Is it a victory?

'Unsatisfied', the church calls off the 138-day-old anti-Vizhinjam port stir after its meeting with the chief minister. The LDF and the media are celebrating it as a major political victory for the former. The church was quick to add that the truce was only temporary! Consequently, the Adani group has announced its decision to resume the construction work without delay, so as to meet the deadline of Dec 2023.

Seven Demands By The Protestors And Assurances

* A permanent rehabilitation program for coastal people

Government. Rs.2,450 crore Punargeham project is meant for rehabilitation. Project to be completed within 18 months.

Protest council. Acceptable.

* Subsidy for kerosene used in fishing boats

Government. Kerosene subsidy of Rs.25 per litre will continue. Will provide a one-time subsidy to shift to diesel. Subsidy for the diesel also offered. Govt spent 252.68 crore on subsidies since 2016.

Protest council. Acceptable.

* Compensation for work hit due to adverse weather warnings

Government. Already providing aid for fishermen during adverse weather. Steps taken to ensure work under Ayyankali and Mahatma Gandhi job guarantee schemes.

Protest council. Acceptable.

* Resolving issues at Muthalapozhi

Government. Appointed Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune to study the issue. Further action based on report.

Protest council. Acceptable.

* Solution to sea erosion issue

Government. Measures being implemented to protect the coast. Expert panel appointed to study the issue. A monitoring committee under the chief secretary will study coastal protection measures.

Protest council. Acceptable.

* Rented accommodation for people living in camps

Government. Started distributing rent to 284 families. Rent for two months to be given as advance. Adani group will provide the extra Rs.2,500 to increase the rent amount to Rs.8,000 for each family.

Protest council. Refused funds from Adani group.

* Stop construction of Vizhinjam port

Government. Work shall not be stopped. An expert committee has been appointed to study the impact by communicating with the coastal people. Necessary action will be taken based on the report.

Protest council. The Janakeeya committee constituted by them will also study the issue.

My take

I think it's a hastily cobbled up truce where two points put forth by the protesters have been wished away which will have subsequent ramifications. The LDF must stop calling it a victory because it seems to be fragile. Truly an uneasy truce, especially, because the fisher folk feel let down by the church. 

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores, the Wednesday 'aarathi' was carried out and was ready by a quarter past 9. 

Met up with Dr(Mrs) Sodhi for Lekha's cough and cold and she has been put on medicines. Went to Thampuranpadi junction, bought fish for the cats and returned. The Akshaya kendra work was a non-starter! Washing machinex of soiled clothes of the last four days as the maid is in hospital.

As part of the 'Veer Gaadha' program, I'd interacted with about 60 class VIII students - of Assissi Vidyaniketan Public School, Kaakkanaad - for an hour, from 1300 hrs. I spoke for about a half an hour and took questions from the audience; was invigorated by the interaction.

Today is Thrikkarthika vilakku. Lit up the house with the traditional earthenware lamps.  

Protogoras' Paradox!

Many years ago, a Law teacher came across a student who was willing to learn but was unable to pay the fees.

The student struck a deal saying, "I will pay your fee the day I win my first case in the court".

The teacher agreed and proceeded with the law course. When the course was finished, the teacher started pestering the student to pay up the fee but the student reminded him of the deal and pushed on evasively.

Fed up with this, the teacher decided to sue the student in the Court of Law and they both decided to argue for themselves.

The teacher put forward his argument saying : "If I win this case, as per the law, the student has to pay me as the case is about his non-payment of dues. And if I lose the case, the student has still to pay me since he would have won his first case......So, either way I will get the money".

Equally brilliant, the student argued back saying : "If I win the case, as per the court of law, I don't have to pay anything to the teacher as the case is about my non-payment of dues. And if I lose the case, I don't have to pay him because I haven't won my first case yet.....So either way, I am not going to pay the teacher anything".

This is one of the greatest paradoxes ever recorded.

Who is right and who is the winner? This is part of ancient Greek history. The law teacher was Protagoras (c.485 - 415 BCE) and the student was Euthalos.

This is known as Protagoras's Paradox. This case was not solved.

The most interesting part - this is still debated (even today) in law schools as a logic problem.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a quarter past 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

Off to the SBI, to give our particulars for the card.

