tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353915462024-03-13T13:34:19.825-07:00Thoughts on KeralaKerala has a high potential for development, but has many inherent and intricate hurdles to overcome. A concerted effort from all who love Kerala can help it tide the situation. Thoughts on this are welcome.PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35391546.post-83294825961507741402014-02-22T01:16:00.001-08:002014-02-22T21:30:45.456-08:00ALLEPPEY OF MY DREAMS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://greatbackwaters.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLt76EHaZOFM0PH07Ajcct7jpxe4M7w9rr4BbLBWfKp9apPyTMVi-FQQSYVhXSFxzpxcZuT5-nyq2qDmAqAfrRf-HE-YlUefacNd1FkcGuer8pISFcAOEew1Rt-5QyBZuJSfg/s1600/Backwater_Campaign_Img1.jpg" height="302" width="400" /></a></div>
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Alleppey is my birthplace. It is
where I was brought up. It is the place that made me what I am. I have every
reason to love the place. And I have every right to dream too.</div>
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I
have a faint idea about the affluence the town bathed in some time back. The
two canals, the arteries of the town, flowing smoothly with crystal clear
water, full of country boats laden with coir and other products, the
surrounding area filled with the fragrance of pepper, cardamom and other
spices, the shores bustling with the hum and fury of activities, its banks
fringed by godowns and factories, the labourers overflowing the banks, the
festivals that made the nights alive….. everything runs back into my mind when
I think of my infant days. They were the golden days of Alleppey, but
certainly, things of the past.</div>
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Gone are the days of trade and
shipment. Envisaged as a port town by a great visionary the then Diwan of
Travancore Raja Kesavadas, Alleppey served the purpose quite effectively till
the development of road transport and the rise of Cochin as a major port. Yet,
the downfall of Alleppey, the ill-fate that began to rule over the town, was
not entirely the contribution of these. There were other reasons also.</div>
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The vast godowns on either side
of the canals had no purpose, once the trade shifted to Cochin. The coir
factories could not sustain themselves during the lean period after
Independence. They had to be eventually closed down, as the Foreign owners who
invested in these companies withdrew from here one by one. Local people had not
gained the strength to take over the factories or run them properly.</div>
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Closing down the factories
naturally resulted in unemployment. The political upheaval that shaped itself
around Punnapra-Vayalar had its impact on the labourers too. They were becoming
aware of their rights; they strongly fought for their due. But it all ended up
in hastening the total collapse of industry in the area.</div>
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<a href="http://greatbackwaters.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLid0oUSbOuJe17OvQrov0-b32TFxGoNYM2JVZjEosYTBpIR8kAzm2K9HM61nVUmfiv1fhlpLxFDjRwoZkzr05yQe6Mc6-TtaKYb0vzxWjMbtFwqbpo9YcImhE85NbYv5Mjw/s1600/Backwater_Campaign_Img2.jpg" height="302" width="400" /></a></div>
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The effects of the frustration that
arose out such a dire situation are, in my opinion, still prevalent in the
Social Culture of Alleppey, at least psychologically. An empty mind is said to
be the workshop of the devil. I would like to modify the statement somewhat to
say that unemployment is the root cause of all divisive and destructive
tendencies that crop up in the society. The highly charged political atmosphere
which manifests itself in blocking all developmental activities in the area is
perhaps the long-term outcome of this disillusion.</div>
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But that is not the point in
question. The second thing that resulted in the ‘death’ of the once-busy
waterways – the canals – is the construction of the Thanneermukkom bund. It was
hailed as a permanent solution for all woes of the farmers of Kuttanad. It was
then considered an engineering wonder and a man-made blessing that would free
the peasants of all miseries. It was even thought that the Bund could forever
provide self-sufficiency for the State in rice cultivation. It was believed
that the onslaught of brackish water from the sea could be permanently blocked.
The prospect of doing two or three crops every year was the promise.</div>
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I don’t have to dwell at length
to describe how this ‘blessing’ has turned into a ‘curse’. The Bund itself was
not completed, the shutters were not used properly, and the rest of the project
was neglected. All this resulted in the total imbalance of Nature - loss of
fish, increased use of artificial manures and pesticides, intense pollution and
absence of natural cleansing. The eco-system of the area was completely upset.
Needless to say, the Bund miserably interfered with Nature’s yearly process of
making the land fertile and cultivable.</div>
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But its greatest impact was on
the Canals and the surrounding areas. The natural ebb and flow of sea water was
blocked by the Bund and it lead to the ‘killing’ of the Canals. The water
became stagnant. And, as the saying goes, stagnant water pollutes. Add to this
the natural death of their use as waterways to move country boats that carried
things to be exported.</div>
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The Canals were naturally
overgrown with weeds. The water got polluted day by day; People found them a
convenient place for dumping waste. It is a happy breeding ground for
mosquitoes and all sorts of water-born germs and pests. The banks of the Canals
were a haven for their primary needs and anti-social activities. The false
exercise of cleansing the canals of weeds and debris has been going on a yearly
basis for the past thirty five years or so. I remember being a member of a ‘Sramadan’
team some thirty years back, but the situation has only grown worse. Crores of
Rupees are pumped in every year for this useless exercise and the weeds
continue to grow. What happens is that the disease is not treated, but only the
symptoms are attempted to be removed. The problem really is lack of flow of
brackish water through natural ebb and low tide in the sea. The path for this
is blocked on either side – in the east with the Thanneermukkom Bund and in the
west by the sea shore.</div>
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Well, the Canals have their own
use, incidentally. They provide many with a reason and means for existence. The
yearly cleansing process makes a living for many people. Make hay while the Sun
shines. Make money as long as the canals are there.</div>
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The
narrow bridges which were once constructed to enable the movement of
pedestrians continue to be the same even during these days of heavy vehicular
traffic, causing incessant traffic blocks. True, some of them have been
widened, but the canals and the narrow bridges still make traffic movement
hazardous.</div>
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The recent controversy over
felling the trees on either side of the canals is another ploy to protect the
subversive interests of some people. You can litter only a place that is
already littered. The trees make good shade for anti-social activities. In any
case, these were not planted in a planned scheme; they had just grown there in
the absence of proper upkeep of the banks. But, environmentalism is a good
hideout for blocking any developmental activities in our State!</div>
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And,
then there are people who flock to preserve the canals and all the dirt around
it in the name of Tradition. But they forget that the canals are only about 200
years old and they were man-made channels meant for the particular purpose of
transporting the hill-produce to the shore. The canals served that purpose
effectively during their tenure and that purpose is not going to be
re-generated at all. They are now dead and putrefying; the only treatment is
amputation as in the case of Gangrene!</div>
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What causes my greatest dismay
is that none of these people who throng to protect and preserve the Canals and
their stinking surroundings are worried about the lack of a proper drainage and
sewage system in the town. Worse still, there is criminal unconcern about Solid
Waste removal. The authorities have no time or means to organize these things,
whether it be the Municipal Council or the Government Agencies. For them too,
presumably, the Canals are a great solace as the stocking point of all dirt and
waste. Interestingly, the Municipal elections are hotly contested, but the
incumbents are more worried about their chairs than the welfare of the town. By
the time a District Collector begins to study the situation, he gets
transferred for ambiguous reasons!</div>
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My
Dream Alleppey</div>
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In the Alleppey of my dreams,
there is no Thanneermukkom Bund. The vast Vembanad Lake and its full expanse
gets yearly nourished by the flow of the pure waters from the rivers and gets
cleansed everyday by the ebb and flow of the tides from the sea. The farmers
are content with one crop every year, which is more productive than the many
crops they fail in. All sorts of Fish naturally grow in the backwaters and the
seasonal birds do not come to any harm through pesticides and pollution.</div>
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All the expanse of the
backwaters is studded with houseboats carrying thousands of tourists from all
over the world. The water is so safe that they can even swim in it. The cool
breeze during the day and the bright sunset in the evenings behind the swinging
coconut trees enthral them with an exotic experience. The calm and serene
surroundings, well in contrast with the din and bustle of the cities, persuade
the tourists to stay on and on.</div>
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On the banks of the Punnamada
Kayal, there are permanent pavilions to view Boat-races conducted many times a
year in the fashion of Nehru Trophy Boat Race. Close to the pavilions, there
are jetties for Transport Boats, Pleasure Boats and House Boats. The place is
reachable by roads provided behind the pavilions. The ground floor under the pavilion
houses any number of tourist offices, ready to help the tourists at
cost-effective rates. Tourist guides are also stationed there, along with
lifeguards. Of course, there are all facilities for the primary needs of the
tourists within the pavilion.</div>
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In my dreams, the Canals are
just not there. They have been laid with large drainage pipes and covered
completely, leaving manholes at necessary points. All the dirty water from the
buildings on either side flow into the drainage pipes and get disposed into the
sea. The tops of the Canals are used to widen roads, and at vantage points,
provide for shopping malls, theatres, fun centres and comfort stations at
regular intervals. Safe and pure drinking water is available everywhere. There
are no heaps of dirt and waste anywhere in the vicinity. All have been taken
away during off-peak hours by men deputed for it in tipper Lorries.</div>
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On the outskirts of the town at
the South and North, there are garbage collection centres. All the waste
collected from the town is properly disposed off, either as compressed waste or
organic manure.</div>
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The bypass on the National
Highway has become a reality. The Railway line is doubled and electrified.
There are Electrical Multiple Units (EMUs) plying between Trivandrum and
Ernakulam through Alleppey. The KSRTC Bus station has been shifted close to the
Highway. There are frequent town buses, both KSRTC and private, plying through
all the areas of the town and touching the Main Bus Station and the Railway
Station. Long distance buses do not enter the town just to satisfy the pranks
of politicians.</div>
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Another bypass connecting
Pallathuruthy to Nehru Trophy Ward also is a reality. People coming from
Changanacherry cross over to NH 47 somewhere near Arattuvazhy without entering
the town, if need be. This bypass is a busy thoroughfare, with scores of
Hotels, Motels and Lodges to cater to the needs of the tourists. Either side of
the road is highly developed to the extent of making it another township with
perfect residential facilities.</div>
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The four-lane NH 47 has
considerably shortened the distance from Kochi. Alleppey is fast growing into a
comfortable residential area for all the high-tech professionals who are
employed in Kochi and surrounding areas because of low-cost living and
congenial atmosphere.</div>
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An Export Processing Zone has
come up somewhere on the outskirts of the town. Coir is still the major produce
of Alleppey. In spite of the major and mechanized Coir factories, there are
thousands of houses and small workshops where coir products are made as cottage
industry. There are co-operative societies that ensure proper price for the
products in the EPZ. Container facilities are provided here. The fertile sands
of the villages all around the town produce organic vegetables in plenty and
they get exported in great quantities. Alleppey has also become a major
exporter of readymade garments.</div>
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The change that has come over in
Bhattathiripurayidom is incredible. There is first class 400M track, Stadium
and all amenities for Sports and Games there. The Conference Hall and the
Gymnasium and facilities for development of the Physique are of international
standards.</div>
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What
surprises and thrills me most is the change that has come over the Politicians.
