T P Chandrasekharan’s murder and the CPM

After the RMP leader’s murder,when pointers have been made against a few CPM activists,the party has vehemently denied these allegations.

They have issued several statements.In one it points out that none of the culprits belong to the CPM cadres.The party is not at all connected with this murder.The CPM has no issues  against  TPC which necessitates such a murder move.

In another it resists the attempt of the ruling UDF to get some CPM workers as culprits and the party would strongly resist such a malicious move.It will fight the case legally and politically.

Yet a third statement issued says if the enquiry at the party level reveals the involvement of any party activists, stringent action will be taken against such members.

The common man in Kerala is totally confused over these contradictorystatements.

Which is the real picture?As a cadre party with  a very strong mass base  and a well lubricated party machinery,it cannot be difficult for the party to  identify the real culprits.The party bosses have already a clear picture as to the involvement of any party cadres in the crime.If the party wants to retain its credibility among the people of Kerala,it should distance itself from the murder case.If the party takes action against those who are convicted by the courts,it will be seen as a vain attempt to retain the image of the party.   The party will be a heavy loser of faith in the people’s mind.Late administration of a medicine will have no effect on the patient.

                

                                              Politics and Nonpolitics

In recent years  we here frequently the call by several political leaders exhorting the people to join the move by their parties to launch a tirade against their political opponents.When we remain passive to these calls they criticize us as being nonpolitical and cowards.In their opinion the only aim of our life is promoting the cause for which they stand.When they move from the ruling setup to the opposition or viceversa,we also have to move likewise.If we remain noncommited they want us to take a clear political stand.But if our political stand is not in the same wavelength as theirs they will tarnish our image.In short they want all peopleto support their views irrespective of the merit of the cause.

              In this age of technological advances in all spheres of our lives ,it is impossible to negate the influence of the media.We depend on the channels or mobile phones to get the latest goings around us.The internet helps us to know about the happenings across the world at the press of the mouse.We not only see but also hear live how the leaders speak at public platforms .The most abusive manner in which they speak and show bodilyactions is being viewed live by thousands.The leaders entertain the press reporters well in advance to give wide coverage to the speech.When these vulgar speeches lead to strong protests from the public they will plead innocence,and argue that the media has twisted the speech .They will give new meanings for the abusive words from their own dictionary.

   Similarly in the case of atrocities against women a leader will deliver firing speeches against this heinous act.But he himself will mentally torture ladies  with more abusive language.When a leader vows to take a political opponent to the highest court by spending crores,he remains silent on many similar crimes commited by his party colleagues.Land mafia in some cases are woes but in some other cases they are friends.While dealing with corruption also the same double standard is adopted.

           When these gimmicks are being stagemanaged without an interruption the voters sit and think as to what stand is to be taken.He will not disclose it to the party bosses as they feel such an exercise is futile.He will slowly withdraw from the rallies or hartals or effigy burnings or picketing and stonethrowing dramme well directed by the parties .The leaders now complain about the nonpolitical attitude among the voters .They want all the people to come forward to become martyrs during such violent agitations sothat the leaders can contest and win elections with huge margins.As a consolation they will come to the house of the martyr with a well decorated reath with the accompaniment of the channel reporters and caparisoned elephants and band sets.By placing a garland on the photo of the martyr is the end of the show.The martyr’s role is over and the party leaders  reach top positions TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.As they have no parliamentary greed they will plead to the party to releave them from the present position.But the party dicides to elevate them to the role of a minister or MP.As   most loyal worker s they  will accept the party dicision.

                              As  a country with multiparty political system,people have chosen to elect several combinations to power on various occasions.This has happened because the Indian voter is politically conscious.To describe them as nonpolitical is ignorance or illmotivated.If you convince the voters with your own  wellspeltout policies and actions they will vote for you.Otherwise you will end up with a fool’s dream.

                                         

Beware,politicians

In the recent past,there have been many instances where several politicians have trapped themselves in very awkward situations following the remarks  made during their public utterances.They have shown the ridiculous ( ? )response of denying their own speech or giving novel meanings  which reveals the shameless manner of disowning one’s own child.

       This tendency has not been limited to the ruling party or opposition leaders.Many of them who want to have a one upmanship have ignored the fact that their utterances are heard and seen live by lakhs of people.When there is a denial of these words by the leaders the very next day,even the hardcore supporters will feel  a delicacy in defending the leader.These leaders need not enrich our language with new meanings.Malayalam will remain a rich language if they do not make their RICH contributions.If their contributions are incorporated in our dictionaries Malayalam will have only slang words.

