OUR NATIONAL BIRD IN PERIL

Peacock is our National Bird. Then why the authorities are turning a blind eye towards its being endangered?  Vendors selling peacock feather and items made out of it is a common sight at many busy places like bus stations, shopping malls etc., in different cities of India. To me it is a painful experience to watch huge quantities of this item being carried by the vendors for being sold.  One wonders why the sale of this item is not banned.  Is it not ridiculous?  Is it possible to collect such a huge quantity without killing the peacock?  Answer is NO.  Anyone claims that these had fallen from the bodies of peacocks, there will be no takers for the same. It is intriguing that the authorities  concerned  remain silent spectators when its National Bird is being butchered..

Being a nature lover, I could not resist the temptation of enquiring from one such vendor regarding his native place.  He told me that he hails from U.P. which implies that these feather was collected  from U.P.  I happened to see a news item in the press sometime back regarding the arrest of a peacock feather vendor in some city in northern India.  May be it was an isolated case. Or else how the sale of the same is still going on?

Recently, I got very upset on  seeing a vendor with huge quantity of peacock feather at Bangalore Motor Transport Corporation Station, Majestic.  On spotting him, I contacted the office bearer of Organization Against Cruelties of Animals and brought the same to his notice.  His reaction was not helpful.  In fact he tried to pass on the buck to me asking me to question that vendor and then complain to police.  My point that I do not have the authority for the same did not have any avail.

Will good sense will prevail on the authorities even at this hour to intervene and ban the sale of peacock feather and items made out of it and take stringent action against those violating the same is the moot question.  Otherwise no one can be in doubt that it will not be too long before peacock faces extinction in India.  Are the authorities pretending to be sleeping?  Who is bothered about it  any way?

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ONLY CPM VIOLENCE MATTERS, NOT OTHERS'

It has been the practice followed by Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhoomi among other newspapers  to publish reports with the caption ‘CPM violence’ in regard to any incident that occurs in our state whether it be boundary dispute or  any other matter involving members or sympathizers of CPM. We have been seeing news items bearing captions about CPM violence only till now.  As is known, many violent incidents involving active members of Congress, Muslim League and other parties had taken place in our State in the past.  Intriguingly,  none of these cases  was reported with the caption ‘Congress violence’, ’Muslim League violence’ or RSS violence atleast for once in the columns of these news papers.  Violence committed by any party irrespective of party affiliation,  is violence only. Then what is special about CPM violence alone? Why are they avoiding to report about Congress violence or violence indulged in by any other parties?

There is  another interesting aspect of this issue.  Let us suppose in a locality some clash takes place involving CPM members or sympathizers on the one side and members of other party or parties on the other side resulting in the death of a member of the latter.  In such case, Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhoomi are very particular to give photos of the deceased’s family members including wife and children crying followed by publishing interviews of neighbours of the deceased man as also heart-renting stories about the ‘Marxist horror and cruelty’.  On the contrary, if a CPM man gets killed in such an incident and the murderers belong to Congress, Muslim League or any of its allies or even BJP or RSS for that matter, they are not bothered about  following the above procedure?  It is intriguing that even in this case they are not taking a neutral stance . It is not understood as to what is the justification for this discrimination?  Is it their attitude that if  the murdered person is a CPM man, he deserves to die? It can only be attributed to nothing but out and out anti-CPM sentiment.

The latest  instance in the corollary of  said discrimination in giving news is the report regarding the recent gruesome murders of two CPM leaders in West Bengal by supporters of Trinamool Congress the other day.  In the news item covering the said murders also no caption is given as Trinamool Congress violence .  Had the murderers belonged to CPM and murdered were either leaders of Trinamool Congress or  Congress we can very well assume  what would have been the caption of that news.  It could have been nothing but ‘CPM violence, twoTrinamool Congress  leaders murdered or two Congress leaders murdered’ as the case may be.

This discriminatory policy being pursued by  Malayala Manorama speaks volumes of their hatred for CPM which makes a mockery of  their proclaimed  motto ‘Sathyameva Jayathe’.

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HAVE THE CROWS STARTED FLYING UPSIDE DOWN??

In Kerala it is common that when someone refers to a thing that will never happen, it is told that in the event such a thing happens ‘the crows will fly upside down’. Interestingly, now such a thing has happened creating a history of sort.

I wrote a blog some time back on the typical style of reporting the news by Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhoomi twisting or distorting the same incorporating lies and half truths. I had quoted a few instances therein to prove my point. When I had conveyed my  ire and displeasure towards this aspect to the Special Correspondent of Malayala Manorama, he told me that they take the version of the police granted in all such reports and base their reports on the same. When questioned about the propriety of doing so, he had promised that he will convey to the higher ups at Malayala Manorama the feeling of the readers in this regard.

