Very many visitors.

It was a day of hectic activity but could not achieve the work that I'd embarked upon at the beginning. The annual well washing activity was slated soon after our neighbour had got his well cleaned. Actually, they're the same guys who'd done it last year too and they wanted to begin with our work. "Hey, Rajeev do you want to clean your well or shall I get mine done, first?", asked my neighbour and I knew what answer he was expecting from me and told him to go ahead.

Meanwhile, I'd to get out of my self imposed exile at home to get a lot of pending jobs done, like getting a new frame for my lens because the present one was distorted as yours truly had slept on it - yes, can you believe that? And I ain't kidding! - sometime back!

Asokan and Venu, had in the meanwhile come to collect Lekha's identity card, a few passport size photographs and the Aadhaar card that were essential while her dad's assets were being apportioned among the four siblings. I'm the lone guy in that group who's not partaking in the activities related to it due to the following:-

  (a) Lekha is capable of handling such matters and since it concerns her, her brother and her
       sisters, I was pretty clear that I'd no business to be part of it.
  (b) I'd to be with mom all through.
  (c) I'd made it clear to Lekha that after all the deliberations, it was important that between the
        siblings they maintained the same bonhomie that existed before. She's, in fact a staunch votary
        of the idea that I really didn't have to broach it, in the first place!
  (d) Despite all such precautions, I've seen and learnt from practical experience, that couples without
        children, invariably, end up getting a harsh deal in such transactions.
  (e) So, for the first time, I'd conveyed my opinion, on the matter, to Asokan to ensure that he could
        hold Lekha's hand when the crunch came!

Meanwhile, the well washers had a tough time at my neighbour's as the motor, they'd brought to pump out the water from the well, failed twice and by the time they're through with the job, it was sunset! So our well washing will begin tomorrow, at first light.

Maman, ammayi and Chambu arrived around that time to be in time for their first visit to the temple with Omanakuttan at the wheel. They returned to have dinner and were off to watch the 'krishnanaattom' of 'Baanayudham', yet again around 10, that I'd arranged for them to brighten up Chambu's 'job prospects', which was headed nowhere at present!

I think, I managed the whole show despite Lekha's absence, being prodded by mom on a few occasions! She was mightily thrilled that her favourite brother had fetched up!


Tailpiece.

Hope everything goes off fine tomorrow!     

Seen.......and..heard!

I shall spend time on the news that are in the limelight. What I feel surprised is that small things at times irk us while larger, distinct ones do not even create a ripple. Why's this? Are we insensitive as a nation? Or is it that we're afraid to take a stand lest we offend somebody? Let's go through these interesting bit of the state of affairs and then you'll understand the point that I'm trying to make. Here, I go.

 (a) The Quality of our Doctors.

       It came as a shock to me to understand that the loopholes that exist in our professional education
       system help kids, who fail in the Common Entrance Test, enter government medical colleges.
       Here's how it happens:-

          (i) Didn't you get admission in the government medical colleges in your state? You need
               not worry that you're also nowhere in the merit list.
         (ii) Buy a seat in any of the private medical colleges - the ones that have the least of the
               facilities would be the ideal. Also pray that it doesn't get permission to admit students
               in the coming years! (As per statistics, there are about 42 such medical colleges, across
               the country, that were barred from admitting students since the intake of the first batch).
        (iii) If that happens, the student can go to court and the state government may be ordered to
               accommodate the student in the very same colleges that the student couldn't enter!

       You might ask as to how this ridiculous situation is possible. The loophole is that "The
       MCI allows any trust, society or company to start a medical college even if it doesn't have 
       the requisite infrastructure and faculty. All it needs to show is that it has enough 
       infrastructure for the first year MBBS students and an undertaking that the rest will be
       put in place."

       Is any more discussion required regarding the quality of the doctors that come out of these
       institutions?

   (b) The Bloody Drought!

         Consider the following:-

            (i) The IPL Cricket matches are scheduled to begin on 09 Apr.
           (ii) About 60 lakh litres of water is required for wetting and maintaining the pitches
                 on a daily basis. Insensitive suggestions like fetching water from neighbouring states
                 with the help of the railways, the water that's being used is not potable etc are being
                 bandied about by the 'well healed' whose sole requirement is to witness the glitz of the
                 matches!
          (iii) And mind you, all this when the situation is grim:-

                 * 23 districts of Maharashtra are reeling under severe drought conditions.
                 * It's not a rural phenomenon only, in that, in places like Thane, people get restricted water
                    through bowsers once in three to four days! There are places that do not have water
                    even for sanitation and hygiene purposes!