         The worth of a leader does not depend on the number of criminal cases registered against him/her for assaulting policemen,number of effigies they have burned,number of hartals or bundhs they have thrust on the people,or the   exhibition of their body parts in the assembly.It just depends on the consistent stand taken by them on each issue concerning the people  no matter whether the y are in the ruling party or opposition.When a situation warrants they have to express their genuine stand .Militancy in the parties will only increase corruption and misrule.An opposition party which terms  the fall of  a ministry by crossvoting by a member from the treasury benches as an example of  idealism and pro-,people stand ,does not endorse a similar action  when they  are in government.

    We have seen in the recent years how the atrocities against women have been handled by some eminent ( ? )leaders .They wage a crusade against the political opponents but keep mum  in cases where their own partymen are involved .

          It is hightime that the political parties give a study class to their leaders first , making them aware of the influence of the VISUAL MEDIA  among the masses.When you hear and see the recorded version of your own speech,don’t you feel ashamed ?The time of blind belief in anyp articularpartyisover.There is nothing like a solid vote bank.Just as the ozone depletion has led to the melting of ice ,the depletion of morality among political parties have led to the melting of confidence  by the people on the parties.

    Mobile phones/cameras,TV channels,surveillance cameras etc have added to your advantage and also responsibilities.Beware.ETERNAL VIGILANCE IS THE PRICE FOR DEMOCRACY.Let us be vigilant always and not blind followers. 

                           God helps those who help themselves

The media published the visuals of Sri.Thottathil Radhakrishnan,(Judge,Kerala High court )cleng the lane in front of his housein Ernakulam,to clear the water logging there.Really a commentable deed from his part.He could have gone to the HC on Monday and directed through an order to direct the local body to clear the same in 2 or 3 days and kept quiet.But being a very sensible person ,he knew what should be done for immediate solution of the problem.He did this while  it was raining there .

          His action should be an eye opener to all the political leaders including Sri VS Achuthanandan who has a single point agenda of settling scores with PK Kunjalikutty.He is ready to goto anylevel and spend crores of rupees for engaging supremecourt lawyers for arguing the case.

     It is good for Sri VS to realize that it is his nonstop sensational talks with sarcastic actions which has led to the widespread Sthreepeeddhanams in Kerala especially during the last 2 years.Even a 5 or 6 year old child who views the channels has to hear and see this performance of their  Honourable Chief Minister.It seems he has become the brand ambassador in this field.Similarly his (ill)famous ‘vettiniratthal of crops cultivated by ariculturists facing all sorts of obstacles including shortage of local labourers  has  added  to the miseries of the farmers here.

    But at the sametime he tries to scuttle all enquiries against his own relatives and partymen terming them as ‘Politically motivated’.Today hisown protege Sri Prabhath Patnaik has come down heavily on the recent goings in the CPM. The recent setback in the bye election in  Neyyattinkara  should have been an eyeopener to the party bosses.But they claim that the position of the party is stronger now than before the election.Will the party wait till a WestBengal type of electoral defeat to have a rethinking about its shortcomings?

   The best way for Sri VS in the evening of his life is to do something really good for his people in Kerala.He should coordinate all the vibrant youth of this state with his sincere call to join a united action for cleaning the nook and corners of this ‘God’s own country ‘in a time bound manner.I am sure he will get mass popular support for such an action plan.I extend my wholehearted involvement in such a project.If we all work together,Kerala could clear all it’s waste dumbings in a few days.The stategovernment and the central government will sanction the required funds ,as it helps to free this state from an eternal menace.Sri VS will then realize that it is this initiative which has helped him to realize and bring out the best in him.

Meanwhile the state government and local bodies should evolve a permanent technology to process the waste on a regular basis so that Kerala will remain a chief destination for tourists.Our own people can lead a healthier life.

    

An unforgetable journey

                                     An unforgettable journey

                  It was the beginning of the summer vacation in1982.We had planned a  trip to North India  2 months back and had prepared an itinerary.It was a pilgrimage cum sight seeing tour programme. Myself,my wife,our  2 children ,my father,mother and younger  sister were in our group.We started by the KK express to New Delhi on the 2^nd of April 1982 from Ernakulam.It took 42 hours to reach New Delhi.

