Mallus should be worried..

As days, months and years fly by, we the Mallus, are left stranded on the path to nowhere. The rulers and the public ignored the early warnings which could have prevented most of the major terror attacks that rocked this nation in recent years. Even now, when it is obvious that God’s own Country has fallen prey to Devil’s plans to annihilate India, we fail to take corrective measures. We leave too much to chance and are yet to wake up to the catastrophe that awaits us. The polity that successfully shielded the terror modules continue to reduce the various investigations into a mere farce focused on a highly controversial fundamentalist leader and his family. Everyone knows that the rut runs much deeper, a fact that is the main obstacle in the road to justice and national security.

Another disturbing aspect of Mallu life that is sure to blow up in coming months and years is our love-hate relationship with neighbour Tamil Nadu. Mullaperiyar issue has been dragging for far too long. It is a colossal failure on the part of judiciary as well that the issue is nowhere near a solution. One can only thank the Almighty that the old dam is holding on, though in a precarious position. Today, violence erupted in a border village in Trivandrum over the issue of collecting water for domestic purposes from a pipe that is inside TN territory. Vaiko has threatened to block all goods transport that comes into Kerala from Tamil Nadu if Kerala does not yield to TN stand on Mullaperiyar. That would indeed be a brilliant move, considering that wise Mallus have reduced themselves to a position where we are totally dependent on TN for food supplies. Mallu leaders are simply incapable of bargaining for Kerala’s demands unlike their counterparts from TN and other states.

Where will we be 50 years from now? Mallus should be worried...

Back to home town...

After an interval of over six years, I am back at my hometown Kochi. Another twist in the tale for me, and as my favourite star Mammootty said in the block buster Big B, “Kochi is not the old one. But, I am still the same old guy.”

The city is trying desperately to expand in all directions and is becoming more metropolitan in the process. While earlier the immigrants were limited to certain pockets and the heart of the city, these days we come across people from outside Kochi and Kerala at almost every small junction in Ernakulam district. The city is showcasing itself as “The most desirable residential address in Kerala”, which I don’t approve of. Still it is obvious that if you are in Kerala, Kochi is the place to be.

The traffic congestion has only gotten worse over the years and continued negligence by the civic authorities has ensured that mosquitoes, civic hygiene and waste disposal are worse than ever. The movie halls continue to test the patience of viewers with two or three power failures each show!! The promised bus stand is still to materialise and the LDF Government has successfully sent the Smart City Project to hibernation. Metro rail and other infrastructural projects that should have been implemented over a decade ago are still being debated, planned, re-planned, scrapped, and implemented?????

Just like me, Kochiites have also retained their skill to get used to any conditions and live on. They still manage to put on a smile where many others would have simply collapsed. Way to go dear Kochi....

Will we ever learn our lessons??

As voters in three assembly constituencies from Kerala go to the polling booths to elect their new representatives, I can’t but worry about the futility of such an exercise. In spite of being a staunch believer in democracy I must admit that the Indian version of it is certainly giving me more reasons to be sceptical about it. Having said so, I cannot even imagine the plight of citizens in other countries around the globe that don’t even have a semblance of democracy to talk about.

What keeps troubling me time and again is the total apathy and lack of accountability that we see so often in Indian political and administrative system. One could always argue that it is but a reflection of the society at large, but that is beside the point.

An enormous mishap like that of Thekkady could not help us be a little more cautious and Areekkad occurred. Nothing really changed in between, not even the psyche of the common man. We had a series of road accidents some years ago in which the vehicles involved (mostly buses) caught fire. This saw stricter implementation of laws regarding emergency exit doors, only to be forgotten about sometime later. How many buses still have emergency doors that actually work?

The tragedy at Uphaar movie theatre at Delhi caused such uproar across the country. But many of the big buildings across the nations still have fire exits that are redundant and stairways that are wide enough to allow only two or three people to get out at one time.

As star politicians crisscross the country in search of dilapidated mud homes and starving families that could host them for the night and demonstrate their pathetic existence to him, the same old story keeps repeating. What a sad plight for the common man in the world’s largest democracy...

The Law of diminishing credibility..

In a world that thrives on symbolism and hollow words the danger of tokenism replacing real effort is very much on the rise. The Nobel Peace Prize being given to the US President Obama has sparked off a debate in the contemporary world, and rightly so. Obama rightly recognised the award “as a call to action” rather than as a reward for past accomplishments. Still, I think such prestigious and globally acclaimed awards need to be conferred for past accomplishments and not as a motivational prize.

The absence of a phenomenon known as The Mahatma among the list of awardees speaks volumes about the relevance and logic of Nobel Peace Prize. For, most of the time an award is a decoration for the recipient and only rarely it is the other way around.

Some musings on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti...

October 2^nd is a day when the nation remembers the Great Mahatma. Year after year various functions are held across the country, speeches are made and the lack of Gandhian values on contemporary world is lamented with strong words.

Like all Indians, I too learned about Gandhiji when I was in school. But I got a better glimpse of the phenomenon called the Mahatma several years later, when I had the opportunity to read his autobiography, ‘My Experiments with Truth’.

At this point of time, Gandhiji’s ideals and teachings are very much relevant. Perhaps the most basic of them all, that of being accountable in public life is the one that needs to be rejuvenated if India and the world at large is to progress. The way I understand it, Bapu’s idea of being accountable is not the mere’ resignation owning moral responsibility’ when something goes wrong (which in itself is so rare these days). It is more about owning up responsibility, taking corrective actions with well laid out targets and time lines and then report the results to the common man.

I must admit this line of thought is more like a prelude to my next post, to be out shortly...

The fiasco in BJP

The situation that BJP is in at this point of time can only be described as a BIG MESS. But I am not surprised that things came to such a dismal state. Once the party failed to find an alternative to take over as the opposition leader from Advani, it was clear that something will give way sooner or later. But, the Jaswant saga came as a shock. While the way he was expelled leaves a lot to be desired as far as party democracy is concerned, I believe it was high time the party started taking discipline seriously. Remember the days when BJP used to be a ‘party with a difference’. Having said so, the party cannot be seen to have different yardsticks for different people.

No, I am not talking about the old Jinna episode triggered by Advani himself. I am talking about the sudden rush of messiahs and repentant old men from in and around the party. I understand there is a generation of party men who were in line for the top jobs after Vajpayee-Advani era. Now that it is clear that none of them will ever make it to the top post unless the BJP is hell bent upon political suicide, they have chosen to vent their frustrations in the open. In an era where anyone is guaranteed more than a fair share of limelight on national TV, provided they have some sorry tale to say, these guys manage to cause more trouble than is acceptable.

After being in the power and enjoying the perks that come along, these worthy souls don’t think twice about denouncing all that they professed over the decades. What a sorry state for any man to be in!! I just hope the BJP will get its act right and transfer the leadership to the younger generation at the next available opportunity. The country needs a stable and responsible opposition just as it needs a stable government.

The routine of life in mallu land..

Every year from January to April we witness the government departments flooding the money allocated to them in the annual plan outlay down the drain, with very little to show for it. Especially in the last three months of very financial year, these mandarins manage to spend more than 60% of what the total allocation. Needless to say, this smacks of criminal negligence on the part of officers who are supposed to implement different projects in a time bound manner all through the year. As for the ministers, we know very well they are not really capable of doing much other than making atrocious and often indecent comments at the slightest provocation and wasting public money on decorating the ministerial bungalows. There are some good ministers in the cabinet, but they are the exceptions rather than the rule.

