party to make an alteration in its Kerala unit by replacing Pinarayi from party secretary ship. Then only the party could expect a moderate victory in the next Assembly elections including the by polls.

K A Solaman

Corrupt police officers.

Use of helmets is compulsory in Kerala, however, because of hearing defect and other minor health problems such as neck-ache a few people avoid helmet during small journeys. Sensing this as a big opportunity a few corrupt police officers obstruct bikers and collect hefty sum as fine. The money they collected some times goes to state exchequer and most times to their own pockets. This problem is increasing day by day and they do this after avoiding other important matters of immediate attention. These corrupt officers collect heft sum as bribe even when a person encounters an accident on the road. I don’t think that any hard and fast rule could check these corrupt officers. Instead they should be given awareness that the money they collect illegally would newer help in their disaster.

They should be also given training to live a modest life with the money they actually earn from the job. They should be informed that their children, grown in the lavishness of the bribe they collect, would never care them in the old age

K A Solaman

Bofors and the Lavalin

Bofors is a dead issue for Congress. Likewise Lavalin is a dead issue for CPI(M). Surely there is enough common space for Congress and the CPM for a post-poll alliance. The Congress party has no interest in Bofors and none in the CPM, except Achuthanandan, has interest in Lavalin. The official faction of the CPM has pushed the veteran Politburo member to the corner. ‘He is finished’ his rivals started saying.

The real party that lost face is the CBI. The Interpol dropping Quattrochi from its ‘wanted list’ at the request of CBI and the Kerala Advocate General dropping Pinarayi from Lavalin scandal against the finding of CBI are very interesting. The Government of India could think of replacing the CBI by the Kerala AG for future path finding.

The CBI was successful in dropping the name of Italian businessman Quattrocchi from Inter[pols’ list. As well, in the post-poll scenario they can easily drop Pinarayi from Lavalin scandal. If so the embarrassment that occurs repeatedly during election times can be avoided.

K A Solaman

Post poll tie-up of Congress and Left

After Rahul Gandhi giving clear signals of working with the Left parties in the post-poll scenario, the CPM General Secreatary Prakash Karat, after initial faltering, came in line with Congress. Karat’s party is ready for post poll alliance with the Congress. Then the voters’ question is: what for was the mutual mud-slinging all the time by both parties?

Definitely the post-poll tie up between the Congress and the left parties in states like Kerala will be detrimental for both. After enough quarrel and killing a few innocents because of sheer rivalry during election days if they unite after the poll the sensible people then will the smear these party leaders with cow dung. The so-called “common space," between the Congress and the CPM is a non-sense.

K A Solaman

HC observation is in the right direction

The HC observation that the workers and trade union in Kerala are interested only in their rights and they have no feelings about their duties is absolutely correct. It is not the workers but the duplicitous trade union leaders make the work culture in the state turbulent. The unprincipled trade unions in Kerala were creating labour problems for long which are unseen in other states. ‘No work, only cash’ is the approach of a section of workers and from this attitude the horrendous ‘nokkukooli’ was fashioned in the state. This approach of the trade unions would jeopardize the industrial atmosphere of the State unless checked. The HC observation is in the right direction. And I hope it will open the eyes of a few political leaders.

K A Solaman

Cash war in Kerala film industry

The confrontation between the opposing camps of the Kerala film technicians is not a class war but a cash-war. Fefka (Film Employees’ Federation of Kerala) has cash and has support from the CPI(M) where as Macta (Malayalam Film Technicians’ Association) has little cash and AITUC union supporting them are destined bear the hit of DYFI men or rather Mammootty fans.

Mammootty votes in election and upholds Marxist legacy and Mohanlal did not vote but he upholds Congress egalitarianism. But when they come to deal with Vinayan’s Macta they are hand in hand.The curse of Macta Federation is, Vinayan is being in the top of it. His language and also body language are worse as his films. Mammootty and Mohanlal could untie the strife but they do not. They hate Vinayan and never agree Vinayan to decide the future of Malayalam films or at least their films. They fear that if Vinaayan is given an upper hand one day he would even ask super stars not to act love scenes with teen-aged girls.

