HEALTH CARE A MERE BUSINESS FOR PRIVATE HOSPITALS ?

We are having plenty of private hospitals and authorities of these hospitals proudly boast  that they are well-equipped at diagonising accurately and  providing effective  treatment for any disease. There is a general belief amongst the people that while Government hospitals including medical colleges are fraught with corruption and hence common man cannot get proper treatment without paying bribe, making the role of private hospitals vital in the field of treatment. Incidentally, falling prey to such a belief, even those sections of people who are backward and who cannot afford to get treatment from these hospitals also are forced to seek treatment  from them incurring heavy expenditure. Whether the theory that the people are able to get effective and proper treatment in private hospitals is borne out of facts or is it a myth?  This doubt arises in view of the experiences of many people who have undergone treatment at various  private hospitals.  Let us examine this in the following paragraphs.

Five years back one of my wife’s close relations  had developed some serious uneasiness and fatigue and sought medical help from Amrutha hospital, Ernakulam.  In the process of the treatment, she had to undergo different medical examinations/tests etc., and finally the doctor has diagnosed it as a case of diabetes and she was advised to follow treatment for the same. Needless to state,   In accordance with the   doctor’s advice she  has been taking medicines for diabetes for the last 5 years.  Nevertheless, as ill luck would have it, a fortnight back that person has developed severe uneasiness and fatigue and was about to collapse upon which she was admitted to Lake Shore Hospital, Ernakulam.  To the utter dismay and disbelief of the said patient and relations, when she has undergone medical tests in the said hospital, she was found to be having 4 blocks in the artery, one being a big one that had developed 5 years ago when she had undergone treatment at Amrutha Hospital, Ernakulam .  Subsequently, she has undergone angioplasty for removal of the 3 blocks and viewing the condition of her health the doctors has opined that  the big block cannot be removed  alongwith others.  Accordingly, she had to remain  in the ICU for 4-5 days and was discharged with the advice that she had to take rest for one year.  Nevertheless, unfortunately after 3 days of her discharge from Lake Shore Hospital, she had suffered  heart attack leading to  her hospitalization at Lake Shore Hospital and even before the doctors could do anything she has breathed her last.   Who is responsible for her unfortunate death?  It goes without saying that had the doctors at Amrutha Hospital properly diagnosed her complications and found out the correct disease she could have taken proper treatment by doing  angioplasty in time for the block that had developed and it would not have resulted in such an unfortunate situation wherein the 1^st block has become big followed by  development of other 3 blocks.  To say the least, this is a reflection on the functioning of Amrutha Hospital and speak volumes of  poor diagnosis standard prevalent in that hospital.

I also know of the experience of a friend of mine   had with PVS Hospital, Ernakulam.  That is to say, he was experiencing stomach ache was admitted to that hospital who was diagnosed by them to be having irritable bowels syndrome Consequently, he  was pursuing treatment for the same.  However, after elapsing of many years it turned out  to be different case, giving a lie to the diagnosis made by the doctors at PVS Hospital.  I am sure that with this the list of such instances will not be exhaustive.

Last but not the least, some doctor at a Medical College had once told me about the incidence of  patients who had undergone treatment in different private hospitals and were not diagnosed properly are getting admitted to Medical College in a complicated condition. Undoubtedly, it  makes a sad commentary on the performance of the private hospitals.

DR.SUKUMAR AZHEEKKODE'S BAPTISM TO LEFTIST IDEOLOGY?

Dr.Sukumar Azheekkode, who was  the most renowned pillar in the literary and cultural world of Kerala has passed away.  He had made  his mark in our social fabric as a writer, orator, critic, Gandhian and researcher so on so forth.  He had fought tooth and nail  the  injustices and evils prevailing in our society.  He was short-tempered in nature and was never afraid of calling a spade a spade. Whereas in his youth days  he was  a Congressman, when he was convinced that Congress Party has deviated from the declared aims and objectives for which it was formed, he has become its critic and expressed his stand openly.  Interestingly, even  then he has not become a follower of leftist ideology and continued as a Congress follower.