Then from May to August-September, we have the grand spectacle of the Government, so called socio-religious organizations and other managements and the officials playing with the future of our next generation in education arena. The shameless bargaining which made the current defence minister of India A.K.Antony wail about the callousness of the religious institutions in the state is getting more and more brazen. As usual, our ministers and officials manage to look as stupid and idiotic as ever and in the process our children and parents are subjected to the worse possible harassment especially those seeking professional education in the state.

Then we have the yearly floods in our towns and cities, every time the rain pours down. We allow the water to stagnate and spread all kinds of epidemics and more havoc. Come summer and we rue the water scarcity, which was unheard of even in the late 1980s in this state blessed with 44 rivers. Having mined out vast quantities of sand in the most unscientific manner possible, we pay for our greed as the rivers die up and are reduced to nothing more than a barren stretch of rocks and torn earth in the summer. We never care about saving the water that floods our state in the rain. As a result we have the power cuts and famine in summer.

Our roads are in a very pathetic state throughout the year (except for the two months after the nominal maintenance job). In fact our small state is pushing the record books in terms of number of accidents and accidental deaths in a calendar year. The list could go on and on and on...

Nothing changes, including our voting pattern (we keep alternating between the two political fronts – and every time the incumbent manages to antagonize us completely within the first two and a half years of its stint). What hope is there for this beautiful little state of ours?

Whatever happened to the Kerala model?

The happenings in God’s own country are frustrating to say the least. Life seems to be going around in circles while the rest of the world marches ahead. The frustrating part is that the mistery keeps repeating in at periodic intervals and brings with it a fresh bout of shameful play act from the clueless rulers, officials and the unfortunate common man including myself.

The immediate provocation for such an observation is the fever epidemic that is on the rampage for almost a month in northern parts of Kerala, and especially in Kozhikode. As the doctors keep diagnosing it as pneumonia, chikenguniya, dengue, malaria and all sorts of myriad varieties of fever, the common man has nowhere to turn for help. This has been a recurring incident for the last 4-5 years in Kerala. Each year different parts of the state are devastated by epidemic fever, claiming the lives of hundreds of hapless victims. The health minister and the ministry keeps coming up with fresh statistics and is seen as being totally ineffective in preventing this tragedy from recurring. Whatever happened to the much admired Kerala model which had high standards of public health as one of its main highlights?

This is indeed a familiar pattern for mallus. Wonder why? Wait for my next post....

Kargil Vijay Diwas..

As the nation salutes our jawans and officers on the 10^th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, we need to once again take a close look at our own priorities and civic life. From failing to queue up at the polling booths on Election Day to jumping the queue whenever we happen to be in one, we have our own surreptitious and indigenous ways of surviving in this great nation. We are an diverse bunch of citizens with a remarkably short memory and high emotional quotient (that soar to dizzying heights when a cricket match is on television). We have a government which seemed reluctant to join in the celebrations and which just about did what was obligatory and nothing more. We have a media which turns this into another sensationalised drama with the all knowing politicians throwing punches at each other and looking like complete idiots in the process.

Still, somewhere amidst all the chaos, we still manage to preserve the memories and nurture the emotion that keeps the phenomenon called India on the move.Jai Ho!!!

UPA making a mockery of parliament...

Past week has once again demonstrated how redundant and sidelined the Indian Parliament has become in the Indian administration. Even in UPA’s first term, parliament was repeatedly bypassed in important national issues and we even had a bunch of bills being passed without any discussion under the pretext of non-co-operative opposition. Sadly none among the UPA’s think-tank seems to have ever heard of the concept of inclusive decision making. The victory that gave UPA a second term should have made the government more sensitive and responsible while dealing with vital issues, especially those related to defence and foreign matters. Instead, all that we have is a government that cannot seem to make up its mind on such issues and which keeps taking u-turn arbitrarily every now and then.

Even when the parliament is in session, the government doesn’t deem it necessary or desirable to make use of the opportunity to clarify its stand and thereby keep the nation informed. This time the UPA has to own up its misdeeds as there are no left parties to blame. More importantly, the media cannot keep covering up for a directionless government with a visionless programme. Even in a democracy, wining and election and forming a government is not the ultimate aim. In fact it is just the beginning. Living up to the expectations of the common man and delivering on the vital issues is the real aim and no government can afford to fail on that count twice in a row.

CPI(M)..The great gamble that should never have been..

The events that compelled CPI(M) to convene extra ordinary PB and CC meetings and the decisions taken by the highest party forums are by now well known. The entire country and especially we Keralites are in a stock taking mode, trying to work out what the latest turn of events means for the future of the party as well as the nation.

The most damning impact of the unfortunate decisions taken by the CPI(M) is the total erosion of faith in the party central leadership, read more precisely as Prakash Karat. We Mallus were looking forward to a pragmatic and constructive approach which sadly didn’t materialise behind the closed doors of AKG Bhavan. By choosing to back the tainted state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, Prakash has chosen to take the ultimate gamble that could prove to be fatal in coming years. Why do I think so?

Well, think of a scenario where Pinarayi Vijayan is convicted by the court. What will happen then? The party will have to either accept its colossal error or it will have to continue drifting more and more away from the general public and its very own supporters. I agree that there is a possibility of Vijayan being let off by the court after proving his innocence. Still, as the party’s all India general secretary, Prakasha Karat should not have put the party on such a tight spot where it’s very honour and moral existence is at the mercy of a court verdict.

Now it is too late for the CPI(M) to change its stance. It will have to face the consequences of a decision which has the potential to become the biggest in the long list of ‘historic blunders’ that are dished out of the CPI(M) head quarters every few years. Once again, I wish to reiterate that I am not a supporter of CPI(M). Still as a citizen of a state being ruled by a CPI(M) led coalition, I feel badly let down by the party and I can only sympathise with the beleaguered cadres of the CPI(M) who are at this very moment holding marches and protests in different parts of Kerala even in this rainy day.

On the lighter side, the protests and violence might end up in a hartal giving us another blissful day of sheer lazy indulgence....

Homosexuals are also human beings...

2nd July 2009 will always be remembered as a historical day for India. On this day India truly became a democratic and inclusive nation and this was brought about by the Delhi High Court verdict which de-criminalised homosexuality.

The landmark judgement enables millions of Indians (a deliberate choice of word as they are as much a citizen of this country as you and me are) to come out of the closet. It would give them some hope of living the life of their choice, of seeking better education, career and health care, of being a normal human being who does not have to look over his/her shoulder even in his/her most private moments in his/her bedroom. This would also enable the government, NGOs and other concerned authorities to address the high incidence of AIDS and other diseases among the homosexuals. This must be enough of a reason for the society to accept homosexuals as equal human beings.

The Delhi High Court has shown compassion and vision in coming out with such a verdict. Rest of us would do well to imbibe these qualities before sitting in judgement about other people’s bedroom life.