One thing that is to be categorically put is that move of the Fefka and Macta are against Malayalam film industry. Except a few crafty politicians cine viewers are not bothered of the Fefka-Macta rift. These associations have no commitment towards cine viewers. The fans associations functioning in the State point to the unemployment of the youths. The Finance Minister with his utopian idea of extending retirement age has ignored the aspirations of educated youth. Youths are therefore left with options to protect Mammootty, Mohanlal or Dileep at lake resorts and drink at a near by toddy shops for rest of the time.

My suggestion to Governemnt in this direction is never interfere in the feud between the two warring factions in the cinema filed as the rift is not a burning problem for the State.
Independent producers and directors may be allowed to produce film without the interference of Fefka or Macta.and if any one act against he may be put in jail.
Political parties should also abstain from the present feud.

K A Solaman

Electronic voting needed

At present electronic voting is restricted only in the use of EVMs. For smooth and effective voting web based voting can be set up. This not only reduces problems related to booth voting but increases voter turnout. Number of voters abandoning polling stations due to fear of poll related violence can be thus avoided. Moreover old and sick persons can cast their votes from their homes or other places of convenience. .

The Election Commission of India should, therefore, develop a web based electronic voting software and be installed on the web site of Election Commission of India. It shall contain all polling booths of the country with names and other details of e-voters. Any voter can register himself as e-voter if he knows the use of web site. A minimum educational qualification can be also stipulated for this and Election Commission should provide an ID and password to legitimate applicants just like bank ATM cards. The possession of a bank ATM card can be even considered as the eligibly to earn a voter e-card. The electronic voters may be permitted to vote on the voting day from a place of their choice and others may be asked to call on the polling booths.
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Web-based voting further avoids loss of working days, time and money. However full-pledged e-voting in the country is possible when all are educated. In all probability it will take another one or two decades if one consider the progress brought about by a choice of rulers of the country since Independence.

K A Solaman

Parent-teacher counseling could avoid the worst.

Teachers are human, and sometimes will not be in the vein of certain students without a valid reason. This is same as love at first sight. Some teachers see the face of their students as their own children’s and some others see faces of their enemies in students. There may be psychological enlightenment in this phenomenon and in most cases students are the worst losers. However, occasionally the loss of the teacher is also heavy as that is what happened in the Delhi school where not only the teacher but the Headmaster also was suspended. The mental agony brought to them if they are true teachers who always delight in the progress of their student, is beyond any reckon. But ironically all are seen happy in criticizing the teacher. The sad demise of the student would have been averted if the teacher was given sufficient prior information about the health condition of the student. And in that case the responsibility of the parents cannot be ruled out.

Here in Kerala too punishment such as standing on sunlight or continuous running a kilometer was imposed, of course, not for class room lessons but for NCC. While I was a student in Pre-degree classes I noticed that if cadet did not turn out in time for parade he was asked to run a km with a heavy rifle in his hand. No one was spared from this punishment but none was seen annoyed as it was a part of that education.

Present day parents are very much concerned about their children. If a teacher in LP school asks a student to clean his teeth using mango tree leaf, as did in schools 30-40 years back, the parents will not tolerate the teacher. Time has changed and teachers’ job has become a dicey one. I could not blame that hapless teacher who imposed a past and crude punishment on her student taking her to death. The teacher might have been trying to pick up the child to progress but it ended in despair. The Delhi school incident is not an isolated case. To avoid replication parent-teacher counseling could be thought of in such situations. As practiced in NAAC accredited colleges health club can be formed in schools under the supervision of a teacher with skill in first aid treatment to avoid casualties.

K A Solaman

Threat next door

I endorse the statement of the Indian prime minister that the spreading influence of the Taliban is a serious threat to India. The Taliban are a danger to mankind and they have no trust in democracy. Women are the most insecure group under the Taliban. These terrorists destroyed the Buddha statues in Bamiyan. The space provided by the Pakistan government to the Taliban in the Swat Valley is the greatest, most serious threat.

