India-France Nuclear treaty..tilting the global power balance

India has made the much awaited entry in to the world of nuclear trade. Ironically, France has beaten USA to the inking of the bilateral treaty with the most lucrative market.

 Let us hope that the nuclear trade would stand the nation in good stead as India looks to take over the centre stage from western countries.  Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh’s statement that India and China have to take the initiative to rescue the world from the financial chaos resulting from US economic crisis signals the imminent shift in global political and economic power balance.

Holy festival of Id

May the almighty bring solace and strength to each one of us…. Id Mubarak….

Poverty denies honour for the dead....

Often, we come across news reports about sick people who are in need of financial and social help. It is heartening to note that these reports do elicit positive response. We do have kind people willing to help those in need and who are humane enough to be a human being. Still, there are unheard cries, unanswered pleas and shelterless lives…

 Yesterday’s Malayala Manorama had a report about a mother who was so poor that she could not afford the cost of funeral for her dead son. The son had been under treatment for some months and his leg was amputated as part of the treatment. At last, death caught up with him, perhaps relieving him of the hardships that he was enduring among us. The mother did not have any money with her and was unable to bear the costs of a funeral. She had no option other than to donate the dead body of her dear son to the medical college. The picture of the sobbing mother in the newspaper was heart breaking. I am at a loss for words….

 As usual, I am angry about the lack of proper social security system in our country. The absence of any system that would give help to the needy when it is needed the most. I am also angry at the rich religious institutions and religious out fits that spend so much on propaganda, political parties that have enough money to have their own television channels, recreation parks and resorts, extra rich citizens who spend millions on their homes…  

 I guess these would be good excuses for me to exonerate myself. Each one of us need to come up with reasons why we cannot help those in need, while on the other hand we find enough reasons and resources to keep celebrating Onam, Ramadan, Christmas etc in all its splendor.

 May be it is these forced smiles and routine celebrations that keep us going.. If we start looking at the stark realities, it may be too over powering for brittle souls like us…

Overtime for strikes...

The Kerala education minister Mr.M.A.Baby has appealed to the student’s organizations not to disrupt the classes by conducting strikes and protest marches. His suggestion is to hold the processions and strikes after school hours.

 This is indeed a very welcome appeal. The CPIM leader has shown courage and vision to come forward with such an advice. The question is, will this appeal be taken seriously by the concerned organizations? Recently, CPIM state supremo  Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan appealed to the trade unions in the state to stop charging nokku kooli(a typical communist innovation that allows workers to charge for a work being done by a machine or some other persons, which otherwise may have been done by the registered workers) from the common man. Some ministers also echoed the thoughts, but without much effect on the grassroots level. Nevertheless, Mr.Baby’s appeal is a significant one. It would be interesting to note whether the leader would stick to this line of thought after the CPIM becomes the opposition party.

 The same idea could be used in industrial sector also. The strikes that are all too common in almost all sectors of our economy(except for IT as of now), is often affecting the financial productivity of the country as such, Why can’t the protests take place after working hours in a peaceful manner? 

Recurring blasts...

There has been another bomb blast in the national capital on Saturday, 27 September 2008. This one seems to lack the detailed planning and precise nature that seems to have gone in to other recent blasts across the country. There are reasons to suspect that the bomb might have exploded accidentally at a time and place that was not exactly planned beforehand. Be as it may, it does not provide any solace to the common man. The blasts seem to have become a routine affair, something to expect almost every other week end.

 As far as the terrorised citizens are concerned, this blast is yet another reminder that the security situation in the country is worse than ever before. The least that the home minister should do is to accept the moral responsibility for the nightmarish atmosphere, and put in his papers. But, it would be a surprise if the Congress party and the Government would be willing to demand the resignation. After all, the grand old party of Indian politics has played a very significant role in lowering the standards of Indian polity from those high benchmarks set by its own pre-independence stalwarts. A very sorry state of affairs indeed...

Media – the super cop

The evolution of Indian news channels has indeed been a big story in itself. But, over the years, is our media turning more and more insensitive and judgmental?

 The cut throat competition among the channels is often driving them to take up a more pro-active role in the society. The sting operations have over the time lost the credibility to a large extent, though they still retain the shock value.

 But, the way in which the media is taking up judgmental tone is disturbing to a casual audience. This aspect is amply seen in the coverage of the Arushi murder case. The media is so much obsessed with the sensational case that it acts like a super authority, dissecting each and every move of the investigating agencies. It is true that the investigating agencies have been anything but professional in their conduct. Still, the question remains as to where the lines should be drawn for a media obsessed with ‘breaking news’. These days, the investigation in to the recent bomb blasts is also being handled in the same insensitive manner.  Each arrest, each claim and revelations by the police force of different states is being judged upon by these channels.

 If a case has already been fully investigated and the report by the investigating agency has been submitted to the competent authority, there is room for analyzing and debating the same. But, when the investigations are far from over, isn’t it for the courts to examine the evidence and verify the truth of the findings made by the police?

 The media should limit itself to reporting the progress of the investigation. They have no right to sit on judgment as to whether a person is guilty or not. 

The Delhi blasts…

Terror strikes again with Delhi being ripped apart in a series of blasts on Saturday evening.

 Are we becoming used to the horror? As the terror keeps striking at will, are we as a nation becoming increasingly reconciled to the fact that security does not seem to be a strong point of our administrative system? Is it the bravery and resilience of the people or the sheer helplessness and realization that we have to live with the terror that keeps us going?  

India ready to do nuclear shopping…

India has succeeded in getting the NSG waiver for doing nuclear business with USA. This is a great achievement and could be regarded as the proof of India’s growing clout in global space.

 There are still many questions that need to be answered and the nuclear deal in its entirety has to be explained to the common man of this country in much simpler terms. For instance, what would be the cost of energy production using nuclear technology, and more importantly, who will bear the extra cost. A common man would be more interested in aspects as these, rather than the nuances of the international politics.

 It is truly a path breaking achievement and one can only hope that the benefits that come out of this deal would help the average Indian to better his life.

The ultimate mallu festival - Onam

Onam is here.. Today, the grand Onam festival has been kicked off by Athaghosham and Athachamayam in the Royal town of Kerala, Thripunithura.

 This is a time when Keralites are reeling under unprecedented price rise, not only in consumer good, but also in bus fares, electricity charges and an impending water price rise. The failed monsoon,load shedding, power cut and monthly ritual of Harthals that continue to disrupt normal life does not do much to inspire festive atmosphere.

 Still, it is the perseverance, strong cultural roots and ever optimistic attitude of mallus that make the occasion so memorable and nostalgic. This year, Onam coincides with Ramadan month.

 Here is wishing all a Happy Onam….