The reaction from various quarters has been along predictable lines, ranging from utter stupidity and intolerance to ecstasy and delight. It is really sad that majority of the so called religious and social organisations and leaders have once again displayed how intolerant and misinformed they really are. How can you claim to be democratic, inclusive, non discriminate and the holiest among these adjectives ‘secular’ when you want to confine a section of the society to mental asylums and jails for no other reason than their sexuality? What use are your scriptures and high moral preaching when you are not even able to comprehend the emotions of an oppressed mind? Are you in the business of religion only to amass wealth, commercialise education and covert people? Did HE not teach you to be tolerant and compassionate, did HE not show the way of universal brother hood? Shame on you..

MJ...Rest in Peace

On a cold, rainy Friday morning, the television stunned me with the shocking news about Michael Jackson’s demise. The super star who touched the lives of millions around the world with his music and charisma left the stage for hopefully a better one.

While I was a student, my trips from my home at Ernakulam to the college at Malappuram often had a detour at the cultural capital of Kerala, Thrissur. I used to go to Ragam theatre at Thrissur with my friends and watch such hit films like Jurassic Park and World is Not Enough. Ragam had a great DTS sound system and as DTS was still fairly new in Kerala, we enjoyed the films even more. It is in the darkened cinema hall that I fell in love with MJ’s music. In those days Ragam used to play MJ’s tracks before the start of every show and this was enough of an attraction for me. Most memorable among them was the Earth Song which took me to another world just like millions across the globe who listened to it. What a divine experience it was....

Thank you MJ for the everlasting music. I can only wish that he finally finds peace and happiness in his new stage, wherever it is.

Saina makes India proud

While a billion hearts were broken when Dhoni’s men crashed out of the ICC T20 world cup, Saina Nehwal has made a pioneering achievement by winning the Indonesian Open Badminton Championship. Even as the nation continues to eat, drink and sleep cricket, our sportsmen do excel in other games like Chess, Shooting, Boxing, Badminton,  Snooker etc. These brave hearts manage to do so on their own without any significant support from the government, authorities or even from the general public. Sadly, it is only after they win such prestigious events that we take notice of them.

 Well done Sina.

T20 World Cup

Congratulations are on order for the ICC T20 champions Pakistan. This win has come at a crucial time for Pakistani nation as such and I hope the happiness and joy that comes along with this success will last for a long time for them. Sri Lanka has also been a war torn nation for so long. Their cricketers too deserve special praise for the strength and resiliency that they have shown in the most trying times. Perhaps it is poetic justice that the two teams which came in the firing line of the terrorists came together in the finals of the World Championship and entertained the whole world.

 Well done neighbours...

Hope the UPA government will get it right.

With the new government in place at New Delhi, the business of running an administration in the country has again gotten underway in full swing. The union and railway budgets slated to be presented in the parliament next month would give us clear signals of what this government’s programmes and plans are.

 I would like to see the government take effective and sustainable measures to bring down the prices of daily items. While the inflation has come down to near zero levels, the prices of food, vegetables and other daily use materials are still very much on the higher side. The prices of some of the materials like the sugar are still rising at an alarming rate. In spite of having high stocks available with the FCI, the common man is not getting the benefit. The Murli Manohar Joshi Committee’s report, cautioning against the FDI and Indian corporate investments in retail sector should be given due consideration.

 Unfortunately, the petroleum minister is again harping on increasing the fuel prices. Every time he makes an announcement about impending changes in the price regime, the retailers start hoarding or cutting down on stock intake depending upon the direction in which the changes are expected. And another hike in the fuel prices will trigger fresh round of price rise.

 Also, the government must be seen as serious about getting the banks to lower the interest rates. It is unfortunate that even after the Finance Minister and the RBI sending out clear signals, the banks have failed to reduce the interest rates. More worrying is the fact that the banks are still very much reluctant to allocate fresh loans to the customers. Ensuring the availability of funds is vital to get the economy back on track.

 The UPA must remember that the fresh mandate is more in favour of a stable polity than an endorsement of its track record. Unlike in the previous government, this time around the Congress cannot blame its allies for all that goes wrong. The UPA must get it right in the upcoming budget.

The BJP’s dilemma..

The setback that the party and the NDA got in the elections has challenged the BJP to come up with a credible plan of action for the future. Of course, this requires the party to introspect and correct all factors that may have contributed to this humiliating defeat.

The party has to think about the future. In the next five years, it will be facing a resurgent Congress led by a charming Rahul Gandhi. The BJP has to make up its mind on the leadership issue and the ideological issue. While the debate on Hindutva is desirable and even necessary for the Indian polity, the party has to wrest back the initiative from the belligerent media and the political adversaries. More often than not, the BJP is forced on the defensive on the issue. It is about time the party came up with a clear cut definition of Hindutva and set an agenda on the same.

 For millions like me, Hindutva is not only about building a Ram temple at Ayodhya or countering the real or perceived attacks made on the Hindu brethren. These are only symbolic gestures at best. What we yearn for is a nation which is proud of its history, which makes use of the rich heritage and knowledge that this history has bestowed upon it and a nation that epitomises the all inclusive Hindu culture. Many of us support the BJP because we believe a rightist party has got a crucial role to play in the Indian political scene. One cannot just wish away the significance of a rightist political party in an essentially conservative society like India. So, the BJP has to get its act right and gear up to play its part effectively. The election results indicate that the voter wants to see a stable government in which the regional parties and the Left would have only a minimal role. The nation wants the Congress and the BJP to be the two stabilising and constructive pillars of Indian politics.

 It is natural that a defeat will cause some disharmony in any party. One has to keep in mind that the Congress is under a dynastic rule. As long as there is a member of Nehru dynasty actively involved in the party, they won’t have any leadership struggle. It is another matter whether this feudalistic system is fitting for the largest party in the world’s largest democracy.

 In BJP and the Left, there will always be scope for leadership struggle as virtually anyone in these parties could aim for the top post.

 I would like a stronger and wiser BJP to emerge from healthy, constructive debate and competition taking place within the party forums. For, the country needs a strong and responsible opposition as much as it needs a stable and sensible government.

Mind your language..the child can read..

Over the years, public life has seen a drastic decline in terms of standards and practices. The atmosphere has often been contaminated by vicious and repulsive language and sound bites. In today’s era of 24 hour news channels and readership touting news paper, this has become all the more louder and vicious.

In the last two decades Kerala has seen more than its fair share of verbal contamination. The Congress factional feud with ‘the Leader’ on one side and the rest on the other contributed a lot to this. The ascendancy of K.Muraleedharan in the party raised the decibel levels by a few notches. The expulsion of some senior leaders like Gowriamma and M.V.Raghavan made sure that the Communists too contributed, though in a much lesser quantity. Back then, the red brigade was more inclined to action than rhetoric. The 1990s also saw an escalation in exchanges among the literary icons and the socio-cultural elite in the state. The squabbles among noted writers and thinkers often grabbed the limelight from the polity.

 In the new millennium, the scene got elevated to a new level. We have become a society that likes to argue, argue and keep arguing. The state has not seen even a single meaningful debate that has contributed to any improvement in the lives of the common man. Almost all spheres of life in mallu land, right from the film field, literature, culture, arts, caste and religion, media, beurocracy, judiciary, administration, law and order, education and of course politics, are immersed in fierce and vicious arguments and struggles. The discourse has increasingly incorporated physical violence and attacks on the homes and family of the involved personalities.

