Today is the 112th birthday of PN Panicker. He was born on this day in the year 1909, at Puthuvayil House in Neelamperoor. He was a man far ahead of his times that is amply evident by the body of work accomplished by him, during his life time. His untiring efforts saw the strengthening of the Library Movement into a powerful people's movement followed by the Literacy Movement spearheaded by him, that saw Kerala attaining 100% literacy in 1991.
The celebrations had begun since yesterday with a lot of competitions - held all over the state - earmarked for the children. The results will be determined and the winners awarded with prizes in due course. A public meeting - following Covid protocols - was organised in the PN Panicker Foundation's premises at Thiruvananthapuram with former chief minister Oommen Chandy, Minister Kadakampally Surendran, former MP Pannian Ravindran and former Mizoram Governor, Kummanam Rajasekharan among many others, gracing the occasion.
With fond memories of my Muthachhan!
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A Sad, Though, Belated News.
Colonel CT Somaiah, was the Commanding Officer of the TA Battalion near INS Agrani, at Coimbatore in the mid-'80s and he was staying in our Officers' Mess. We had an excellent rapport with him and he used to join in all our social gatherings. His mild mannered persona and the easy manner in which he made friends, endeared himself to everybody.
There was a course mate of mine, Lt BR Sampath Kumar, who'd passed away in a tragic road accident soon after playing Holi - in '86, if memory serves me right - leaving his young wife, Vaidehi and a daughter, just a few months old. After a while, the Colonel had married Vaidehi and settled down in Sena Vihar at Bangalore.
He was stricken with cancer and had passed into the mist of time about four years back which I'd come to know about this evening, from my friend. Was always hopeful about meeting the Colonel sometime or the other but that's gonna be an unfulfilled desire in this life.
RIP sir, much belated though. My salute, tears and prayers to a fine gentleman.
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NEWS VIEWS
The Prime Minister Shows the Way.
Not long ago, there was a political ruckus that was whipped up by the opposition saying that the Modi government was asking its citizens to take vaccinations that was not tested. Well, from today, the senior citizens have become entitled to get vaccinated subject to registration of their names.
Today, the Prime Minister had gone across to the AIIMS, New Delhi and taken the first dose of Covaccine rendering the political posturing by the opposition, totally useless. Suddenly, the opponents have completely silent and have run for cover.
It's another sad thing that we had tried to deride the Pune-based company that had embarked on manufacturing the vaccines. It's the duty of every Indian to encourage it for its tremendous achievement. We've been providing these vaccines to many countries around the world.
Former French President Convicted.
Nicolai Sarkozy, the President of France from 2007- '12 was convicted of corruption charges in that he had bribed a judge to find out the status of an ongoing corruption case, against him, regarding campaign financial irregularities.
He has been handed over a one-year jail sentence!
Tailpiece.
Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Hameed chauffeured me to the Rajah hospital to renew my dressing. Bought fruits and a few medicines on return.
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