Snowballing?

It's evident from the protests, staged over the last week, in various parts of Kerala and even in other states that the Supreme Court judgement clearing women's entry into the shrine has met with extreme sentiments. What makes it all the more intriguing is that the women are in the forefront of all these agitations.

When the proceedings in the court had got underway, the Malayalee woman was clear that come what may, she was not interested in entering the shrine going against the spirit of the restrictions regarding their entry that has been in force for centuries. In the wake of the judgement, I've had the opportunity to interact with a number of women and a sizeable majority among them are of the opinion that the period of menstruation is considered by them as being 'impure'!

It's probably because of the fact that this thought has been handed over across generations and they have held this aspect close in their value system. In the joint families that people of my generation were fortunate to have been nurtured in, we'd grown up to the practice of seeing menstruating women take an early bath, keep away from the kitchen and of course, went nowhere near the puja room and generally stayed secluded in the huge 'tharavadu', within the imposing 'naalukettu'.

It's this belief that has been knocked off its bottom with the judgement refusing to accept the fact that a woman is impure during menstruation. Come to think of it, she's only going through a physiological activity that's dictated by nature and hence, why should she be impure? The only dissenting judge, ironically, a lady - Indu Malhotra - had sought to let religious sentiments be what they are and had said that they should be kept away from a Constitutional outlook/analysis!

The communists, being atheists, were quick to get of the starter block and Kerala's chief minister made an all too pompous statement that his government would go about implementing the court order at the earliest. The resultant spate of protests - notwithstanding the politics in them - must have surprised him and his government that the CPM had to perforce make a statement that the implementation would only be carried after discussions with all the stakeholders. The party must have suddenly realised that their opponents - the Congress and the BJP - were gaining political mileage and that it could affect their vote bank in the run up to the forthcoming general elections!

Are the sentiments against the Supreme Court judgement snowballing?


Tailpiece.

A related comedy show. One feels rather amused to see Rahul Gandhi, Robert Vadra (Of all the guys) etc visiting temples at an alarming spree. Do they feel that by doing so they would be able make an impression among the common man that they are diehard Hindus? Come on, take a walk and do tell him what your aspirations are for the country that's totally different from that of Narendra Modi. By trying to be a 'new-born-Hindu' how do you justify your minority appeasement? Your vote bank mentality is coming home to roost, at last!

PS.
Lekha's sister and family had come by about 5, in the evening. After a quick, late lunch they'd gone off to Palakkad to invite my sister and family for the wedding and returned by about 11. It was a boisterous and late evening!       

From here and there.....

1. President Trump Succeeds in Getting His Nominee Through.

    Judge Brett Kavanaugh, whose Supreme Court hearings had made rumblings in the Senate and
    paved way for heated arguments all across the US, is headed for final confirmation. While errant
    sexual behaviour, on the part of an individual, can never be accepted at any cost I've an important
    question related to the issue. What should be the vintage of the waywardness that needs to be
    considered? Let me make it clearer.

    Kavanaugh is accused of sexual indiscretion during his teen years. Four ladies have, so far, come
    up with allegations. The senate confirmation hearings, therefore, waited a week for the FBI to
    come up with a quick investigation of the charges. Consequently, he has been cleared and is poised
    for confirmation.

    My doubts are the following:-

        (a) Would it be possible to lay down an acceptable vintage of charges? I mean, a person could
              have made mistakes in his younger age due to the prevailing circumstances and has turned a
              new leaf and has no further indiscretion against his name as he matured gracefully.
        (b) And if it's ascertained beyond doubt that there has been no quirk of character in him, should
              he be penalised.
        (c) Of course, a flaw in character does not have limits in vintage!

     It needs to be seen as to how the Republican Party fares in the midterm elections rolling out in
     November. It's very clear that the white Americans are solidly behind their President and will
     ensure his party's win!