 

The current LDF leadership has contributed quite a few gems to the art of swearing. We have ministers who specialise in making at least one uncivilised comment a week. Other leaders have also been enthusiastic in conferring even the revered religious leaders and respected personalities with derogatory adjectives. The view that many of the literary and socio-cultural luminaries in the state have become pawns in the hands of the CPI(M) has gained credence over the last five years.

 Now, we have the ill-fate to witness the veteran orator and respected teacher Sukumar Azhikode stooping to the level of the rogue-next-street in his public discourses.

 I still remember the excitement and awe that I had when I watched the gifted orator in the early 90s at a function in my brother’s school. Though I was too young to grasp the bulk of his discourse, I was struck by the logic and force fullness of his soft, unoffending language.

 I am deeply saddened by the change in his tone and vocabulary. In a democracy, meaningful and constructive debate is an absolute necessity and everyone has the right to express their opinion. But, these need to be done in a mutually respectful manner. The lack of respect for everyone while seeking respect for oneself is the bane of Malayali psyche.

 As a small child I was impatient when I watched my brother read the newspapers. I often asked him to read the articles loudly so that I could at least listen to it. Often we used to have a good fight when he put on a show by refusing to read aloud.As a result, I became impatient to learn how to read and as soon as I had mastered the art from my kind teachers, a new routine started. This time the fight was about who got the news paper first.

 These are common happenings in almost all the Malayali families since we are a society addicted to news papers. I can only feel sorry about the children who would have started reading the news paper in recent times.For all the child would come across is poisonous vocabulary, foul language and non-constructive, self serving and never ending  argument. 

IPL 2009 – congratulations to the Deccan Chargers

Congratulations to the Deccan Chargers on winning this year’s IPL at South Africa. They have shown the resiliency required to win a big, long tournament like this.

 IPL 2009 has been a revelation to the cricket lovers. It proved that classy players will always excel in any format of the game. The performances of the veterans like Anil Kumble, Mathew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist delighted the fans. For me, the notable disappointments were Sourav Ganguly, V.V.S.Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar , Sanath Jayasurya, Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan.

 The find of the tournament is Manish Pandey. SO many young players including Pragyan Ojha, Naman Ojha, Ravindra Jadeja and many others demonstrate the bench strength that Indian cricket has. This is a good omen and the BCCI needs to preserve and nurture the budding talents.

 Looking forward to the Indian team retaining the T20 World Cup....

We are living in an era of mindless, brutal blood shedding and violence. Often, the war is for some cause or the other. The dreams, aspirations, ambitions, love, lust, greed, agony, anguish, anger, frustrations all spill out in the form of bullets and swords. Even petty feuds and silly arguments end up in large scale destruction and communal clashes.

 We live in an age of heroes who seek to build their empire atop the graveyards. The Osamas, Prabhakarans, myriad forms of Naxalism, extreme Maoism, communal and caste hatred and all forms of oppressive idealisms seek to establish their dominance on the world order. Saner voices like that of the Dalai Lama are drowned in the midst of the loud, fervent war cries. Even devil’s hell would be a better abode than man’s earth.

 When I saw the reports of Prabhakaran’s death, I couldn’t but wonder what the moral of his life is. His fight was against the oppression of Tamils by the Sri Lankan government and the Sinhalese community. But, what did he achieve for his people? What did the Tamils gain?

 Wasn’t it Prabhakaran’s mistake that he could not make use of the good will and the support that he initially got from world over and especially from India? Perhaps his biggest blunder was the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. This ill advised move left India totally incapable of interfering on his behalf, no matter what the situation in Lanka became. Rajiv had committed an equally big mistake by signing a pact with the then Sri Lankan President and sending IPKF to the Lanka. But, two mistakes never add up to anything more than a bigger mistake. Prabhakaran never had the courage and vision to lead his men on the path of reconciliation and participatory politics.

The same is true for the Osamas and other pretenders who seek to salvage their tribe from something or the other. The common man’s sufferings are the same whether it is in Lanka, Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Somalia,  Zimbabwe or in any other place. He is betrayed and oppressed by the same leaders who seek to champion his cause and take him to the Promised Land. The story is the same, only the names change. A mass of oppressed and impoverished junta kept in the shackles by a visionless coward at the helm.

 For it takes more courage to face the bullets than to shoot them. As these thoughts raced through my mind, I was struck by a lightning bolt. Suddenly, I found myself awe struck at what had happened in India in the last century, the leader who took us from slavery to freedom.

 The Mahatma. I just cannot fathom the enormity of a non-violent movement, that too against the most powerful imperial force that ever existed in the world. Like every Indian, I have also learned about the Mahatma in my history books. I come across references to him at least on his birthday and the day of his martyrdom. I have read his autobiography too. Still, the gory visuals from Lanka splashed across the news channels triggered an unprecedented wave of disbelief and awe in my mind.

 I suddenly recalled what the great scientist Albert Einstein said:

 “Generations to come will scarcely believe that such a one as this (Gandhi) walked the earth in flesh and blood.”

Indeed, it is difficult to believe such a man existed. May be they should start teaching more about Mahatma in schools and colleges ALL OVER THE WORLD. Preserve whatever Mahatma memorabilia available to perhaps try and convince the future generations. Start a global campaign on non-violence as an effective and most powerful political tool.

 Resurrect the Mahatma and bring him back in to our lives. Or else, not many generations would survive to wonder whether he existed or not... 

Prabhakaran’s death..a chance to make a fresh start..

The death of dreaded LTTE chief Prabhakaran is a defining moment in the history of Sri Lanka and in fact that of the entire Tamil World. His death is a defining moment in the history of the small Islan nation. I hope this would bring some semblance of peace and stability to that country.

 The onus is on the Sri Lankan government to rehabilitate the Tamils and give them their due status. This is a rare second chance that the government has got to correct the past wrongdoings.

 India must also find it easier to intervene in a post-Prabhakaran era. India has the responsibility and duty to make sure that the Tamils and Sinhalese peacefully co-exist in the beautiful Lankan nation.

Election results 2009 review – Kerala

The results of Lok Sabha Elections 2009 show that Kerala has remained faithful to its record of switching between the two prominent fronts, LDF and UDF. So much so that one can even predict the results of the next Lok Sabha Elections which should be held in 2014 unless the new dispensation at Delhi fails to be a stable one. It would be an exact opposite of the current results.

 Why? Because by then we will have a UDF government ruling the state for over two years and would be as fed up with it as we are with the current LDF government. It is the utter disappointment of the neutral voters, those who are not hardcore LDF or UDF supporters, which results in the alternating fortunes for the fronts in successive elections. The net result is that the state and its people suffer from the negligence and lack of will power from its rulers. Even the achievements of the government get sidelined due to various controversies that keep flooding the state.

 Another side-effect of this is that each government invariably abandons whatever few successful programs the previous one may have implemented, often to come up with a new one that requires everyone to start from the scratch. This means there is no continuity whatsoever in the developmental front. A good example would be the fate of the Smart City project.

 Contrast this with the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu. DMK and AIADMK may not have many things in common, but both are aware of the importance of development politics. The result is evident in this election as there was no anti-incumbency wave against the DMK, even when the power cuts in TN was a major problem.