The suspicion that there has been recent infiltration in Kupwara is very worrying, raising the possibility that rebels within India may collude with the infiltrators to disturb the poll process. New strategies have to be developed to check insurgent action in general and Taliban infiltration in particular.

The Telegraph, Kolkata, 23 April 09

Terrorism within the country

Naxal attacks are rampant at various parts of the country as Lok Sabha election is in progress. The rate of naxal attacks is rising in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar with naxal capturing even trains carrying hundreds of passengers. . Naxalites nom de plume Maoists are putting unforeseen hardships to people for what is called a never realizable dream and our police force see a hard time to tackle the situation. When police is equipped only with lathis, naxalites carry AK 47 guns and eve rocket launchers. They have taken resolute to topple the entire election mechanism in many parts of the country. They have huge amount of explosives and are able to kill hundreds of innocent citizens.

Obviously “Maoist terror” has become a serious threat to the internal security of India. Nevertheless for Congress or BJP, Maoist menace is not their head ache and Left comrades even see Maoists as their friends. The strategy so far taken by the country’s Home Department is inadequate to control Maoist menace. And what is actually needed is a joint action against Maoists by all the governments of the affected states. It is estimated that about a dozen states in the country are under naxalite terror.

K A Solaman.

Call to youngsters by outgoing CEC

In the midst of the General Election of India the CEC retired and another one took charge as new CEC. The retiring CEC, N Gopalaswami, relinquished his office and Navin Chawla , has assumed charge. The next four phases of Election has to be completed under the command of the new CEC. Gopalaswami’s occupancy at the commission was with some controversy with alleged proximity to BJP. Chawla too must not free from controversy as he has already established his kinship with the Congress and Madam Sonia. People have yet to watch the debate on the act of new CEC that would arise in the course of the remaining phases. .

The outgoing CEC N Gopalaswami has made valuable proposal during the time of relinquishing his post. The proposal can be taken up by all political parties for a debate in giving due importance to youngsters. In the meantime, the new CEC could show his outlook in bringing up more and more hones youths to Indian political system as youngsters have a major role to play in the changing process. According to statistics nearly 30 percent are young voters under the age of 35.and these young voters could certainly bring a positive change in the Indian political system.

One of the major handicaps of Indian democracy is the poor education of people. Certain political parties are adverse in opening more schools for the education of children particularly the girl children. Youngsters, apart from working in sensible political parties, can form voluntary groups to educate, and inspire the people to compulsorily go to the polling stations on the day of elections. They can also bring to light the hypocrisy of pretentious cultural leaders who stood against election procedure.

Gopalaswami’s proposal is in tune with the dreams of former President APJ Abdul Kalam that some productive change should take place if youngsters have a leading role.

K A Solaman

MK-the assassin’s friend

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi is known for his creative work such as writing fictions and screen plays. As this art is purely based on fancies, at old age this ability may be deteriorated by memory loss. By saying Velupillai Prabhakaran is not a terrorist MK has shown symptoms of memory loss. How can a branded enemy of India become friend of Mr Karunanidhi? The sheer vote bank politics are taking one to dogs.

Prabhakaran is a cold- blooded assassin and is responsible for killing tens of thousands of innocent civilians within his country and outside. Even if Priyanka Gandhi absolves her father’s killer Prabhakaran for a few votes for Congress party and its allies the people of India could not sell their esteem by agreeing with Muthuvel Karunanidhi. Prabhakaran is an adversary of India and if Karunanidhi feels Prabhakaran as his friend, then it is impending to treat Karunanidhi for memory loss.

K A Solaman

Power shortage in Kerala

The power shortage is acute in Kerala . Though load shedding has been lifted, the time when power comes and goes is beyond anybody’s guess. Lifting of load shedding or its induction has become a political game and it has noting to do with the actual power shortage. The State Electricity Board is siphoning out money from its fund by giving channel ads performed by tinsel heroes. Cine artists playing in the ads without any sincerity in saving power has not influenced the customers. Still the board is spending money lavishly. The never ending rent of Rs 20 per month for faulty wattmeter installed in customers’ houses is a barbaric act.

