Onion price

The increase in onion prices has helped the merchants of Kerala make a quick buck. On the morning of December 20, the price of onion was Rs 50 per kg. By evening, it had become Rs 80. Although onion is not essential for survival, some gourmands got into a panic over possible onion shortage, and a few unscrupulous merchants made full use of the opportunity. The government of Kerala acts with unwarranted enthusiasm on certain matters, and goes into hibernation on some others. While the office of the minister for food showed no interest in the onion shortage, it tried to sale uneatable items through civil supplies outlets.

The Central government at least tried to adopt suitable steps immediately after the price rise. The Kerala government, on the other hand, just sat on the matter. As a result, despite assurances from the concerned ministry that onion exports would be banned till January, and notwithstanding the 13 trucks of onion that arrived from Pakistan, vegetable vendors continue to quote any price they like for onions.


K.A. Solaman,
The Telegraph, Kolkatta Dated 24-12-10

Leader K Karunakaran

End of an era

Leader K Karunakaran is no more. It is the end of an era for a man who had been possibly the most perceptible political idol of Kerala for more than 60 years. He was known for qualities like fighting strength, political smartness and managerial capability. The projects like the international airport at Nedumbassery, the Kayamkulam power project, the Guruvayur railway line and the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Kochi are his contributions. The most distressing event in his life is the custodial killing of Rajan by Kerala police under his rule, and Rajan’s father Eachara Warrier’s tireless fight for justice for his deceased son.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express published on 25 Dec 2010

Ask her to say Dimithri

Of late the name ‘Drithrashter' is one of the most sought words in the edit page of the New Indian Express daily and one of its readers Nebu George, Pottamkulam(?)(NIE Dec23) argues that not only boozers but his teetotaller wife is also unable to pronounce the name Dritharashter. Then ask her to say Dimithri Medvedev.

Interestingly, along with other places, in Pottamkulam too, husbands are every so often misguided by their faithful wives.

K A Solaman

Bilateral exchange

A leading journalist Malayalam in his weekly column suggests a way to identify boozers by asking them to speak the name “Dritharashter”. As a bilateral exchange and a courtesy gesture when the Russian P M visiting India, why can’t he replace Drithrashter by the name “Dimithri Medvedev”?

K A Solaman

Onion price hike.

Onion price hike has helped Kerala merchants to book some quick bucks. The Monday morning onion price of Rs 50 has elevated Rs 80 a kg in the evening. Though not an essential commodity for survival of man some taste seekers got panic over onion shortage and then a few unscrupulous merchants made it an opportunity. The government which is bound to act suddenly hibernates over other things. The Kerala Food Minister’s office showing no interest on onion shortage contemplates over the sale of uneatable items through civil supplies outlets. It has been identified that 24 items sold by Kerala Civil Supplies stores are n not suited for consumption.

While the Centre Government moved into action immediately the Kerala State government has not taken it as an issue. And when the Commerce and Industry Ministry says the country has enough stocks of onion and going to get more from Pakistan for a price of Rs 18, the huge price now collected by vegetable merchants is doubtful. The common people should keep out for a little from the onion market so that onion now available with the greedy merchants must be allowed to decay.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express 23-12-10

When CEOs come calling

A visit by the head of a foreign country is an indication of the host country's might. The US President, Mr Barack Obama, recently visited India along with several corporate heads. Then came the Chinese Prime Minister with numerous businessmen.
These CEOs have done enough mathematics for their business ties with India. Interestingly these visits are for getting something from India, and not letting India gain something from them.

China has proposed to establish more bank branches in India and it would be thoroughly pleasing for the Left in the country.

K.A. Solaman
Alappuzha
The Hindu Business Line, Dated 21 Dec 2010

Inebriated MLAs in Kerala Assembly

Quite witty to hear news of Kerala State Health Minister P K Sreemathy identifying legislators attending the State assembly in an inebriated state. And with what device she has done this splendid job is a big question. When Kerala police trying hard to identify boozers on driving seats with breathe analyser it is amazing to see Minister’s ability to detect the drunkards without any modern gadgets. Does one believe that five-time veteran MLA P C George criticising Sreemathy sharply is a certification of her findings?

A person working in a peeling shed smells shrimp all time,even if bathed with Fiama soap. Likewise, may be due to the frequent visits in hospital wards under her department Sreemathy might have felt the smell of surgical spirit in Assembly hall too.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express, 21 Dec 2010

Indecent dress by youths

The attempt by the Chavakkad police to curb the younger generation's indecent dressing is praiseworthy. Many youngsters, misled by tinsel world heroes and heroines, wear low waste jeans and inadequate garments. Wearing low waist jeans exposing underwear and lower part of one’s body is a loathsome scene. But how the police is going to tackle the situation is an issue. Imposing fine or beating them in public is not at all permissible.

K A Solaman

All teachers’ appointments should be done by the P S C.

Good news to hear that PSC would now carry out the appointments of staff in Universities in Kerala. The decision by the Cabinet is presumably in the backdrop of discrepancies relating to the appointment of the assistants at the university level. Why, then wait for appointment of teachers in University Departments by the P S C. Is it now alright with the appointments in University departments? Are the P S C members appointed on political basis are not competent enough to recruit to the teachers to the Departments.
All appointments including teachers of private colleges where salary is paid from State Exchequer should be transferred to the P S C. The private college managements should not be permitted to sale these posts for a price.
K A Solaman

Chinese banks in India

A country’s premier’s visit to any other world nation is an indication of its might. The US President Barrack Obama recently visited India along with 300 corporate heads. Now it is Chinese Prime Minister’s turn to visit India. He came to India 400 businessmen. These CEOs have done enough mathematics for their business ties with India.
Interestingly these visits are for getting something from India and not letting India to gain something from them. China has proposed to establish their bank branches in India and it would be thoroughly pleasing for the Left parties in the country. They are searching all the time for a safe place for bank upon and with the opening of Chinese banks they sorted out an apt place to put their money.

Will Chinese banks give interest to deposits or stick on the motto of Islamic banks?

K A Solaman

Not every thing smooth in S B I branch

This is for the first time I visit (Date 16-12-10, time 12.15noon) SBI Branch at X-Ray junction, Cherthala, Kerala and that is for taking a DD. I had also in mind an idea to open an SB account with the branch because it is a new branch and one of their outsourcers contacted me of late and enlightened about the advantage of opening an account with SBI. The lady at the front counter, possibly a last grade, told me to fill the application and submit to the next counter with cash. When approached the cash counter the woman at the counter told:
“Wait”, of course there was no other client
I asked “How long?”
“I don’t know”
“What shall I do then?”
“Go to some other branch and get the DD. The man in charge of the DD has gone out with source code”
“What is it?”
“It is none of your business”
“Will he return?”
“Ask the Manager.”
I returned and took DD from a Co-operative bank. The SBI lost Rs 25 as DD commission.

