‘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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MY PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE FROM GOLD CHAIN SNATCHERS

Snatching of gold chains is a common feature  in all places irrespective of whether  it is a city or a village.  The general practice followed by the chain snatchers is to travel either in the bikes or such vehicles, snatch the chain and escape. Snatching gold chains of bus passengers by cutting is also common.

Recently, I had an experience of  chain snatching.  One day   I was waiting at the bus stand for going to my office. Then  one bus came which was almost jam-packed. Even though I was reluctant to board it, one man well dressed and  seemed to me a gentleman from the appearance, called me from inside the bus telling that there is enough space in the bus.  On his insistence I boarded the bus and started travelling by standing.  He was in his late fifties who was soft-spoken and looked an amiable person.  As soon as I got inside the bus he has engaged me  in constant talk about things irrelevant to the context.   I tried to go to the backside of the bus he  did not allow me to proceed to the backside telling there was no space there.  After 5-6 minutes of my boarding, another  person seated near to me immediately got up and tried to disembark the bus from my right side when he could have done so from my left side very easily.  In the process he deliberately pressed me hard as if he is freeing himself from the  rush.  In the melee I got little perplexed and shouted at him why he cannot disembark from my left side .  In the meantime, that  ‘gentleman’ who has invited to the bus put his sweater over my head covering my face fully pretending to be accidental.  Thereupon I raised my voice and shouted at him,  as to what are they upto?  Then it struck me that the artificial rush and covering my head  with the sweater are all part of a well hatched plan to snatch my gold chain.  

 I became conscious of what is in the store for me and tried to regain my mental composure and searched for the gold chain shouting  at the high pitch of my voice to allow me to stand properly.  Meanwhile that person who got up and pressed me hard  jumped from the bus. My shouting made the other  ‘gentleman’ panic as he became  suspicious  that I have realized their game plan of snatching the chain. He told me not to get tense and made me to sit on a seat by making another person to stand.  Immediately thereafter he also got out of the bus.  Then I searched for the chain and found that it is there.  However, when I pulled the chain it came out and to my utter disbelief I found that it is cut into two.  All these things took place in 10-15 minutes.

What I presume is since I have become self-conscious about what is going to happen and regained my mental concentration and composure,  I did not lose the gold chain which was valued approximately Rs.52,000/-?.  Possibly the person who pressed me hard while getting out of the bus must have cut the chain and it must have been the responsibility of the  other ‘gentleman’ to remove the same which could not be put into practice.   I still do not know how I was able to regain my mental composure and concentration at that juncture. It was nothing but sheer luck.

AN INEXPLAINABLE AND UNFORGETTABLE EVENT IN MY LIFE

It is common knowledge that many an incident that cannot be explained happen in one’s life.  Some of these incidents are interpreted as quite accidental or as ‘God’s will’ in accordance with the belief of those concerned.  One such kind of experience which I had a few years ago comes to my mind now.

I stay at Bangalore for the past several years.  A few years back, accompanied by my wife I was waiting for a bus at the bus stand. Then a Keralite who was in his early forties who looked fragile, accosted me and told me that he had come all the way from Kerala for painting work but had to get admitted to hospital as he was suffering from viral fever.  He further told me that he did not take proper food for many days and requested me to give him Rs.250/- to buy return ticket to Kerala. I felt what he has told me is true and much against the wish of my wife,  gave Rs.250/- to him. On getting the money he expressed thanks and before leaving told me ‘Sir for this kind help God will reward you’.

After one month or so, my boss gave 10 Dividend Warrants of two companies which were in the names of himself, father, brother and 2 sisters and told me that the share certificates concerning the shares which were worth many lakhs of rupees got misplaced and if I can arrange to get duplicate share certificates he will reward me suitably.  Knowing him as I do, I thought that he may give me only meagre amount as reward  and I told him that I do not want any reward and as part of my job I will get duplicate share certificates.  Thereupon I had initiated action for issuance of duplicate share certificates and in one month’s time got the share certificates issued.  However, to my utter dismay and disbelief, my boss had given me a cheque for Rs.10,000/= as reward belying my expectation.

Even though this had no direct connection with the incident involving the Keralite worker whom I had paid Rs.250/- in the previous month, when I received the cheque for Rs.10,000/- as reward from my boss, the words uttered by the Kerala worker that ‘Sir for this kind help God will reward you’  were ringing in my ears. These incidents that took place one after another remain as an in-explainable and unforgettable  experience in my life.

CHEATING IN THE GUISE OF FRIENDSHIP

Every human being has to confront certain shocking experiences in his or her life. Some of these will happen unexpectedly that too in unthinkable manner.  Moreover, it will be too late before these come to light.  Naturally, in certain cases by that time one will be left with no remedy to repair the damage caused.