The discriminatory and distorted style of reporting of Malayala Manorama who is infected with anti-CPM cataract is quite wellknown.  In case any clash or unfortunate incident takes place anywhere in Kerala in which any CPM member or even sympathizer is remotely involved, they invariably make it an occasion to indulge in anti-CPM propaganda  and fills their pages with cooked up stories.  Even when the  culprits involved belong either to Congress, any of its allies, BJP or even RSS, Malayala Manorama had no hesitation in engaging their special correspondents to do investigative reporting with a view to establishing that such incidents are aftermath of attacks by CPM men on the latter.  They are not ashamed  of indulging in this kind of dirty and vituperative propaganda against CPM.

It was in this backdrop that I had expected that Malayala Manorama will give a totally discriminatory and distorted report in tune with their  past record by squarely blaming the  CPM for the incidents leading  to the attack on Kannur District Secretary P. Jayarajan, other CPM leaders and workers including TV Rajesh, MLA by Muslim League activists.  I also thought that they  will as usual make it an occasion to spit anti-CPM venom. However, to my utter disbelief and surprise, Malayala Manorama has given altogether a totally neutral report on the same.  This is first of its kind and  so far unheard of in their history.  The report clearly states that when P.Jayarajan and others were going to visit the places where the party office,  library etc., were damaged in the attack by the Muslim League workers on the previous day, they were waylaid and attacked by the latter.  To say the least, it was a total reversal of their proclaimed policy of  anti-CPM stand.  How has this happened?  Imagining that Kannur correspondent of Malayala Manorama has prepared this neutral report, how come those at the helm of affairs who are infected with anti-CPM attitude allowed this news to be published in their columns?  Is the  said neutral reporting an isolated case or is it an indication of any change of stance of Malayala Manorama? These are the questions calling for answers.

Have the ’crows started flying upside down’? One wonders.

SEWAGE WATER TURNS POTABLE IN KARNATAKA AFTER FLOWING 22 .3 KMS – SOUNDS INCREDIBLE, ISN’T IT? BUT TRUE.

A news item has appeared recently in the press  regarding sewage water transforming into potable water.  Have you ever heard about sewage water turning into potable one after flowing   for a considerable distance. Sounds incredible?  Isn’t it? But it is a reality that happened in Karnataka.  Understandably, it has created a sort of history hitherto unheard of. The details ensue.

The Minor Irrigation Project of Karnataka had undertaken a project to fill Doddakere lake in Hoskote which is a little over 22 kms away from Bangalore by diverting sewage water from Yelemallappa Shetty tank near KR Puram in Bangalore District.  This project was implemented very recently.  Can you believe that this has helped solve the drinking water problem completely of 60,000 and odd residents of Hoskote town and surrounding areas who are able to get clean drinking water round-the–clock now.  It is rather unprecedented. For the past two decades Doddakere remained dry. Similarly, the water table also got depleted to over 1250 feet in most parts of Hoskote resulting  in ground water rendering unfit  for consumption.  Also, farmers had to abandon  agriculture.

The situation has totally changed now for the better.  After the sewage water had flown for a distance of 22.3 kms to Hoskote, the ground water is available at 250 feet in Hoskote and 20 adjoining villages. Local body has begun supplying this water after mandatory treatment.  Chemical analysis was conducted by BMC College of Engineering, Bangalore which has shown that it is fit for agriculture.  Similarly, ground water samples  collected from borewells around the tank were tested and found to be potable. The water table in 30 villages had also gone up.

The explanation being given by the authorities for this phenomenon  is that sewage water has undergone natural cleaning during its flow from  Yelemallappa Shetty tank near KR Puram, Bangalore to Doddakere tank in Hoskote. Encouraged by this  pleasant experience, the Minor Irrigation Department has prepared another project near Sarjapura, Bangalore which envisages diversion of excess water mainly that of sewage water. Launching  of many such projects in different areas may follow aimed at enhancing  ground water level thereby tiding over the problem of shortage of water.

‘PINARAI VADHAM KATHAKALI’– A SHAME ON MEDIA AND UDF

The media including Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhoomi , different channels and UDF leaders have been making  such a systematic and vituperative attempts at denigrating the   clean image of Sri Pinari Vijayan, Secretary of Kerala State Committee of CPI(M) as a politician and as one who had proved his mettle as an able Minister since long. What they  were performing all these years is nothing but  ‘Pinarai Vadham Kathakali’ which is divided by me into 4 parts as follows.

‘Part I – Allegation regarding  owning a company at Singapore in wife’s name:

This part is in regard to the allegation about Pinarai’s having started a company in the name of his wife in Singapore and about his  undertaking several foreign tours for this purpose were raised by certain vested interests and imposters. During the enquiry conducted by central agency these allegations were proved to be a wet  cracker.