Politics is not their means of existence, but their strength to get things done
for their native place. Differences of opinion and colours of flags are
forgotten when it comes to the development of Alleppey. They all stand together
and make hot bargains for the progress of Alleppey. It is not the craze for
power that rules them, but their desire to do the best for their soil.</div>
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Finally, what I find in Alleppey
is that unemployment has ceased to be a problem to the younger generation.
Nobody waits for the paltry unemployment pension. The youth have realized the
value of work and entrepreneurship. They have formed themselves into self-help
groups and work day and night. Tourism-enabled jobs are in plenty. The youth of
Alleppey know very well that even a ‘Thattukada’ with tasty items can make a
living for a few. It has dawned on them that political processions, hartals and
bundhs are organized not for the good of the youth, but to gain political
mileage for some at the top.</div>
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I know that what I see is only a
dream, but it is a dream from which I do not want to wake up!</div>
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<br />
Note: <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Most of my dreams
continue to be a dream even after eight years, but I am sure somebody somewhere
is thinking about making them a reality! Let us hope for the best.</span></i></div>
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<i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">(This article was originally published <a href="http://aalappuzha.blogspot.in/2005/07/alleppey-of-my-dreams-alleppey-is-my.html">in one of my blogs</a> on 09 July 2005. ) </span></i></div>
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PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35391546.post-47907940094840523672014-01-05T05:26:00.000-08:002014-01-28T02:30:52.682-08:00STATUES ON ROADSIDE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"> One of the easiest and cheapest ways to remember great men is forcing the government to name some roads already in use after the person some people like. Thus, almost every other road is named after #Mahathma Gandhi, which is shortened to MG. Other establishments that get named after are airports, bus stations and railway stations. Place names have already given way to names of people. You no more travel from Mumbai to Delhi, but from #Chathrapathi to #Indiragandhi!</span></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> Another easy way is installing #statues. Many people believe that the best way to remember a great man is creating a statue of that person and install it on the roadside. A</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">nyway, the dead person is not likely to object. Such statues are often neglected even by those who caused it to be there. Nobody cares for it except when somebody attempts to destroy or desecrate it. Such acts are generally done to ignite the wrath of the group the person was supposed to belong to. The revered person stands a mute witness to all the atrocities happening around him. Have you ever thought how much money is wasted in this way, which could have been put to much better use, at least for providing basic amenities for the people living around. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #37404e;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> Those who install the statues do it and go away satisfied. Nobody cares for them after that. Thousands of statues pave the way all across the country, only to be neglected, only to block further development. Politicians do not discourage the installation of statues, since they don't want to hurt the sentiments of the groups behind it. They always have their eye on the 'supposed' vote banks!</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;"> Instead of creating statues of great men on the roadside only to bear the droppings of crows and to block the easy movement of traffic, why don't the organizations which project them widen or create new roads to help people? The names of great men will be remembered thankfully at least by the users of the road!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> Statues have no significance unless the principles the great man advocated for are understood and practiced. When will the day come when the politicians and caste leaders realize this? Do we have any regard for that great person who said one temple less is so much superstition less. When will we raise the slogan 'One more toilet means so much more cleanliness'?</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></div>
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PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35391546.post-36802063145196425802012-09-13T00:22:00.002-07:002012-09-13T00:22:50.849-07:00Road development<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35391546.post-38244766609959779742012-06-21T07:22:00.003-07:002014-01-05T06:27:35.812-08:00Mobile Phones<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mobile Phones </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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Every gadget
comes with certain advantages, and troubles if misused. The mobile phone is one
like that. Consider the benefits the Internet has brought with it and also the
blame that it misleads the youth into doing wrong things. But when we compare
the positives and the negatives, the benefit certainly outweighs the minus
side. </div>
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The recent
decision in Kerala to ban the use of mobile phones in Government offices is a
retrograde step in the context of advancing technology. When the Government is
trying to implement e-governance in all departments, the latest advances in the
use of mobile phones is totally neglected.</div>
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Mobile phones
are now not just a mechanism to talk to someone. Almost all functions that can
be done through the internet can also be done through the phones. The smart
phones that come out now are capable of replacing the computers, as has lap-top
pushed out desk-tops.When the emphasis is on reducing the need for people
visiting Offices, what can be done over the phone gets a lot of importance. It
is well known how difficult it is to meet someone in an office because of the
crowd gathering there, how convenient it would be if you have the mobile number
of the right person and make enquiries about the progress of your file! In the
modern days when even banking and payments can be done through the phone, and
when even banks discourage people from going personally to the branches, why
should people be denied this facility in Government offices alone? Also, think
of the time and money involved in a person personally presenting himself in the
office to get something done. And, how many times he will have to go there to
get it done! In many cases, a person may have to take leave from his office
many times to achieve this, thus putting his own office out of gear. When
payment of utility bills, tax, etc. is increasingly being encouraged all over
the world, why should Kerala alone go many steps backward in making use of
modern technology? Communicating through the mobile phone will take away a
heavy load of traffic from the roads and also help reduce fuel consumption to a
great extent. It also reduces the chances of personal influence and bribery to
a great extent. </div>
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Also, let us not
forget how the mobile phone has helped the police to trace and nab hard core
criminals!</div>
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It is high time
that the untimely order was reversed and people encouraged to interact through
mobile phones with Government offices.</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35391546.post-47255517386078709692011-01-22T20:43:00.000-08:002012-07-03T00:33:18.947-07:00Action Plan for Sabarimala<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 20pt;">Action plan for Sabarimala</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">In the wake of the gruesome tragedy that occurred in Pulmedu this year, it is time for a rethink about the proposed Master Plan. Only Lord Ayyappa’s grace must have prevented such incidents till now, considering the apathy and callousness of the authorities in implementing the necessary precautions. Perhaps the Lord Himself must have been disgusted with the situation and He chose to signify His ill-will through this incident. At least now the authorities should consider this as an eye opener and discharge their responsibilities with due respect to the lives of innocent devotees and the money they pour in. Many people might have considered the Sabarimala season as an occasion for personal gains and filling the coffers of the Devaswom Board and the State Government. As the HC has observed rightly, there was no co-ordination among the different Departments of the State Government. Even after the unfortunate incident, these departments are entertaining themselves by blaming one another. The details are an open book before the public.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">What happened in Pulmedu is the sum total of the greed of some people to make quick money, the haste of the devotees to get back to their places after seeing the Makarajyothi and the selfish manner in which they trampled over their fellow beings. Much money must have changed hands when nearly 2000 vehicles were allowed to park in the Periyar Tiger Reserve Forest where entry of vehicles is prohibited; how none of the authorities came to know of the 2 lakh+ people camping on the Pulmedu for hours together and how they got there unseen by anyone is a real mystery. Who gave the eco-development society permission to put up shops there to fleece the devotees remains to be seen. Nearly twenty people boarding an auto rickshaw, and it crushing under the weight blocking the narrow path, speaks volumes about the avariciousness of the people there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The question whether Makarajyothi is man-made or divine is totally beside the point. The debate is initiated only to camouflage the real issue. There are hundreds of places where much bigger crowds assemble and disperse within shorter periods of time without causing disasters. Whatever be the outcome of the debate, the crowd is only set to increase during the coming years too. It is a question of faith and faith is not rational. People undertake the perilous journey to the temple in the midst of the forest knowing fully well that the legend of Lord Ayyappa itself is a myth. What is required is a systematic and professional approach to crowd management and the development of the necessary infrastructure. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Well, the attitude of the people who gather in such a place cannot be changed much overnight, but the authorities can do a lot to enable the pilgrimage a better experience without causing any reduction in their ‘official’ income. This requires proper planning in advance and executing the projects on a time bound basis, of course, with ample help and sponsorship from willing devotees. PPP should be ideal in this respect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Master Plan for Sabarimala should urgently include the following projects:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Make the <b>trekking routes to Sabarimala and back one way</b>. The present blockage of the incoming pilgrims is caused mainly by the returning devotees using the same path up to Pampa. The long queue of the devotees waiting for hours together to seek entry to the 18 steps can be avoided.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Construct a flyover from Sannidhanam to Pampa Hilltop</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> to allow people to go back to their native places as fast as possible, because once the Darsan and offerings are over, that is exactly what the devotees want to do. This path will also help in evacuating the crowd in an emergency and carrying indisposed people to the hospitals urgently..</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Make the system of <b>collecting the ghee-filled coconuts and issuing <i>aadiya neyyu</i></b> in return more popular. Now the devotees climb up the 18 steps with the irumudi on their heads, and once they reach the top, they have to find a place to unpack it, pour out the ghee into pots and wait in a long queue for hours together to get the <i>abhishekam</i> done. The coconuts thus collected can be mechanically opened, the ghee taken out hygienically and offered for <i>abhishekam</i>, and the pieces of coconuts sent down through conveyer belts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The coupons for all offerings</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> should be made available along the entry route; the <i>prasadams</i> can be distributed by the side of the flyover during return.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The system of allowing people for long hours around the sanctum sanctorum should be discontinued. The only counter required there is the one collects the ghee-filled coconuts. They need to <b>stay there only until the darsan</b> is over, after which they should move over to <i>Malikappuram</i> and other places of worship and then enter the flyover for the return trek. They can collect the <i>prasadom</i> on the way. This will enable more and more people to come up the steps without being kept waiting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The number of days</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> on which the temple is kept open may <b>be increased</b> gradually. In addition to the first day of every Malayalam month, the temple may be kept open on Uthram, the birth star of the Lord. But it is certain that all such measures will not reduce the number of devotees thronging the premises during Makaravilakku.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">7.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Discourage</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> people who come on a <b>pleasure trip</b> for trekking. I mean, those who go up the path through the forest wearing footwear like canvas shoes and socks, leather chappals or just rubber slippers. The path from Pampa up to the temple is sacred and need to be climbed barefoot. The police can easily prevent such people at the foot of the hill itself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">8.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The <b>ropeway to carry goods</b> for use in the temple is a must. The foot route through the forest – both traditional and the other – should be widened, the sides well bound by concrete structures and the path properly laid with <b>pre-stressed interlocking concrete bricks</b>, which can be laid even during the rainy season.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">9.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The heavy rush in <b>Pulmedu</b> is experienced only on the day of the Makaravilakku. At the flat plane before Pulmedu from where devotees start moving on foot should be cleared for <b>parking </b>vehicles. No vehicle whatsoever should be allowed beyond this point. The trekking route to Sabarimala should be <b>widened, leveled and cleared</b> of all obstacles well ahead of Makaravilakku day. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">It is high time that Sabarimala is declared a <b>National Pilgrimage Centre</b> and effective co-ordination between the State and Central Governments be enabled. There will be a great number of devotees and firms willing to provide the necessary infrastructure, once the Master Plan is finalized with the help of the experts in the field.