           The Bombay High Court has come into the picture thanks to a public interest litigation.
           My question is, "What's the government of Maharashtra doing? Why can't it ask the
           organisers of the IPL to shift it out of the state because of the drought conditions? Or
           is it that it's scared that it would run afoul of the moneybags and the powerful if takes 
           such a decision?"

           Sad!

    (c) The Unrest in the NIT, Srinagar.

          The unrest had erupted when a batch of students had celebrated the Indian T20 Cricket
          team's loss to West Indies in the semi finals while the rest had taken umbrage to such
          'anti-national activities'. This is not the first time that similar news have emanated from the
          state but this time it has got highlighted because BJP is in power with the PDP.

          See the timing, just after a day on Ms. Mehbooba Mufti becoming the chief minister!

          The matter needs to be sorted out at the earliest with a clear warning that anti-India
          activities will not be tolerated.


Tailpiece.

1. We, as a nation, while being sensitive to every aspect that obstructs our living together as one should also be willing to correct inflexible attitudes.
2. Rules, that have loopholes, must be corrected. Let's have only merit as the criterion!

Such ill feelings and at this age?

I'm reproducing a newspaper article verbatim below.

 Palakkad(North) police have registered a case in connection with the incident of a group of students
 preparing a 'grave' as a 'retirement gift' for the principal of the Government Victoria College.

 On 31 Mar, the retirement day of principal Ms. TN Sarasu, a few students prepared a grave inside
 the college campus and placed a wreath and flowers on it.

The ex-principal has named eight students in her complaint and has also alleged the involvement of a few of her colleagues who were angered by some of her actions! 

My take.

Am really pained to hear about the happenings in the campuses of educational institutions in various parts of the country and this incident, in particular. Why are they happening? Is there anything wrong with the student community at large? Or is it that there's an acute shortage of teachers who inspire confidence and thereby command instant loyalty by their words, actions and lifestyle?

 (a) Students.

       (i) There's an abundance of information thanks to technology and several layers of 
            communication. The needs have increased manifold and their non attainment leads
            many to despair and disgust at an early age. The idea of being contended with what they
            have is alien to most.
      (ii) The parents are also in the same rut, at times pursuing unwanted behavioural patterns
            that are disgusting and which put off the kids. Pampering of the children is a usual recourse
            to mask their deficiencies!
     (iii) Consequently, the value system has taken a beating.

  (b) Teachers.

         (i) There are many teachers who do not make the cut. Can't help but recall the famous
              saying that 'peanuts fetch monkeys'. The teaching profession is a noble one and to 
              attract the best talent, attractive incentives are a must. 
        (ii) It's not a 9-to-5 job. You're entrusted with the shaping of the country's future citizens
              and the process cannot be put down into a rigid time frame.
       (iii) Perseverance, dedication and love for the children are the hallmarks of a good teacher.
       (iv) They should not only obey the rules but must ensure that the others also do so.   
        (v) They must be well disciplined at all times and the epitome of all the right things.

It's my fond hope that the case attains a quick closure and the wrongdoers are punished appropriately.


Tailpiece.

Was tremendously happy to hear about the high speed 'Gatimaan Express' between New Delhi and Agra and its interesting features are:-

    * It's the fastest train in India @ 160 kph.
    * The 188 km will be covered in 100'.
    * Has 12 ultra modern coaches and each coach costs Rs. 2.5cr!
    * The coaches have auto fire alarm, emergency braking systems, passenger information system,
       sliding doors and a lot of technology.
    * 8" LCDs stuck to the back of every seat provide on board entertainment. Will get satellite feed
       in due course!
    * Certain tracks have been fenced off and the signalling apparatus have been upgraded.
    * The coaches are hauled by a 5,400 Horse power engine.
    * The fares.
          Executive         Rs.1,500/-
          A/c chair car     Rs. 750/-
    * And finally, hostesses to look after the gastronomical needs of the passengers!

The Flip side.

 (a) We're getting happy over a technology that was already available in many of the developed 
       countries, decades earlier.
 (b) As it is , in India, we see a whole lot of villages/towns mushrooming dangerously close to the
       railway tracks despite the existing rule that 100 mts either side of the tracks is railway land
       and should not be encroached.
 (c) With the fencing off of the tracks for the future 'Gatimaans' and the 'bullet trains', we might
      come across villages and towns mushrooming overnight, adjacent to these fences!