An incident of cheating in the guise of friendship on above  lines concerning me that had happened is cited here.  It had happened as far back as during the 70s when I was working in New Delhi. After marriage I used to go to the locality where I led my  bachelor life for meeting my family friends etc.  During such a visit to a family we happened to get acquainted with another family consisting of husband, wife and a male child.  They have invited us to their residence which we visited the following Sunday.   We reciprocated their gesture and gradually the friendship between two families blossomed into a close one.  Going to see films, on  picnic etc., were a frequent affair.  Two years have gone by like this.  Meanwhile those family friends through whom we got acquainted with the new family cautioned us on several occasions that  we should not take it for granted that our friendship with the latter will remain intact.  According to them prior to our becoming friends with the new family friends the latter was very close to them and it was only after we became their friends they have abandoned them. Initially we did not take their advice seriously; however, with passage of time we felt from their behavior that what was told by our old friends is true  Whenever we visited them, they started avoiding us on some pretext or the other culminating into cutting off relations with them.  Later on I learnt that the said ‘friend’ has left for Gulf.

When we were having cordial relations I had got passport for the husband ‘friend’ in the said family by getting application signed by my boss. On obtaining passport for himself  that ‘friend’ got passport applications signed for 2-3 more of his colleagues through me who were known to me. This included a Keralite who had left for some Gulf country on obtaining passport.  

After elapsing of one year or so, I came to know that the Keralite for whom my ‘friend’ got passport application signed through me, had come on leave and gone back.  This acquaintance who told me about it further informed me that that Keralite was very angry about me and told him that my ‘friend’ had told him that I wanted Rs.100/- for signing passport application which he had given to my ‘friend’ for being given to me.  To say the least, this revelation came to me as a rude shock for I never dreamt that the so-called ‘friend’ can stoop so low to commit such a mean act.

I have a gut feeling that that the  ‘so-called friend’ must have collected money from the other  2-3 people also. My efforts at tracing them proved futile as they had left the organization where they worked and their whereabouts were not known.  The thought that like the Keralite who had obtained passport through me, they must also be nurturing the notion that I have taken money for the same continues to haunt me even today.  The cheating by the ‘so-called friend’ still pains me  which remains fresh in my memory

THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION

Nowadays I am residing in Bangalore.  In Karnataka corruption and bribery are ruling the roost and is more conspicuous in every department. To elaborate, I had bitter experience of the same last year when   I had to go to the office of Bangalore Bruhat Mahanagar Palike at Bangalore for remitting  property tax of my son’s flat .  In fact the tax for last 2 years was in arrears and totally 3 years’ tax was to be paid .  I was asked to present receipts of payments made for the previous 3 years by the  Clerk of the concerned Section.  As I had not got receipts for 2 years I have requested him to get the same  from computer records, which he refused to do. I was in a quandary and was helpless.  Finally that clerk called me alone and asked me whether I can do some ‘adjustment’ so that he can help me out and  demanded a bribe of Rs.3,000/-.  Further he informed me that I will have to pay double the amount as tax since the flat is given on rent.  He was ready for ‘adjustment’ for this also provided I agree to pay Rs.6,000/- for the same. Anticipating  that I will accept the offer, he has searched  out the record next day and accepted the tax arrears payment.  Later on, after ensuring  that he is absent  from the office,  a couple of days later I went and collected the receipts and evaded payment of bribery.  

This is the state of affairs prevailing in departments like BBMP in Karnataka. I was told that what I experienced at the office of Bangalore Bruhat Mahanagar Palike was only tip of an icreberg and  offices of almost all Government departments in Karnataka are knee-deep in corruption and without giving bribe you cannot get any work done  in any of them.

This brings to my mind the memories of working under environment of corruption and bribery in Hindustan Newsprint Ltd., Kerala.  That is to say, like anybody else, it was my long-cherished desire to get a job in my native state. While I was working in Delhi, I had made some attempts towards that direction but to no avail.  On getting married in  1974, my wife has started pressurizing me to seek an employment in Kerala. As ill luck would have it, I was able to get an opportunity to apply in that company in 1981 only. Then some  local leader of Congress Party (which was in power both at the centre and State at that time)has approached my father-in-law and asked him to pay a certain amount  for getting the appointment order and he made the payment.  Subsequently, I joined Hindustan Newsprint Ltd., during  September,1981.

On joining  I was posted with the Personnel Manager of the organization.   During that period, the recruitment of  workers was going on  in full  swing. I could smell the corruption prevailing in recruitments and  also realized the game plan being implemented by the authorities.  The modus operandi was as follows. They used to leak out the list of selected persons once the interview was over to a particular union owing allegiance to the party that ruled both State and Centre.  This union,  in turn used to send their emissaries  to those selectees and make them believe that though they have applied for a job, it is not certain that they will be appointed and if an amount is given as bribe they can get them appointed in the company.  In this manner they have  made many selectees  to pay an amount as advance on the assurance   that the remainder shall be paid on getting appointment letter and  many such deals were struck. Then it struck me that my father-in-law also fell a prey to such a plan by paying bribe for my employment. 

While I was in Personnel Department, I had access to recruitment file concerning Stenographer and  to my utter disbelief I could find that my name ranked first in the list of selectees and for that my father-in-law was duped to pay bribe to the local leader of Congress Party.

Many people used to pester me with offer of bribe as I was attached to Personnel Department and it has become a mental disturbance and embarrassment for me.  I recollect that some of my friends had then branded me as a person who has not learned to live as  in their view I should have taken advantage of the situation by reaching an understanding with the authorities thereby amassing  as much wealth as possible.  Finally  I got  myself transferred elsewhere and escaped from the suffocating environment.