 Apart from the above mentioned factor, the LDF managed to antagonize the voters even more this time around. The factional fight within the CPI(M), arrogance of the state party leadership especially with regard to its relations with its own allies and with various factions like the church, NSS etc and the failure of the party mechanism as a whole in gauging the mood of the voters all proved costly for the left Front. In central and southern parts of Kerala, the church and organizations like NSS have contributed significantly in large victory margins of the UDF.

 On the other hand, the BJP has yet again failed to put up a good show except in Kasragode and Kozhikkode. In a state where the presence of an anti LDF or an anti UDF wave is almost a guarantee in any election, the BJP and all other third aspirants like the NCP, BSP etc will always have a difficult time in making their presence felt. Yet, the BJP should strengthen the organization so as to make sure that all its political votes are polled in every election.

 Coming back to the LDF, CPI(M)’s decision to align itself with the PDP even at the risk of alienating other LDF constituents was a fatal mistake. In the process, the LDF not only lost the elections, but it also lost the moral high ground as far as communal politics is concerned. Same is the case with fight against corruption. After proclaiming the willingness to fight the Lavlin case both legally and politically, the party has sunk down to unprecedented levels in trying to avoid the prosecution of its state supremo.

 The CPI(M) which has always been in the fore-front of anti communal and anti corruption movement made yet another historic blunder by experimenting on these two fundamental issues. In the process, it ended up looking pretty similar to the Congress. Large number of party members and core supporters have voted against the LDF, especially in Northern Kerala. The CPI(M) failed to poll its guaranteed political votes in party citadels like Kannur, Vadakara, Palakkad and Kozhikkkode. This is a clear signal to the party leadership. If the party does not take immediate corrective measures and acknowledges the same in a convincing manner, it is in the danger of losing its relevance in the ideological arena.

Elections 2009 – India

UPA improves its tally, disappointment for NDA, severe drubbing for the 3^rd front…

The UPA is all set to form the government at the centre for the second time. Disappointing as it is for many like me who would have liked to see Advaniji as the Prime Minister, I still hope the UPA would get its priorities right this time around.

 In an earlier post, I had expressed the hope that the Indian polity at the national level would finally come around to a bipartisan system two to three elections from now. I reiterate the same at this juncture.

 As for the next government, I strongly suspect there would be a mid-term leadership change if Manmohan Singh stays on as the Prime Minister at initial stage. In spite of being an optimist, I don’t have much hope regarding the performance of a fresh UPA government in key areas like employment generation, inflation control, foreign affairs and anti-terrorist and anti-insurgency drive. I would like the new government to respect the verdict and deliver on the grass roots level.

 The coming years would be crucial for the country as it positions itself as the major global player alongside China. In the recent years India has not lived up to its rightful role in international affairs, especially in addressing and influencing the volatile situation in the subcontinent. Here is hoping for a bright future for this great nation…

Elections 2009 – Kerala

Anti LDF wave wreaks havoc…

 

1.       Ponnani & Kozhikkode - CPI(M)’s Pinarayi group had estranged all other sections in the LDF regarding the candidate selection in Ponnani and Kozhikode. I am delighted at the LDF’s drubbing in these two seats as it deserves the same for its arrogance and total disregard for coalition etiquette. A strong message to the CPI(M) from Left supporters and cadres.

2.       Kannur & Vadakara - Two seats which are the citadels of CPI(M) chose to teach a lesson to the party this time around. A strong political message to the CPI(M) from its own cadres and support base.

3.       Palakkad & Vadakara - CPI(M) rebels who contested the elections putting up a creditable show in these two CPI(M) strong holds.

4.       Thriuvananthapuram -  Shashi Tharoor makes his debut in election politics. This manifests the extend of anti-LDF trend across Kerla.

5.       BJP – As usual, decrease in the BJP vote share across the state would be cause for much brain storming. K.Surendran did a commendable job and increased the BJP vote share in Kasargod but the performance is dismal in Trivandrum where the state party chief Krishnadas was contesting.

 It would be most interesting to see who takes the brunt for this rout, Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan or the CPI(M) state general secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. This issue calls for a separate post and would get the same soon…

The political adultery set to reach new lows...

India has seen myriad forms of horse-trading and political back stabbing in its post 1947 history. From the respected Netha going underground with his precious stack of MLAs, who are kept under house arrest till a deal is struck with interested parties, to the honourable MPs being bought with the help of divine God Men and suitcases laden with cash.

 Lok Sabha elections 2009 will also throw up interesting and downright comical moments of political bankruptcy and ideological ambiguity. Yesterday, we had the pleasure of watching a former Chief Minister going to meet the leader of the Grand Old Party in a clandestine fashion. The pictures reminded me of criminals and prostitutes who often hide their faces in front of the camera. I cannot understand why the gentle man had to hide himself in such an amateurish fashion.  Even I could have done a better job if I wanted to avoid being identified in front of the camera.  

 More cynical and disturbing trends are being reported from Rampur where Jaya Prada is finding her very dignity as a woman being at stake. Political affiliations apart, I really feel sorry for her. Like the ultimate symbol of wounded woman hood Droupadi, Jaya Prada is being attacked by her own brethren in the presence of those who are obliged to guard her.

  I cannot but wonder what the next one week has in store for us, and more importantly, what impact it will have on the future of this great nation. 

Selfish minds, selfish politics...

This election has been characterised by shameless, opportunistic positions adopted by different players brazenly. The latest among these is the atrocious demand made by Mulayam Singh Yadav regarding post-poll support. He has promised support to any party or group that guarantees the dismissal of Mayavati Government in UP.

 This position betrays the total lack of moral and social commitment on the part of a leader who has been one of the major players in the national politics for more than two decades now. Mulayam has been the Chief Minister of UP and also a union minister earlier. One would have expected the leader to have gained some maturity and semblance of accountability after all these years.

 It is the bane of Indian polity that egoistic personalities with highly volatile temperament get to control the future of this nation. People like Mulayam, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mayavati, Mamta Banerjee, Jayalalitha etc have time and again demonstrated their utter disregard for political and moral niceties.

 I hope that in due course, elections will iterate the polity and bring about a stable bi-polar system in this country. 

Buchanan must be thrown out...

The IPL season 2 which is underway in South Africa is proving to be a closely fought tournament. With about half the matched over, most of the teams are still with a chance to go into the semi-finals, except for the Kolkata Knight Riders.

 I wanted the Knight Riders to stage an impressive show in this edition. But, the stupid four captain theory ensured that the team had quite a few worries even before the tournament started. Just what was the theory all about? In spite of the miserable show by the team, we certainly have not seen any captain other than the pitiable McCullam in the whole tournament so far. I suspect the whole theory was just an excuse to remove Dada from the captaincy. And now John wants more foreign players to be allowed in the team. Really this is ridiculous.

 While all the other teams have shown the vision, courage and the skills to bounce back from the most precarious situation, Buchanans’s team has performed well below expectations game after game. A coach has to have the ability to bring out the best in the players available. He has to inspire the team and get their spirits up. Buchanan has failed in both.

 Even the Bangalore team is on an upsurge under the captaincy of Kumble after the departure of Pieterson, which has proved to be a blessing in disguise for them.

 One can only hope that SRK has the good sense to get a sensible coach as soon as possible. He could also bring in a quality spin bowler and a good all rounder to his team. Otherwise his team will remain the whipping boys of the tournament yet again.