 Part II – Allegation regarding higher studies of son

This part relates to the slanderous propaganda regarding higher studies of Pinarai’s son.  Unnecessary hue and cry regarding the expenses incurred towards his son’s higher studies was raised by certain quarters which received wide coverage in the media.  In the enquiry conducted by central agency it was found that he had remitted fees for his son’s higher studies  by availing a loan from the bank.

Part III – Propaganda regarding ‘Sakhavinte Kutil’ (Comrade’s Hut)

This part concerns  the report circulated in the internet giving a picture of a posh mansion under the caption ‘Sakhavinte Kutil’ (‘Comrade’s Hut’) and alleging that it is owned by Pinarai which was seen by lakhs of Keralites  throughout the world which was reproduced by the media like Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhoomi in Kerala. This had become a hot news for them among others who celebrated it with a lot of enthusiasm without waiting to ascertain the truth behind it which reminds me of a saying in Malayalam thus goes ‘Taking the rope on  hearing  that bull  has delivered’. Atleast some sections of the people would have been misled by that news. On Pinarai’s complaint , Cyber Police who investigated the  matter had unraveled the mystery behind it.  It was found that the posh mansion purported to be made as that of  Pinarai’s,  originally belonged to an NRI working in Gulf and it was the handiwork of a Keralite working in Gulf and 3 others employed in Gulf helped him to circulate the same through internet.  They  had disclosed to the Cyber  Police that it was done for the sake of fun. After having done such a mean thing to denigrate the image of a leader like Pinarai  they had given such a  lame excuse begging   Pinarai’s pardon to see that they are not thrown out of job on this score. Even after this, the  media including Malayala Manorama had neither  thought it appropriate to seek pardon of the  people of Kerala for giving publicity to such a fake news to tarnish Pinarai’s image , nor have they felt any pricking of conscious for the same . 

4^th & Final part – Lavlin case

This part begins when Oommen Chandy, who was the Chief Minister orders a CBI probe  against Pinarai in connection with Lavlin case on the very same day when Election  Commission   declared   elections    to the    Kerala Assembly. Prior to it, State

Vigilance Department as also Central Income Tax Department had enquired into the  allegations against Pinarai in detail but they could not find even an iota of truth in it.  No sane person can attribute this to pro-Pinarai stand of these departments . Similarly, Central Enforcement Department of Finance Department had also made enquiry in India and abroad with regard to the said allegations which also could not establish any wrong-doing  on the part of Pinarai.

In the initial stage itself  when the  demand for CBI enquiry into Lavlin case was raised, CBI had informed the court that there is nothing for them to investigate in it after going through various documents and files.  Thus it was quite evident that Oommen Chandy had ordered CBI enquiry against Pinarai with a view to detract public attention from certain issues being faced by his Government at that time. It was nothing but a politically motivated action.

The CBI  had examined all the documents and papers in Lavlin case and  have come to the conclusion that there is no evidence to prove that Pinarai has made any financial gain in Lavlin case as alleged.  It is recollected that the papers like Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhoomi had engaged scores of their Special Correspondents and researchers to cook up many stories about Pinarai’s involvement in the case as per their imagination  and had thus made systematic attempts for months together at tarnishing his image To say the least, these people had celebrated this issue to the hilt.  They had also called for the resignation of  Pinarai from the Secretaryship of CPI(M) . In the midst of the CBI enquiry, a person claiming to be an eye  witness to Pinarai accepting bribe had also appeared one day and given a statement to that effect to the media which made Malayala Manorama and other media to rejoice and to come to the conclusion that Pinarai‘s political future is finished.as he will be found guilty of corruption in Lavlin case. Sadly enough for them, their dreams have not come true and the slanderous propaganda unleashed by them  had fallen to the ground like a palace made of cards. 

From the very  beginning when  CBI enquiry was ordered till the final outcome has come, at no time did Pinarai lose his mental balance or temper and kept his cool faced the enquiry courageously telling that ‘let the truth come out’.  ‘Pinarai Vadham Kathakali performed by the media and vested interests were not able to cause even a slight dimming to his image. After the final revelations of CBI exonerating him in Lavlin case, Pinarai stands out like a bright Sun whose brightness has increased manifold. Consequently, his detractors are very much upset on this score and are fretting and fuming right now.

It is crystal clear that the real motive behind the constant slandering of Pinarai and unleashing attacks on him based on fake news as also branding him as a corrupt man in Lavlin case is only one.  That is to destroy the number one party in Kerala viz., CPI(M).

Lastly, even after it was proved that Pinarai has not made any financial gain from Lavlin issue, the media including Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhoomi did not think it apt to seek pardon from the people of Kerala  for performing ‘Pinarai Vadham Kathakali’ for years together on flimsy grounds .  That is to say,  they  are not ashamed of their diabolical acts. This reminds me of a saying in Malayalam which thus goes “If a banyan tree sprouts on the bump of a shameless person he will use  its shadow to protect himself from the Sun.”

