Why the farce?

The Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984 is an event that no Indian can ever forget. The magnitude of devastation coupled with the festering after effects on the locals, even to this day, continue to defy logic. What makes it even worse is that neither the guilty has been brought to book nor have the victims been adequately compensated. It now transpires that the government of the day had assisted Warren Anderson’s (the chief of the Union Carbide) exit from this country to avoid the law.
The Congress party’s minions have tried to put the onus on the ailing Arjun Singh, the then Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, for having given him a safe passage out of the country as he feared large scale violence by the masses in the state. Now, whom are they trying to kid? Can such an endeavour ever happen without the knowledge of the Prime Minister – especially, an assertive one like the late Rajiv Gandhi? Do Sonia Gandhi and her meek followers think that the common man in this country has swallowed their story hook, line and sinker?
Come on damn it, at least for once, stand up and accept your mistake. This country is so forgiving and emotional that, just on that tokenism, they’ll vote you to power yet again. But do not make the mistake of taking the very same common man for granted - he’ll have the last laugh and he, who laughs last laughs best!

Football is here!

Thanks to the start of the FIFA cup football championships in South Africa,
days have become much more interesting. The strategies and tactics followed
by each team will slowly unravel as the initial rounds get completed. Every
evening I take up my vantage position, in front of our television, after
finishing my daily chores - I dread 'long' telephone calls during the period
and hope like mad that none intrudes my privacy as I do not want to miss out
on any piece of the action.
This is my personal thought, that a game of football is anyday preferrable to
watch compared to say, a game of cricket which anyways one is saturated with.
Sad that India is yet to arrive on the world soccer circuit and I refuse to
believe that we lack talent. My personal foray into the game was as a member
of my 'House' eleven in school and the Hunter squadron team, while at the NDA
and my position was 'left in'. And I enjoyed the game best when I had played
under a slight drizzle with the entire House or the Squadron enthusiastically
endorsing every move of the team and cheering lustily, egging us on to achieve
the impossible nay, the incredible!
I don't want to do any crystal ball gazing as of now, but I must admit to
having a sneaky preference towards Brazil ever since their legendary win of
the Jules Rimet Cup for the third time in 1970 and annexation of the cup
as their own as per the byelaws. The FIFA cup was introduced in lieu!
Here's wishing the very best to all the teams!!

Revisiting an old saying

Life has been hectic ever since I've been on the lookout for
a house for young Felix, the son of my classmate from school.
Thankfully, the search has come to a successful end this evening
and the final agreement was signed between the owner and his new
tenant after which the exchange of money(an advance of three months'
rent) and the house key took place, in my presence.
Two thoughts passed through my mind then, which were,
(a) Felix has a wonderful mother who'd gone through the pains
of looking at various houses and zeroing in on the present one and
(b) What did the guy mean, who's credited with the saying, 'Fools
build houses and wise men live in them".

The legend that's Mohammad Rafi

I was eagerly awaiting the programme, ‘Total Recall’ on the Times Now channel during this weekend. I was able to see it in between breaks, thanks to the hectic schedule that we’d put ourselves into, in helping the youngster Felix to select his dwelling place.
Total recall was that of Mohammad Rafi’s electrifying presence in the annals of the Hindi movie industry during the last century. Some of his memorable hits were sung during my school days. Every number that he’d sung can be identified with my years of growing up and at times, I used to have this feeling that he was expressing my innermost thoughts that were intense in my mind then! And the three of my all time favourites are:-
(a) Chaudhavi ka chand
(b) Palkon ki chhaon mein rehna hai
(c) Deewana mujhsa nahin.
Mohammad Rafi saab, you shall ever remain alive through your numbers and even to this day no one has been able to take your place. Here’s wishing you everlasting peace in eternity!



Tailpiece.
Felix has finally found his house in Sector 22 of Dwarka. The deal was clinched between the owner and his new tenant in my presence.

A personal dilemma!