Power saving is every citizen’s responsibility but even ministers do not care. The report collected under RTI act from ministers’ residences about power expense indicate their non-commitment in power saving. Power loss in distribution is huge but no concrete step has been taken by the Board in that direction. Every time, in government offices, all the lights are glowing in day time without any check. A well ventilated government office could put off light during day time but they glow lights after covering all windows with thick curtains. In all self financing professional colleges each class room is fitted with five fans and 5 electric tubes and are operated all the time as a show of their financial might. “I spent money and it is not my botheration to save power” is the attitude of college managers. .

As and when the government and the people think power as a personal property and not as a tool for political gain or vengeance, the situation may change.

K A Solaman

Political mud-slinging

The political culture in the country has changed very much during the past half a century. Our political leaders do not miss an opportunity to indulge in mud-slinging against their counterparts in other parties. All parties claim they are secular, but they openly stand behind the communal outfits. Caste and community factors play a major role in Indian politics and the leaders of these communal outfits often fail to think that people from other castes are also citizens of India with equal rights.

Some political parties led by aged politicians are not able to understand the aspirations of youngsters and never deliberate on the job openings available to them. There are many candidates with a criminal background contesting the polls.

K A SOLAMAN, Alappuzha, Kerala
Tuesday, April 21, 2009, The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Maoist threat

The CPM Politburo member Sitaram Yetchuri is seen not so lively, of late, in dealing with Maoists of doubtful character. Yetchuri has obviously given up his efforts to woo Maoists after his notorious visit to Nepal to form a ministry with Prachanda. Yetchuri now only understood Maoist brutality. They killed 18 people in Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa during the first phase of polling today and looted several electronic voting machines.
Maoist brutality in India is comparable to Al-Quaeda threat elsewhere in the world. The Union Government has not taken this threat seriously yet. And some regional parties too have role in spreading Maoist terrorism.

Nevertheless, no ruling political party is ready to accept the reality. They need only a few votes marked in the voting machine to continue their rule. Only corruption-free, transparent and responsible government at the centre could end Maoist threat.

K A Solaman

Mudslinging by politicians.

Personal attack or rather insult is against the election code of conduct. However, even reputable politicians like Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and BJP Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani are attacking each other more harshly. It all happened with the Advani continually describing Manmohan Singh as a weak Prime Minister. Manmohan Singh who kept mum against Advanis insult all the time but finally reciprocated in the same coin

And when the war of words between the two top leaders continued unabated, the mid-level leaders too contributed their might in mutual mudslinging and the Election Commission which is bound to control all this rubbish remained a mute spectator. The voters of India still feel the absence of a person like T N Seshan on the top of Election Commission of India. Why leaders blame each other, the candidates too caught up in mutual mudslinging and personal attacks but no candidature was seen cancelled by the Election Commission for their condemnable act.

One thing the politicians obviously discarded is when surprise occurs on May 16, that is when votes are counted they have to swallow all the abuses for a possible coalition. The most shamed will be those from Kerala when the Congress and the CPI(M) would unite at New Delhi for a possible coalition.

K A Solaman

Politics of nonsense

The political set-up in the country has changed very much during the past half century and the leaders of political parties leave no chance to mudsling their counter parts in other parties. All parties claim they are secular but they openly stand behind the communal outfits. Caste and community play a major role in Indian politics and the leaders of these communal outfits often fail to think people from other castes are citizens of India with equal rights. The manifestoes of development of political parties are very conciliatory to read but what documented in them remain as such for all elections. Some political parties led by aged politicians are not able to comprehend the apprehensions of youth in the country and they never deliberate on the job openings of the youths. Our democracy has become a rare species to be preserved in reserves where ordinary people have little access. The number of criminals in the country has escalated and most of the candidates contesting in polls and hoodlums. The Judicial system in the country runs in snail pace and ordinary people are forced to think these courts and justice forums are only for the rich to play the hide and seek with their money. The criticism against judicial officers in the country is uncontrolled and no reckonable action has been taken to put an end for it. The celebrities, who are ignorant of burning problem of common man, are being fielded for elections are aimed only to exploit the poor and illiterate.

Could India expect ever a free and fair election with no fake voting, booth capture and intrusion of political thugs?