Then what are the circumstances that led to a person like him who was an out and out anti-communist  in becoming a staunch follower of communist ideology?   If I remember correct, the circumstances leading to his becoming a staunch follower of leftist ideology was very well narrated in one of his articles written under the regular feature titled ‘Marayillathe’ in  ‘Deshabhimani Daily’ sometime back. He had mentioned in the said article that when Babri Mazjid was demolished by Hindu fundamentalists, he had taken a tough stand against them and written many articles, thus becoming  a thorn in their flesh. Needless to state, this  finally resulted in receipt of  threats to his life from these fundamentalists.  He had further mentioned that being a Congress follower at that juncture, he should have received the support from that party.  Intriguingly, Congress Party had turned a deaf ear to such threats against his life and it was only the Communists which had come to his rescue by offering him security and protection from Hindu fundamentalists which paved the way for his abandoning  whatever affinity was  left for Congress Party and its ideology and becoming a staunch follower of leftist ideology which stand he maintained till he breathed his last.

DISTORTION OF NEWS -- MALAYALA MANORAMA AND MATHRUBHOOMI STYLE

A couple of months ago a report that has appeared in leading Malayalam dailies like Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhoomi  had some such caption which read as  “Pocket picked during travel in KSRTC bus and pick pocket dies in ensuing clash’.  It was reported that a person named Raghu was killed in a clash following picking the pocket of Gun Man of Congress leader and Lok Sabha M.P. K.Sudhakaran and the money that was picked was recovered from the former.  One who read the news item would have taken it on the face value and  believed that Raghu was a pick pocket who had picked the pocket of Gun Man of K.Sudhakaran.  Hardly a couple of newspapers like Deshabhimani only published the true report. The following day these papers had to retrace their steps and  report the truth that he was not a pick pocket as alleged in the report the previous day and he came to Perumbavoor on transfer to work in a private company and the money recovered from his possession was borrowed from his friend for being given as advance rent for hiring a house.  Nevertheless, they  did not think it prudent  either to apologise or to express regret for causing humiliation to the deceased and his relations including wife by their wrong  reporting, in  total disregard of mental agony and insult that had undergone by the latter  owing to  their wrong reporting.  This is the real Dharma of these newspapers.

This is not the first time that the said dailies have published wrong or distorted reports. On several occasions in the past they had resorted to distorted or wrong reporting about various issues and incidents. I remember  that some years ago Malayalam Manorama had published a report on the illicit relations between a girl in a village in Ernakulam District and some anti social elements..  However, while publishing the photograph of the girl involved they had wrongly published the photograph of another  girl in the vicinity and that innocent girl had to bear the brunt of insults and ignominy from the public.  Needless to state, this  finally culminated in the suicide of that girl and her mother for no fault of theirs..  Intriguingly, even in that case also Malayala Manorama had neither  apologized to her and family well in time about published her photograph wrongly nor have given correction of the news  which would have certainly saved their valuable lives.

Similarly. few  years back, Kochi Edition of Mathrubhoomi  Daily had published a news in the death column giving photograph of an old man known to me who hailed from Ernakulam District with correct name and address saying that he had expired while he was still very much alive.  Neither had they published any correction nor have apologized for ‘killing the person’ who was still alive inspite of the fact that his relations had protested against the wrong report and drawn the attention of the paper to the fact that he is alive.

Last but not the least, when I had referred the publishing of such wrong news item about Raghu who was killed by the Gun Man of K.Sudhakaran, M.P., to the special correspondent of Malayala Manorama stationed at Bangalore he has justified such reporting  on the analogy that in such cases invariably they take the version  given by the police for granted, implying thereby that they do not bother to investigate about the veracity of the report  and publish the truth.  Without mincing any words it can be asserted that such a stand of Malayala Manorama makes a mockery of Newspaper Dharma and their duty to the society specially so when gloat eloquently about their glorious traditions who has mentioned their motto below the editorial column as ‘Satyameva Jayathe’.

PEOPLE'S CONTRIBUTION IN CORRUPTION

To a certain extent people are also responsible for corruption and bribery in our society.  There is an inherent  feeling amongst  a good number of people that without bribe they will not get the desired results under the existing  condition in the country and they give bribes even without asking for it.   Such an incident which had happened many years back in my native place comes to my mind.  At that time a doctor has taken charge as Specialist in the local Government Taluk hospital,  who has become a very popular Pediatrician in the taluk within no time  due to  his accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.  Initially, he was not taking any bribe and even refused to accept money or any other gifts given to him by the relatives of the patients.   However, the relatives of the patients who were not content with the refusal of bribe by the doctor started forcing him to accept bribes by way of money or other items which they used to give him at his residence. 