Back to harthal politics

After the lacklustre performance in the election campaign, the political parties in Kerala are back to what they are best at, politics of harthal. With the LDF government deciding to accept advocate general’s advice against sanctioning the prosecution of CPI(M) Kerala general secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, the opposition parties have called for a twelve hour harthal in the state.

 It is notable that the election was hijacked by the single issue of Madani factor. The opposition parties failed miserably to highlight any other political issues in any meaningful fashion. In this sense, Kerala has followed the national trend of debating sensational but non-productive issues in the elections. I strongly feel that the media too has not served its role well so far in elections 2009.

 It is these factors that are responsible for the increased number of apolitical citizens in this country. The decrease in voting percentage is a direct result of an uninspired political leadership and a main stream media which is equally out of touch with the common man. 

Jai Ho show..

It was a magical evening for music lovers from different parts of the country who converged at the Corporation Stadium at Kozhikode yesterday for A.R.Rahman’s Jai Ho show. While the event was an unforgettable one for the exuberant crowd, it still had its flaws which somehow dampened the spirits of the capacity crowd. This show had its positives and negatives.

 I got inside the stadium with my friends by about 4PM for the show slated to start at 7PM. The scorching sun and the summer heat beat down on us while we were seated in the uppermost tier of the gallery (ticket cost 500Rs). The crowd kept pouring in and by about 6:10PM, the gallery was almost full. As the sun’s ferocity started to subside, the spirits began to soar among the expectant crowd.

 This was the first time I had gone for any such programme in a big stadium. When I watched cricket and other programmes from different stadiums around the world on my television, I have always wondered how the atmosphere would be. I found myself immersed in the midst of a noisy crowd chanting Jai Ho and the build up had begun.

 Suddenly, the waves started. Mexican waves swept from one side of the gallery to the other, catching us all in its wild beauty. Waves after waves splashed around the capacity crowd chanting Jai Ho. I was happy that I was on the gallery, among the noise, chants and the wave, rather than among the upper class enclosures.  As the clock ticked away, we became more vociferous and the Jai Ho chant became all the more vigorous. At last, the programme started at around 7:30PM.

 And what a start it was...The orchestra started out with strand from Slum dog Millionaire. We were at the edge of our seats in anticipation. Suddenly, the lights on the stage revolved to bring the maestro on to the stage standing on steps...There he was, Rahman with his trademark smile and shy posture..

 I was deafened by the thunderous applause that erupted around the stadium. I joined the chorus and screamed at the top of my voice, JAI HO....Rahman started off with Oh Siaya and we were caught on to his magical music instantly.

Then Sadhana Sargam came on to the stage, and when Hariharan came with his trade mark singing style, he got a warm welcome. The other singer who got total crowd support was our very own Chithra. With these two brilliant singers on stage, the expectations ran even higher. Sadly, they colluded in a duet only once. I felt that the Rahman team missed quality singers who could connect with the crowd. We had a singer(or is he a guitarist?) from UK singing Kabhi Kabhi Aditi from Jane Tu Ya Jane Na.I don’t understand why Rahman had to opt for such a listless singer to ruin such a wonderful song. Sadly, that singer got on the nerves of the crowd and the booing started.

 There were too many performances by not so good singers and the orchestra failed to lived up to the promise every now and then. Yes, Shivamani’s absence showed...

 Two things that disappointed me the most about the show were:

 1: Poor audio system: Really, the audio system was not even average. The orchestra was too loud and except for Hariharan, no other singer could be heard even decently enough over the noisy orchestra.

2: Totally indifferent song selection: Sadly, most of the first half consisted of songs which could be rated as average, by Rahman’s high standards. In fact, throughout the programme, Rahman’s group seemed strangely reluctant to sing Tamil numbers. They even had Chitra rendering the smash hit Kannalane from Bombay in Malayalam (I was waiting for this number right from the time she came on stage). This was a huge let down for the Kozhikodan fans.

 Then Rahman came on stage with his harmonium and suddenly we were watching a gazal or shayari mehfil kind of performance. He rendered two excruciatingly slow numbers including Khwaja mere Kwaja. Even I got disappointed with this. We had not gone there to listen to such sleepy numbers.

 During the intermission, we had some of the politicians and ministers from Kerala on stage. Many of us could not take any more and some of the crowd actually left at this point. The only highlight during this totally repulsive intermission was Rahman giving away the aid to the AIDS affected children.

 By the time Chithra came on stage after the break, the mood among the corwd was very very negative. The show was then rescued by the performer par excellence, Hariharan. He called Rahman on stage and then had the crowd involved in a musical class. Really, Hariharan knows well how to get the crowd going and Rahman owes much to him for rescuing the show.

 From here on, there was no looking back. The build up to the climax was exquisite with Rahman belting out his trade mark numbers. This included Mustafa Mustafa, Orvasi Orvasi, Taxi Taxi and Hamma Hamma from Bombay. Even I jumped around in the gallery, the crowd on their feet dancing to the super hit tunes...Did I mention Pappu Can’t Dance? This ultimate dance number drove us wild and the stadium rocked. In fact the crowd joined in on the singing starting with Mustafa and we had a splendid time.

 The finale was Jai Ho followed by Vende Mataram, with fireworks lighting up the sky, providing the perfect back drop to the grand finale.

 All in all, the show in itself was not up to the expectations. Still we had a pretty good time and I am thankful for the opportunity to see these legends performing right in front of me. I wish Rahman could have been a little bit more judicious in selecting the songs and the singers. Surely, singers like Shankar Mahadevan, Sukhwinder Singh, Unnikrishnan, Sujata, Asha Bhonsle etc could have made all the difference. I just feel that the maestro took too much for granted. This show would have been perfect for an audience in a foreign country, or even to a North Indian crowd. But for us Mallus, who loved Rahman through his smash hit Tamil numbers, the show was just not good enough.

 Having said so, will I go for the show if it were to be held at Kozhikode again?

 I would say, yes. To watch the legendary composer and his team and to be among the wonderful crowd in the gallery, dancing and singing along in one voice, with one mind..

 Jai Ho.....

Rahman is in town...

It has been a tiresome, but enjoyable week spent travelling across the God’s own Country. And when the journey takes you closer to the loved ones, it is all the more special.

Now I am back at Kozhikode and have the perfect arena to recharge myself. Yes, I am going for A.R.Rahman’s Jao Ho show this evening. For fans like us it is a once in a life time opportunity to see the maestro perform live in our own city. Obviously, I am very much excited about the event.

Watch out for the updates tomorrow...

Smart city and Dumb rulers.....

The smart city project in Kochi has been on the anvil for more than 17 months now. It is a much anticipated project which could be the much needed boost to Kerala’s bleak business sector. Link to the reprot related to this published by Business Standard:

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/smart-city-stuckland-issue/355804/

 Unfortunately, we seem to lack smart rulers and officials who have the vision and more importantly the commitment to see the project implemented in a timely manner. The governments that we elect in Kerala are so good that they manage to antagonise us within the first two years of its term. This is true for every government which has ruled (rather misruled) Kerala in the past 25 years. None of them have managed to get a second term.

 But, that cannot be a solace to common man who seeks development, wealth and job generation and peace in ‘God’s own country.’ As I said in an earlier post, the opposition invariably takes things for granted. In the election that concluded last week in Kerala, none of the parties paid any attention to such issues. All that seemed to matter is who supported whom.