What I have to say is: not everything smooth with SBI. Make the X-Ray branch as Banjara Hills, Hyderabad model so that ordinary folk should never visit this branch.
Further I own a SBI life insurance of Rs 1.5 lakh (Does anyone need to know the Policy number?). I will dispose it soon. I need not require service of State Bank of India.

K A Solaman

Kerala e-governance

It is quite welcome to hear that the Kerala government is on the edge of launching the ‘e-district project’ that enables people to get various government services available online. And possibly bribe needed will also be in online.

The project is under the aegis of Kerala IT mission. Nevertheless, I have apprehension about the feasibility of the project. There was a power failure extending over six hours in and around, Cherthala on fourteenth and without power how does the e-governance work. So before jumping into IT, ensure uninterrupted power supply. It is meaningless to keep opened Technical Institutions, Info Park or what else without ensuring uninterrupted power. We need industries other than Inverter manufacturing.
K A Solaman

Cash crunchy K S F E

A senior citizen would think hereinafter, not twice, but thrice to put his hard earned money as FD with Kerala State Financial Enterprise Branch. It took three days for me to receive the pay out for a matured FD for Rs 50000 with the Enterprise. They permit only a maximum withdrawal of Rs 20000 in a day. If a man has Rs 10 lakh with KSFE as FD he has to walk almost a month to get back the amount in full. And if the money is intended for the marriage of his daughter he should fix a date after counting this lapse. Of course, the company asks its client to cooperate, may be because it is in a cash crunchy condition.

However, spending lavishly the Enterprise is on its way to modernisation. All the existing counters have been demolished and the employees of Cherthala main branch sit with their mouth and nostrils covered with hankie to save themselves from dust produced from modernisation. I wonder why ordinary citizens put their money with KSFE for an interest of 7.5% when the rural Co-operative banks issues 10% interest to senior citizens. May be due to the fact that Minister Thomas Isaac owned KSFE is a safer place to bank upon than Minister Sudhakarn owned Cooperative banks.

And, of course, these places are better than new generation banks where the money deposited dwindle due to some computer generated programmes incomprehensible to ordinary folks. An old woman who deposited Rs 10000 in Lord Krishna Bank, turned Centurion Bank of Punjab turned HDFC bank here when contacted after three years stood enthralled to hear that she has only Rs 7000 in her account. When asked about, the man in the counter elucidated not so courteously to the old woman that it is a computer generated programme to deduct Rs 1000 in a year from an inactive account and pointing to a cabin said: “there is a bulky man with a necktie, sleeping in the cabin and in case of any complaint ask him”.

K A Solaman

Horse riding on Kerala roads.

Finding the deplorable road conditions, one of the Judges of Kerala High Court recently opined the road journey in Kerala is like riding on horse. As my experience in horse riding is little I could not fully enjoy what the honourable evaluator meant. Last day I had a journey by bike from Hotel Karthiyayani, Ottappunna, Cherthala to X-ray junction. The experience was terrific and my friend’s bike got punctured. Then only he elucidated me the meaning of Justice’s comment.


The NH-47 portion from Ottappunna to X-ray junction, due to heavy traffic, is in a pathetic condition and the Alappuzha Ministers who are determined to make the backwater tourism a spectacular event are not travelling though this road. Would they make arrangement for tourists from US or elsewhere to be airlifted to Punnamada from their homeland?

The PWD department knew the dismal condition of this road but sits unmoved. It’s shocking to note the ministers who are bound to correct these adamant bureaucrats are otherwise busy with redundant needs of the foreign tourists.

K A Solaman

Overhaul in PSC appointment is long overdue.

Justice G S Singhvi’s finding that Public Service Commission heads of many states of India are fraudulent and inefficient, is an eye opener. Most of the chairmen and members are politically appointed and often they are the obedient servants of their political bosses. It is of sheer luck that a few bright candidates without money power are appointed in government posts. A thorough overhaul is long overdue especially the backdrop of job scam in Kerala.

K A Solaman

Man who married 11 women

The man who married eleven times in Kerala understood the crucial need of the State. The highly literate State with only 1000 men for 1058 women is a grim reality that the State Government, now struggling with job scam, till not addressed. The vociferous ministers who speak volumes on all subjects under the sun did not notice this and, of course, Thomson, the accused identified the crisis. Thanks to heaven, he only married and protected the women, and not killed them after robbing their possessions. All his wives may be asked their opinion before hanging this man if the law permits.
How could a highly diabetic and hyper tensioned man do all these mischievous acts and that too for a long span of time? Are there any clarifications in the available medical bulletins for this sort of abnormal behaviour?
Whatever it may be, the prevailing dowry system is a big handicap that the society to witness. Or else girls from poor families were not the targets.

K A Solaman

Job scam missile

Job scam has become as breather for Kerala CPM. The scam came in the setting of tensions between the two communist parties over Lavelin scores.
A woman and her father were arrested in Kerala's Kollam district Monday for stealing a government job with forged documents. They could now say that they would deal the case legally and, of course, politically as political outfits are involved in the scam. Police says there is a larger racket involved in the scam. Where from the police got this handy information without probing that much?
It is time for CPM to rejoice for the member of the CPI is being the key pin in the scam. A scud missile could be intercepted by a patriot missile. Likewise a Lavelin missile could be intercepted by job scam missile.

K A Solaman

Kerala PSC scam

Like in many other fields Kerala thus secured a unique position among other Indian States with appointment in government service by producing fake Joining order and advice memo of the Kerala Public Service Commission. If all were rotten, why the PSC alone dither from it?
I sympathise with those candidates applied for PSC test, studied much, travelled miles and spent a lot to get a berth the PSC rank list. Why the government restrict its enquiry in Revenue Department alone? Extend it Home and other departments, where there are apparently many without requisite qualifications. The legitimate village assistants and LD Clerks in Revenue Department would be viewed with suspicion hereinafter.
K A Solaman

Justice Chelameswar’s evocation

While admitting Kerala High Court Chief Justice J Chelameswar’s evocation that the evil system of corruption could be addressed only with people's initiative, I would like to add that it is not the lack of public initiative that spread corruption but it is the the snail speed of the Indian Judicial system. A delay for a decade or above for settling a dispute is the big handicap of the Indian Judicial system.