New Delhi and Old Delhi (5days )

              We joined a group of tourists and arranged a vehicle for visiting the important places in New Delhi and Old Delhi.As I had my sister in Delhi,there was no difficulty for stay there.We visited the RajGhat, Shantivan,Parliament house,Rashtrapathi Bhavan, India gate,Safdarjung Tomb,Qutab  Minar,Iron Pillar,RedFort,Lotus temple,PuranaQila,Suraj Kund,Chandni Chowk,Karol Bagh ,Juma Masjid,Humayun’s tomb,Birla Temple,Conaught place,Jantar Mantar,RK Puram etc.

Benares ,Sarnath and Allahabad(5days )

                        From Delhi we went to Lucknow  and from there to Benares ,both by bus.We stayed in a shelter there for 2 days.During the stay there ,we visited the Kasi Viswanath temple,Harischandra Ghat,PanchGangaGhat,DasaswamedhaGhat,ManikarnikaGhat,Mother India Temple,ThripuraBhairaviGhat,ThulsiManasMandir,SriDurgaTemple,KalaBhairavtemple,PanchMukhSiva,

 Benares HinduUniversity,Gaikwar Library in BHU compound etc .From there we went by tonga to the neighbouring VyasaKasi and then to Sarnath.Benares is a highly congested place but Sarnath is a very beautiful and well planned town.Sarnath has some worth seeing  places like Golden Image (idol )of SriBuddha,archeological museum,Ruins of Sarnath,the Lions capital where we find 4 lifelike lions in the  roaring mood.We also have Dhamekh Stupa where SriBuddha is believed to have given his first sermon,Buddha image in the China temple,Mulgandha KudiVihara(believed to contain  relics of  Buddha’sbody.   From Benares we proceeded to Allahabad ThriveniSangamom and had a bath in the Sangamom .From there we returned to Delhi by train.

Fatehpur Sikri,Agra,Mathura,Vrindavan(1 day )

                       Our next trip was to Agra and Mathura by package tour.After visiting Akber’s tomb, Fatehpur Sikri,AgraFort,TajMahal and Mathura we returned  by night  to Delhi.

Hardwar,Rishikesh,Kankhal,Dehradoon ,Mussorie( 5 days )

   As my father had been to Hardwar and Rishikesh before, he preferred to stay back in Delhi along with my sister and return to Kerala by April end.But my mother accompanied us during our trip to Hardwar .

     From Delhi we started for Hardwar by bus .  (2 ½ hours) .In Hardwar we visited the MansaDevi temple,MrutyanjayaMahadeva statue,RamaKrishnaAsram,BhimGoda temple,BHEL unit  Ranipur, Parmarth Niketan,Gitabhavan Asram,SaptaRishiAsram,Pawandham temple,Har-Ki-Pouri(Brahma Kund ).

  Kankhal is only 4 km from Hardwar.We visited SatiGhat,SatiKund,Daksh Mahadev temple,Avdhoot Mandal etc.From there we proceeded to Rishikesh by bus (2 hours).We visited the Sivanandasram,Swargasram,SatyaNarayana Temple,Bharat temple,GitaBhavan,Kailas Nikethan temple,Lakshman Jhula,Thriveni Ghat,Kanua RishiAsram,Neel Kanth Mahadev,Muni Ki Reti, Thirteen Storey temple,HindustanAntibiotics plant at Virbhadra,and BabaKale Kamli Wale Chhettar.

      Dehradun is 43 km from Rishikesh and the travel was by train.Indian Forest Research Institute,Indian                     MilitaryAcademi,Robbers’cave,Sericaturecentre,Sahasradharahotsprings(sulphur),Gurudwara,Tapovan,Dakpather hydro electric project,etc.

      From Dehradun we went to Mussoorie by bus (36 km,2 ½ hours )enjoying the delightful mountain scenery.We went up a hill there by ropeway trolly,and visited LuxmiNarayan temple,Clock and TV tower,Gandhi Dwar,Gandhi Chowk,The Camel’sBackRoad,Depot Hill ( the highest point in Mussourie,Mossey water falls,Surkanda Devi temple.Snow covered mountains,LalBahadur Sastry Academy,Campty falls,Moral paintings etc.

   From Mussorie we came back to Hardwar and from there to New Delhi.My father,mother and sister left for Kerala by the first week of May.

                Jammu and Srinagar ( 7days )

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After 2days of rest in Delhi we (4 )started our journey to Jammu and from there to Srinagar.Upto Jammu we travelled by train and from there by J & K state bus.We had a night’s stay near the Benihal (Jawahar) tunnel.In Srinagar we stayed in a houseboat for 1 day and in a lodge the next day.We visited the Sankaracharya temple( on a hilltop),Shalimar Garden,Nishat garden,Kokernag Springs,Chasma Shahi(glass house )HazratBal Shrine,,Nehru Park (floating park ),Mughal garden,HazratBalShrine,Harvan lake etc The sight of shikaras used for selling goods near the house boats is very beautiful.There are  many houseboats both in the Jhelum river and the Dal lake.During our return from Srinagar,we visited the Raghunath temple in Jammu.