 It would have been beneficial if it was about whom the people supported and why. Instead, it is about whom did the church support, whom did the Nairs, Ezhavas and other caste support, who was and was not supported by terror suspects like NDF and PDP so on and so forth. The parties were least bothered about the issues that affected the daily life of the citizens and the future generations. Smart city is a classic example of how things got done here in mallu land.

 I recall having read the reports about the plans for a metro rail system in my native place of Kochi while I was a student, more than ten years ago. In the mean time, other cities in India successfully implemented the metro tail project. We Keralites are still arguing, surveying, re-surveying and trying hard on how to waste more money and time on a metro rail project without actually implementing it. There are many such projects that have been scuttled by corrupt politician-businessman-official mafia. We even have a multi-crore irrigation project that was under construction for decades.  With typical Kerala model efficiency we spent crores of rupees and decades on miles of canals and number of dams. In the end, we had the land which was to be irrigated acquired for an international airport.

  The dump and stupid rulers will keep taking us for a ride and we would be happy to oblige, being the donkeys that we are....

The thirsty mallus...

The nation was anxiously watching the first phase of elections yesterday. We Keralites also had the opportunity to have our say on the future of this nation. But, for us it was also a long holiday from 9^th of April till the 16^th with only two working days in between on 13^th and 15^th. It was festival season.

 This has caused lot of hardships to common man. Personally, I got a taste of the same when we ran out of the cooking gas (Spic) on 15^th morning. The gas agency remained closed on 15^th and 16^th. I got the new cylinder delivered just 10 minutes ago. Since I was alone at home, I had food from outside. But the real challenge was the drinking water. There was no way to get the water boiled, and I had to buy the costly mineral water. I do feel that the Election Commission, the political parties and the other concerned authorities should keep in mind such factors while fixing election dates.

 While I was thirsty for the drinking water, many of my fellow mallus were thirsty for their daily liquor quota. There was a two day holiday for the liquor shops in the state and when the shops re-opened yesterday evening at 5 P: M, there were long queues at all the outlets, much longer than what we had at our polling booths. Through this long holiday, the state beverages corporation managed to do record business.

 The analysis of yesterday’s voting pattern throws up some interesting and disturbing prospects. The comments on the same will follow...

I voted..It feels good...

I voted in the parliament election today. I really feel good about doing so. Irrespective of whether my chosen candidate wins or not, it is the sense of having expressed my opinion that makes the moment so special and unique. Apart from that there are certain factors which I find to be of great interest.

 A polling booth is among the rarest of the government properties where you are not challenged by corrupt and inefficient officials. Here the official cannot ask you to come after one hour, you don’t have to wait for the officials to decide whether they would like to serve you or not, a place where nobody can deny your rights and dignity. It is a place where people actually treat you with respect and eagerness, traits which are so very rare in other government establishments. You don’t have to wait until all sorts of quotas and reservations are doled out, and you are given what is left over. Sadly, there are places where the polling may be rigged or malpractices are rampant. To deny a citizen the right to vote is the worst possible crime in a democracy.

 Really, I felt like a true honourable citizen of this great nation when I was in the polling booth. This would certainly be reason enough for me to exercise my franchise at every available opportunity.

 

The beauty and the beast..

Indian is in the midst of its biggest festival, the General Elections. Two incidents in the last two days have once again demonstrated the intricacies of the world’s largest democracy .They revealed two entirely different facets of the phenomena called the Indian democracy.

 The protests led by the Sikh people against Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar have forced Congress party to deny tickets to them. On one hand, this is a reminder of the power vested in the hands of the common man in a democracy. But the fact that it took such mass protests for the grand old party to rethink its decision demonstrates the sorry state of affairs in this nation. All political parties take people for granted and never seem to learn from their mistakes.

 The people have always exerted their will when they get their opportunity. There are many such examples in the history of modern India, including the severe defeat meted out to the all-powerful Indira Gandhi in 1977 elections. We may express apolitical views and may harp on the corruption and disgusting standards of contemporary politics, but we are capable of taking crucial decision inside the polling booth.

 The second incident is the irresponsible and totally deplorable statements made by MDMK’s Vaiko with respect to the Sri Lankan Tamil problem. He has the audacity to warn the nation that there will be bloodshed if India does not intervene on behalf of the Tamil people and the LTTE in the Sri Lanka. He is also advocating a separate Tamil nation. I regard these statements as treason and of serious consequences to the nation.

 Where are the holy saviours of Indian nationhood and secularism? They had made such a hue and cry about Vaun Gandhi’s statements. Relatively, the response to Vaiko has been muted and far less effective. I must say that our media has got its priorities completely wrong. While the EC has adopted the position that Vaiko’s statements are a law and order problem which is outside its mandate, it is up to the Governments at the centre and TN to take effective action against Vaiko. As for the elite media, I would only say that their standards leave much to be desired.

 The beauty lies in the will power of the people and the beast lies in the minds of the soulless leaders. As I had said in an earlier post, I am still happy and fortunate to be la part of this democratic country.

Is shoe mightier than a pen?

Jarnail Singh’s act of throwing a shoe at the Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram has evoked strong feelings among many of us. It is true that there is a feeling of deep hurt among the Sikh community. Even after 25 years, the community is still waiting for justice. The woefully tedious judicial process in this country often leaves the common man frustrated and helpless. But since Jarnail Singh was attending the press conference in his capacity as a journalist of one of the leading dailies, I think he should have restrained himself.

 Such incidents will only help the politicians of this country to impose restrictions on the free media. 

Dhoni’s men conquer the Kiwis.......

The much awaited series win for the Indian cricket team in New Zealand has once again made the nation proud. We would have liked to win the last test match also. Dhoni’s men are well in their way to become the best side in the world. The only weakness is the lack of a consistent 4^th bowler.

 There have been numerous delightful performances by the Indians in this series. Dravid, Laxman, Sachin, Sewag, Dhoni, Bhajjie, Zaheer, Ishant have all performed very well. The man of the series, Gautam Gambhir would cherish the memories of this tour for a long time, as would the fans.

 I hope the Indian players would play well in the forthcoming IPL. Playing in South Africa would be a good experience for the upcoming players from India.

 

Time for the Asian countries to forge an alliance??

The situation in many parts of Asia, especially in the subcontinent, is highly volatile. While India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Srilanka are all under increasing stress to counter the rising tide of extremist and terrorist organizations, the scenario in Afghanistan remains as chaotic as ever. The Non-Alignment Movement has lost its relevance with the end of the cold war and the SAARC has increasingly become more and more outdated in the last two decades.

 The carnage in Pakistan is showing no signs of respite. After aiding and abetting terrorists acting against India for more than two decades, Pakistan finds itself at the receiving end. It would be foolish to assume that the forces led by the US will have any greater success in Afghanistan and Pakistan than it had in Iraq, especially since the western powers have never succeeded in winning the trust of the common man in these parts of the world. It is in this scenario that the need to have a military and strategic alliance of the Asian countries becomes evident.