Consumer Redressal Forums set up for speedy disposal of cases are very slow in settling disputes and have become the havens of some greedy counsels. Even Presidents of these forums favour advocates’ assistance thereby denying the opportunity of the complainant to argue for himself. A counsel appearing for a client in a Forum costs at least a sum of Rs 5000 which is often unaffordable to many. It is my experience with Alappuzha District Consumer Redrassal Forum to wait more than a year to get the judgment of a disposed case. And public initiative in such occasion is a meaningless observation.

The huge number of pending cases in Kerala High Court is a clear indication of the snail space of the judicial system and it points out the rampant corruption in the society. When one approaches a court with a petition it is certain that some sort error has been committed by some one. If the court, that is bound to settle the dispute, brood on it for many years how it would be possible to reduce corruption. The Government itself could resolve many dispute without court interference, nevertheless, it has become the most involved litigator.

The solution is the only one. And that is the speedy disposal of cases with the active participation honest and able judicial officers.

K A Solaman

Wikileaks and Radia tape

Courageous people like Julian Assange are a necessity for the present age.
Wikileaks exposed the political pettiness and haughtiness of many world countries especially the US. While her husband once asked pardon for his personal mischief, now the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asks pardon for her country’s mistake. Wikileaks Editor Julian Assange is apparently a human rights fighter and hence the Interpol red alert to arrest him is unwarranted.

The Wikileaks and its inverse Indian parallel Radia tapes are in fact good materials to raise people’s curiosity.

K A Solaman

Continuing deadlock

Continuous disruption of Parliament points to the lack of political will among all political parties to ensure smooth governance. Why doesn't the UPA government agree to a JPC inquiry into the spectrum scam?

K.A. Solaman,

Alappuzha
The Hindu dated 29 Nov 2010

Asian games performance wonderful.

Guangzhou Asiad brought many accolades to India. The country created history by casketing best ever presentation in Asian Games with 64 medals, including a record 14 gold. India jumped to the sixth place from the previous tenth place in Doha with greatest ever heave of medals. The State of Kerala’s contribution is also remarkable. Congratulations to all.

K A Solaman

Corrupt parties, corrupt leaders

Continuous disruption of Parliament is an indication of the lack of will by all political parties in the country. Crores of rupees spent for making only disturbance in the Parliament sends no good message to the outside world. If it is BJP and Communist Party that stall the Parliament then why can’t the UPA Government allow a JPC inquiry for spectrum scam, especially when all such inquiries reach nowhere?
Regarding corruption whether it is Congress, CPM, BJP or DMK all are one and the same. If Delhi had the biggest scam of spectrum deal, Kerala’s CPM has SNC Lavalin and BJP leader Yeddyurappa has some illegal land. And it is foolish to argue that a corrupt Raja on resignation becomes corruption less Raja.
K A Solaman

Scams own country

The State of Kerala owns a dubious forename ‘gods own country’ though many things happen there are not in god’s lane. Likewise our country India can claim a new name ‘scams own country’ and that too not in the doubtful sense. Just after the notorious 2G spectrum scam siphoning 176000 crores, and many others now surfaced new one that can be coined as ‘housing loan scam’ involving a deal of Rs 1000 crore or more. It is quite alarming to note that half a dozen or more public sector banks have looted people’s money. The CBI has done an archetype job by unearthing the scam by a meticulous surveillance extending for a period of one year.

Those who found at fault should be put in prison and they should be permitted lead rest of their life with States’ own expense.

K A Solaman

Verdict against caste politics.

How miserably the politicians read the public mind, is evident from outbursts of Lalu Prasad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan a day before the election results in Bihar.
They claimed a big leap for them in the Bihar Election but unfortunately it was a big blow. NDA leader and CM Nitish Kumar has driven to a remarkable electoral feat by securing 84 percent of the seats in the Bihar Assembly. Lalu, Paswan et al can go to hibernation for next five years and the National Congress leaders have nothing to cheer. Who said the Bihar people are illiterate and are guided by malicious propaganda?

Those who fought the election on the basis of caste in Bihar had been defeated and it is a direct warning to those who resort to caste politics in rest of the country.

K A Solaman

Mani's tall claims- NIE

Opposition leader Ommen Chandy should fear more about K M Mani rather than Vayalar Ravi or A K Anton because Mani has started flexing muscles. He says that the results of local body elections in the state helped the party to emerge as a regional player.
In fact K M Mani is a communal player. K M Mani’s party has no existence if he fails to kiss the hands of the clergies. Mani’s claim is reason enough for other communal outfits to come out with similar points.

K A Solaman

The New Indian Express, Dated 23 Nov 2010

'Rathinirvedam' in the remake

The Malayalam Film industry is on its way to the worst. The latest in this direction is the remake of old adult only films. First of these species is "Neelathamara" remade last year.
Next is the remake of movie "Rathinirvedam" released 32 years ago. It is awfully repulsive to make alert the younger age band about the sex lessons of older generation.

There should be some legislation preventing all not to remake old films and remix time-tested film songs.

K A Solaman

Left Discord Front-LDF

Sir,

The LDF in Kerala has become a left discord front. The latest incident in this direction is the sharp criticisms by RSP General secretary TJ Chandrachoodan against the duplicitous submit of CPM State Secretary to project the defeat in the Kerala civic polls a silly matter. Until then the RSP State General Secretary Ramakrishna Pillai comes against his national secretary the statement of Chandrachoodan demands legality.

Chandrachoodan has identified the harmfulness of CPM attacking the church. The attitude of CPM leaders justifying the setbacks in the election is cheap gimmick, according to Choodan. Does it mean that Choodan’s party also aim an exit from the LDF? Is RSP following the way of Kerala Congress (J), Janata Dal (S) and the Indian national league?

The half a dozen party alliance has thus become two party coalition with CPM and CPI(who cares the party headed by Thettayil and Mathew T Thomas?). As the new CPI Secretary Chandrappan has no memory loss like his predecessor, the coalition will likely to end up with one party.

K A Solaman

Quick bucks for private colleges!

Many of the affiliated colleges in Kerala are in killing spree in disguise for the appointment of teachers to their various faculties. One of the major handicaps the managements face with, is the lack of NET/JRF qualified candidates with liquid cash in tune with 20 or 30 lakhs. Then, came news from some flip-side doors of the UGC stating that candidates with M Phil can also apply for the posts. On hearing this there was a heavy rush for purchase of application forms from the office-counters of private colleges and it attracted some quick bucks to the managements. The managements were also happy of getting an immediate fortune without many hardships. If demand is high the auction amount is also high.