This kind of thinking to give bribe emanated in the minds of public since they developed a feeling that bribing the doctor  ensured proper diagnosis and treatment. Consequently, that doctor in question  has succumbed to the allurements offered and became one of the most corrupt doctors in due course.  Moreover, he used to neglect such patients whose relatives failed to  bribe him.  This makes it amply clear that people have also got a responsibility towards  eradicating corruption in the society and they should not do anything knowingly or unknowingly to encourage bribery and corruption under any circumstances whatsoever.

POLITICAL GIMMICKS AT ITS WORST

Oommen Chandy , Chief Minister of Kerala, had declared at a press conference a fortnight ago that in the event of new dam being constructed at Mullapperiyar, it can be on the joint control of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.  This statement had come as a bolt from the blue which was contrary to the understanding reached in the all-party meeting conducted by him on the issue a few days earlier. Thus it was but natural that this had invited sharp criticism from many leaders including Opposition Leader VS Achuthanandan, Pinarai Vijayan and Congress leader VM Sudheeran. Moreover, KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala had also  expressed his disagreement on the said change of stand which was parrotted by Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Revenue Minister of Kerala.   It is a fact that the press conferences of  both Chief Minister as well as Thiruvanchoor were reported by almost all the newspapers of Kerala including Manorama and Mathrubhoomi.  Nevertheless, when the shift in the attitude of the Government was made public by Chief Minister and Thiruvanchoor has resulted in   a lot of criticism even from those supporting the UDF, Oommen Chandy has suddenly made a volte face and denied having made any such statement. Also, he has squarely put the blame on the media saying that they have twisted what he had said on the issue and took the stand that he had mentioned about joint control of water and not of dam, which nobody can take with a pinch of salt  as his press conference was published even in the media who are ardent supporters of UDF.

 If we closely  examine the events that took place in the recent past on the Mullapperiyar issue, we can see that a similar incident had happened sometime back following the filing of an affidavit on the issue by Advocate General of Kerala stating that Idukki dam can hold water of the Mullapperiyar dam in case the dam collapses. Intriguingly, at that time,the said stand was endorsed by Revenue Minister of Kerala the following day.  However, when the issue has become a contentious one, Revenue Minister also  made a somersault in the same manner as done by Oommen Chandy and denied having  made any statement that Idukki dam can hold water from Mullapperiyar dam  in the event Mullapperiyar dam collapses. In the process he had made himself a fool since the media including visual media had broadcast his earlier press conference on the issue wherein he had fully endorsed  the stand of Advocate General . Incidentally, Karirali TV had broadcast both the press conferences he had held, firstly endorsing the stand of Advocate General and subsequently denying having made any such endorsement and shown in the news with the captions ‘Yesterday:…….   Today:……….. ..     thereby exposing the Minister’s double-standard.

It can thus be concluded that the  acts of Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and Oommen Chandy in denying the statements made in their respective press conference before its  ink got dried up, have made them a laughing stock in the eyes of the people  of Kerala.

