Banning 'The Kerala Story' - for and against.

Even as the demand for banning the controversial film The Kerala Story - chronicles the story of four girls who run away from their homes to get recruited into the ISIS and consequently go through hell - gets louder, the authorities maintain that there is little scope for the state government to intervene in the issue. Once the Central Board certifies a film, states cannot interfere in its screening said the Cultural Affairs minister.

Echoing the demand to ban the film, the PM state secretary had said that the ban will not solve the issue.

"Let the film be released here. The response should be by producing a counter narrative to the film forthwith, rather than banning it".

Meanwhile, legal experts point out that the district administrations could intervene if the screening of the film creates any law and order problem. The film can, then, be banned.

Courtesy. The New Sunday Express.

Tailpiece.

A quiet Sunday.

Caste matters.

There is mounting pressure to include caste-related questions to understand the economic well-being of marginalised communities accurately. Previous censuses have only published data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes besides the general category. The demand now is to include the Other Backward Castes (OBCs). This will make the census reflect the present socio-economic status of various castes and updated OBC figures.

Why is caste census being demanded?

A caste-based census gathers data on economic status and other caste-related information of every Indian family, both in rural and urban areas to help the authorities define deprivation indicators and map inequalities at a broader level. This data helps better policy-making by identifying both disadvantaged and privileged sections of society. Many political parties feel that te present reservation being based on the last caste census conducted in 1931 does not reflect the correct numbers.

The first and last caste census

The first census in India to include data on caste was conducted in 1881. From 1931 until 1941 caste-based data was collected but not published. The UPA government conducted  SEBCs in 2011. It was the first caste-based census since 1931. The data was, however, not published. The population of OBCs was 52% as last recorded in the 1931 caste census.

Is caste census constitutionally mandated?

Article 340 of the Constitution authorises the appointment of a commission to investigate the conditions of SEBCs and the difficulties under which they labour. The commission is assigned to make recommendations for the Union or any State necessary for the removal of such difficulties and to improve the conditions of the Socially and Economically Backward Classes.

Who is seeking caste census?

A large number of political parties have publicly expressed support for a caste census, while the central government has cited the need for more time to conduct it. The NDA government agreed for a caste census in 2018. However, in 2021, it rejected a demand for another SECC by the Maharashtra government citing policy issues and administrative challenges.

Why is caste census being opposed?

Critics say a caste-based census may give rise  demand for more reservation in jobs and educational institutions from various communities. The Mandal Commission previously granted reservations to 27% of jobs under the central government and public sector undertakings, resulting in a total of 49% reservation for SC, ST and OBC. The Supreme Court had capped the reservation to 50% through the Indira Sawhney judgement. There is now a demand for removing this cap.

How is the caste census gaining momentum?

The Supreme Court of India dismissed a plea challenging the Bihar caste survey in Jan 2023. The Bihar government's caste census is now underway. In 2015, the Karnataka  government conducted a caste survey which was not released.

What next?

The decennial census was due in 2023. It has been delayed due to the Covid pandemic. The government has to take a call on whether or not to include caste in the next census.  

Courtesy. The NIE 

Tailpiece.

A quiet day. Disturbing news that should get sorted out in the next week.

Return to Kochi.

After a hectic three days, we're on our return trip to Kochi today. 

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready well in time. Said our byes to the landlord who'd graciously booked us an Uber to go to the airport.

Our flight is from Delhi to Kochi via Hyderabad by the Indigo. Should reach Kochi by 2125 hrs.

Interesting incidents, that take place, shall be added on subsequently.

Epilogue

Thanks to the landlord of our workspace, Vandana ji, we got our Uber taxi at a trifle past 11 and could reach Terminal T2 by 12. Went about the routine checks and Renu, the wheelchair attendant, helped Lekha to the boarding point but not before a nice lunch at the food court in the area.

The flight landed, on time, at Hyderabad but the onward flight to Kochi was delayed by 25'. However, it put on its boosters and was at Kochi at its scheduled time of 2125 hrs. And it was pouring at Kochi! After having a Masala Dosa at a restaurant close by, we set off for Guruvayur and reached home by a half past midnight.

Hit the sack at a half past 1. 

Tailpiece.

A nice, short trip.

 

At New Delhi (3).

Our third day at New Delhi. Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. Today, it was my turn to meet up with certain officials at the Department of Science and Technology as well as a few at the Niti Aayog.

Maman and Ammayi had come with the car to pick me up while Lekha was to stay back at our living quarters during our calls. Meanwhile, Bijumon sir and Chambu had gone on the sightseeing trip organised for the Mann ki baat team.

Meeting up with the officials - especially, without prior appointment - can be tricky and could entail long waits! Luckily for us, our visits went off smoothly and we could meet up the people whom we'd wanted to and that's a great achievement!

But by the end of it all, it was an exhausting day. The lunch at the Mandi House was nice and we could meet up with a lot of people who were part of the 'Mann ki baat' group.

We, then, made a dash to the INA Market to buy some banana chips to gift the landlord of our apartment and spent a while there.