But unfortunately, soon arrived a clarification from the UGC that candidates should be NET qualified for appointment, sending the management to an immoderate despair. However, the Mundassery II of Kerala is contemplating to dilute the UGC stipulations in collusion with all gluttonous managements.

Will the Managements pay back the application money in tune with Rs 500 or 750 they collected from candidates for one-day clearance sale of application forms? Will the Government check up the rank lists of candidates waiting for appointment in these colleges? Is there any management in Kerala, still waiting to appoint from their lists because of non-compliance of candidates with adequate fund? Will the Government ask private college managements to publish the rank lists on their website, as PSC do, on the very next day after the interview? There should be some corroboration in the acts of private college managements in Kerala because salary to the privileged ones appointed in these colleges are paid from State exchequer.

K A Solaman

Fresh debate on lottery!

Debate on lottery by Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac and Congress MLA V D Sathhesan was a past story. Sneakily Satheesan has handed over his batten to Isaac’s own Cabinet head, the Chief Minister for a fresh debate. When Isaac argues it is Chief Minister’s attempt to protect the Central leaders, the Chief Minister stands in denial.

It is a matter of great relief to see that there is someone in the state to protect the illiterate poor from lottery looters and those who put red carpets to those lottery thugs. All lottery promoters and sellers except the handicapped and the aged hapless should be put in jail for making public nuisance.

K A Solaman

Good news from Myanmar

Report from Myanmar is a matter of relief for the rest of the world. Aung San Suu Kyi has been released by the military rulers of Myanmar. Presumably she could lead her party for the imminent Myanmar general election if the military rulers do not impose further restrictions. Most probably Myanmar’s calming posture by releasing Aung San Suu Kyi was the outcome of U S President Barack Obama stance on the issue. Obama has personally supported for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi during his recent visit to India.

It is good for Myanmar if the rulers of that country so decide to demonstrate faith in Democracy and thereby to avoid further diplomatic isolation from all world countries.

K A Solaman

Community policing at Mararikulam!

I fully agree with Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan.s comment that community participation is important to combat the growing threat of terrorism and ensuring law and order in the state.In fact, police displaying friendly temperament and compassion towards public is a dream of the society. Nevertheless, one cannot see any kind of community policing or empathy from the police at Mararikulam when the Presiding officer , with magisterial power, of booth number one of ward number ten of Mararikulam North Panchayat was brutally assaulted by local goons. The assaulted woman’s oral deposition alone is necessary to arrest the culprits, but the police was playing hide and seek all the time to rescue the perpetrators. Has the Election Commission no responsibility to protect the poll officials who are under attack from criminals?

If this is the approach of authority to ensure law and order the State it would take another decade to accomplish the concept of community policing. Law enforcers turning into mute spectators or law offenders are the blight of the present time.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express, 6 Nov 2010

Humble wish of a restless soul!

I wonder why Hindi film actor Dimple Kapadia needs to act alongside Mammootty in a Malayalam film. May be she wishes to become more young by acting along with Mammootty. I presume the ‘restless soul’ in her will not meet the requirement. Ms Kapadia can send her daughter, if she had one, to act with Mammootty as he prefers teen aged girls for the same. The Malayalam film-goers have created a good taste in viewing sixty plus stars acting with fair looking girls of tender age.

Further, Kapadia’s latest venture Bombay Mittai is not likely to get much fanfare in Kerala as there are only a few takers for the UP politician Amar Singh who acts against Dimple in the film.

K A Solaman

‘Poet from the gutters’ does not need ceremonial firing.

The ‘poet of the orphans’ has to wait one more day in cold storage for his last rites. Election to local bodies and the inconvenience of the cultural minister, are the reasons for the delay! Undoubtedly it is an insult to a dead man’s corpus. It is quite distressing to see that poet Ayyappan has to tranquilly wait to get opened his way to ‘ Santhikavadam’ and there from to eternal joy.

Hereinafter, celebrities who wish to die, die only after consultation with the cultural stalwarts of Kerala. Who said the ‘poet from the gutters’ need ceremonial firing from shot less guns?

K A Solaman

Peaceful election is a past story.

Both phases of civic poll in Kerala witnessed a high percentage of voter turn out. Thanks to fifty percent reservation given to women by the Act of Parliament. High turnout, however, doest not reflect the political consciousness of majority sector instead it reveals interest of women folk to become policy makers of local bodies. One hopes the entry of more women into politics may reduce rampant corruption in local bodies and result in a social change.

Nevertheless, the unprecedented disarray in polling stations does not give a clean chit to police force and election authorities who are bound to accomplish a peaceful election. Peaceful election in Kerala has become a past story.

K A Solaman

Try a reverse appeal, Mr Union MInister

Union Minister Vayalar Ravi, K C Venugopal M P, V D Satheesan, PT Thomas, A A Shukkur and even Shafi Parambil ask Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan to dismiss from the Cabinet Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac for allowing Megha Distributors to sell Bhutan lottery in Kerala illegally. Possibly this order may never materialize. Instead, for a plausible outcome of their demand they should ask Thomas Isaac to dismiss Achuthanandan from the Cabinet for unpredictably complying with the requirements of the future Marxist CM and his company.

K A Solaman

Nagaraja to craft a box-office hit!

Marketing temples and worship places using film actors has become a recent development. Latest in this direction is the visit of actor Mallika Sherawat at Mannarasala temple and it attracted much media coverage. She dons the role of a snake-woman in the forthcoming film ‘Hisss’. The Sree Nagaraja Temple at Mannarasala received a face lift with Sherawat’s visit and it is the responsibility of Mannarasala deity Nagaraja to make the film a box-office hit!.

Whether it is Chakalathukaavu, or Kandamangalm shrine, the temple committees arrange Naaripooja(women worship) with film actresses and look for a fortune. And this trend is likely to progress in future.

K A Solaman

Antony's son a hero!

It is highly interesting to see Defence Minister A.K. Antony's son Ajith Paul Antony is all set to make his debut as a hero in a Rs.15 crore multi-lingual film "Oberoi". In fact it is a wise decision by Antony’s son not to hurt his father by entering into politics. And when most politicians, even veterans, try hard to take their sons back into the party, Antony could take a sigh of relief as his son did not give him such botheration. Furthermore, it is unbearable for every father to see his son being shown up by fellow politicians in the long run for plum posts in the party.

Nevertheless, Ajith Paul should remember that tinsel world is murkier that politics and Antony, though Defence Minister, is not that much wise as some of his colleagues, to amass wealth for his son to play and lose in Malluwood.or elsewhere.