2. The Voices Against the Order Regarding Women's Entry in Sabarimala Rise.

    The recent Supreme Court judgement clearing women's entry into Sabarimala has found stiff
    opposition in Kerala and in most cases, it's the women who've been spearheading the movement.
    The chief minister had, earlier, taken a stand that his government would implement the court
    order but he has been forced to eat the humble pie as the agitations have increased in intensity. It
    was his party that had quickly climbed down from the earlier stand and has said that it will ask the
    government to talk with all the stakeholders! The government will talk to the royals and priests to
    defuse the situation.

    Only hope that politics is not played!


Tailpiece.

The poll bugle has been sounded. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram are headed for polls in November and the results will be announced on 11 Dec. Falsehoods, half truths, innuendos are gonna be the mainstay in the coming days.








     

   

      

News views.

A lot of things are happening around us and we are passing through interesting times. Let me go through a few of them:-

 (a) The S-400 Missile Shield.

       The Russian President and the Indian Prime Minister have inked a deal which will facilitate
       India to acquire the potent and the state-of-the-art long range surface-to-air-missile system that
       is said to cover a distance of 4,000 km. This is notwithstanding the fact that Washington's
       CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) is very much in vogue.
       By inking eight pacts with Russia during the occasion, India has once again shown adroitness in
       its foreign policy by maintaining equal distance from the USA and Russia!

       A strong joint statement condemning all sorts of terrorism and cross-border terrorism, in
       particular, assumes significance in the wake of Russia warming up to Pakistan in recent times!

       5 squadrons of S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft missiles will be bought under this deal over a lead time
       of four-and-a-half years.

 (b) The Nobel Peace Prize Winners.

       Denis Mukwege, a doctor who helps victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of
       Congo and Nadia Murad, a Yazidi rights activist and survivor of sexual slavery by the IS are the
       joint winners of the 2018 Nobel Peace prize. They have been awarded the prize for their efforts,
       "to end the sexual violence as a weapon of war".

       The two of them, in their own ways, have helped to give greater visibility to war-time sexual
       violence so that the perpetrators can be held accountable! Heartiest congratulations!!

 (c) The Interpol Chief Goes Missing!

       One was always under the impression that the Interpol was a mighty organisation that was
       capable of bringing perpetrators of crime - from any part of the world with its superior resources
       in terms of personnel and accessories - to book. But what happens when its own chief goes
       missing? Interpol's President, Meng Hongwei has been reported missing after travelling to his
       native China last week. According to a media report from Hong Kong, he was under
       investigation in China and had been taken away for questioning as soon as he landed there.

       His wife had contacted the French police in Lyon, the French city where the Interpol has its
       headquarters after not hearing from him since his departure on 29 Sep.

       O, these Chinese!


Tailpiece.

We are bracing for the heavy rains and strong winds, forecast for the weekend. The state machinery has been brought to standby and it gives one the impression that the authorities have learnt their lessons right from the recent floods! Good!!

  

Politicising healthcare!

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched his government's ambitious healthcare programme with much fanfare during the final days of last month. The programme has been named Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Scheme (AB-NHPS). The union government is planning to merge all the centrally sponsored health insurance schemes with AB-NHPS from 01 Apr '19.

Insuring the masses is a step in the right direction and let me run through the salient features of this programme:-

 * Launched on 23 Sep '18, the AB-NHPS aims to provide healthcare coverage to over 10 crore
    families.
 * It offers an insurance cap of Rs.5 lakhs and is considered the biggest government sponsored
    healthcare scheme in the world.
 * Ten days into its launch, it has catered to more than 30,000 patients with claims of Rs.38.1 crores
    approved by the government in both public and private hospitals.
 * As of date, 32,814 hospitals have applied for empanellment of which 13,865 have been empanelled
    or are in the process of being empanelled.
 * While 31 states and union territories are on board, five states viz. Delhi, Orissa, Punjab, Kerala and
    Telangana are resisting participation.
 * Kerala has adopted a wait and watch policy and will join the scheme only after it gets more clarity.
    The state has appointed a five-member committee to negotiate with the central government on
    areas of concern.
 * Kerala's main worry is the possible reduction in the number of beneficiaries from 41 lakhs in
    Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana(RSBY) to 21.5 lakhs if it opts for AB-NHPS.
 * Also, Kerala claims that while it provides packages for the treatment of 1,785 ailments, the
    AB-NHPS has only 1,354 packages.
 * Also, with the limit being Rs.5 lakhs instead of Rs.30,000/- in RSBY, the state government fears
    it will result in a tremendous financial burden.