A quiet evening thereafter!     

Mann ki baat @ 100.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter past 8. The hired car had reached us with Ammayi in it and we, soon, set off for the Vigyan Bhavan for the program. Maman had sent us the passes along with the car.

The 'tamasha' in the name of security checks was all over at the entrance to the building but I suppose it's a necessary evil in today's dangerous environment. Anyways, we got over the blues and got to sit at the last row in the imposing hall - incidentally, it's my first visit to the place as an invitee!

The Vice President was the chief guest for the morning's public meeting. I was impressed with his talk which was to the point, liberally laced with humour. The inaugural session was followed by two analytical sessions of distinguished panelists, interspersed with stand easy and lunch. The afternoon session, too, had two interactions with a distinguished sets of panelists, followed by the valedictory function with the Home Minister, Amit Shah as the the chief guest.

He, too, spoke well and analysed threadbare the 'Modi thinking' in the Mann ki baat and reiterated that it was one show that kept politics totally out of it!

Ammayi, Lekha and Bijumon sir went off to Sarojini market for shopping and a bit of sight seeing for the benefit of Bijumon, whose first visit it was to New Delhi!

There was a 'high tea' session after the last meeting. Boy the mad rush at the eats by the crowd baffled me and I'd to be satisfied with a samosa and a pakora.

Secured for the day, by a half past 7. 

Tailpiece.

The 100th episode of the 'Mann ki baat' is on the 30th Apr.

Heard out the PM on the Republic summit before calling it a day. Great to hear about the transformation that his 9-year rule has brought about. Bash on regardless, Modiji!

At New Delhi.

Off to New Delhi as invitee for 'Mann ki baat @ 100' at Vigyan Bhavan tomorrow. In Jun '17, the PM had spent time with the PN Panicker Foundation and he was received with a book, that was a practice handed over to us by none other than my Muthachhan himself.

In his next Mann ki baat, the PM had mentioned about this practice of ours and had directed that all functions organised by the central government will, henceforth, follow this practice and to shun the use of bouquets, shawls etc.

All individuals, organisations mentioned in the previous 99 episodes are invitees for the program.

The Quarterdeck was systematically shut down by afternoon, yesterday and it was an early evening to get up at 12 AM, courtesy my cellphone alarm and we went about our chores. Both of us were ready well before 2 AM. Sajish was at our gate on the dot and we set off to the airport, soon after. Reached there by 4 and we headed for the checking-in formalities. Had a cup of coffee and a light snack much before our boarding time of 6. Suresh, providing wheelchair assistance for Lekha was a great help.

Was at Goa by a quarter past 7 and we had to while away time till a quarter past 12 for our connection flight to Delhi. Again worked on my laptop and finished the day's work as well as received/acknowledged messages from friends and relatives. on the phone. Ibrahim, with the wheelchair was of a great help. 

Reached New Delhi by a quarter past 3 but tragedy struck. Somebody had walked away with checked in baggage but thanks to the computerisation and the consequent networking, the blighter was identified, quickly recalled from Terminal 3 and he had returned our luggage, collected his luggage. What surprised Lekha and me was that his suitcase was quite a few shades different from ours and wondered how he could be so callous.

Reached Maman at Jor Bagh and had a briefing for tomorrow's plan of action.  

It was again a comparatively early evening!

Need of the day - Peace of mind!

The owner of a coffee shop had been busy all day. Being Saturday,  his shop was very crowded and the customers seemed unending.

He had been on his toes since morning. Towards the evening, he felt a splitting headache surfacing.

As the clock ticked away, his headache worsened.

Unable to bear it, he stepped out of the shop, leaving his staff to look after the sales.

He walked across the street to the pharmacy to buy himself a painkiller to relieve his headache. 

He swallowed the pill and felt relieved. He knew that in a few minutes, he would feel better.

As he strolled out of the shop, he casually asked the salesgirl, "Where's the Chemist?" He's not at the cash counter today.

The girl replied, "Sir, he was having a splitting headache and he said he was going across to your coffee shop". He said a cup of hot coffee would relieve him of his headache.

The man's mouth went dry and he mumbled, Oh! I see.

This is a typical case of looking outside ourselves for somthing that we have with us.

How strange, but true.

The chemist relieves his headache by drinking coffee and the coffee shop owner relieves his headache by taking a pill.

Similarly, many of us travel across the lengths and breadths of the earth and also visit various shrines and holy places to find peace.

Eventually, we come to realise that peace is with us at all times in our hearts and mind.

Peace of mind comes from being content with ourselves and being grateful for what we have with us.

There is a peaceful way of going through life but it all depends on our willingness to change our attitude toward everything in life.

Think about it.....

My take

One's happiness always comes from within. 

Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by 10.

Ramesh and his assistant, Gokul came in by 9 and got our surroundings cleared up. With their help, I could also replace the faulty sitting room light.

A short siesta after our maid's exit.

Bijeesh was called in, who sorted out the erratic foot valve of the water motor.

An early evening.