K A Solaman

Children of fake gurus!

Thousands of tiny tots on Vidyarambham day were taken to the world of letters on all parts of Kerala by gurus extending from literary luminaries, cultural leaders and eminent teachers. Interestingly some of the gurus were hard core politicians with wicked Saraswathi on their tongue (name one?). Will these children ever get through in life?

K A Solaman

All party charlatans

Charlatans who denounce the honorable High Court are present not only in Marxist party but in Congress too. For instance look at comment by KSU president Shafi parambil criticizing the directives issued by Kerala High Court. The court has asked the police to conduct an independent enquiry into the authenticity of students admitted in all aided schools. I can’t find anything wrong with court observation as almost all managements are corrupt in admission of students and appointment of teachers. Many school-college managements are conducting auction for selection of teachers.

At present there is no way to check the corrupt practices of school-college managements, They even prepare a dozen or more rank lists for appointment of teachers and their agents contact the candidates in person for demanding donation in tune with several lakhs. And if the stipulation is met the candidate is appointed. I blame those government nominees and subject experts who leap on knees before the corrupt managements and sign a dozen blank papers enabling the management to prepare rank lists as they wish. These managements keep several fake lists regarding students admitted to various classes.

Shafi Parmbil, unlike hardcore politicians, should show a little respect to judicial forums.

K A Solaman

Now it is Joseph’s turn to advise Pillai

Kerla Congress(B) Chairman R Balakrishna Pillai advises P J Joseph, Chairman of the other Kerala Congress faction that Joseph should have followed the example set by Manjalamkuzhy Ali, who relinquished his post as MLA while departing the LDF.
According to Pillai the merger of KC(Mani) and KC (Joseph) went against political morality.

Now it is the turn of Joseph to advise Pillai that the latter might have avoided his infamous fainting in the court room when an order to put him in jail, was passed. Honest persons speaking about morals are very interesting to listen in.

K A Solaman

Bhutan Government should identify a meaningful business other than lottery.

Like many other court cases, in Megha case too the Government of Kerala failed miserably. A few of the ministers also thronged for this outcome. The Division Bench dismissed the writ appeal too filed by the state government relating to the case. The result of the case is as expected.

However for Megha Distributors, it will be a tough time to sell their lottery tickets printed in Sivkasi or else where in the State. The lottery buyers have learned to recognize what is good and what is wrong about lottery business.

The Bhutan rulers should so decide not to buy a small fortune by hoodwinking the uneducated working class of the small state of Kerala. They should identify some meaningful businesses to bring properity to their country.

K A Solaman

Candidates, what is there to chuckle this much?

Malayalees know how to laugh publically out of nothing. If anyone has doubt, look at the innumerable posters of 70000 plus candidates in the fray for local bodies’ election in Kerala on October 23 and 25. All candidates in colorful costumes featuring on posters are ‘laughing at’ the public with wide-opened mouth. What is there to chuckle this much?

K A Solaman

Ready to serve?

A record number of 70,915 candidates are in the fray for the elections to the local bodies in Kerala to be held on October 23 and 25. Last time around, the number of candidates was 54,043. This time it has gone up by a whopping 16872. Most of the candidates are women. I wonder why these contestants are waiting for the outcome of an election. They can start serving the people right away.
The Statesman, Oct 13, 2010

Oasis in desert hurts a hapless woman

The hapless woman here is Ramlath, wife of Tamil film actor-choreographer Prabhu Deva and the oasis in desert for him is Nayanthara, an unmarried woman from Malayalam tinsel world who conquered Tamil film world. It may be true that actress and actor were doing a wedded life without marrying publically, nevertheless the pain that caused to Ramlath is far beyond any reckon.
The actor and actress have many well-wishers inside the country and outside and if the proposed ‘marriage in public’ materializes it will turn out as a matter of huge shame or both and they will be soon out from the tinsel world. Malayalis’ angel will likely to become devil among Tamilian households.

Nayanthara should understand pain that would have caused to Prabhu Deva’s wife Ramlath. Perhaps she may in the brink of utter despair as she could not judge what incident caused her more sorrow- the cancer death of her elder child or the merciless betrayal of her ‘faithful’ husband. Nayanthara should assume a Ramlath for a moment and contemplate if she could.

K A Solaman

Hotel Taj Malbar will be closed soon!

If this is the way for the management of Hotel Taj Malabar, Kochi to entertain its customers, no doubt the hotel will be closed in the immediate future. The hotel bill, incurred by Congress’s national spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who stayed in Kochi last week to argue lotteries case in favour of Santiago Martin, the don of South India’s lotteries lobby, is no longer a secret. The bill has been paid by the associate of Santiago Martin. Singhvi incurred a bill of Rs 15000 for the intake of ‘small’ alone! Truly a Gandhian disciple suited for the present day Congress party!

The details of Singhvi’s hotel expense should not have become an ‘open’ without the knowledge of hotel staff. Hence the staff member can be promoted for having he made a big publicity for the hotel!

K A Solaman

Magic course at Kerala University

It is highly interesting to see that Kerala University is to conduct magic courses as it has recognized courses conducted by the Magic Academy. In the initial stage, a 100-hour certificate course and a diploma course having 200 learning hours will be conducted.
When everything under the University, such as entrance examination, appointment of assistants, valuation, revaluation, results etc is part of pure magic what is the need for a separate magic course? The syllabus of the course namely the record of magic, science of magic, showmanship, close-up magic, trickery magic etc can be prepared by a close reading of the history of Kerala University.

K A Solaman

Clear-cut verdict

The most noteworthy feature of the much-awaited Allahabad High Court verdict is that it is a clear-cut one. The High Court ordered that the 70 acres of the disputed property should be split into three and distributed among the warring groups. And with its verdict the Court has eased the tension that might have likely to surface as an upshot of another way summed up verdict.
The verdict has established the dignity of the country’s secularism and highlighted the need for attempts to maintain harmony and peace.


K A Solaman

CBI endeavour admirable.

It took five years after the custodial death of Udayakumar,Thiruvananthapuram, for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file charge sheet indicting 14 policemen who tortured and killed Udayakumar. However the proceeding in the case by the CBI is admirable. It gives a clear warning to those criminals in police stations who are supposed to be the guardian angels of civic security in the State.

K A Solaman

Novel venture by Math

The willingness of the Mata Amritanandamayi Math to take up the responsibility of cleaning public places and constructing bathrooms and toilets in every town in the country is admirable. It is true that we are lagging much behind many other world countries regarding hygiene and public sanitation. The public awareness is too poor about the standard of cleanliness.
All local bodies and State Governments should support and cooperate with the new venture of Mata Amritanandamayi Math.