Last night we’d a call from my aunt at Kidangoor near Kottayam. Her daughter, Malu, has just finished her graduation and is awaiting her results. A couple of months back, there was a campus interview by the INFOSYS, for selecting candidates for their BPO network. My niece was among the thirty who’re short listed. She’s now got an intimation to present herself for a final interview at Mysore, this Sunday after which she’d be posted into a BPO at Pune.
Her father, rightfully, wants her to pursue her studies. He’s of the opinion that once his daughter takes up the job she’ll neither have the time(thanks to the graveyard shifts) nor the inclination(studies would be the farthest in one’s mind once someone gets into a job) to get back into the frequency of studying and is therefore, against her going ahead with this project. But Malu is quite enthusiastic with the whole idea, ably supported by her mother. The three of them make their family and one can understand the tensions building up between them over the issue.
I’ve been given the dirty job of convincing Malu of dropping her plans. Earlier in the day, I’d a word with Kris Gopalakrishnan of INFOSYS on the topic who was wondering aloud as to why my niece requires this job and has asked me to tell her to concentrate on her studies for much better prospects which will come by.
Come evening, I’ve this job to do. I wouldn’t have minded facing a firing squad, instead! Because, I know that I’d be breaking the young lady’s heart for sure.

Whither Kerala?

1. I've been following the day to day happenings in Kerala thanks to my daily copy of the 'Malayala Manorama' and also through the visual media and I shudder to think as to where we malayalees are headed to. Note the following, recent happenings:-
(a) Total disregard to legal process. The Kerala High Court had ruled that the
unlawful annexation of forest land, in Wyanad has to be taken over by the govern
ment. The state government, instead of taking firm eviction action, has appealed
against the ruling at the Supreme Court because many of its party cadres, including
bigwigs, have a stake in the encroachments.
(b) The police force can take a walk. A couple of CPM wrongdoers, apprehended by the police, were freed by a rampag
ing set of party loyalists in broad daylight after threatening the policemen of
dire consequences if they repeated such acts.
(c) The sulking minister. The Health Minister is sulking at the media's revelation that this year too the department has not geared itself to tackle the
monsoon related ailments, which has become a recurring feature. What makes it
all the more incongruous is that we mallus claim that we ensure a clean environ
ment around us unlike for example, the Tamilians who live in unhygeinic conditions!
(d) It's the laws of the jungle, if you please. Guys, who've been officially identified as 'goondas' by the police, rule the
roost, and that too with impunity, thanks to thir political patronage with covert support
from some bigwigs of the police force!
2. O Kerala! Whither Kerala? If this is the sorry plight of a highly literate people, can salvation be ever achieved to bring the state back on an even keel?

To Sir, with love

Just got the agonising news that Mr. AP Soans, our English teacher in Sainik School, Thiruvananthapuram had expired in Madras early this morning. It was just a month back that I’d enquired from our classgroups as to whether anyone had his contact number or address but did not elicit any response. As the news of his death sinks in, I feel exremely bad that I’d not doggedly pursued on that issue. I’m going to make up for it in a small way, in that, I’d like to concentrate on Alymer Patrick Soans, the gentleman and the wonderful teacher that he was.

Mr. Soans had joined school, a year after me, in 1968, but we soon got to liking him for his disarmingly charming behaviour. He sincerely strived for the betterment of each one of us and he was particularly fond of me. We used to gather around his piano on Sundays and sing numbers that he would meticulously teach us. Harry Belafonte’s evergreen, ‘The Jamaican Farewell’ was one of the many and I too would run my fingers on the piano tabs, eagerly encouraged by him.

He was infectiously energetic, be it on the sportsfield, in the classroom or on the cultural platform. His diction was flawless and the way he used to get ragged, comes vividly into sharp focus in front of my eyes, when we used to knowingly pronounce ‘Charlotty’ for ‘Charlotte’ – the famous character of one of Dickens’ novels.

He got married a bit late and I still remember the way he used to blush coyly when he spoke about his wife, ‘Nalini’, with whom he was hopelessly in love. She’s a wonderful human being herself and I’ve no doubt that God had meant her to be his. May she have the strength to tide over these troubled times!

Mr. Soans sir, I’d always be grateful to you for making me what I’m today. They don’t make them teachers like you anymore. Thanks for all the patience that you showed in teaching me and my friends and we shall always remain indebted to you for your kindness. RIP. Affly, Rajeev.