  

Heroes end up with feet of clay. Always!

Preamble.

Why is it that our heroes - it's generic and includes both men and women - always end up with feet of clay? You idolise them, support them to the hilt and even pick up fights and arguments with friends if you perceive your hero is being slighted. And then comes the unbelievable blow, leaving you numb with a feeling of having been let down when the actual persona of your hero comes out in the open. It sort of devastates you because you're left wondering as to whom you should believe and come to the sad realisation that no one is really a hero.....the selfless and the ideal are few and far between or should I say non existent?

I'm in such a situation after today's revelations of what's termed the 'Panama Papers'. So, what's the Panama Papers all about?

The Panama Papers.

  * It exposes a global web of corruption.
  * Extensive investigations into offshore financial dealings of the rich and the famous. Incidentally,
     investments made outside one's country, in this manner, are termed 'offshore dealings'.
  * The International Consortium of Investigative Journalism - ICIJ - a non profit organisation
     based in Washington, says that 500 Indians are linked to offshore firms.
  * A team from The Indian Express undertook an 8 month long investigation into the data leak.
  * The offshore entities were set up through Mossack Fonseca, a law firm based in tax haven
     Panama and they're floated at a time when they weren't permitted by the RBI laws - the Indian
     side of the wrongdoing!

And see the list of fallen heroes from across the globe.

   * Chinese President Xi Jin Ping
   * Russian President Vladimir Putin
   * Footballer Lionel Messi
   * Cine star Amitabh Bachchan and his daughter-in-law,
   * Ms A Rai........and many, many more!

The list is explosive and a veritable shortlisting of the who's who of the world.

My take.

Amitabh Bachchan's carefully crafted image has been shattered. He has been the icon and a person, widely respected in the country, perceived for being the embodiment of all the right things in life. For all you know, he could have even been a strong contender, in 2017, to be the next President of India!

Et tu Brutus........then fall Caesar!


Tailpiece.

(a) Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, this country has given you everything viz. name, fame and iconic status and you didn't want to give back a little......in the form of taxes?

(b) The least you can do is to apologise to the nation as a beginning in undoing the wrong!

Why has it come now?

Saritha Nair of the Solar Scam fame has alleged sexual misdemeanour on her by none other than the chief minister himself. A letter, written by her while she was under police custody was bandied about in the media, this evening. Frankly, I didn't find it to be explosive but the sudden focus is reprehensible and whosoever is the author of this drama is ungentlemanly and deserves to be ostracised because civility has been thrown into the winds by this singular, wretched act.

Politicians are known to stoop low but this present act points out to the following scenario:-

  (a) Its timing, since it's just under 50 days to the Assembly elections.
  (b) This letter is supposed to be of a three year vintage which, if released then, might perhaps,
        have affected the standing of the government and brought it down.
  (c) Selective leaks of its contents have been resorted to, all this while, with no effect.
  (d) In fact, the overall opinion of the people of Kerala regarding Oommen Chandy has not been
        affected by all these allegations and the UDF still seems to be poised to give a stiff fight to
        their opponents under his leadership in the forthcoming elections!
  (e) One mustn't also forget the numerous agitations let loose by the LDF to dislodge the Oommen
        Chandy government, each one of which failed miserably and the opposition ended up with an
        egg on its face with a remarkable regularity!
  (f) And why didn't Saritha disclose it to the Commission during her testimony? Come on, the
       argument that it's a government appointed outfit and therefore, it wouldn't have been wise to
       to disclose all the facts doesn't hold water. In fact, she has lied under oath and wouldn't she
       attract legal retribution for doing so?

It's, therefore, clearly evident that it's a last ditch attempt to finish off Oommen Chandy, the politician and his achievements. The immediate reactions, consequent to the letter being made public, should send the right message to the authors of this condemnable act. Malayalees are known for their political somersaults and dirty politics but never has it reached the nadir like this one issue.  

I'm no great supporter of Oommen Chandy, the Chief Minister, but I'm of the firm opinion that he's achieved a lot during his tenure that no other would have achieved, given the forces at work against him right from the start. I never tire saying this because he's done the seemingly impossible by getting the Vizhinjam International Seaport project going, to cite just one instance, which was initially rejected by his own party's high command!


Tailpiece.