K A Solaman

Deal with separatists firmly

Any peace-loving person will be distressed to see the turn of events in the Kashmir valley. It is sad to see that the bigotry of fundamentalists has reached new heights.

The common people of Kashmir are living as refugees in their own country and the Kashmiri children have not been able to attend schools and colleges for the last three months. The Centre and the state should enlist the cooperation of all peace-loving people and try to resolve the Kashmir tangle.

The demand for withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Kashmir requires serious introspection. There is no problem in the country that cannot be solved through debate, dialogue and discussion across the table.

K.A. SOLAMAN,
The Tribune, Chandigarh, 23 Sept 2010

Resolving Kashmir issue

It is matter of sorrow to see the turn of events in the Kashmir Valley. That bigotry has reached new heights is indeed unfortunate.

The people of Kashmir are living like refugees in their own country. Children have not been able to attend school for close to three months. The Centre and the State government should sit together and work towards finding a solution.

K.A. Solaman, Alappuzha
The Hindu, Dated 22, September 10

Poor lottery buyers of Kerala

People of Kerala, of late, witnessed a comic debate on lottery by Kerala Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac and M L A V D Satheesan. All questions were asked by Isaac and Satheesan. No questions were answered by Satheesan and Isaac. They were replicating Santiyago Martin and Madhukumar Subba.
Poor lottery buyers of Kerala!


K A Solaman

Comic lottery debate.

Before the no win-no loose comic debate by T M Thomas Isaac and V D Satheesan I was of firm belief that it was Isaac and his party smeared in lottery sludge. And after the debate I convinced that the Congress too is a party in sharing the money looted by lottery mafia from common people. Santiyago Martin is a disreputable one but Manikumar Subba is a new name to me.

K A Solaman

T J Joseph is in the making of a ‘Thodupuzha Christ’

Dismissed professor of Newman College, Thodupuzha T J Joseph is in the making of a new ‘Christ of Thodupuzha’ by justifying his foolish act of setting up the blasphemous question paper. The argument of Joseph that the management has invented new story to punish him, is on the wrong footing. It is a routine practice of all institutions to get explanation from its employees who erred during their service time. And most often these explanations end with the phrase “feel sorry for the mistake that I had committed and it may be pardoned”. This is a file closing ritual where words find no meaning and the offender is never measured for further action. But enthused by the overwhelming support, from the so called human right crusaders and left wing teachers, who were seen absconding when religious fanatics craving for his blood, Joseph has turned against the church. Joseph has also found his gaffe as a golden opportunity to tick off the church, a recent trend in Kerala which emerged with the blessing of the Ruling Front. The Taliban and the Kerala Christian clergies are akin, according to a few godless party men!

Joseph now says he didn’t want the generosity of the church if he had to apologize for things he had not done. However, he admits that DTP operator of the college who printed the question, smiled at him on reading the question paper. Joseph would have also smiled then. If Joseph needs no generosity, would he accept donation from church that is put in his bank account published in a channel along with a request?

Remember “life is not measured by the number of breathes we take, but rather by the number of moments which take our breathes away”. Joseph has had enough moments in his life that took his breathes way. Don’t pursue further in this direction by thoughtless act. Whatever may be our minister’s claim about earning from lottery selling, it is too hard to subsist by selling lottery tickets alone. The ‘right activists and pacifiers’ will soon disappear into thin air, Mr Joseph. Ask your mother about what to do. The elders know much more about life than the educated.

K A Solaman

Should not have acted in this manner-The Telegraph

T.J. Joseph was grievously injured by fundamentalists for allegedly making a derogatory reference to the Prophet in a question paper. It is unfortunate that the Newman College management has now decided to dismiss the teacher. Christianity teaches people to forgive and be kind to one another. A college following such principles should not have acted in this manner.

K.A. Solaman
The Telegraph,Kolkata, 11 Sept 2010

Day of peace

The U S pastor who threatened to burn Quran on the 9/11 anniversary day should be put in jail. His act is divisive and highly condemnable. The day 9/11 should be observed as day of peace and harmony all over the globe.

K A Solaman
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Campaign against corruption by film stars.

While releasing the CD of poems(?) written by G. Sudhakaran, Minister for Cooperation, Kerala, cine actor Mohanlal said Sudhakaran is not a corrupt minister. Does it mean that other ministers in the cabinet like Gurudasan, Thomas Isaac, Kodiyeri, M A Baby and P KSreemathy are corrupt? And if these ministers so fear that Mohanlal’s endorsement on Sudhakaran gives a wrong notion to the general public against them, they can also approach giga- mega-super stars like Mammootty, Suresh Gopi, Dileep, Jayaram, Prithviraj and others to get endorsed themselves so that they can also evade from corruption charges, if any, likely to occur in future.

A campaign against corruption by film stars is a novel shot.


K A Solaman

Ban lottery, ban spurious liquor.

Why the State Government in Kerala wait for action from Union Government to amend the Lotteries Act to save Kerala from the lottery steal when fake lotteries of the other states are sold here? Is there any connection for Union government with fake lotteries? The poor and less educated people who buy lottery tickets copiously have now realized that they are the victims of lottery mafia and that is why sale of other state lotteries in Kerala has come to a still. People now like cine actor Jagathy are hesitant to entertain and buy Bhutan or Sikkim tickets.

Inter-State lottery mafia under the guise of selling approved Bhutan and Sikkim lotteries are selling fake lotteries here and for that there is consent from ruling front bigwigs for reasons known to all.

The consumption of liquor and the mania for the lotteries are death traps for poor and ignorant people of Kerala and the Government that is bound to restrict it stand as a mute spectator. Common man is falling prey to this social evil and is spending all his hard earned money without caring children and the ailing old ones in homes. It is not campaigns and awareness programmes that are needed to check the danger but strict law enforcement is needed. By no means should other state lotteries be allowed in the state. If a few people are not able to sustain without lottery and liquor allow only state lottery and that too once in a week as practiced now and provide cheap and non-toxic liquor at beverages outlets.

K A Solaman

Poor people of Kerala are destined to die drinking hooch.

Poor people of Kerala are destined to die drinking hooch made and sold by guilty liquor mafias. The death of 22 persons due to liquor-poisoning in Malappuram district was a tragedy sponsored by Excise Department of Kerala. The tragedy of this sort will go on with if Government is to continue the nexus with liquor mafia.