Eligibilty Criteria.

 (a) No enrollment but it is an entitlement-based scheme.
 (b) Families are identified by the government based on deprivation and occupational criteria as per
       the 2011 census data.
 (c) A list of eligible families will be shared with the state governments. A dedicated AB-NHPS
      family identification number will be allotted to eligible families.
 (d) Additionally, families with active RSBY cards as on 28 Feb '18 will be covered. No new families
      can be added under AB-NHPS.

Eligible Hospitals.

 * Services under the scheme can be availed at all public hospitals and empanelled private health
    care facilities. Also, the basic empanellment  criteria allow empanellment of a hospital with a
    minimum of 10 beds with the flexibility provided to states to further relax this, if required.
 * To control costs, the payments for treatment will be done on package rates. However, hospitals
    with NABH/NQAS accreditation can be incentivised for higher package rates subject to procedure
    and costing guidelines.

And What is the Hospitalisation Process?

  (a) No need to pay any charges and premium for the hospitalisation.
  (b) Empanelled hospitals will have 'Ayushman Mitras' to assist patients.

AB-NHPS Benefits.

  * A benefit cover of Rs.5 lakhs per family (On a family floater pass) per year for secondary and
     tertiary care hospitalisation.
  * No cap on family size and age.
  * cashless and paperless scheme at public hospitals and empanelled private hospitals.
  * Benefits of the scheme are portable across the country.
  * Beneficiaries can avail cashless benefits from any public/private empanelled hospitals across the
     country.
  * It includes pre and post-hospitalisation expenses.

What is included?

It will cover medical and hospitalisation expenses for almost all secondary care and most of the tertiary care procedures. The health ministry has included 1,354 packages in the scheme under which treatment for coronary bypass, knee replacements and stenting among others would be provided at 15-20% cheaper rates than the Central Government Health Schemes(CGHS).

My take.

A great initiative and hope it's nurtured well, the needy will benefit and hopefully, the politicisation will soon be a thing of the past and the entire nation will come under this one healthcare programme!


Tailpiece.

Am quite surprised that more and more people - predominantly women - are coming out onto the streets voicing their dissent on the recent Supreme Court order regarding the clearing of entry of women in the Sabarimala shrine. From my interactions with many ladies, most of them if not all, find it difficult to accept that they should be entering a temple when they're menstruating. Yes, they consider themselves 'impure' during that period. Period!

Just think......

When you've time just think about a few things that don't make sense, like:-

 1. If poison expires, is it more poisonous or is it no longer poisonous?
 2. Which letter is silent in the word, "Scent", the 's' or the 'c'?
 3. Do twins ever realise that one of them is unplanned?
 4. Why is the letter 'w', in English, called 'double u'? Shouldn't it be called 'double v'?
 5. Maybe Oxygen is slowly killing you and it takes 75 - 100 years to fully work.
 6. Every time you clean something, you just make something else dirty.
 7. The word 'swims' upside - down is also 'swims'.
 8. 100 years ago everyone owned a horse and only the rich had cars. Today everyone has cars and
     only the rich own horses.
 9. If you replace 'w' with 't' in 'what', 'where' and 'when', you get the answer to each of them.

The confusions still unresolved. 

 1. At a movie theatre, which arm rest is yours?
 2. If people evolved from monkeys, why are monkeys still around?
 3. Why is there a 'D' in fridge, but not in refrigerator?
 4. Who knew what time it was when the first clock was made?