</span></div>PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35391546.post-77686172293391803922011-01-20T00:44:00.000-08:002012-07-03T00:34:37.939-07:00നിര്ബന്ധിതമാക്കണോ മലയാളം?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;">നിര്ബന്ധിതമാക്കണോ</span><span style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;">മലയാളം</span><span style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;">?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 100%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മാതൃഭാഷയായിട്ടുള്ള</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആരേയും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പ്രകമ്പനം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കൊള്ളിക്കേണ്ടതാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പത്താം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ക്ളാസ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വരെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എല്ലാ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സ്കൂളുകളിലും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നിര്ബന്ധിതമാക്കണമെന്ന</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നിര്ദ്ദേശം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">.. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നിര്ബന്ധിതമലയാളഭാഷാപഠനം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മെച്ചപ്പെട്ട</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ജീവിതസാഹചര്യങ്ങള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഒരുക്കുമെങ്കില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആരും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അതിനു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വഴങ്ങുമെന്നതില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">തര്ക്കമില്ല</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളമറിയാത്തതുകൊണ്ട്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഇന്ന്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കേരളത്തിലാര്ക്കും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ജോലി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നിഷേധിക്കപ്പെടുന്നില്ല</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പക്ഷേ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കേരളത്തില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ജനിച്ചുവളര്ന്ന്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഉന്നതബിരുദവും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നേടി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ജോലിയന്വേഷിച്ച്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മറുനാടുകളിലേയ്ക്ക്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വണ്ടികയറുന്ന</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ശരാശരി</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ചെറുപ്പക്കാരുടെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പരാധീനതകള്ക്ക്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആരാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പരിഹാരം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കാണുക</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">? </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളമെന്ന</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഒരൊറ്റ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സംസാരഭാഷ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മാത്രം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വശപ്പെടുത്തിയ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഉന്നതബിരുദധാരികള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഇംഗ്ളീഷിലുള്ള</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഒരു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ചോദ്യത്തിനും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മറുപടി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പറയാന്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കഴിയാതെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">തല</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കുമ്പിട്ട്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">തിരിച്ചു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വണ്ടികയറുന്നത്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആരെങ്കിലും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അറിയുന്നുണ്ടോ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">? </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഒരൊറ്റഭാഷാസമൂഹമായ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കേരളത്തില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഇംഗ്ളീഷില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സംസാരിക്കാന്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ശ്രമിച്ചാല്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> '</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">യെവനാരെടേ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സായിപ്പിണ്റ്റെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കുഞ്ഞോ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">?' </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എന്നു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ചോദിച്ച്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അപമാനിക്കുന്നതിണ്റ്റെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഫലം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ശരിയ്ക്കും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അറിയുന്നത്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മറുനാട്ടില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ജോലിയ്ക്കു</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ശ്രമിയ്ക്കുമ്പോഴാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കേരളത്തില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പഠിച്ച</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എല്ലാവര്ക്കും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കേരളത്തില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">തന്നെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ജോലി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ലഭിക്കുമെങ്കില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വളരെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നല്ലത്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പക്ഷെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അതിനുള്ള</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സംവിധാനം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അടുത്തെങ്ങും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഉണ്ടാകുന്ന</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ലക്ഷണമില്ല</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അതോടൊപ്പം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">തന്നെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കൂട്ടിവായിക്കേണ്ട</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മറ്റൊരുകാര്യവുമുണ്ട്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> - </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കേരളത്തില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പഠിച്ചവരില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">തന്നെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ശരിക്കു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സംസാരിക്കാനറിയാവുന്നവര്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എത്ര</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ശതമാനം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വരും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">? </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ടിവി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">യിലും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മറ്റും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെടുന്ന</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അവതാരകരുടെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കാര്യം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഒരു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സൂചന</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മാത്രമാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അവിടവിടെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഇംഗ്ളീഷ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വാക്കുകള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കൊരുക്കാതെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഒരു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വാചകമെങ്കിലും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പറയാന്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കഴിയുമോ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളികള്ക്ക്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">? </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഇപ്പോഴത്തെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അവസ്ഥ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഉള്ള</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളവും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പോയി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഇംഗ്ളീഷൊട്ടു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കിട്ടിയതുമില്ല</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എന്നതാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഇംഗ്ളീഷ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മീഡിയം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സ്കൂളുകള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കൂടുന്നു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സര്ക്കാര്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സ്കൂളുകളില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കുട്ടികള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കുറയുന്നു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എന്നീ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പരാതികള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഉള്ളപ്പോഴും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഉന്നതവിദ്യാഭാസമേഖലയില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എന്തുസംഭവിക്കുന്നു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എന്നാരും</span> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അന്വേഷിക്കുന്നില്ല</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അവിടെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പൊതുവെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അദ്ധ്യയനം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മീഡിയത്തിലാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ക്ളാസ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">റൂമുകളില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പോലും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ക്ളാസ്സിനു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പുറത്ത്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആശയവിനിമയവും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളത്തില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">തന്നെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പരീക്ഷ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എഴുതുന്നത്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ടെക്സ്റ്റ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ബുക്കുകളില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നിന്നും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കാണാപ്പാഠം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പഠിച്ച</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഇംഗ്ളീഷില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഗുരുവും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ശിഷ്യനും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> '</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഒരേ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">തൂവല്പക്ഷി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">'</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കളായതുകൊണ്ട്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എഴുതിവച്ചതിന്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഫുള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മാര്ക്കു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കിട്ടും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">റാങ്കും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കിട്ടാം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പക്ഷേ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കേരളത്തിനു</span><span style="font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പുറത്ത്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അഭിമുഖപരീക്ഷയില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> '</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മൌന</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">'</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ത്തിന്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മാര്ക്കില്ലല്ലോ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കേരളത്തിലെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ബഹുഭൂരിപക്ഷം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പേര്ക്കും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളമല്ലാതെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മറ്റ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഏതുഭാഷയിലുണ്ട്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പ്രാവീണ്യം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">? </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആകെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അറിയാവുന്നത്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മാത്രം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അറിയാവുന്നത്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അടിച്ചേല്പ്പിക്കേണ്ട</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കാര്യമില്ലല്ലോ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നമ്മുടെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നേതാക്കന്മാര്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പ്രസംഗിക്കുന്നതും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നിയമസഭയില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വാഗ്വാദങ്ങള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നടത്തുന്നതും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഒക്കെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളത്തില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">തന്നെയല്ലേ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">? </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആരെങ്കിലും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എന്തെങ്കിലും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഇംഗ്ളീഷില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പറഞ്ഞാല്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">, "</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എന്താ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പറഞ്ഞത്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">?" </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എന്ന്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അടുത്തുനില്ക്കുന്നവനോട്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ചോദിക്കണം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">! </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മുന്ഗാമികള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പണ്ടെങ്ങോ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഇംഗ്ളീഷില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കുറിച്ചുവച്ച</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വാചകങ്ങള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അര്ത്ഥമറിഞ്ഞോ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അറിയാതെയോ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഫയലുകളില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പകര്ത്തിവയ്ക്കുമ്പോള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എല്ലാ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നവംബര്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഒന്നാംതീയതിയും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> "</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഭരണഭാഷ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളമാകണം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">" </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എന്ന</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മുറവിളി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഉയരും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സര്വകക്ഷിസംഘം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കേന്ദ്രത്തില്ചെന്ന്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഏതെങ്കിലും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മന്ത്രിമാരെക്കാണുമ്പോഴും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഒരു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ദ്വിഭാഷി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അത്യാവശ്യം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഇന്ത്യയിലിന്ന്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പ്രചാരത്തിലുള്ള</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പ്രാദേശികഭാഷാപത്രങ്ങളില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മുന്പന്തിയില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നില്ക്കുമ്പോള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നിര്ബന്ധിതഭാഷയാക്കേണ്ടതുണ്ടോ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">? </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ജോലിയന്വേഷിച്ച്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മറുനാട്ടില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പോകുമ്പോഴും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അവിടുത്തെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഭാഷ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പഠിച്ച്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അന്നത്തിനുള്ള</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വഴി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">തേടുമ്പോഴും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാള</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അക്ഷരമാലയിലെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വൈവിദ്ധ്യവും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സമ്പന്നതയും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പ്രയോജനപ്പെടുമെന്നു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">തോന്നുന്നു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മറ്റുസംസ്ഥാനങ്ങളില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നടപ്പാക്കിയെന്നു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വിവക്ഷിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഭാഷാപഠനപദ്ധതി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കേരളത്തിനു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">യോജിച്ചതേയല്ല</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഒന്നാമത്തെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കാര്യം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അവര്ക്ക്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഉയര്ന്ന</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ജോലി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അന്വേഷിച്ച്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പുറത്തേക്ക്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പോകേണ്ടതില്ല</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">തമിഴ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മാത്രം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പഠിച്ചവര്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അതുമാത്രം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കൊണ്ടുകിട്ടുന്ന</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ജോലി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">തേടിയെടുത്തുകൊള്ളും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഇംഗ്ളീഷ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പഠിച്ചവര്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പുറത്തും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ജോലി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">തേടും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അവരുടെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മാതൃഭാഷാപ്രേമത്തിണ്റ്റെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ജീവിക്കുന്ന</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">രക്തസാക്ഷിയാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കേന്ദ്രമന്ത്രി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അഴഗിരി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നമുക്കും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അത്തരം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഭാഷാഭ്രാന്ത്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വേണോ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">? </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കര്ണ്ണാടകത്തിലും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആന്ധ്രയിലും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സ്ഥിതി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വ്യത്യസ്ഥമാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഒരു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഭാഷയോടും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അയിത്തമില്ല</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കുട്ടികള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പോലും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മാതൃഭാഷയും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പ്രാദേശികഭാഷയും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഇംഗ്ളീഷും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഭംഗിയായി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കൈകാര്യം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ചെയ്യും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഒരൊറ്റഭാഷാസമൂഹമായി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വളരുന്നതാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കേരളത്തിണ്റ്റെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പ്രശ്നം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അറിയാതെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഏതെങ്കിലും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മറ്റുഭാഷക്കാര്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കേരളത്തില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വന്നാല്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അവരെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> '</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഗോസായി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പാണ്ടി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">' </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എന്നൊക്കെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വിളിച്ച്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പുച്ഛിക്കുന്നതിലാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നമുക്ക്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആനന്ദം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എത്രയോ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളികള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മറ്റുദേശങ്ങളില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പോയി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ജോലി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ചെയ്തയക്കുന്ന</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പണം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കൊണ്ടാണല്ലോ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നമ്മുടെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ധൂര്ത്തും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പരിഹാസവും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കേന്ദ്രസര്ക്കാര്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കേഡറില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കേരളത്തിലെത്തൂന്നവര്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കഷ്ടപ്പെട്ട്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പഠിച്ച്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കീഴുദ്യോഗസ്ഥരുമായി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സംവദിക്കേണ്ടിവരുന്നു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ക്ളാസ്സുമുറികളില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അടച്ചിട്ട്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">തല്ലിപ്പഠിപ്പിക്കേണ്ടതല്ല</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മാതൃഭാഷ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എല്ലാ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സ്കൂളുകളിലും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പത്താംക്ളാസ്സുവരെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നിര്ബന്ധിതമായി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പഠിപ്പിച്ചാല്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കേരളത്തിണ്റ്റെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പ്രശ്നങ്ങള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">തീരുമോ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">? </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അതും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നൂറുമാര്ക്കും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സൌജന്യമായി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നല്കി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വിജയശതമാനം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വര്ദ്ധിപ്പിക്കുന്ന</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഇക്കാലത്ത്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">? </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സ്കൂളും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ക്ളാസ്മുറികളുമുണ്ടാകുന്നതിന്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എത്രയോ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മുന്പുതന്നെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">! </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അതുപോലെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഹിന്ദി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സ്കൂളില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പഠിപ്പിക്കുന്നതു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പോരാതെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എത്രയോ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കുട്ടികള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഹിന്ദി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പ്രചാര്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സഭയുടെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കോഴ്സുകള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പഠിച്ച്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഉന്നത</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പരീക്ഷകള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പാസാകുന്നു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">! </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആരും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നിര്ബന്ധിച്ചിട്ടല്ല</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഇതു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നടക്കുന്നത്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആവശ്യത്തിനുതകുന്ന</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഭാഷകള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആരും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പഠിച്ചുപോകും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഭാഷ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വളരുന്നത്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ക്ളാസ്മുറികളിലല്ല</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മറിച്ച്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അതിനുപുറത്ത്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സമൂഹത്തിലാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അവിടുത്തെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പ്രയോഗങ്ങളിലൂടെയാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പുതിയ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വാക്കുകളും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ശൈലികളുമുണ്ടാകുന്നത്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കാലത്തിണ്റ്റെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആവശ്യം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഭാഷയുടെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സംരക്ഷണമല്ല</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പകരം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അതിണ്റ്റെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വളര്ച്ചയും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വികസനവുമാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഒരു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഭാഷയും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആരേയും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അടിച്ചേല്പ്പിക്കേണ്ടതില്ല</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആവശ്യമുണ്ടെങ്കില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഏതു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഭാഷയും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പഠിച്ചെടുക്കാനുള്ള</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കഴിവ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മനുഷ്യന്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ജന്മസിദ്ധമാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അതുപോലെതന്നെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആരും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പഠിപ്പിക്കാതെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സ്വയം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വശഗതമാക്കുന്നതാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മാതൃഭാഷ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ചുറ്റും</span> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നിറഞ്ഞുനില്ക്കുന്ന</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഭാഷ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സ്വാഭാവികമായും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സ്വായത്തമാകും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കുട്ടികള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഒരു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വയസ്സുമുതല്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സംസാരിച്ചുതുടങ്ങുന്നതും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വ്യവസ്ഥാപിതവിദ്യാഭാസം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ലഭിക്കാത്ത</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നിരക്ഷരകുക്ഷികള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പോലും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മാതൃഭാഷ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അനായാസം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കൈകാര്യം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ചെയ്യുന്നതും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആരെങ്കിലും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> '</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നിര്ബന്ധിത</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">'</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മാക്കിയിട്ടല്ലല്ലോ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നിര്ബന്ധിച്ച്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അടിച്ചേല്പ്പിക്കുന്നതൊന്നും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ശാശ്വതമായ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഗുണം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ചെയ്യില്ല</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ജീവനും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വളര്ച്ചയുമുള്ളതാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഭാഷ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വളര്ച്ചയുടെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വിവിധഘട്ടങ്ങളില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മറ്റു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഭാഷകളില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നിന്ന്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വാക്കുകള്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കടം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കൊണ്ടും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആഗിരണം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ചെയ്തുമാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മാറ്റങ്ങളുണ്ടാകുന്നത്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അത്തരം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മാറ്റങ്ങളാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഭാഷയുടെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ശക്തി</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">കേരളത്തിലെത്തിച്ചേര്ന്ന</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വിദേശികളുടെയും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സംസ്കൃതത്തിണ്റ്റെയും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സംഭാവനകളാണല്ലോ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഇന്ന്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളത്തിണ്റ്റെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പദസമ്പത്ത്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">സംസാരിക്കാന്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആളുകളുള്ളിടത്തോളം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഏതൊരു</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഭാഷയും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">നിലനില്ക്കുകയും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വളരുകയും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ചെയ്യും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളത്തെക്കുറിച്ച്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആരും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ആശങ്കപ്പെടുകയും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഒന്നും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അടിച്ചേല്പ്പിക്കുകയും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വേണ്ടതില്ല</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വളര്ച്ചയുടെ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പാതയിലാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">, </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാളികളുള്ളിടത്തെല്ലാം</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അത്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പ്രചരിക്കുകയുമാണ്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">അല്ലെങ്കില്</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മിക്കവാറും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എല്ലാ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മലയാള</span> <span