It is known to all that several thousands of gallons of killer brew are being sold as toddy in all the districts of Kerala and it is meaningless to suspend sale of toddy in Malappuram alone. Instead toddy sale should be banned in all districts as the same toddy from Chittur, Palakkad is distributed in all the 14 districts. What people get to drink as toddy is poison, but the illiterate poor people think it is of no harm even if they die after drinking it.
It is awful to see the minister in charge Excise Mr Gurudasan has no guilt of conscience.

K A Solaman

Clergies of Newmann College are wise.

Wise men are like this. Create a controversy first and then solve. The Kothamangalam Diocese have take a well thought decision in dismissing the controversial question paper setter teacher T J Joseph anticipating that there would be widespread protest against their action. Then only the Management could withdraw their decision and reinstate the teacher in the college. The teacher T J Jospeh should show the patience to wait for some before approaching any court of justice for a decision in his favour. I firmly believe that the Management would take him back as they often pay attention to general public resentment. Clergies are not so adamant as some left leaders assert.

And it is an absolute necessity for the Management to have in written from T J Joseph that he would not indulge in such unsolicited matters in future.

K A Solaman

Greatest teaching of Jesus is forgotten.

Mahatma Gandhi University Syndicate revoked the suspension of Prof. T.J. Joseph. However, Newmann college management suspended him for the embarrassment created by his setting up of the controversial question paper. It is unfortunate on the part of Newmann College Management to go on with action leading to the dismissal of the teacher from the college. Prof Joseph has made apology to the general public and then why the management is so particular in further punishing him for what is called an appeasement from Muslim fanatics? ‘Forgive and be kind’ is the greatest Christian teaching and a college running on such principles has forgotten this teaching.

I fear the craving for getting 20-40 lakh as donation from a fresh recruit is the crucial issue for any management to throw away an incumbent staff member on an insignificant matteer

K A Solaman

‘Rabri Devis of Lalu ‘ will rule Kerala civic bodies

Welcome to hear that as many as 489 grama panchayats in Kerala will have women presidents once the elections to the three-tier local bodies are completed. This will make the role of women in administration quite significant. This 50 percent reservation for women would also reduce corruption in many local bodies.
However the major handicap is the discovery of suitable women for contesting the election. Most of the candidates will be ‘Rabris of Lalu’.

K A Solaman

Happy Onam to all world citizens!

Sack Pawar for dishonoring Apex Court order.

It is time to sack India’s Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar from his office for the scant regard shown by him towards Apex court order asking government to distribute food grain free of cost to the poorest. The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to distribute food grain free not to all people but to the poorest instead of allowing it to rot due to lack of storage facility. It cannot be ruled that there is rampant corruption in Public Distribution System (PDS) besides rotting of food grain in FCI godowns. Antodaya Anna Yojna, though aimed at BPL people, its purpose is not yet met.

If Pawar’s department is not able to implement SC order he along Minister of State K V Thomas should step-down from their posts and hand over charge to efficient leaders to implement the court order.

K A Solaman

Unattainable dream

After the spoilsport for about 10 years ruining Kerala Collegiate Education, the Government of Kerala has decided to sanction 1,599 posts of teachers in aided colleges in the State. All guest faculties working in various colleges now can search for other income building business like lottery selling or serving in petrol bunks. The aided college managements in Kerala are enthralled at the chunk of donation they likely to get from these 1599 appointments. Assuming Rs 50 lakh for single post private college managements in Kerala are likely to get about 800 crore rupees.

Is there any management in Kerala who appoint a candidate without a price? Is there any interview board constituted for these appointments do their duty without guilt of conscience? Has our Government machinery any mechanism to control the wide-spread corruption in these colleges? For poor and intelligent candidates with NET and Ph D, teaching in private aided colleges, where salary is paid from State exchequer, is a never realizable dream.

K A Solaman

The last judgment in Newmann college!

When the Mahatma Gandhi University Syndicate revoked the suspension of Prof. T.J. Joseph, who prepared the controversial question paper that resulted in his hand being chopped by fundamentalists, it is unfortunate on the part o Newmann College Management to go on with action leading to the dismissal of the teacher from the college. Prof Joseph has made apology to the general public and then why the management is so harsh in further punishing him? ‘Forgive and be kind’ is the greatest Christian teaching and a college running on such principles should never plunge into ulterior deeds.
I fear the craving for getting 20-40 lakh as donation from a fresh recruit is the crucial issue for any management to throw away an incumbent staff member on asinine matters.

K A Solaman

Media should report Tharoor’s next adventure too!

The former Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor is apprehensive over the media coverage given to him and Sunanda Pushkar. Who is Sunanda Pushkar? The media reports in April second week this year exposed that Sunanda was Tharoor’s fiancé and she had 18 percent stake in the Rendezvous consortium, new sponsor for IPL from Kochi. Tharoor then said he had no relation with Pushkar, but media reports said otherwise. Sunanda would be his third wife after Thilothama and Christa, according to media. Now it has been convincingly proved that what media reported was correct. Tharoor and Sunanda are about to marry and roaming from temple to temple to run off from the curses of his former wives and children.

Despite the fact that it is Tharoor’s freedom to keep his personal secrets intact he has to remember that he is an MP and has to stick on his words. Why tell off media for doing their duty? While ordinary people lead a contented life with one wife and one family their leaders running woman after women is matter of nosiness for many and media has the obligation to give what people need. Tharoor could, of course, keep on his soul searching with Sunanda Pushkar but never ask media to do this and that. And the media should never shy away from reporting possible adventures of Tharoor after Sunanda.

K A Solaman

Ban on roadside meetings

Seemingly any disapproval from the High Court to the LDF Government in Kerala is an added attraction for latter and its ministers continue reign the State without any sense of right and wrong.

Rejecting the review petition filed by the Government what the High Court observed was a severe bolt for the State Government. And when the court convinced that there was no need to review the earlier order, it is a foolish act for the Government to file appeal in the Supreme Court. The present HC verdict is for the people and any attempt to overthrow it by Ruling Front or Opposition is unreasonable.

K A Solaman

Poisoned stream

The high level of pollution in Kerala’s backwaters and lakes is the result of ill-planned farming practices. In Kuttanad, for instance, tons of pesticide are sprayed in the fields in the name of ‘crop protection’, without anyone realizing that the long-term damages outweigh the immediate benefits. Consequently, land, air and water have been contaminated and people forced to flee to other places. It has also been reported that pesticide pollution in Vembanad’s backwaters is higher than the bacterial pollution caused by the lack of proper sanitation in the area.