Vagaries of English language!

 * Wonder why the word 'funeral' starts with 'fun'?
 * Why isn't a 'fireman' called a 'waterman'?
 * How come lipstick doesn't do what it says?
 * If money doesn't grow on trees, how come banks have branches?
 * If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
 * How do you get off a non stop flight?
 * Why are goods sent by ship called cargo and those sent by truck, shipment?
 * Why do we put cups in the dishwasher and the dishes in the cupboard?
 * Why do doctors 'practise' medicine? Are they having practice at the cost of the patients?
 * Why is it called 'Rush Hour' when traffic moves at its slowest then?
 * How come noses run and feet smell?
 * Why do they call it a TV 'set' when there is only one?
 * What are you vacating when you go on a vacation?

We can never find the answers, can we?
So just enjoy the pun and fun of the English language!

English is a funny language.


Tailpiece.

The violinist, Balabhaskar(40), was laid to rest at a solemn ceremony accompanied by state honours, in the Santhikavadom, Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram. He had met with an accident in the wee hours of 25 Sep, when his car had rammed into a roadside tree near Pallipuram (He was driving and his wife, along with their daughter on her lap was on the pillion seat), about 18 kms from Thiruvananthapuram. RIP Bala, we shall miss you and your music. My tears and prayers.

His daughter, one and a half year old Tejaswini Bala had died on the spot of the accident and his wife, Laxmi is seriously ill - without knowing as to what is happening - in a hospital.
   

These do not contribute to civility.

1. Loses Battle in Love.

    A Saudi woman - a 38 year old bank manager - has lost a judicial battle to marry the man of her
    choice because the court deemed him "religiously unfit" because he plays a musical instrument.
    In the ultra conservative kingdom of Saudi Arabia, women are required to seek permission from
    male guardians viz. their fathers, husbands or other male relatives to travel, get married and to do
    other tasks. In some parts of the kingdom, a man who plays a musical instrument is considered of
    inferior status and having a bad reputation!

    Two years ago, the suitor - a teacher - asked for the hand of the woman. Her family had rejected
    his proposal outright because he played the 'oud', the oriental lute. The woman had, then, taken the
    matter to court which had delivered the sentence.

    Can only term it weird. A couple's right to live, on their terms, is not permitted! Sad!!

2. Jail for Kissing.
 
    A 16 year old boy, in Turkey, has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail for kissing his
    13-year old girl friend after teachers found his schoolmates sharing a video of the event. A court
    of the Antalya Province, found the boy guilty of sexual abuse under a law that forbids sexual
    conduct with children under the age of 15. The video was used as evidence.

    Was the boy's conduct honourable? Probably, it was an immature act on the part of the boy to
    become a hero among his friends or did it have a malicious intent?

    The case was referred to the School Police by a teacher, who brought it in front of prosecutors.
    The school police is a new introduction in Turkey, instituted for child protection especially, to
    tackle drug dealing.

3. Nun Isolated while the Bishop has a Stream of Guests.

    Even as the nun who was allegedly raped by Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulackal remained
    isolated in her room at the Kuravilangadu convent, the arrested bishop had a stream of VIP
    visitors at his cell in the Pala sub jail. It is to be noted that neither the church authorities nor the
    political leaders have bothered to visit the victim at her convent, thus far.

    Is the stage being prepared to let go off the accused scot free, I wonder?


Tailpiece.

1. Pushpakaran had come by to do the six monthly spring cleaning of the house. Selvam had, also, come along to press the clothes. The Quarterdeck was suddenly agog with a lot of activity, all through the day!
2. Binita Jain, from Assam, was on the hot seat of the KBC, before Amitabh Bachchan, this evening. Her first question today was for Rs.50 lakhs as she was a roll over contestant from yesterday. She consequently, won Rs.1 crore and a Marrazo car. Felt bad that she couldn't pocket the Rs.7 crores though she'd guessed the right answer. A right example of beauty with brain and she has suffered a lot in life with no trace of her husband, kidnapped 15 years ago!
     