MORALITY AND SEXUAL HARRASSMENT -- TWO DIFFERENT APPROACHES

The stand adopted by bourgeois parties like Congress vis-à-vis morality is ridiculous as compared to CPI(M) and other left parties.  Whereas CPI(M) and left parties take corrective actions in cases  wherein allegations of sexual harassment and related issues the former  does not take any disciplinary/corrective action against the persons involved.  There are two glaring cases in point which has happened in the recent past.  We cannot forget the fact that one of the leaders of Congress viz., Jacob Stephen who was Kottayam District Council member was an accused in the ‘Suryanelli Sexual Harrassment Case; however,  Congress has not taken any disciplinary action against him even thought his involved was proved beyond doubt.  Similarly, when another Congress leader  Raj Mohan Unnithan was caught by the people with a lady during the odd hours of night at a hotel in Manjery which has led to a lot of furore in political circles, Congress Party failed to take disciplinary action against him and exonerated him  of the charges.  In sharp contrast, CPI(M) had taken disciplinary action against its leaders on charges of sexual harassment.  While it was proved that the Secretary of  CPI(M) Punjab State Committee, who happened to be a Central Committee Member, had  tried to sexually harass a deceased party member’s widow, he was expelled from the party.  Interestingly, he has joined Congress  after being expelled from CPI(M).  Also when  allegation of attempt to resort to sexual harassment was levelled against W.R.Varadarajan, another Central Committee member from Tamil Nadu  by an woman, party had conducted enquiry based on which he was removed from all his positions in the party.  As ill luck would have it, he was missing for a few days and finally his dead body was recovered from a pool.  Alas, a lot of hue and cry was unleashed on this issue by the Congress and  their lackeys assisted by almost all the main newspapers like Malayala Manorama.  In  their view,  CPI(M) had acted in a cruel manner by acting against Varadarajan which led to his suicide forgetting conveniently that he was not expelled but only removed from the positions held in the party as the allegation that he had sent SMS with sexual motive to a lady was proved in the enquiry held against him. Many such instances can be cited wherein CPI(M) and other left parties take disciplinary action against their cadre irrespective of whether it  is a leader or not, after conducting enquiry in the allegations of sexual harassment.

From the above  it can be stated in no uncertain terms that the stand of CPI(M) and other  left parties vis-à-vis matters connected with morality and sexual harassment is praiseworthy as compared to parties like Congress.

SO-CALLED NON-POLITICAL CLASS

It is the wellknown stand of the so-called non-political figures in our country that  all politicians are alike.  They do not distinguish any political party from this and brand all politicians alike as  corrupt and self-seekers.  It is seen that many a newspaper also support such a line of thinking, This kind of propaganda gained momentum very recently when known Gandhian Anna Hazare has launched his tirade against corruption at high places and Government circles.  Many persons from the Hazare Brigade had even painted all political parties with the same brush and Smt.Kiran Bedi had even  mimicked some politicians in a meeting organized by Hazare at Delhi which invited all round criticism from almost all political parties.  Nevertheless, as later events show, Anna supporters  had to retrace their steps on the issue and had to seek the support of political parties in their fight against corruption and for  an effective Lok Pal Bill which can go a long way in checking the corruption in the country.

This kind of propaganda has been prevalent in Kerala State also.  It can be seen that the propaganda of branding all politicians alike gets strengthened when some leader of the Congress Party is indicted in corruption charges. There have been many such instances in the past wherein attempts were made to show all political leaders in poor light.  The motive behind such a propaganda was to protect such a leader and help him to get out of the case.  There are some other persons who pretend to be non-political and attack politicians. However, at the time of elections they resort to somersault and helps Congress or other  bourgeois parties against left parties  in the elections on some pretext or the other.

Recently the details of donations made to political parties by corporates have come to light ..  From the information revealed, it is seen that corporates have donated crores of rupees to both Congress and Bharatiya Janatha Party and left parties including CPI(M) had not received such donations from corporate.  This makes it amply clear that left parties are totally different from parties like Congress and BJP and they are saviours of downtrodden and toiling mass.

It can therefore be concluded that all parties are not alike and CPI(M) and other left parties stand out as totally different from Congress and other bourgeois parties.

Memoirs

Yesterday, I started writing blog in Malayalam but there was some problem in doing so since I had written the same using transliteration method in google of internet and I could not write correct words. Hence I thought of writing in English also

I have been toying with the idea of starting my blog and write something continuously without any interruption; however, it could only be cherished now. As the saying goes, it is better late than never.

At the outset I want to share many an experience of mine since my childhood with the readers.

First of all, let me talk of about my native place.  I am a native of Cherthala Taluk in Alappuzha District of Kerala which is on the coastal area.  I hail from 8^th ward of Cherthala Municiality near Shastham Kavala.  I belong to Cheriamurianatt which is an ancient family of the locality.

I am sure that there won’t be any Keralite who has not heard about Cherthala.  When one hears the name of Cherthala , the first thing that comes to one’s mind is the uprissng of Vayalar launched against the autocratic rule of Sir CP Ramaswamy Iyyer in which thousands of people have become martyrs.  Moreover, many political personalities like K.R.Gowry Amma, A.K.Antony, Vayalar Ravi , cinema actors like Rajan P.Dev and Jagannath Verma are native of Cherthala.  Also, the great film lyricist and poet of Kerala Vayalar Ramavarma also hailed from Cherthala.