style="font-size: 130%;">പത്രങ്ങള്ക്കും</span> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">മെട്രോ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">എഡിഷന്സും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">ഇ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">-</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">പേപ്പറുകളും</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">വേണ്ടിവരുമായിരുന്നില്ലല്ലോ</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35391546.post-43032659267710546372010-11-28T23:07:00.000-08:002012-07-03T00:35:52.850-07:00ഇത് ചാതുര്വര്ണ്യമോ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: 180%; font-weight: bold;">ഇത് ചാതുര്വര്ണ്യമോ?</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">കേരളത്തില്</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">ഇന്നും</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">ചാതുര്വണ്യം</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">നിലനില്ക്കുന്നുന്ടൊ</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> , </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">മറ്റൊരു</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">രൂപത്തില്</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">? </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">ഗുണ</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">കര്മ്മങ്ങള്</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">നോക്കിയാല്</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">അങ്ങിനെ</span> <span style="font-family: georgia;">ആരെങ്കിലും</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">സംശയിച്ചാല്</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">അത്ഭുതപ്പെടാനില്ല</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%; font-style: italic;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">വരേണ്യവര്ഗം</span>.</span> മറ്റുള്ളവര് ചെയ്യുന്നതിന്റെ, അല്ലെങ്കില് അവരെക്കൊന്ട ചെയ്യിക്കുന്നതിന്ര്ടെ , പങ്ക് ദക്ഷിണയായി സ്വീകരിച്ച് കൊഴുത്തുതടിക്കുന്ന നേതൃവൃന്ദം.. അവര് എണ്ണത്തില് വളരെക്കുറച്ചേ വരൂ. ഭരണത്തിണ്റ്റെ ചരട് ഇവരുടെ കൈകളിലാണ്. നാട്ടില് നടക്കുന്ന എന്തുകാര്യങ്ങളേക്കുറിച്ചും അവര് അഭിപ്രായങ്ങളും നിര്ദ്ദേശങ്ങളും നല്കുന്നു. അവരുടെ ഇഷ്ടത്തിനെതിരായി പ്രവര്ത്തിക്കുന്നവര് ശിക്ഷിക്കപ്പെടും. ഏതുസാഹചര്യത്തിലും അഞ്ചാതെ കൂസാതെ ഇടപെടുന്ന, ജയവും വിജയവുമൊക്കെ ജന്മസിദ്ധമായിട്ടുള്ള രാജവംശം. ചാനല്ചര്ച്ചകളില് ഇവര് സാധാരണ പങ്കെടുക്കാറില്ല, കാരണം ചിലപ്പോള് പ്രതികരണം മലയാളനിഘണ്ടുവിന് പുറത്തുള്ള വാക്കുകളിലായിപ്പോകും. പക്ഷേ, ദക്ഷിണ നല്കാതെയുള്ള ഒരു കാര്യവും നാട്ടില് നടത്താന് സമ്മതിക്കില്ല.<br />
<span style="font-size: 130%; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">പടയാളിവര്ഗം</span></span>. നേതാക്കന്മാര്ക്കുവേണ്ടി തല്ലാനും കൊല്ലാനും സമരം ചെയ്യാനും ജാഥ നടത്താനും കരുത്തുള്ള ചെറുപ്പക്കാരുടെ നിര.. അസൂയാലുക്കള് 'കൂലിപ്പടയാളികള്' എന്നു വിളിച്ചേക്കാം. മറ്റുസംഘടനകളുടെ പ്രകടനങ്ങള് പൊളിക്കാനും ഇവര് മതി. ഇവര് ചെയ്യുന്ന ജോലിക്കുള്ള പ്രതിഫലം ദിവസക്കണക്കിനോ തൊഴിലില്ലായ്മവേതനമായോ നല്കപ്പെടും. അട്ടിമറി, നോക്കുകൂലി, തുടങ്ങിയ വരുമാനമാര്ഗ്ഗങ്ങളും സ്വീകരിക്കാം, ലെവി മുകളില് എത്തുമെങ്കില്. അഭ്യസ്ഥവിദ്യരാണെങ്കിലും അസ്തപ്രജ്ഞരെപ്പോലെ പെരുമാറാനുള്ള കഴിവ് അത്യാവശ്യം. ഇതില് മുന്നിരക്കാര്ക്ക് ചാനല് ചര്ച്ചകളില് പങ്കെടുത്ത് തത്ത പറയുന്നതുപോലെ പഠിപ്പിച്ച കാര്യങ്ങള് ഉരുവിടാം. വരേണ്യവര്ഗ്ഗത്തിണ്റ്റെ താല്പര്യങ്ങള് സംരക്ഷിക്കുന്നതില് ഇവര്ക്ക് വലിയ പങ്കുണ്ട്.<br />
<span style="font-size: 130%; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">വാണിഭമാഫിയ</span>. വിലകിട്ടാവുന്ന എന്തും വിറ്റ് പണമാക്കുകയാണ് ഇവരുടെ കര്മ്മം. ലോട്ടറി, മദ്യം, ഭൂമി, വനം, മണല്, നീരുറവകള്, കണ്ടല്, തൊഴില്, വിദ്യാഭ്യാസം, ചിട്ടി, സര്ക്കാരുദ്യോഗം, വര്ക്ക് കോണ്ട്രാക്റ്റ്, മന്ത്രിപ്പണി തുടങ്ങിയ എന്തും ഇവര്ക്ക് വില്പ്പനച്ചരക്കാക്കാം. വരേണ്യവര്ഗ്ഗത്തിന് ദക്ഷിണ കിട്ടുന്ന എന്തിടപാടും നടത്താന് ഇവര്ക്ക് ഏതുമാര്ഗ്ഗവും സ്വീകരിക്കാം. കഴിയുന്നത്ര സംരക്ഷണം മുകള്ത്തട്ടില് നിന്നു കിട്ടും, അതുകഴിഞ്ഞാല് തട്ടുകിട്ടിയെന്നും വരാം.<br />
<span style="font-size: 130%; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> സാധാരണജനം</span>. അന്നന്നത്തെ അന്നത്തിന് അദ്ധ്വാനിക്കുക, കിട്ടുന്ന കൂലിയില് വലിയ പങ്ക് ചിട്ടി, ലോട്ടറി തട്ടിപ്പുകളില് മുടക്കി ഭാഗ്യം പരീക്ഷിക്കുക, മദ്യമേതായാലും ആവശ്യത്തിലധികം കുടിച്ച് സംസ്ഥാനത്തിന് വരുമാനമുണ്ടാക്കിക്കൊടുക്കുക, ദാരിദ്യ്രരേഖയ്ക്ക് തൊട്ടുമുകളിലും താഴെയുമായി നിലകൊണ്ട് മറിച്ചുവില്ക്കാനാവശ്യമായ റേഷന് സാധനങ്ങള് കേന്ദ്രത്തില്നിന്ന് കിട്ടാന് സഹായിക്കുക, തലചായ്ക്കാനിടവും ഉടുക്കാന് വസ്ത്രവുമില്ലെങ്കിലും ഒരു നല്ല നാളേയ്ക്കുവേണ്ടി പ്രവര്ത്തിക്കുന്ന സ്ഥാനാര്ഥികള്ക്ക് കൃത്യമായി വോട്ടുചെയ്യുക, ഗത്യന്തരമില്ലാതെ വന്നാല് ആത്മഹത്യ ചെയ്യുക, ഇതൊക്കെയാണ് ചുമതലകള്. ഇക്കൂട്ടത്തില് പെടുന്ന ആദിവാസികള് ഒരു നല്ല പരസ്യവസ്തുവാണ് പല കാര്യങ്ങള്ക്കും. ഈ വിഭാഗത്തില് പെടുന്നവര് വംശമറ്റുപോകാതെയും രക്ഷപ്പെട്ടുപോകാതെയും നോക്കേണ്ടത് ഉപരിവര്ഗ്ഗങ്ങളുടെ ആവശ്യവും കടമയുമാണ്. ആ ഉത്തരവാദിത്വം അവര് കൃത്യമായി നിര്വഹിച്ചുകൊള്ളും. എന്തായാലും, ദൈവത്തിണ്റ്റെ സ്വന്തം നാട് എന്ന ഒരു പേരു നമുക്കു ചാര്ത്തിക്കിട്ടിയിട്ടുള്ളതുകൊണ്ട്, എല്ലാം 'അദ്ദേഹത്തിണ്റ്റെ ഇഷ്ടം' എന്നു സമാധാനിക്കാം.</div>PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35391546.post-42614217048641755402010-06-15T00:42:00.001-07:002012-07-03T00:37:05.178-07:00ക്ളാസിക്കല് ഭാഷ?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
മലയാളത്തെ ക്ളാസിക്കല് ഭാഷയായി അംഗീകരിക്കണം എന്ന മുറവിളി കേള്ക്കുമ്പോള് മനസ്സില് ഉയരുന്ന ഒരു ചോദ്യമുണ്ട് - ഏതു മലയാളം? ചന്തുമേനോന്, സി വി രാമന്പിള്ള തുടങ്ങിയവരിലും കവിത്രയത്തിലും വള്ളുവനാടന്, മയ്യഴി ശൈലിയും കടന്ന് വാമൊഴിവഴക്കത്തിലും കെ ഇ എന്നില് എത്തിനില്ക്കുന്ന ദുര്ഗ്രാഹ്യതയിലും ഞാന് പരതുകയാണ്. ടിവി അവതാരകരുടേയും ഇംഗ്ളീഷ് മീഡിയത്തില് വളരുന്ന കുട്ടികളുടേയും മലയാളം എന്നെ കുഴക്കുന്നു. അങ്ങാടിയിലും കടപ്പുറത്തുമുള്ള തൊഴിലാളികളുടെ നാടന് പ്രയോഗങ്ങള് മലയാളമല്ലെന്നുവരുമോ? അതോ, പത്രത്തില് അച്ചടിച്ചുവരുന്നതാണോ ശുദ്ധമലയാളം? ഏതുമലയാളമാണ് ക്ളാസിക്കലാകുക? ആരുടെ പക്കലാണിതിണ്റ്റെ അളവുകോല്? അതിരിക്കട്ടെ, ഹിന്ദി ഒഴിച്ചാല് പ്രാദേശികഭാഷകളില് ഏറ്റവും കൂടുതല് വായനക്കാരുണ്ടെന്ന് ചില മലയാളപത്രങ്ങള് മത്സരിച്ച് കണക്കുകള് നിരത്തുമ്പോള് ഭാഷ മരിച്ചുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കുകയാണോ? നേരോടെ, നേരത്തേ നേരറിയാന് ലോകത്തെവിടെയും മലയാളികള് ഉറക്കമൊഴിഞ്ഞു കാത്തിരിക്കുന്നത് ഭാഷ മരിച്ചോ അതോ, ക്ളാസിക്കല് പദവിയും അതോടൊപ്പമുള്ള കോടികളും നേടി മലയാളം രക്ഷപെട്ടോ എന്നറിയാനോ? നേരെന്തായാലും, 'ക്ളാസിക്കല്' എന്നതിണ്റ്റെ മലയാളം എന്താണ് എന്ന് ആരെങ്കിലും പറഞ്ഞുതരുമോ?</div>PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35391546.post-43792680141091614372009-10-23T03:25:00.000-07:002012-07-03T00:35:22.220-07:00PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 18pt;">PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 18pt;">-<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 18pt;">Prof. P. C. Menon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">Plastic is an indispensible material in the modern world. It is an industry involving millions of crores of Rupees all over the world. India alone produces and exports plastic materials worth millions of Rupees, providing employment and job opportunities to crores of people. All other industries are in some way or other dependent on plastic products. Any idea of closing down the industry or banning its production and distribution is nothing short of suicide. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">The Indian plastic industry exports in 2008-09 was worth about $3.7 billion, according to Plastindia Foundation President Arvind Mehta. </span><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">The per capita consumption of plastics in India is 6 kgs against the world average of 27 kgs. India's consumption is set to double by 2012 and we need improved manufacturing technology to cater to our growing demand, he said. India is projected to become the third-largest consumer of plastics by 2012 with sectors like packaging, electronics, telecom, infrastructure, healthcare and consumer durables set to witness surge in plastic consumption, Mehta added. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">The plastic processing sector comprises of over 30,000 units involved in producing a variety of items through injection moulding, blow moulding, extrusion and calendaring. The capacities built in most segments of this industry coupled with inherent capabilities have made us capable of servicing the overseas markets. The economic reforms launched in India since 1991, have added further fillip to the Indian plastics industry. Joint ventures, foreign investments, easier access to technology from developed countries etc. have opened up new vistas to further facilitate the growth of this industry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">It is impossible to find a suitable substitute in the near future. The reason why the use of plastic is so popular and wide spread is the convenience of use, the protection it gives to otherwise perishable materials and the safety it renders in packaging. Plastic carry-bags come in handy at stores and vegetable shops, eliminating the need to carry bags when you go shopping. It is practically impossible to carry enough number of cloth bags unless you are certain about the quantum of things you plan to buy. Therefore, it is better to believe that the world cannot think of Life without Plastic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">What we require is a regimen to dispose of used plastic properly. We have learned to handle much more hazardous things like electricity, cooking gas, etc. most effectively. Of course, a well planned awareness program is inevitable, but a total ban on the production and use of plastic materials is both unwise and impractical. Instead, we have to start thinking on the lines of how used plastic can be re-used, recycled and disposed of in a healthy way. Though it is advisable to use more of bio-degradable plastic, it is not a feasible solution in the immediate future. Some ways to tackle this problem are: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">Recycling of plastics in an environmentally sound manner.</span></b><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"> This involves selection, segregation and processing.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">Build roads using Plastics Waste.</span></b><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"> Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai has made extensive studies on this and has proved that such roads are much better than bitumen coated roads.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="color: black; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">Plastics Waste Disposal through Plasma Pyrolysis Technology (PPT).</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"> This is a state of the art technology that integrates the thermochemical properties of plasma with pyrolysis process.</span><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">Conversion of Plastics Waste into liquid fuel. </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">A research-cum-demonstration plant was set up at Nagpur, Maharashtra for conversion of waste plastics into liquid fuel.</span><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Thermalysis : </span></strong><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">Thermalysis is process whereby scrap and waste plastics are converted into liquid hydrocarbons that can be used as fuels (diesel, gasoline etc.). <strong><o:p></o:p></strong></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Re-use of plastic wastes as binders : </span></strong><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">Waste plastics, made up of Polyethylene, or Polystyrene softens after heating around temp 130-135 degree C. A study using thermogravimetric analysis has shown that there is no gas evolution in the temperature range 130-135 degree C.The softened plastic has binding property; these molten plastics material can be used as binder. It is found to be a good blend with bitumen for block making, modified light roofing, plastic flooring and polymer reinforced concrete etc. A pilot study has been successfully completed in the the Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">Use of plastic shredders.</span></b><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"> A company named Cecon Pollutech Systems Pvt. Ltd. Has produced machines that can shred used plastic into re-usable materials. </span><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">The shredder shreds all kinds of waste like syringes, needles, glucose bottles, pet bottles of mineral water, plastic lumps, pellets, wood paper, cardboard etc. This can be widely used in Finishing & Producing Industry, Hospitals / Nursing homes, Bio – Medical Waste, Laboratories, Catering Industry, Supermarkets, Municipal Authorities, Pharmaceutical Industry, Plastic Industry, and Card Board Industry.</span><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">USING COMPACTORS<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">A <b>compactor</b> is a </span><span style="font-family: ';"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine" title="Machine"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">machine</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"> or mechanism used to reduce the size of </span><span style="font-family: ';"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste" title="Waste"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">waste</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"> material or soil through </span><span style="font-family: ';"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_compaction" title="Soil compaction"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">compaction</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">. A <b>trash compactor</b> is often used by homes and businesses to reduce the volume of trash.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">Normally powered by </span><span style="font-family: ';"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_machinery" title="Hydraulic machinery"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">hydraulics</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">, compactors take many shapes and sizes. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: ';">A</span><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"> large </span><span style="font-family: ';"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulldozer" title="Bulldozer"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">bulldozer</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"> with spiked wheels called a </span><span style="font-family: ';"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste_compaction" title="Waste compaction"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">landfill compactor</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"> is used to drive over waste deposited by </span><span style="font-family: ';"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste_collection_vehicle" title="Waste collection vehicle"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">waste collection vehicles</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"> (WCVs). WCVs themselves incorporate a compacting mechanism which is used to increase the </span><span style="font-family: ';"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo" title="Cargo"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">payload</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"> of the vehicle and reduce the number of times it has to empty. This usually takes the form of </span><span style="font-family: ';"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_machinery" title="Hydraulic machinery"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">hydraulically-powered</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"> sliding plates which sweep out the collection </span><span style="font-family: ';"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopper" title="Hopper"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">hopper</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"> and compress the material into what has already been loaded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">a.<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span></b></span><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">Commercial use<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">Many retail and service businesses, such as fast food, restaurants, and hotels, use compactors to reduce the volume of non-recycleable waste as well as curb nuisance such as rodents and smell. In the hospitality industry tolerance for such nuisances is particularly low. These compactors typically come in electric and hydraulic operation, with quit</span><span style="color: black; font-family: ';">e a few loading configurations, like </span><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">Ground-Access</span><span style="color: black; font-family: ';">, Walk-On and </span><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">Secured Indoor Chute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: ';">These compactors are almost exclusively of welded steel construction for two reasons: durability under pressure and exposure to the elements, as compactors are installed either completely outdoors or sometimes under a covered loading dock.<a href="" name="Residential_use"></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: ';">b.<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span></b></span><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: ';">Residential use <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: ';">There are also trash compactors designed for residential use which, likewise, reduces the volume, smell, and rodent problems of </span><span style="font-family: ';"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waste" title="Waste"><span style="color: black;">garbage</span></a><span style="color: black;">. This can be especially valuable for households which regularly dispose of items such as disposable-diaper boxes or the non-edible portions of vegetables from a large garden. Related to this, there are frequently limits to the number of trash bags/receptacles that can be left outside for residential pickup, which further renders such compactors beneficial to such households. <a href="" name="Municipal_use"></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">c.<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span></b></span><span class="mw-headline"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">Municipal use <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">In addition to the waste vehicle and landfill use, there are solar-powered trash compactors that can hold the equivalent of 200 gallons of trash before they need to be emptied.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: ';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 14pt;">Types of Compactors<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">Portable, static and skip compactors for plastics and waste materials<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">There is a wide range of waste compactors to suit individual requirements to considerably reduce the volume of waste materials and associated waste disposal / landfill costs. Compactors provide an economical and satisfactory solution to the problems faced by large waste producers such as food manufacturers, hotels, shopping centres, hospitals and leisure facilities. These machines are designed to ensure maximum compaction, thus cutting uplift and transportation costs and occupying much less of valuable waste storage space. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">The benefits of using waste compactors<o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">They help to keep the workplace clean and tidy, significantly reduce pollution, leaks and spillage, minimize storage space, reduce smells and fire risks, prevent insect and vermin infestation, improve site hygiene, and enable real and immediate savings in the costs of waste management. One such Compactor is <b>RR-PC10 Portable Waste Compactor.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">Compacting Project at Mumbai Central Station, Western Railway. <o:p></o:p></span></b></li>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">In October 2001, ICPE <b>(Indian Centre for Plastics in Environment) </b>set up a compactor machine made at a cost of about Rs 1.75 lakhs with a capacity of 6 – 8 bales of PET bottles per hour at the Mumbai Central station. The compactor has been operating at the Mumbai Central since October with good success. Contract workers collect bottles from various parts of the station; bring the bottles to the storage bins at the compaction site. At the moment the collection rate is around 1000 – 1500 bottles a day. The compacted bales are taken away by the recycler appointed by ICPE and transported to the recycling units. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">What is being practiced in Mumbai can be a lesson in practice for all Local Self-government Bodies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AT BRIHNMUMBAI MUNICIPAL CORPORATION<a href="" name="brihn"></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">In Mumbai, the Dry and Wet waste is separated at the source itself, so that the Dry wastes could be further segregated and sent for recycling, resulting in lesser load to the landfill sites. The wet waste is processed through vermiculture or similar process to generate compost. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">ICPE has joined hands with some NGO's and BMC to propagate the Proper Solid Waste Management culture among the citizens. BMC has given a secured area and a shed for segregation of dry waste, two one- tonner vans to move in the locality for 8 hours to collect dry wastes from households, Identity badges to the rag pickers, who accompany the BMC vans and collect dry wastes from door steps of the households/society buildings and bring them to the sheds for segregation. The dry wastes are product-wise segregated into paper, plastics, metal and others. These segregated dry wastes are stored in the secured sheds for disposal. Scrap dealers come and buy the scraps. The amount thus collected is distributed among the rag-pickers.
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<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">The wet wastes are collected by separate BMC vans from the household localities for composting, resulting into zero garbage concept. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">
<br />ICPE has provided collection bins, hand gloves, aprons, masks, etc. to the rag pickers, and promotional literature to the society members. ICPE also co-ordinates with BMC, NGO's and others, provides training to rag-pickers and conducts awareness programmes to the general public, school children, members of the housing societies etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">The invention of Plastic and the materials made out of it have revolutionized the consumer industry to such an extent that a blanket ban on the production and use of Plastic is unwise. Instead, it is time to think of the above mentioned ways to handle used plasic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">What is possible in a big metropolitan city like Mumbai should certainly be possible in the Corporations, Municipalities and Panchayaths in Kerala. But what we essentially require is a definite change in the mindset. We believe that dirt in our house is decoration in the street. We freely throw out the waste from our house over the walls on to the roads, and blame the government as irresponsible for not clearing the rubbish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">Still, there is some hope for us. The valuable service done by Kudumbasree in many respects tells us that something is possible in our State. A further extension of this, with ample help and guidance from the State and Local Self-governments, can go a long way in Waste Management with the involvement of the enlightened public of Kerala.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">References:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.cpcb.nic.in/wast/plasticwast/Options_Plastic_Waste_Management.pdf"><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.cpcb.nic.in/wast/plasticwast/Options_Plastic_Waste_Management.pdf</span></a><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.cecon.in/waste-plastic-shredder.html"><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.cecon.in/waste-plastic-shredder.html</span></a><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compactors"><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compactors</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: '; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">)</span><b><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.rocksiderecycling.co.uk/compactors_RRPC10.asp"><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.rocksiderecycling.co.uk/compactors_RRPC10.asp</span></a><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> )<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.envis-icpe.com/waste_seg.htm#brihn"><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;">http://www.envis-icpe.com/waste_seg.htm#brihn</span></a><span style="font-family: '; font-size: 8pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.plexconcil.com/ipindus_english.asp">http://www.plexconcil.com/ipindus_english.asp</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Foreign-Trade/Happy-days-for-plastic-goods-exporters/articleshow/4566970.cms">http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Foreign-Trade/Happy-days-for-plastic-goods-exporters</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.envis-icpe.com/waste_seg.htm#brihn"></a> <span style="font-family: '; font-size: 8pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: '; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
</div>PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35391546.post-59755760216937922482007-06-21T22:01:00.000-07:002014-02-26T03:59:19.775-08:00MARXISM IN KERALA - A RELIGION<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: 180%;"> Is Marxism in Kerala a Religion?</span><br />
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I cannot help drawing an analogy between the Marxist Party in Kerala and the recent controversies regarding temples. I believe the Party behaves more like a religion than a political outfit.</div>
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The Party has become almost a byword for blind belief. Nobody has the authority to question the decisions of the Party bigwigs. Unless you toe their line, you are out. Trying to correct or re-orient the policies will invite derision and being outcast. Those who were once considered the brains of Marxism are now total discards.</div>
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The sickle and hammer is more an idol than a symbol. This idol is prominently placed in front of the temple of the Marxist party, the AKG Centre. Its replicas are coming up throughout the State at every nook and corner. The roads all along are paved on either side with this emblem in the form of flags and posters.</div>
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<st1:city><st1:place>Temples</st1:place></st1:city> for martyrs are being raised day by day, wherever possible. The names of these martyrs are more sacred than that of gods. Places of worship may be demolished for road-widening or other public purposes, but not these constructions. Remove a flag post and there erupts violence.</div>
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All forms of worship in temples are followed ditto by the Party. Garlanding the ‘deities’, flower offerings (Pushparchana), Thalappoli, Chendavadyam, Thayampaka, etc. are usual accompaniments to any function. Pageantries along with elephants are not unusual when welcoming esteemed leaders. Flag hoisting is a serene function. The heralding of the flag-mast from great distances, to the accompaniment of lighted torches, is done with more zeal than what is seen in religions. The annual days of leaders of bygone days are celebrated with much fanfare. Every meeting begins with lighting of the ceremonial lamp. Only ‘Karpooraaraadhana’ is missing.</div>
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Another more prominent feature of the Party is the confirmed class-difference. The echelons of Party workers are more drastically defined than the ‘Varnavivechanam’ accused of among the Hindus. It is stronger than apartheid itself. In the Bhagavat Gita, Bhagavan said: “Chathurvarnyam maya srishtam, Gunakarma vibhagasa:” (The four classes - Brahmans, Kshathriyas, Vaisyas and Sudras – were created by me on the basis of quality and duties). In the Party, workers are graded into different cadres – PB, State Council, State Committee, Branch Committees, Local Committees, ordinary followers, co-travellers, etc. and the divisions are watertight. ‘Untouchability’ in a different form is at its supreme at all levels. Non-Marxist humans are total outcasts in anything that concerns the Party. Intolerance to criticism reigns supreme. Promotion and demotion are rewards and punishments. Any act or word without respect to the party leaders is liable to be punished with demotion or expulsion. Unless you sing in praise of the Party Secretary, you cannot exist in the Party. Criticize him in speech, poems or cartoons, you invite the axe. It is heard that as many as 2,000 ardent workers of the Party at different levels have experienced the wrath of the Party Bigwig. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Why, shouting slogans against a film actor invited expulsion from his parent association for a staunch party worker!</span></div>
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Hero worship in the Party is a two-sided sword. Know for certain whom you are praising! Choose the wrong person, and the sword flies against you. </div>