    From Jammu we returned to New Delhi by train.

               Mumbai

                                We spent a few days more in Delhi, visiting places and meeting close relatives.We started for Mumbai by train on 10^th May 1982.

Chennai,Trichy,Rameswaram,Madurai,Theckadi

                                After visiting several places in Mumbai and suburbs we started our return jouney via Chennai.Stayed in Chennai for a day and saw the important places.From Chennai we went to Pennadam (near Vriddhachalam) to visit a close relative.From there we went to Vridhachalam,Trichy etc.During our stay there an idea to visit Rameswaram  was mooted ,and we dicided to go there.From Trichy we went to Rameswaram by direct train.After bathing in the various Theerthas there (22 ),we visited the famousRamanatha  temple  ,which is famous for it’s long corridor.

    From Rameswaram we went to Madurai where we visited the various temples and palaces,including Thirupparam kundram temple.We visited the famous cave also.Our next journey was  from Madurai to Theckadi.We spent a day there for boating and sight seeing .

By May 26^th night we boarded from Theckadi to Perumbavoor and reached home on the 27^th before sunrise. On opening the gate I found the notice regarding the commencement of poojas in the SriRama Bhajana Madam after it’s renovation.After taking bath, we rushed to that and participated in  the sacred ceremony.

   This journey that lasted for 56 days covering places of diverse geography and importance instilled in me a strong desire to work vigourously and do the best of I can for the people around me.But I have only partly succeeded in that mission .Many opportunities slipped out of my hands .But I am satisfied with what I could do.I have not wasted the time left with me on any such occasions.I had dreamt of making the BhajanaMadam premises a place similar to the Pavandham temple in Hardwar.But what I could do is to visit the Pavandham temple in Hardwar for a second time in 1992.

KNOW YOUR NOSE

                                                               Know your nose

                          Of all the sense organs in our body  it is the nose that gets the scantiest regard.Though we care very much for our eyes and ears,we virtually neglect our nose.Even after we start wearing  glasses and hearing aids we have very little trouble with our nose.

     Have you ever spared time to think about the services rendered by this natural air conditioner ?Every day ,the average nose cleans and conditions about 530 cft of air,enough to fill a small room.Whether the day is chilling cold or fiercely hot ,this air conditioner delivers air at about the same temperature of 35^oC and about 80% saturated.The nostrils clean out impurities before they can reach the lungs.This filtering of air is done in two stages.First a barrier of thick hair traps larger particles of grit and pollen.Anything that beats this hair growth comes in contact with the mucous membrane.To provide moisture for the air and to give a sticky coating to the membrane,the nose secrets nearly a litre of moisture every day.The sticky mucous traps the bacteria and kills them using the enzyme lysozyme.To keep the mucous fresh and sticky the nose produces fresh batch of mucous every 20 minutes .An army of microscopic brooms called  cilia ,poke through the mucous coating and with almost 1000 strokes per minute,sweeps the old mucous to the throat.This debris go into the stomach where digestive juices destoy most of these bacteria .

          Besides it’s  major role as air conditioner the nose also gives the voice resonance.It also identifies on an average 4000 different scents.In the case of blind and mute persons the nose is more sensitive and can detect nearly 10,000 different scents.

       

Fearlessness at it'speak

Who is tha man/woman without any conscience or fear ?After several days of intense analysis I got the answer.A person who swindles temple money is the one who should be most dreaded.His act of stealing or swindling temple wealth is one which is committed without even an iota of fear or rependence.All other thieves will offer a part of the stollen property to the God as an act of compensating for his "sin'.But a temple thief has no such prick of conscience.He is there looking for every opportunity to snatch away as much as he can by utilising every opportunity that comes on  his way.It may be by spearheading the various temple activities like holding festivals,Prasadam oottu,Counting of money from the Hundials.He is very clever in having innovative means of raising funds from the believers.In appearance he will be like a Siddhan wearing yogic dress,long beard and chanting God's names very loudly so as to get the attention of all Bhaktas.He will speak like a Godman and can easily trap most people.His true colour will come out secretly through manipulations against the people who know his ulterior motives and do not go with him.