K A Solaman

Appeal to shoe makers

As shoe hurling has appreciated all over the world in enormous proportion it is high time to impose some stipulations in the manufacture of shoes. Shoe throwers are offered with gifts such as money and even brides I anticipate more and more people to come to the fray.
The first target of a hurled shoe was the former American president, George W. Bush and he being good acrobatic escaped the insult without a hit. The attacker, a reporter, has been punished with three years in prison. Another chappal attack was targeted at Pinarayi Vijayan, the Kerala secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Though the attack was missed the target the attacker was severely treated by the other comrades. A similar attack on the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao ended with the attacker being now under trial. Then a journalist lobbed a shoe at the Union home minister P Chidambaram and he being in the make of a Gandhi pardoned the hurler. The latest in this direction is the attack on the strong Prime Minister in the offing Advaniji but the target was missed. As shoe attacks attract media coverage, and attackers are well received in the public with cash and status these incidents tend to increase. Though the act is against the primary culture of India it is fast escalating in the country.

So, in the wake of more and more attacks, especially in India, my suggestion is: ask the shoe manufacturers to make light–weighed shoes so that the targets are not severely hurt. At a time of fast-food and no exercise, the embattled celebrities would not be able escape from shoe missiles as Bush and Chinese Premier did.

K A Solaman

Happy-go-lucky officers.

The polling booth and the constituency where I cast my vote on Thursday for Fifteenth General Election to the Parliament, is not a significant matter, nevertheless, the manner in which the polling officer asked me to do in the polling booth matters a lot. When I approached the second polling officer, he asked me to write my name on the register placed before him. As I was seen reluctant to write my name on the register instead of putting signature, the officer raised his voice and asked me to do as he said and seen worried about the delay of my ears. I, with my previous experience as Presiding officer, told the officer that it would be more convenient for me to put the signature as per the election rules than to write my name on the register. The officer was then seen annoyed and advised me to follow the footprints of my predecessors in the booth that all of them had written their name and it is quite pointless and obviously disturbing if I refuse to write my name. Still then I insisted on putting signature and refused to write my name on the register. I had not taken a mobile phone to polling station as per Election Commission stipulation, but many were seen with that gadget. As I do not keep the habit of hiring a mobile phone I was not able to contact Election Observers to tell them about my difficulty in the booth. However, may be noting my weight and height the officer finally heeded to my stance.

The stuff is all voters in that booth have only names and none possess a signature. The register of my polling station contains only names except my signature and a few thumb impressions of the blind and the illiterates. This I say because election has to be completed in a few more States in subsequent phases and there are happy-go-lucky officers.

K A Solaman

Slippery ordeal

The first target of a hurled shoe was the former American president, George W. Bush. The attacker, a reporter, has been punished with three years in prison. Another chappal attack was targeted at Pinarayi Vijayan, the Kerala secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The attacker was severely treated by the other comrades. A similar attack on the Chinese prime minister ended with the attacker being now under trial. Then a journalist lobbed a shoe at the Union home minister. As shoe attacks attract media coverage, these incidents tend to increase. But such an act is against the basic culture of India. No one has a right to pardon the offender. If he is not punished, his act will send out wrong signals to others.

K.A. Solaman, Alappuzha, Kerala
The Telegraph, Calcutta, Thursday , April 16 , 2009

Not an aggressive outburst

Lalu Prasad has now been issued a notice by the Election Commission for his public remarks on Varun Gandhi’s speech against Muslims. It is perhaps wiser to take Prasad’s comment as a joke, and not as a literal promise for action. It is only a veteran politician’s humorous response to an improper statement by an immature politician who could one day become India’s prime minister. Lalu’s remark is perhaps in tune with what ordinary, right-thinking people feel about unnecessarily aggressive outbursts. Further, “barking dogs seldom bite”. If you want to kill somebody, would you announce it in advance?

K.A. Solaman, Alappuzha, Kerala
The Telegraph, Kolkota April 11,2009

Must set an example

Home Minister P Chidambaram must not pardon Mr Jarnail Singh for his shocking behaviour. If the offender goes scot-free, it will encourage many others to partake in similar shenanigans in future. One may laud Mr Chidambaram for forgiving the scribe, but a strong precedent needs to be set here to prevent repeats of such untoward incidents.