Points to ponder:-

   (a) The LDF might have won the elections without having to use this unwanted prop. This
         brings the common man to wonder as to whether it's hell bent on achieving power at any cost?
         Would the slip turn out to be costly, for it, in the end?
   (b) Just imagine the unenviable position that Saritha Nair has put herself into. She'll be despised
         by one and all, despite the fact that she has been wronged by many, exploited by many! What
         she should have done was to come clean about the entire episode at the first instance when the
         scam came to light. Sadly, she'd allowed herself to be manipulated by the dirty backstage
         operators who're busy authoring script after script hoping to pull down the government! In the
         process, she has lost her credibility! Sad!
 

Mom's back at 'The Quarterdeck'.

The day had begun as usual and I was getting ready to leave by 10, after Ravi's arrival. I was about to get under the shower when Radhan chettan knocked on the door. He seemed to be in a pensive mood and gave me the impression that he wanted to have a long chat. He, usually, comes in an auto rickshaw, makes him wait for a while as he spends time with us but today, he'd let it go away.

He must have had a tiff with his wife as he kept repeating that women were selfish and that they're only bothered about their own selves. I didn't have the heart to send him away abruptly but he must have sensed the general haste that was prevalent and left, soon after. He'd to walk a hundred steps to the highway to board an auto rickshaw. Frail and stumbling, he walked away in the hot sun and I saw him recede into the bend at the far end of the cobbled pathway.

Ravi came soon after and we pushed off for Palakkad, at a quarter past 10. The journey was nice and Ravi, pulled the car into a secluded stretch of the road when I'd asked him to stop at a tea shop, for tea and easing of the bladder, his explanation being that the tea shop that he'd take me to didn't have a toilet! It was then that I'd to tell him that urinating in public is something that I abhorred and especially, these days when someone passing by could capture you in his cellphone and pass it around on the social media!! One doesn't quite cherish the idea of attaining fame for the wrong reasons!!!

The tea was had from the same bunk where we'd left a kitten on our previous trip. The kitten is being looked after well by a nearby family, looks grown a bit and seems to have accepted its new home. They're gracious enough to allow me to use their rest room.

We reached my sister's place at a quarter to 1. A quick lunch and we were on our return leg, with mom, by a half past 2. We're back at 'The Quarterdeck' by 4.


Tailpiece.

Must check out on as to what's bothering Radhan chettan, one of these days.

The final ceremony and the return.

The day began at 5 and by 6, we're out of our rooms. There were a series of steps, leading to the 'disposal area of the ashes', the place - again, accessible only after negotiating another flight of stairs -  beside the spring for the post disposal rituals and the temple, where the connected 'puja' is performed. Lekha'd said that she wanted to go through the entire sequence and I didn't discourage her because I knew that it would be futile and no amount of persuasion could get her out of the decision she'd arrived at!

And off we set. After the first set of about 50 odd deep steps we reached the 'ashes disposal point' which was dry and full of knee high foliage. Venu, with the urn, had gone down a further flight of steps to dispose off dad's ashes and then the entire lot left for the next destination leaving the four of us - Lekha, Letha's daughter-in-law with her three month old child and Murukesan at the point.

Lekha, by now, had realised that it wouldn't be advisable for her to do the entire rigmarole and we sat down at the embankment for a while after which, we'd returned to a hotel at the foot of the temple to have our breakfast. She found it difficult to climb up the stairs having had to literally cling on to the side wall at every step! I was carrying the little child - rather clumsily and must have presented a grotesque/laughable sight to the passers by!

Despite an initial hiccup, I could recite the 'Vishnu sahasranaama sthothram', in between, as is my regular morning practice.

The others returned after the entire set of ceremonies by about 11 o'clock and soon after, we'd set off on our return leg. Lunch was at Adivaram and the first to drop off was Asok, at Tirur and before he got off, I'd made the announcement - to everyone's delight, as I noticed - that the group would meet once a year, from now on, taking into account the convenience of everyone and make a similar journey to places of interest, which was greeted with a boisterous shout and the thumping of the seats!

About 60 kms later and around 2000 hrs, it's my turn to disembark at Chavakkad from where I could get an autorickshaw to reach 'The Quarterdeck'. Opening up the house, putting the soiled clothes in the appropriate bin, putting back the things into their original places, bath and dinner did take a bit of time.


Tailpiece.

(a) Fixed up with Ravi regarding tomorrow's trip to Palakkad and back, to fetch my mom.
(b) Lekha should be back before next weekend. I'm skipping the wedding that I was to attend, the             day after tomorrow, at Adoor. Rema and Padmakumar are attending it; I shall call them up to
      convey our wishes.