Went see the matinee show of the Prithviraj - Nayantara Malayalam flick "Gold" that was quite unbearable.

Earlier in the day, I'd given clearance to Captain Jaison Paul, SO (Welfare), HQSNC to ask schools to interact with me being a gallantry award winner. Two schools of Ernakulam had contacted.   

The Iranian leadership does a climb down!

Protest-hit Iran abolishes morality police. The country's attorney general says force responsible for death of Mahsa Amini!

After months of trying to suppress widespread anti-government protests triggered by the brutal killing of 22 year-old Mahsa Amini by the Islamic religious police for not wearing a headscarf, Iran has reportedly scrapped its controversial morality police. The interior ministry - which is in charge of the morality police - is yet to confirm, though the attorney general has said, "Morality police has nothing to do with the judiciary and has been abolished".

Also, there's no indication as to whether the law mandating every woman to wear a headscarf /hijab would

be changed. Women protests - labelled 'riots' by the authorities, have swept Iran since the young Iranian woman died in custody on 16 Sep, three days after she was publicly assaulted and picked up by the morality police in Teheran.

Angered by her death, a growing number of women have been openly defying the hijab mandate and burning the headscarves to mark their protest against the brutal enforcement of the law.

The ban of the morality police marks a major concession to the protesters by the Islamic regime.

Though hijab became mandatory in Iran in 1983, it was years later, in 2006, that the morality police began strictly enforcing the Islamic dress code.

Courtesy. ENS

My take

When will the 'hijab lovers' of India take the cue from their brethren in Iran?

Tailpiece.

Got up at a quarter past 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to10.

Did my usual work.

Subjected to frequent power interruptions.

Wistfully.......on the occasion of Navy Day.

04 Dec is Indian Navy Day to commemorate its attack on Karachi harbour on the same day in 1971! It's ten years since I shed my uniform but the yearning to be amid it all, in spotless whites, is very much there. Here are a few thoughts......

English is a rather strange, punny language, many a time what you mean is different from what you say,

So difficult to comprehend as it is; becomes even much more, when you use terms, much the Navy way.

"Both Watches", certainly does not refer to a 'His/Her' set normally given in marriages, as a present,

The morning starts, with this big assembly of personnel; neat, well groomed; ensure you are not absent.

In civil life, you make a mistake, summoned by boss, tensed, realise fault not yours, then you 'stand easy'

In the ship, they pipe 'stand easy'; you relax, smile, think happily about sweet tea and hot samosas, greasy.

Even now, in many towns, villages, get good proposals, Government jobs considered so very 'Secure',

Say 'Secure' to a sea dog, he will smile nicely, go away bit quickly, looking for bottled amber liquid, pure.

'Trunk of Tree' to the average man, vision of vintage wood, good for furniture, or at least, even to hang on,

Say that to the grizzled, salty face; eyes would crinkle, a warm smile, what a dessert, really to splurge on.

Now, what am I doing this morning, waxing rather in-eloquently, the distortions of Naval English, I say,

Hey, today is the Day of the Whites, the men who sail the seven seas, my dear brethren, Today is Navy Day.

Jai Bharathi

Shan Nau Varuna!

4 AM, I wrote these words, went up first floor, opened my cupboard, my uniform still hanging on the rack.

Shiver me timbers, still an old salt, Awww!! Come on mateys, bend the rule a wee bit, please take me back.

Courtesy. From a fellow traveller who'd dorned the whites once upon a time.

Tailpiece.

Got up around a quarter past 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

Today's the Guruvayur Ekadasi and the Indian Navy Day.

A quiet day but could connect with many friends.

Author vs Director!

'Higuita' plot thickens. Confusion prevails over the use of the title 'Higuita' with its author NS Madhavan claiming that the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) has told him that the film will not be named thus, while its director, Hemant Nair says that the KFCC is yet to take decision.

According to the author, he was informed of the matter by the film chamber. "I am not accusing the film maker. I am just pointing out the injustice being meted out to me. If the name is not registered in my name then I won't be able to make the movie based on my story titled Higuita. This is my grievance!"