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BELIEF IN IDEOLOGY VS PERSONAL COMPULSIONS

We know that a large number of people are either members or sincere followers of various political parties.  At the same time the number of people who join political parties t meet their personal ends is also not small.  There  have also been also cases where staunch supporters of political parties quitting  one party and join another due to personal compulsion overnight throwing to winds  their preaching and principles upheld hitherto.

An incident that took place at my native place as far back as late 60s  involving one acquaintance comes to my mind. It was quite accidental that I had got acquainted with a person named Gopi (name changed).  He was a beedi worker in a small shop selling pan, sweetmeat etc. I realized that he is a down-to-earth gentleman and amiable personality.  Ever since we became close, I alongwith my friend used to drop in at the shop where he worked  every evening on our way to Municipal Library We  used to engage ourselves in hot discussion in political matters.  He was an active CPI(M) worker who used to participate in all the programmes organized by the party   Those days CPI(M) was beset with the threat of left extremism and many CPI(M) activists were leaving the party to join Naxalites.  While discussing about this situation he was blunt in his attack on those leaving the party and he openly declared “in case tomorrow if I am only left in the party, I will alone hold the red flag of CPI(M) and march fearlessly in the street”, reinforcing his strong faith in the party.

Hardly two months have gone by since he made the said declaration of holding alone the red flag of the party  and march fearlessly.  Then one morning to my utter disbelief and shock,  I heard the news that Gopi has quit the CPI(M) and joined RSS. I was rather baffled at the sudden and unexpected move on the part of Gopi.  On that evening when I met him I enquired as to what are the reasons for his shifting loyalty overnight to which he gave a laconic reply that it was due to some family issue.  Later on it has come to light that  he had some boundary dispute with his neighbour  who also belonged to the CPI(M) and party had intervened to settle the same.  Nevertheless, Gopi was adamant and was not ready to accept the compromise formula  evolved by the party . Subsequently, he quit the CPI(M) and sought the help of RSS becoming its member next day itself.

The change of heart of Gopi  in total disregard o the principles upheld by him  was beyond my comprehension. Thus came the end of our friendship. I do not know whether Gopi is now alive or not..  All the same, the shift  of political ideology overnight by him still remains fresh in my mind as a thing which is hard  to digest.

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MALAYALEES SETTLED OUTSIDE KERALA AND MOTHER TONGUE

A  large  number of Malayalees had gone out of Kerala including foreign countries to eke out a living by taking up jobs or doing business and a good number  are settled there.  It is a fact that a major chunk of the children of these Malayalees are growing up without knowing either to speak, write or read their mother tongue Malayalam.  The discrimination towards mother tongue by these Malayalees settled outside Kerala is attributed   to their fear borne out of the thinking that it will adversely affect the English standard of their wards which will in turn prove detrimental to their coming out with flying  colours in competitive examinations, interviews etc in future.  Being a person who had opportunities of living in many places outside Kerala viz., Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bangalore, I can say that majority  of Malayalees living in Delhi are not at all inclined to teach their children Malayalam.  Here even at home they prefer to talk each other either in Hindi or English. While I was at Delhi during the 1970s many Malayalee  parents used to proudly say to me that their children do not know Malayalam. On the contrary, Malayalees living at Kolkata and Mumbai are  a little different inasmuch as they and children  atleast talk each other  at home in Malayalam.  To my knowledge, Bangalore is an exception where majority of Malayalees talk to their children in Malayalam at home and hence their children know Malayalam.

The discrimination against  Malayalam on the part of  Malayalees settled at Delhi and elsewhere  result in their children who may be  studying in some English medium schools or colleges developing an aversion to mother tongue Malayalam and gradually losing interest in visiting Kerala while becoming fluent in English and Hindi/other local languages... Similarly, they may lose interest even to pay a visit to Kerala.  The responsibility for creating  such a situation solely lies with their parents only.

It is ironical that while those who hail from States like Tamil Nadu or Andhra Pradesh or any other states for that matter, always make it a point to teach their wards their respective mother tongue . it is only Malayalees who not only discriminate against their mother tongue Malayalam but also proudly claim that their wards do not know Malayalam.  I remember during the 1970s while speaking  at a function organized under the aegis of  Delhi Malayalee Association, our great poet Sri ONV Kurup had deplored this tendency prevailing amongst Malayalees settled outside the state in  ignoring the mother tongue which is in sharp contrast to people belonging to other states who always take  care to teach their wards their respective mother tongue...

I learn of late certain eminent personalities  like writer Omcherry etc., have taken initiative at making arrangement for   Malayalam classes at Delhi with a view to enabling children of Delhi Malayalees to learn Malayalam.  But how many Malayalees will be interested to avail  of such a facility by sending  their wards to learn Malayalam is anybody’s guess.

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