A paradigm shift is, therefore, required as far as the agricultural practices in Kerala are concerned. Perhaps switching to organic farming can improve the situation. A comprehensive action plan must be charted out to ensure that organic farming practices are strictly enforced across the state.


K.A. Solaman, The Telegraph 14Aug

Ranjini is a daring beauty.

All the Chivas Regal writers in the eastern side of Vembanadu lake are seen united and formed a fighting brigade. Just see the lines written by them on the 11th and the 12th in the Express against a woman anchor of a reality show. The letters of Titus, Nebu and Parackal are in the same tune and it is the fate of these seasoned boozers to get humiliated from a woman of substance. Ranjini is a daring beauty.

K A Solaman

The perverted old fox still finds the grapes sour

Re “Changed idea” by Dr Titus Sankaramangalam(TNIE Aug 12). Idea can change someone’s life some time, not always. The perverted old fox still finds the grapes sour. Why do watch substandard live shows in channels and comment on the sheep-legged woman? Let she do her trade with what is called the ‘munglish’. A practicing doctor can be otherwise busy with his usual intake of 120 ml Chivas Regal along with a pack of nuts.

K A Solaman

Jai Hind TV film awards

Megastar Mammootty(call him Gigastar-who cares?) has bagged the best actor award, superstar Mohanlal has won Chalachitra Ratna award, actor Prithviraj has won the youth icon award (does it mean Mammootty and Lal lost their youth?) , Dileep secured most popular actor award and Lakshmi Rai won most popular actress award. And all these awards are from Jaihind Channel, a channel, hardly ever viewed by Congress men in Kerala.

MM Hassan, the managing director of Jai Hind TV, who announced the name of the winners, knows rather well the advantage of keeping these stars inspired for benefits his party likely to receive in the oncoming election. The youth icon award to Prithiraj is very relevant as he made a successful effort in making a reverse love model with elder Aiswarya Rai in ‘Ravan’.

The tragic part of the whole award declaration event is that Thilakan, the ace thespian, ousted from AMMA, did not find any place among award winning performers.

K A Solaman

Pollution in Kerala water bodies.

High level of pollution in the backwaters and lakes in Kerala is due to the senseless mode of irrigation in most places. In Kuttanadu alone tons of pesticide are sprayed in fields for what is called crop protection, nevertheless, the damages made out of it outweigh the benefits. The atmosphere air along with water in lakes and rivers is contaminated and people with breathing disorder are forced to abandon the place. Pesticide pollution in Vembanad backwaters is higher when compared to contamination by bacterial pollution due to lack of proper sanitation. Irrational use of insect killer is the habit of some farmers in Kuttanadu and Palakkad and that results pollution in water bodies. A paradigm shift is, therefore, needed in the agriculture pattern of farmers. It is time to shift from present form of chemical farming to organic one.

A comprehensive action plan is to be foreseen for strict implementation of organic farming to save the water bodies in the State.

K A Solaman

Corporate marriage

Infosys founder Narayana Murthy's son Rohan Murthy has been engaged to Lakshmi Venu, the daughter of TVS Motor Managing Director Venu Srinivasan. The parents of Rohan and Lakshmi are very happy. The date of marriage is potted for the guess of all the professionals in both the companies. And one who guesses correctly the date will be given a trip to Silicon Valley along with one year salary in advance!

Hereafter Lakshmy can operate her Infosys laptop and Rohan can ride his TVS scooty!

K A Solaman

Panel of forgers.

The forged letters sent last week in the name of Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan asking Chidambaram not to consider granting Indian Police Service (IPS) cadre to state police officials reveal that it is not all well with Kerala police in tackling corruption. The Police force that is responsible for tackling corruption is also a source of corruption.

More interesting is the creators of forged letters do not even know the spelling of the word ‘panel’. It is printed ‘pannel’ instead of panel in the bogus letter. The makers of the letter who are able put the signatures Chief Minister and Home Minister must have to know the spelling of ‘panel’

K A Solaman

Medical management muddle

The argument that Education Minister M.A. Baby is responsible for the crisis in the professional education sector cannot be ruled out. All the eleven private medical college managements who collected huge capitation fee from students are about to pay back the money.

Medical education is a big business in Kerala where one could see a nexus between ruling political parties and the management association. The entrance examination conducted by the management association was always a farce, nevertheless, it continued with the blessing of the piebald rulers.
Whatever be the outcome of the present verdict of the HC, the Medical Management muddle will continue for a few years more. The Management greed will stop only when the parents convince that medical profession is not alone the best but there are a few others more worthy than that.

K A Solaman

BSNL in red for first time

The inevitable has happened. The Govt. of Indian owned company BSNL is in red for the first time. The loss of Rs 1,822.65 crore for fiscal 2009-10 is not alone due to hard competition from private players, but due to the callous attitude of its employees.

For quite long the land line users of this company were a dejected group because of the failure of service by the company. Every day at every minute innumerable complaints are registered about fault in the land line but they are not attended by the company. Most of the subscribers opted to mobile just because of the deficiency in service by the company. The worst is about to happen and the offices of this company would turn out as places of protest by trade unions and political outfits against the Central Government.

The BSNl could think of making profit by selling their land and property now at a high cost which were once procured at a throwaway price.

K A Solaman

Why ban mobiles in schools?

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

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

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

K ASolaman

Grave danger-The Telegraph daily

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

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


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

Lottery mafia

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

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

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

K A Solaman

Mangrove theme to make a lamb a dog.

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

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

K A Solaman

Powerful hands under mask

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

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

K A Solaman

Decode the mystery -the Satesman

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

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

Thilakan’s last resort

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

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

K A Solaman

Names for fake identity

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

K A Solaman

Boisterous behavior in Bihar Assembly

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

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

K A Solaman

Sainthia accident-a sabotage?

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

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


K A Solaman

Keralam vs Kerala-TNIE

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

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

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

Centre and Kerala -The Satesman

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

k a solaman, the statesman dated 17 july 10

Poor posture by Kodiyeri and Mullappally.

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

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

Happy secret

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

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

Maoists blow up Orissa school building

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

K A Solaman

Putting hassles to the public without toiling much

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

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

K A Solaman

Dhoni's marriage-no heartbreaks?

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

K A Solaman

Brutal act by hard core fanatics

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

K A Solaman

Legal protection for campus politics

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

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

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

K A Solaman

Roll back the petrol price hike

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

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

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

K.A. SOLAMAN,Kaithakkal, Kerala

The Tribune, Chandigarh 30 June 2010

Unjust hike- The Telegraph

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

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