 

The alliance should have shared resources and could be modelled on the NATO. If Russia, China, India, Japan, Pakistan, Srilanka, Bangladesh and other Asian powers could unite in the fight against terrorism, the results could be much better. India could take the lead in forging such an alliance. We have been waiting for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council for such a long time. On the other hand, in spite of being the driving force behind the formation of NAM and SAARC,  India has not made any efforts to keep the these multilateral bodies relevant and effective. Successive governments have been more interested in aligning with the western powers led by the USA. While it is imperative to have the western bloc on our side, I strongly believe the current trends amply demonstrate the need for the Asian countries to take the initiative.

 Sooner or later, the US will have to find an excuse to decrease its involvement in Afghanistan and Pakistan. When it does so, it will trigger an even greater disorder as is happening in Iraq now. The presence of a pan Asian alliance, which has the mandate of the common man and the backing of all the interested parties, could make a huge difference. 

Stale journalism...

Yea...It takes a lot for an eternal optimist like me to get disappointed. As a person who is very much interested in the political arena, I have been looking forward to the upcoming general elections with just the same greed and lust as I look forward to parties and feasts on festive occasions (I love good food as well). I feel let down by the media.

 What have the media come up with so far?

 

·         The never ending debate (which in India is more of a shout contest) on the ever ambiguous issue of ‘secularism’.

·         ----

·         ----

·         ----

·         ----

 The blanks are yet to be filled. It is a shame that our media does not have the courage and the vision to focus on anything other than the usual provocative fare. Sadly, this suits the politicians well. In this age of recession and depression, I had looked forward to some meaningful and productive debate on the economic front. The inflation, both positive and negative, could have sparked off a juicy conversation. Issues like unemployment, poverty, falling standards of public health and education, infrastructure or the lack of it etc.

 In the era of 24/7 journalism, issues that have shock value and scope for heated, spirited and fruitless arguments are the ones that get highlighted. The current discourse on the news channels are as unproductive as the manifestos of some of our political parties..

The Kozhikode Corportaion love plastics on the road....

Like in many other Indian cities, many people at Kozhikode have also been throwing their domestic waste including the plastics on the road. I guess the Corporation got fed up with this and decided to dump the plastics on the road themselves. Shocked?  Read on....

 Kerala is known for its greenery and scenic beauty. I am an ardent lover of its lush green landscapes. But, can you imagine having green roads in your city? We at Kozhikode will have the honour of travelling through green roads soon.

 In case you are wondering, a green road does not refer to a road with green surface. It is a road which uses plastic scraps as one of the raw materials. The Kozhikode Corporation has decided to use plastic scraps for the construction of road between the stadium and Puthiyara. This is the first time that a civic body is getting involved in such a process in Kerala.  One tonne of plastic scraps are being used in the process for the three and a half metre wide, 700m long road.

 The use of plastic scraps would make the road more durable and strong. The work is being done by Uralunkal Labour Contract Co-operative society (ULLC).  Last year, ULLC had used the technology for constructing a 1km long road at Vadakara.

 This is great news for environment lovers. I guess this could be the solution for the plastic menace. 

I would give you an update after riding through the green road as soon as it is ready.

The plight of my neighbour...

Yesterday’s terror attack at Lahore has once again demonstrated the chaos in Pakistan. I feel for the plight of Pakistani people. I wish Pakistan as a nation has the courage and the wisdom to mend its ways while it still can...

I had posted about the two important incidents that took place in the run up to the elections in Kerala.

http://dvnair.blogspot.com/2009/03/national-media-ignoring-critical-issues.html

The first incident is historic because this is a marked deviation from the policies of the CPI(M). A party which expelled one of its comrades M.V.Raghavan due to his suggestion of having an alliance with the Indian Union Muslim League(IUML) almost two decades ago has clearly taken a u-turn. In doing so, the party has abandoned the line of thought supported by the late E.M.S.Namboothiripad adopted in the 12^th Party Congress. It has also lend credence to the belief that the LDF Government in Kerala is going slow and soft on the anti-terror investigations prompted by the exposure of terror links in the state.

 The second incident is also significant because the CPI(M) state leadership acted in total disregard of the interests of the national leadership. This has once again shown Prakash Karat’s central leadership as ineffective and weak. This is also a rare occurrence in a party like the CPI(M).

 The ramifications of these incidents will unfold once the elections are over. I am afraid we Keralites will have plenty to worry about once the final act unfolds towards the latter half of current LDF Government’s tenure.

Delhi court creates history...

A session’s court in Delhi has created history by finishing the trial and giving the verdict on a murder case in just 7 days. This is a laudable achievement, one that needs to be followed by the courts across the nation.

The EC’s 'advise' to the BJP

The Election Commission has come out with an unprecedented 'advise', asking the BJP not to field Varun Gandhi in this election. It has found Varun guilty of making inflammatory, hate speech and hence the action.

 Without going into the debate about Varun Gandhi’s speech, I am of the opinion that the EC should not have given such an 'advise' to the BJP, or to any political party for that matter. It is the prerogative of the party to field whichever candidate it may want to. More importantly, in a democracy it is the prerogative of the people and the people alone to support or reject a particular candidate.  

 Equally important is the fact that the EC has never shown the courage to stand up to the parties that field candidates with proven criminal background. Even in this election, parties across the board are fielding candidates who would be more at home behind the bars than in the Parliament. These kinds of issues cannot and should not be dealt with arbitrarily.

 

Having said this, it would be interesting to know how the BJP would respond. I suspect the EC has unwittingly given the BJP an issue that could overshadow the hate speech debate.

The national media ignoring critical issues....

We Keralites often complain about the step-motherly treatment meted out to our little state by the Central Government. Even when all the twenty MPs from our state were supporting the UPA government, the trend didn’t change. Especially when it comes to the Railways, Kerala has never got even a fair hearing so far. To my dismay, I find that it is not only the government that is ignoring my state. It is the national media as well.

 

In the era of electronic media, I often feel that the main stream news channels often ignore the significant happenings in the Kerala politics. One has to remember that Kerala has always been a social and political laboratory. From the world’s first democratically elected Communist Government to the successful coalition politics, we have always been the pioneers for others to follow. In this context, the mainstream media has failed to grasp the importance of two happenings in Kerala, this election season.

1.  The dangerous game that the CPI(M)(read as its state general secretary Pinarayi Vjayan) is playing by choosing to accommodate Abdul Nasser Madani’s PDP in the LDF election rallies. Madani is suspected to have links with the terrorist activities which came to light when Muslim youths from Kerala were killed by the Indian Army at Jammu and Kashmir. His followers were also accused of various terror activities including the conspiracy to assassinate the former chief minister E.K.Nayanar.
   
2.  The overwhelming discontent among the constituents of the CPI(M) led LDF coalition. The RSP, CPI and Janata Dal(secular) have all been frustrated by the high handedness of CPI(M) and have expressed their feeling openly. We even had the best minister of Kerala cabinet, Mathew .T.Thomas of Janata Dal(secular) resigning from the cabinet as a token of protest. The other popular and efficient minister of the cabinet, M.K.Premachandran would have resigned if his party, the RSP had not changed its decision to withdraw from the state cabinet.
   

 

These two incidents are ominous, not only for Kerala but for the whole nation. The significance of these occurrences could form the content of another post.

 I feel the national media has failed to analyse and understand these incidents. As usual, they are too busy highlighting and debating the deeds and misdeeds of the BJP.  I agree that Mr. Varun Gandhi’s remarks are significant, but I don’t think all other issues should be simply ignored, especially since they involve issues which are much more critical to national security and national politics.