KA Solaman

The Pioneer, New Delhi Dated 9 April 09

Chidambaram making Gandhi

Home Minister P Chidambaram too has been elevated to position of shoe attack recipients. The first one was former US President George W Bush. He has been attacked with a shoe by an Al-Baghdadia television reporter. The reporter was punished for three years in prison. The second conspicuous chappal attack was Pinarayi Vijayan, the Kerala State Secretary of CPM. The attacker was his own comrade and was severely hustled by other comrades. Third one was against Chinese leader Wen jiao the attacker is under trial. And at the last a Sikh journalist lobbed a shoe towards Home Minister P Chidambaram at a press conference in New Delhi.

As shoe attacks catch good media coverage the type of incidents increases day by day. Nevertheless it is categorically to be put that shoe attack against Home Minister Chidambaram is an oafish act and against the basic culture of India. As the action of the reporter is heinous Mr Chidambaram or Congress party has no right to pardon him. If the offender is not punished under law it would sent wrong signals to others. It is undesirable Chidambaram making himself a Gandhi by saying:” Please take him away, gently, gently, gently, doesn't matter, please settle down, please settle down" to save the attacker free from criminal act.

K A Solaman

Lalu’ comment on Varun

This refers to the report, “I would have crushed Varun under a roller: Lalu. It is wiser to think Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav’s comment as a joke. It doesn’t mean that he is going to undertake that cruel act. It is only a veteran politician’s humorous gesticulation to qualify an improper statement by an immature politician who would once become the Prime Minister or President of the country. Lalu’s remark is only an expression in tune with that of ordinary right thinking people towards superfluous outbursts. Furthermore ‘barking dogs seldom bite.’. If anyone wants to kill anyone, would he say it in advance?

Isaac wants Antony clear!

Kerala Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac wants Defence Minister A.K. Antony to come clear in the Israel arms deal. Dr. Isaac says Antony is the prime accused in the deal and there would be no credibility if the accused himself was to be the judge. This statement is same as one made by the UDF leaders that Pinarayi is the prime accused in the Lavalin deal and he often figures as its judge.

And one has point out is that when Isaac emerges as new saint in the LDF, he absconded from all previous allegations leveled against him. For instance, when the ‘Padom’ publishers accused Isaac for his alleged involvement in selling Kerala’ s resource map to foreigners for a price he deliberately kept mum. The UPA coalition may be the sole reason for not investigating Isaac’s dubious connection with the foreign hands. Isaac friendship with Richard Franky was a serious allegation against him with in his party but it did not gather momentum due to group equations. Isaac’s collusion with gold merchants in the state has reduced state’s revenue.

So, Dr. Isaac should answer those questions posed to him before asking Antony to answer such questions..

Loud speakers not allowed on moving vehicles

Election candidates and political parties are seen to be ignorant of the use loud speakers when vehicle is on the move while campaigning. They are not permitted to do so. This I write in the context of dispute between election officials on the use of loud speakers on moving vehicles. If any such incident is reported, such vehicle will be seized immediately and this is the latest regulation imposed by the Election Commission in the pretext of the present polls. All Regional Transport Officers have given strict instructions in this direction.

I request the Kerala Election Commissioner to issue fresh orders in this direction as political leaders pretend to be ignorant of it.

K A Solaman

India’s wealth in foreign banks

BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Advani's call to take back from foreign banks, especially the Swiss banks, the money deposited by Sonia Gandhi and other leaders is interesting. Does it mean that no BJP leaders have any benami account in Swiss bank? Quite unbelievable! Here in Kerala leaders and their sons of splinter parties have questioning accounts in Swiss banks and are known for many. By making it a poll issue Advani has brought his on party leaders in trouble.

Let the people see the names of account holders in Swiss banks when the Bank discloses the names. I hope the pressure on Swiss Bank by the United States to disclose their account holders with unlawful wealth would help to bring out the names of country’s politicians in camouflage.

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