Remembering Gandhiji on the eve of his 150th birth anniversary.

20 facts about Bapu.....

  1. When Gandhiji was boarding a train, one of his shoes slipped and fell on the track. Bapu,
     immediately removed the other one, too and threw it near the first. His intention was clear, the
     person who found the shoes could use them.

  2. In 1931, Bapu made his first radio broadcasting for the USA. Do you know what his first words
     were? "Do I have to speak into this thing?"

  3. We all know how prestigious is the Time Magazine's "Man of the Year" or "Person of the Year".
     But do you know that Mahatma Gandhi is the only Indian, till today, to become the 'Person of the
     Year' for his actions during the Salt Satyagraha or Dandi March in 1930?

  4. Gandhiji commanded 21 Indian volunteers, as stretcher bearers, to treat wounded British soldiers
     in Bambatha Uprising (Zulu revolt or war against British rule in South Africa) in 1906.

  5. Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography, "My Autobiography of My Experiments with Truth"
     in 1927 was declared as one of '100 most spiritual books of the 20th century' in 1999 by Harper
     Collins Publications LLC.

  6. In 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Due to his assassination,
     the Nobel Committee decided not to award the peace prize for that year, stating that "there was no
     suitable living candidate".

  7. Mahatma Gandhi was chosen as the second runner up for the Time Magazine's 'Person of the
     Century' in 1999. However, Albert Einstein was chosen for the title as 20th century was dominated
     by science and technology; besides he served as a symbol of all scientists.

  8. Gandhiji spoke English with an Irish accent because one of his first teachers was an Irishman.

  9. In South Africa, Gandhiji's income was $15,000 at that time which is a dream to most of us
      today.

10. Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company, was one of Gandhiji's followers in the USA.
      He used to spin the 'charkha' which was sent by Gandhiji through a journalist emissary.

11. Gandhiji wrote his autobiography in Gujarati. Shri Mahadev Desai, who was a personal assistant
      to Gandhiji, translated it.

12. Do you know Friday is mostly associated with Gandhiji's life? India got independence on Friday.
      Bapu was born and assassinated on Friday.

13. When Gandhiji went to Santhiniketan he greeted Rabindranath Tagore as 'Namaste Gurudev'.
      Tagore replied spontaneously, 'If I'm Gurudev, you're Mahatma' which later became the prefix
      to his name.

14. We all know that Gandhiji had given up dressing in full due to the poor plight of the Indians.
      Do you know when and where he decided that? While touring Madurai in 1921, he noticed
      many people wearing single dhoti which later became his attire.

15. While the country was celebrating independence on 15 Aug 1947, Gandhiji was on fast to
      condemn the partition of India and Pakistan besides communal riots.

16. Gandhiji used to worry about two things. His bad hand writing and body massaging.

17. Subhas Chandra Bose called Gandhiji as 'Desapitha' (Father of the Nation) on Singapore radio
      in 1944. Thereafter, Sarojini Naidu, too, referred to the same title in the 1947 Congress
      conference. The name was very popular across the country, though the Indian government never          conferred any such title, officially, to Gandhiji.

18. Gandhiji hated taking photographs. Interestingly, he was the most photographed person during
      that period.

19. Did you know that the Caisson used for Gandhiji's funeral in 1948 was again used in 1997 for
      Mother Teresa's funeral?

20. We think you're all familiar with the smiling Gandhiji's image on the currency. Most of us
      assume the image was drawn/painted. But the fact is that it was an original photo taken by an
      anonymous photographer, in 1946, at the former Viceroy's house which is now home to the
      President of India, the Rashtrapathi Bhavan. The image was developed into the mirror image and
      printed on all currency notes.


Tailpiece.

A quiet day. The heat is getting to be unbearable. Lekha has begun to cough. Has my quarantining myself all this while, been in vain?