I was borne and brought up under purely conservative environment.  Major chunk of my childhood was spent at Kanjirappally in Kottayam District and Nilambur Taluk of Malappuram District of Kerala.  During the year 1954 or so we have started staying at Kanjirappally where my father used to work in a cinema theatre named ‘Baby’ as Manager.   During the period of my childhood  I used to hear all sorts of strories about Communist Party and have grown up as a person who hates  the Communists. I was told that Communists are cruel people who have got no mercy for others and  who will go any extent to attain their goals.  The most valid point they were citing in support of this argument was the role of Communists in Vayalar uprising in which hundreds of Communists were killed.  The Vayalar uprising and the resistance against Sir CP Ramaswamy Iyyer was interpreted as a classic example of deceit and Congress Party started observing ‘Deceit Day’ on Vayalar Martyrs Day telling that Communists had deceived followers into attacking the army of Sir CP with  spears made out of coconutt tree wood and in the process  hundreds of followers had become martyrs. Hearing such things, a fear complex had developed in my mind about Communists during my childhood.  I was afraid of going near the office of Communist Party those days and was scared even  to see the red flag.

While I was at Kanjirappally also, I was hearing all bad things about Communists. After the   first Communist Government headed by EMS Namboothirippad was assumed office, I had shifted my residence to Nilambur and during the period of  ‘Vimochana Samaram’ I was there only.  After the government led by EMS was dismissed by the Cental Giovernment headed by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, I have come back to my native place and resumed my studies at Cherthala High School. That was in the year 1961.  During this year I started my political work as a K.S.U. worker and have been an active member of K.S.U., the student wing of Congress.  Those days  I used to visit Congress Party office on almost all the holidays or Sundays.  Moreover, whenever some State leader or all-India leader used to visit Cherthala, I used to participate in the pub lic meetings held  during theiir visits.  My association with Congress Party continued till 1964 when I have completed my  high school education.  Then how come I have become an active Communist? What are the circumstances that have led to that?  About that I will narrate later.

വളരെ നാളുകളായി ഞാന്‍ വിചാരിക്കുന്ന കാര്യമാണ് ബ്ലോഗ്‌ തുടങ്ങണമെന്നും അതില്‍ എന്തെങ്കിലും തുടര്‍ച്ചയായി എഴുതണമെന്നും. പക്ഷെ ഇപ്പോള്‍ മാത്രമാണ് അതിനു സാധിച്ചത്.  ഒരിക്കലും ചെയ്യാതതിനെക്കാളും നല്ലത്   താമസിച്ചു ചെയ്യുന്ന്നതാണ് എന്നാണല്ലോ പഴഞ്ചൊല്ല്. ഞാന്‍ ഇതില്‍ എന്റെ ചെറുപ്പകാലം തൊട്ടുള്ള പല അനുഭവങ്ങളും വായനക്കാരോട് പങ്കു വൈക്കുവാന്‍ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുകയാണ്.

 

ആദ്യമായി എന്റെ നാടിനെപ്പറ്റി പറയട്ടെ.  എന്റെ ജന്മദേശം ആലപ്പുഴ ജില്ലയിലെ ചേര്‍ത്തല താലുക്കില്‍ മുനിസിപ്പല്‍     എട്ടാം വാര്‍ഡില്‍ശാസ്താം  കവലക്ക്‌ അടുത്താണ്. എന്റെ വീട്ടു പേര് ചെറിയ മുര്യനാട്ടു.  ഞാന്‍ ഒരു പുരാതന കുടുംബത്തിലെ അംഗം ആണ്.  സ്ഥലത്തെപ്പറ്റി കേള്‍ക്കാത്തവര്‍ കേരളത്തില്‍ വളരെ ചുരുക്കമായിരിക്കും.  