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The Thanthri in Guruvayur did not expel anyone from the religion, to say the least.. He only did some cleansing ceremony inside the temple when he was informed (perhaps wrongly) that a non-Hindu had entered the temple. None would have come to know about it unless somebody else leaked out the matter. But, in the Party, expulsion is a regular course. Anyone who is said to have acted against the ‘interests’ of the Party, according to the Chief Thanthri of CPI(M), will be expelled on the spot and without a chance for explanation. Some men in the Party are greater than gods; their curse can fall any moment for even alleged swerving. The crime can even be supporting the Melsanthi! Religions insist on unquestioned belief in God, whoever that may be. But the Party insists on indisputable allegiance to the Party Head.</div>
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Long back, in Hinduism there was divide in the form of Saivaites and Vaishnavites. Is a similar divide going to take place in the Marxist Party of Kerala - as <span style="font-weight: bold;">VSites</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">PVites</span>?</div>
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The comparison does not end here. Just as lesser gods used to take their complaints to Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara, the lower down party members can take their hurts and seek assuage from the Supreme Power of the Party – The PB. The authority of the PB is so supreme that it suspended two members – the Thanthri and Melsanthi from the PB for petty bickerings and envious comments! The affected take the insult lying down and continue to pass the buck downwards.</div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Well, temples are there for people to find refuge from their worldly worries. Devotees try to seek some solace there. But, as far as this big</span> <st1:place style="font-weight: bold;"><st1:placetype>temple</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename>Politics</st1:placename></st1:place><span style="font-weight: bold;"> is concerned, the followers of this sect seem to walk on the edge of a sword, not sure of when they will slip down from the good books of the powers that be</span>.<br /><br />*<span style="font-style: italic;">Click on comments to express your opinion.</span></div>
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PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35391546.post-1477683523017742822007-04-26T23:39:00.000-07:002014-02-26T04:00:27.469-08:00NON-HINDUS ENTERING GURUVAYUR<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">Should non-hindus enter Guruvayur?</span></div>
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The issue of Devaswom Minister Sri. G Sudhakaran writing to the Guruvayur Devaswom probing the possibility of admitting Yesudas into the temple is likely to grow into alarming proportions. Thanks to the tolerance of the Hindus and the accommodating mentality of Yesudas, it may after all, fizzle out with no consequences.</div>
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The first question here is whether the Devaswom Minister has any right to order such a step. In fact, it is not an order, but only a suggestion made in good spirit. What the Minister did not realize is that it is not under his purview to even suggest such a thing.</div>
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<st1:city><st1:place>Temples</st1:place></st1:city> are not public properties. Each one is, or was, owned by certain families or groups of people and is promoted by the devotees. If the devotees have faith in the particular god in the temple, it will grow in wealth and fame, as it happened in the case of Guruvayur. On the other side, there are hundreds of temples left uncared for by anybody and have no means to subsist. Nobody makes any claim over the right to enter such temples or donate anything to maintain them. The Government is vested only with the supervisory power to oversee the administration of the temples; it doesn’t have the right to make drastic changes in the traditions, conventions and rituals of the temples.</div>
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Guruvayur, as it happens, is one of the richest temples because there are thousands of devotees bent upon donating in cash and kind to its already overflowing coffers. But, it is wrong to conceive any singer as a true and faithful devotee. The songs were written by someone and tuned by some others; what he does is only render it in the sweet sound that he is blessed with, during his run to make money and fame. He cannot claim to have sung in praise of the Lord because of his devotion, since his motive was making money. True, the merchants of Bhakti might have made the best use of his cassettes in their eagerness to promote the God, but that does not enable the singer to be labeled as a <b><i>true devotee.</i></b> That is not enough reason to justify his entry into the precincts of the temple.</div>
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Well, for a person like Yesudas, a mere entry inside the four-walls of the temple may not be a great achievement to reckon. There are two reasons for this: One, as a singer, he has realized the ultimate God through music; secondly, the temple itself is not ‘pure enough’ for a person of his stature to enter.</div>
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The second statement requires further explanation. God does not need any protection. He is not to be contained within the four walls of the temple. It is the people, the administrators and the priests surrounding Guruvayurappan who require the walls. The rituals of the temple are meant to protect the rights of certain groups of people, and on many occasions, they cross over propriety. When devout worshippers are forced to stand in long queues for hours together to have a darshan of the God, the VIPs and VVIPs, mostly politicians and relatives of Board Members, get a free and quick entry. The regular misappropriation of the offerings and temple funds certainly need the cover of the four walls. If such things are done outside the walls, they might be termed as theft. Another ritual in question is the act of conducting ‘Punyaha’, when a non-hindu is caught red-handed, entering the temple. Who can make sure that no non-hindu enter the temple ‘incognito’ or without revealing the identity? The God is not concerned about it perhaps, but His ‘protectors’ are keen to catch such ‘culprits’ to make some money out of it. A non-hindu may not enter the temple, but if he makes a sumptuous donation, it is welcome and glorified.</div>
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<st1:city><st1:place>Temples</st1:place></st1:city> are social institutions to allow a certain group of people to make a living. They have nothing to do with faith in the omnipresent God. They are institutionalized in the names of certain idols bearing some name of god. The difference between the two is like that between H<sub>2</sub>O and water in a pond. </div>
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Changes in human behavior cannot be brought about in a day or by an individual. The culture of Hinduism is so strong and all-inclusive that irrational traditions will make way for rational ones in the long run. The true spirit of Hinduism enfolds everyone, to whatever caste, creed or religion one might belong. Those with vested interests may try to withhold changes for some time, but not for ever. There will be a time when the boundaries of human segregation will fade out and all will bask in the Glory of that Single God. There is light at the end of the tunnel and we are certain to move towards it in future. </div>
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PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35391546.post-85842720395939590452007-03-14T06:59:00.000-07:002014-02-26T04:01:42.376-08:00THE PARADIGM IN KERALA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Paradigm in Kerala<br /></span></span> <br />
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There is a paradigm of hierarchy existing in Kerala. Education is such in the State that it produces the following grades of students depending on their abilities:</div>
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1. The cream, the best in studies, migrate outside Kerala (to IITs, IIMs, etc.) for higher studies and jobs.</div>
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2. The lesser ones complete professional education in Kerala and get stuck in there as Engineers and Doctors;</div>
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3. Those below them get into Civil Services like IAS, IFS, IRS, IPS, etc.</div>
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4. Those who cannot achieve this, do their PGs and settle down in colleges as teachers;</div>
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5. Those with a minimum Degree settle down to become school teachers, Govt. servants, bank employees or land in other clerical work;</div>
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6. Those who pass SSLC might become Primary School Teachers who shape the conscience of children;</div>
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7. Those with a minimum education and a lot of commonsense become businessmen, traders, or owners of small enterprises; some of them somehow escape to the Gulf Countries to do even menial jobs to make some money. They are ‘praised’ as NRIs.</div>
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8. Those who could not complete even school education settle down in hard physical labor;</div>
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9. Those who are not good enough even for that become politicians;</div>
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10. The luckiest among the last lot, the ones with some crude horse-sense and a lot of thugs as followers, become <b>ministers!<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Then, all the other categories mentioned above come under the rule of these ministers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35391546.post-54594906546367041692007-01-22T07:39:00.000-08:002014-02-26T04:02:25.016-08:00KERALA - A MIXTURE OF PARADOXES<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 180%;">Kerala – a mixture of paradoxes</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">Kerala is a veritable mixture of stark paradoxes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">On one side, there is the scenic beauty and docile people that attract tourists from all over the world. On the other side is the highly politicized atmosphere, where bundhs and hartals might break out any moment out of the blue. <o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">On the one side is the harmonious blending of all religions, castes and cultures leading to an amicable life; juxtaposed is the increasing arms menace and occasional localized communal riots which get smothered soon enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">Scoundrels are on the prowl, threat to life and property exists, the law and order situation is not the best; yet, people have faith in their neighbors, live a peaceful life and are generally calm by nature. <o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">Education is in total disarray, but the children of Kerala get well under it to the extent of finding jobs in the outside world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">The Government treasury is bankrupt, but the people have enough money in their hands. Poor though their Government is, Kerala is the biggest consumer state and the highest in per capita consumption of liquor. <o:p></o:p><br /><br />Trade Unions are said to make life difficult in Kerala, but everyone is <i>willy nilly</i> a member of some </span><st1:place><span style="font-size: 14;">Union</span></st1:place><span style="font-size: 14;"> or other. Each union fights for the rights of its members, yet no union comes into conflict with the others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">Politics is the bread-winner for the jobless and the public in general do not find anything wrong with that. <o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">Those who get elected to power alternatively plunder the State’s resources continuously, but the citizens again vote them to power with zeal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">The leaders thus raised to power carry on their stealth unflinchingly. <o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">The State doesn’t have resources of its own, but any investment from outside is treated with derision. Industries are welcome, only to be fought against and closed down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">The Central Government is kept in power by the support of all the <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">MPs from the State, but MPs fail to get the State’s due from the Centre.<o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">Mother Nature is not different in its attitude. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">Kerala is one of the States that get maximum rainfall, but as soon are rains are over, the State is in the grip of severe draught. There are said to be 44 rivers running through Kerala, but they are not enough to keep the fields irrigated or quench the thirst of people. Kuttanad, where there is the biggest natural water reservoir, is the place most tortured by paucity of drinking water. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">The Government proclaims that it is for the poor, but hopes to finance itself through lotteries bought by the poor. The pittance given to the jobless is minus the cost of the lottery ticket. <o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">The non-resident Keralites are worried much about the future of Kerala, but the people living in the State are least concerned. They make merry with strikes, hartals, bundhs, protests and processions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">The State is the most literate in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="font-size: 14;">India</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 14;">, but they do not seem to see beyond their own noses. <o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">Kerala is one of the States where roads haven’t developed much since </span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="font-size: 14;">Independence</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 14;">, but it stands first in the sale of Cars and bikes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">The State richly deserves more highways and expressways, but acquiring land for the purpose is fraught with resistance from potential users.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">Efforts towards improving hygiene and sanitation are certainly poor, but the number of tourists visiting Kerala is on the increase year by year. The cities abound with stinking heaps of garbage and singing hoards of mosquitoes, but the visitors go back with pleasant memories and vow to return.<o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">The general apprehension about the State is that it is going to dogs, but many still believe that it is ‘God’s Own Country’! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;">Who knows, perhaps all the things that appear to be paradoxes might really be blessings in the scheme of things in the design of God. May God Almighty lead the State to prosperity. (Only He can do that!) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35391546.post-80081557025847203662007-01-17T18:26:00.000-08:002014-02-26T04:04:31.037-08:00ILL-FATED COCHIN<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2>
How the Politicians killed a Wise Project</h2>
<br />