"The talks regarding the making of the film based on my short story are going on and at this juncture, if they use the title, I wouldn't be able to use the same"

The president of the KFCC, Suresh Kumar says, "We have not said that the title won't be used. What we've done is hold the approval for the title. If the director of the film gets a no-objection letter from the author, then it won't be a problem to approve the title".

According to the director, the film is a political thriller. "The plan was to release the film on 22 Dec. All the work associated with the film has been completed".

My take

Hope the two sides reach a consensus at the earliest without rancour.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

The maid had fetched up by lunch time and left after finishing her work by a half past 5.

The evening chores were completed in good time.

India and the G 20 Presidency.

With PM Modi's imaginative foreign policy initiatives thus far, his acceptance as a leader of stature among the world leaders and his foreign minister, S Jaishankar who has articulated India's position on various issues, the G20 Presidency is gonna be proactive and worth observing!

Our External Affairs Minister has gone on record to say that "it will be consultative, it will be collaborative and it will be decisive".

At a G20 University Connect event that drew students of 75 universities in an interactive session , he said, "Our G20 Presidency is taking place at a very critical moment in international affairs. It is particularly vital that the world leaders focus on the right issues, especially those that effect the more vulnerable sections of the world".

He highlighted eight points saying India's example is of increasing relevance to the others which are :-

* Last mile delivery using digital platforms .

* Our way of responding to Covid.

* The transformation in green and clean energy

* Spotlight life with its associated sustainable and responsible choice at the level of individual lifestyles as well as national development.

* Will be consultative.

* Will be collaborative.

* Will be decisive as the country is the mother of democracy.

* The world will get to know India better and our citizens will develop a sharper appreciation of it.

Adapted from Yeshi Seli's article.

My take

We are, indeed, passing through exciting times as India takes centre stage in world affairs!

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 5 as Lekha wanted to go for another 'darshan' of Guruvayurappan. She wasn't happy with her foray yesterday. Hameed had come by a 5' to 7.

A quiet day.

Work has commenced at the Puthuvayil House. Phew!

Vizhinjam port must be saved!

It was touted as a 'dream project' that could take Kerala's economy to another level but seven years after the then UDF government signed an agreement with Adani Ports Ltd to construct an international deep water multipurpose seaport at Vizhinjam, the Rs.7,500 cr project seems to be stuck. The Latin church, the dominant religious group in the coastal belt, is up in arms  against it as they feel the construction has affected the coastal ecosystem, thereby affecting their lives and livelihood.

The church demands that the project be stopped immediately. The issue has taken a deeper communal colour with the Hindu Aikyavedi supporting a section of fishermen favouring the project. Certain communal remarks by the priests against a Muslim state minister also opened many wounds. The agitation turned violent on Sunday, with the protestors attacking a police station and injuring many, including policemen, while demanding the release of those who arrested earlier in the day.

Significant amid the imbroglio is the government handling the protesters and the situation with unusual mildness. Despite the High Court's instructions to provide adequate security for port construction, the government has yet to effectively clamp down on the protests. This is in contrast to how the same government took strong action to bring the GAIL pipeline and NH construction projects, stuck for years, back on track but in the case of Vizhinjam port, the government seems to have gone unusually soft. Whether it is due to the fear of antagonising the Latin church, which holds a monopoly of votes in the coastal belt or whether there are other extraneous reasons, is yet to be clear.

Whatever the reasons, the government should not allow the Vizhinjam port, which has immense economic possibilities, to sink into the muddy waters of politics and religion. The Congress, which brought the project to the Kerala shores, must not try to fish in muddy waters by opposing its own project for electoral benefits. There is no doubt that the fisher folk's concerns are genuine and must be addressed but whether their issues are due to the port construction or are connected to larger climate change issues need to be verified. The government must also take measures to speed up the rehabilitation of the affected fisher folk. No matter how beneficial it is, any project will stand on its feet only if it has the support of the local community.

Courtesy. Editorial of the NIE, 01 Dec.

My take

Fully endorse the views expressed above.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by 10. Lekha was ready earlier as she had gone to the Guruvayur temple. Hameed had come by with his auto rickshaw by a half past 7.

Had gone to town to complete pending work.

Ramesh and Amal had come to clip the grass short, dispose of the waste - both dry and wet - remove weeds and spruce up the potted plants.