 

ആദ്യമായി ചേര്‍ത്തല എന്നാ പേര് കേള്‍ക്കുമ്പോള്‍ ഒരാളുടെ മനസ്സിലേക്ക് ഓടിയെത്തുന്നത് സര്‍ സീപ്പിയുടെ പട്ടാളതിനെതിരായ വയലാര്‍ സമരവും മറ്റും ആണ് പിന്നെ വയലാര്‍ രാമവര്‍മ, കെ ആര്‍ ഗൌരി അമ്മ,  എകെ ആന്റോണി വയലാര്‍ രവി , സിനിമ നനടന്മാരായ  രാജന്‍ പീ ദേവ് ജഗന്നാഥ വര്‍മ തുടങ്ങിയവരുടെ ജന്മനാട് ആണ് ചേര്‍ത്തല.  തികച്ചും യാതാസ്ഥികമായ    ചുറ്റുപാടുകലിലാണ്    ഞാന്‍ ജനിച്ചതും വളര്‍ന്നതും ഒക്കെ.

 

 അങ്ങനെ ഇര്രിക്കുംപോഴാണ് ഞാന്‍ കാഞ്ഞിരപ്പള്ളിയില്‍ താമസ്സമാകുന്നത്. അന്ന് അച്ച്ഹനു ജോലി അവിടെയായിരുന്നു. കാഞ്ഞിരപ്പള്ളിയില്‍ വച്ചും കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റു പാര്‍ടിയെ  പറ്റി  മോശമായ കാര്യങ്ങളാണ് പറഞ്ഞു കേട്ടത്. അവിടെ നിന്ന് 1957 വര്ഷം ഞാന്‍ നിലമ്പൂരിലേക്ക് പോയി. അവിടെയും രണ്ടു മൂന്നു വര്‍ഷങ്ങള്‍ താമസിക്കുവാന്‍ ഇടയായി.  അവിടെ താമസിക്കുമ്പോഴാണ് ഈ എം എസ്സിന്റെ നേതൃത്തത്തിലുള്ള കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റ്‌ സര്കാരിനെതിരായ  വിമോചന സമരം തുടങ്ങിയത്.  ആയ സമയം ഞങ്ങള്‍ തിരിച്ചു താമസം ചെര്തലയിലേക്ക് മാറ്റി. ആ ഗവണ്മെന്റിനെ കേന്ദ്രം ഡിസ്മിസ് ചെയ്തതിനു ശേഷം പിന്നീട് കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റു വിരുദ്ധ കൂട്ടുകെട്ടാണ് പിന്നെ അധികാരത്തില്‍ വന്നത്. അങ്ങനെ 1961 വര്ഷം ഞാന്‍ ചേര്‍ത്തല ഹൈ സ്കൂളില്‍ ചേര്‍ന്ന് പഠിക്കുവാന്‍ തുടങ്ങി. സ്വാഭാവികമായും ഒരു കെ എസ യു പ്രവര്തകനായിട്ടായിരുന്നു എന്റെ തുടക്കം. മാത്രമല്ല മിക്കവാറും ഒഴിവു ദിവസ്സങ്ങളില്‍  കോണ്‍ഗ്രസ്‌ പാര്‍ടിയുടെ ആഫീസ്സില്‍ വൈകുന്നേരം പോകുന്നതും പതിവായിരുന്നു. മാത്രമല്ല കോണ്‍ഗ്രീ പാര്‍ടിയുടെ അഖിലെന്ടിയ നേതാക്കന്മ്മാര്‍ വരുമ്പോഴെല്ലാം പൊതു സമ്മേളനങ്ങളില്‍ പങ്കെടുക്കുവാനും ശ്രമിക്കുമായിരുന്നു. അത്രയ്ക്ക് ആവേശത്തോടെയാണ് അന്ന് ഞാന്‍ രാഷ്ട്രിയ പ്രവര്‍ത്തനം തുടങ്ങിയത്. ഞാന്‍ ഹൈ സ്കൂള്‍ ജീവിതം പൂര്‍ത്തിയാക്കുന്ന സമയം 1964 വര്ഷം  വരെ അത് തുടര്‍ന്നു. പിന്നെ ഞാനെങ്ങനെ ഒരു കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റ്‌ ആയി. അതെക്കുറിച്ച് പിനീട് പറയാം. സ്ഥലത്തെപ്പറ്റി കേള്‍ക്കാത്തവര്‍ കേരളത്തില്‍ വളരെ ചുരുക്കമായിരിക്കും. 

കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റു പാര്ടിയേക്കുരിച്ചും   കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റുകാരെക്കുരിച്ചും പല പല കഥകളും കേട്ടാണ് ഞാന്‍ വളര്‍ന്നത്‌.  ഇത് കാരണം കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റുകാരോട് വളരെ വെറുപ്പ്‌ എന്നിലുണ്ടായി എന്നതാണ് സത്യം,.  എന്റെ ബാല്യ കാലത്ത്‌ കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റ്‌ പാര്‍ട്ടിയുടെ ഓഫീസിന്റെ പരിസരത്ത് കൂടി പോകുവാന്‍  പോലും ഭയമായിരുന്നു. കാരണം കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റുകാര്‍  .  അത്ര ഭയങ്കരന്മാരാണ് എന്നായിരുന്നു അന്ന് എന്റെ ധാരണ.  ചുവന്ന കൊടി കണ്ടാല്‍ അന്ന് എനിക്ക് 

 ഭീതിയായിരുന്നു.  അങ്ങനെ ഇര്രിക്കുംപോഴാണ് ഞാന്‍ കാഞ്ഞിരപ്പള്ളിയില്‍ താമസ്സമാകുന്നത്. അന്ന് അച്ച്ഹനു ജോലി അവിടെയായിരുന്നു. കാഞ്ഞിരപ്പള്ളിയില്‍ വച്ചും കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റു പാര്‍ടിയെ പട്ടി മോശമായ കാര്യങ്ങളാണ് പറഞ്ഞു കേട്ടത്. അവിടെ നിന്ന് 1957 വര്ഷം ഞാന്‍ നിലമ്പൂരിലേക്ക് പോയി. അവിടെയും രണ്ടു മൂന്നു വര്‍ഷങ്ങള്‍ താമസിക്കുവാന്‍ ഇടയായി.  അവിടെ താമസിക്കുമ്പോഴാണ് ഈ എം എസ്സിന്റെ നേതൃത്തത്തിലുള്ള കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റ്‌ സര്കാരിനെതിരായ  വിമോചന സമരം തുടങ്ങിയത്.  ആയ സമയം ഞങ്ങള്‍ തിരിച്ചു താമസം ചെര്തലയിലേക്ക് മാറ്റി. ആ ഗവണ്മെന്റിനെ കേന്ദ്രം ഡിസ്മിസ് ചെയ്തതിനു ശേഷം പിന്നീട് കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റു വിരുദ്ധ കൂട്ടുകെട്ടാണ് പിന്നെ അധികാരത്തില്‍ വന്നത്. അങ്ങനെ 1961 വര്ഷം ഞാന്‍ ചേര്‍ത്തല ഹൈ സ്കൂളില്‍ ചേര്‍ന്ന് പഠിക്കുവാന്‍ തുടങ്ങി. സ്വാഭാവികമായും ഒരു കെ എസ യു പ്രവര്തകനായിട്ടായിരുന്നു എന്റെ തുടക്കം. മാത്രമല്ല മിക്കവാറും ഒഴിവു ദിവസ്സങ്ങളില്‍  കോണ്‍ഗ്രസ്‌ പാര്‍ടിയുടെ ആഫീസ്സില്‍ വൈകുന്നേരം പോകുന്നതും പതിവായിരുന്നു. മാത്രമല്ല കോണ്‍ഗ്രീ പാര്‍ടിയുടെ അഖിലെന്ടിയ നേതാക്കന്മ്മാര്‍ വരുമ്പോഴെല്ലാം പൊതു സമ്മേളനങ്ങളില്‍ പങ്കെടുക്കുവാനും ശ്രമിക്കുമായിരുന്നു. അത്രയ്ക്ക് ആവേശത്തോടെയാണ് അന്ന് ഞാന്‍ രാഷ്ട്രിയ പ്രവര്‍ത്തനം തുടങ്ങിയത്. ഞാന്‍ ഹൈ സ്കൂള്‍ ജീവിതം പൂര്‍ത്തിയാക്കുന്ന സമയം 1964 വര്ഷം  വരെ അത് തുടര്‍ന്നു. പിന്നെ ഞാനെങ്ങനെ ഒരു കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റ്‌ ആയി. അതെക്കുറിച്ച് പിനീട് പറയാം.