Justice K. P. Radhakrishna Menon, ex-ombudsman, describes how his efforts to make Cochin a clean city were defeated by the Corporation.(Manorama dated 16.01.07 Editorial Page)<br />
He titles the article <b>The Ill-fate of Cochin Citizens</b>. As the Ombudsman, he had passed many orders to maintain the City clean, but the Mayor and the Corporation were not keen on implementing them. Rather, they devised the means to defy his orders.<br />
He cites these examples:<br />
1. To make Cochin a clean city, the first requirement was to maintain the three Canals – Perandur, Rameswaram and Kalvathi – clean by avoiding stagnation of water. He designed a project to revive the canals with the help of the Star Hotels and Business houses in Cochin. All the expenses for the project were to be shared by these business houses. A meeting of such sponsors and the Corporation Officials was organized, but the Mayor purposely kept away from it. Though all the others welcomed the project, it could not be carried out because the Mayor did not co-operate. If the project had materialized, Cochin would have got a face-lift and the mosquito menace would have been under control.<br />
2. Another project to fight the mosquito menace was envisaged. This involved dividing the city into five or six sectors, each one under the supervision of the business houses in that area and cleaning the drains once in a week using sea water. Orders were passed to this effect, as also for cleaning the three canals periodically. Nobody in the Corporation was interested in carrying out the orders.<br />
3. He offered to take the initiative to discuss the issue of waste-dumping at Brahmapuram with the residents there and make an amicable settlement, but the Corporation authorities took no hand in bringing them together, providing a platform for discussion and solving the issue. The problem still continues.<br />
4. Using the powers of the Ombudsman, he issued many orders to make Cochin a clean city. As per the Municipal Act, the Mayor was bound to obey them. The Justice issued him with Show-Cause notice for not obeying the orders, but the Mayor obtained orders from the High Court preventing the Ombudsman from taking action.<br />
5. He was ultimately forced to shelve the efforts to make Cochin a clean city because of the offensive behavior of the Corporation authorities and the intervention of the HC. The people of Cochin are now suffering from the irresponsibility of those Officials who sit on their respective chairs pretending that cleaning the city is not their duty.<br />
6. The difficulties suffered by the tax-paying people, especially the ordinary people who are subjected to untold miseries are beyond words. Will schemes like the Smart City under foreign Collaboration make the stinking city equal to heaven?<br />
7. He says: “I learnt from my experience as Ombudsman that no one should expect any help or service from those who stick to their chairs under the conviction that Money power is much greater than the power of Law.”<br />
If this is the fateful conviction of an Ombudsman, what will happen to the efforts of ordinary mortals like us?</div>
PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35391546.post-1165902648228105212006-12-11T21:49:00.000-08:002014-02-26T04:05:20.348-08:00RESIST EVERYTHING - KERALA MODEL<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 18pt;">Resistance – The hall-mark of Keralites<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Before I begin, let me qualify my statement. By Keralites, I refer to those who live IN Kerala, not all Malayalees. Those working outside and send their money to Kerala belong to a different genre.</div>
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So, what is the thing the Keralites do best? Resist, resist everything – whether it is ideas, plans, schemes, suggestions or development. We find arguments to oppose them when it comes to affecting us or our property. Do we need new roads, railways, factories, Dams, IT parks, ports, airports or bridges? Yes, as long as they do not encroach on my property. We resist such things in the name of environment protection, saving wild life and upsetting the living conditions of the aborigines (Adivasis). We will spread the news that the new scheme will destroy our ecology, life style and tradition. We will vehemently resist all attempts even to survey the land.</div>
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Do we need to curb the goondaism? Yes, but let us and our group be not affected. Each successive government assures their ranks that they will be spared. The Goonda Act will be properly amended.</div>
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The courts of Law are there to be challenged until their decisions turn favorable. There is nothing like permanent truth or stable affinity. Justice is accepted only when the verdicts are in our favor. Otherwise, we have means to protest.</div>
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The real festive days for us are the days of bandhs and hartals. We will find reasons to resist something, almost three days a week. Schools and colleges will remain closed, shopkeepers will get a holiday and employees a day of rest. </div>
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We need self-financing educational institutions, but not at our cost. Let somebody else pay for it. We will make sure that they don’t get returns from their investment. </div>
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Why do we keep on changing the government every five years? Actually, we don’t want to be ruled. <st1:city><st1:place>Defiance</st1:place></st1:city> is part of our character. Freedom to do whatever we like is our birthright. A government unnecessarily interferes with our private freedom to make money through avoiding tax, felling forest trees, dealing in spurious liquor, smuggling contraband items, manipulating contracts, running unholy recruitment traps, operating false finance companies and producing pirated CDs. Corruption in bureaucracy is our second nature. Accepting bribes is a way of life. There is nothing wrong with it because it is money paid to smoothen out things. If someone refuses to fall in line, he will suffer, even if he is a Malaysian. Pay the due and all those involved will be kept out of the purview of enquiries. </div>
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Kerala as a State has the maximum number of newspapers and TV Channels in <st1:country-region><st1:place>India</st1:place></st1:country-region> and can boast of the highest number of readers/viewers. What do we read and see? All biased ‘news stories’ that has a tinge of sex and a heavy load of concocted theories to malign the opponents. Yes, we find pleasure in reading about the bad deeds of others, the papers are full of them. TV channels vie with one another in webbing stories of no consequence. </div>
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When the UDF is in power, the leftists will resist anything that smacks of progress or development. When the leftists come to power, their internal factions will take care of preventing anything progressive. ADB loans are untouchable, but the currency sent by NRKs (Non-resident Keralites) is most welcome!</div>
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Integrity is a quality in question, being fast discarded from society, government and politics. Farmers commit suicide by the dozen; the government continues to dole out promises. Scores die in police custody, but the Home portfolio is intact. Education is in doldrums, progress is at standstill. Safety for life and belongings is still a distant dream.</div>
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Such is the fate of Kerala, the land of the most literate, politically conscious, intellectuals. Any ray of hope? </div>
</div>
PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35391546.post-1161486748401113582006-10-21T20:03:00.000-07:002014-02-24T07:23:58.795-08:00A PROJECT TO REVIVE ALLEPPEY AS A TOURIST SPOT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 180%;">HEALTH, HYGIENE, HERITAGE</span></div>
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<o:p> </o:p><br />
A PROJECT TO REVIVE ALLEPPEY AS A TOURIST SPOT</div>
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<b><o:p> </o:p></b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Introduction</span></div>
<o:p></o:p>Alleppey, the ancient port town, popularly nicknamed the <i>Venice of the East</i>, is now passing through a significant phase in its development. On one side, there is the infinite tourist potential provided by the backwaters and abundance of house-boats; on the other side is the pathetic living conditions occasioned by water-born diseases and deplorable lack of basic infra-structure. <b>The two canals, which were once the nerve-centers of all trade and activity, have now deteriorated into gutters that breed mosquitoes and all kinds of disease germs.</b> The whole town has the look of a heap of waste-dump for lack of proper sanitation and cleaning. The nauseating smell that enfolds the busy areas is enough to deter the tourists from visiting this place once again. <br />
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<o:p> </o:p><br />
The fact is that we are blind to our blessings and brag about attracting tourists without doing even the spade work to make the place at least tolerable to them. The tradition that we boast of is only imaginary and we do nothing to concretize it into reality. I have a few suggestions to make, on this eve of the Tourism Minister announcing his decision to invite global tenders for the renovation of Alleppey.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">The tradition – a little history</span></div>
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Alleppey earned a name in the trade map of the world when Raja Kesavadas designed the two canals running along the town from east to west to enable easy transportation of hill produce from the east to the western coast through country boats. That was the Golden era, when the whole town was bubbling with brisk activity, the banks of the canals being the busiest centers of trade and affluence. But that was long before surface transport developed. Transportation of goods on motor-driven vehicles caught up with the time and improved momentously. Gradually, <st1:city><st1:place>Kochi</st1:place></st1:city> developed into a prime sea-port. The arrival of container traffic tolled the death knell for water-transport and the canals. The canals ceased to carry country-boats and goods anymore; the factories around them closed down or were shifted to other places one by one. The once-busy areas fell into gloom and the solitary pier was left to crumble down.</div>
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The ill-conceived and partly executed Thanneermukkom Barrage Project then came into being. That was the final death blow for the canals. Flow of water through the canals got blocked. The tides that used to keep them clean stopped functioning. As the saying goes, <b>stagnant water pollutes</b>. All sorts of weeds took root and multiplied so as to cover the surface of the canals from sunlight and it became a safe breeding place for mosquitoes and germs. Not even the narrowest boat can now pass through them and no one touches that water for fear of itches and other skin diseases. Add to this the ‘civic’culture of dumping all sorts of waste materials into them on a daily basis, plus the <i>comfort </i>of defecating on their shores in the mornings.</div>
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How can any planning do good to the town when our ‘hold on tradition’ is so strong as to insist on <b>maintaining this 8 Km. long, 20 feet wide mass of putrefied water in the midst of the town?</b> Nobody realizes that they serve no purpose now other than being the breeding ground for water-born diseases. Any talk about closing it down for ever meets with sentimental outcry and hysterical craze for holding on to tradition. True, they are part of Alleppey’s glorious past, but now they are worse than putrefying carcasses emanating stench and worms for years together. They are not natural waterways, but dug out in the historical past for a specific purpose. They served that purpose meritoriously no doubt. There is no harm in closing them down for good and it cannot cause any serious environmental or ecological problems.</div>
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Though I am a strong advocate for this drastic step, I suggest here a few steps to bypass it with a little effort. In my opinion, these canals are, at the same time, our tradition and the curse. No serious studies have taken place so far on how to handle them. Only fleeting comments by some unconcerned minds have ruled their fate till now. Any number of political and administrative gimmicks of <b>‘cleaning the canals’</b> has been demonstrated during the past twenty-five years with no success other than piping out government funds. Remedial treatment is sometimes successful in minor ailments, but not in cancerous afflictions. </div>
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<o:p> </o:p><br />
The title <b>‘</b><st1:city><st1:place><b>Venice</b></st1:place></st1:city><b> of the East’</b> is now a total misnomer. The only claim is that this putrefying body of stagnant water filled with germs and worms, that breeds mosquitoes aplenty, was once canals. It is akin to describing the local whore as Miss World. Something drastic has to be done to improve the condition. The canals cannot be allowed to continue like this anymore because of the health hazards it arouses in the town.</div>
<h2>
HEALTH</h2>
<h1 style="font-weight: bold;">
<span style="font-size: 130%;">Sanitation</span></h1>
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Proper sanitation should be the prime concern of any local authority. Here in Alleppey, this is the most neglected department. Alleppey does not have an effective drainage system, neither can it boast of regular removal of waste. All waste materials, including the remains of carcasses, are conveniently dumped into the canals by anyone who chooses to do so. All the wastewater from nearby hotels, houses and business places find its way into the canals. The banks of the canals are open-air ‘<i>comfort stations</i>’ for the public in the mornings. Both the sides of the canals are overgrown with trees, plants and weeds, polluting the water further with shedding leaves.(if the water can be polluted anymore!)</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<h1>
Drainage System</h1>
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<b>What Alleppey needs badly is a proper drainage system</b>, especially the area around the canals. All the wastewater that is now generated from the houses, hotels and business places should be channeled into this system constructed along the four sides of the canals.</div>
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Big concrete pipes, with manholes wherever necessary, should be fixed along the eight Km. stretch of the canals, into which all waste water should flow. The water collected thus should be led to a purification system to be installed at either ends of the drainage pipes on the east and the west. The organic materials sieved out can be used as manure and the purified water can be used for agriculture. The tops of the pipes may be properly covered and leveled so that it can be used either to widen the roads or to rent out for shops. ‘Bridge buildings’ that span both banks of the canals can be constructed wherever possible and leased out to generate revenue. This will easily cover the investment on the drainage system. </div>
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<o:p> </o:p>Placing drainage pipes along the banks of the canals will necessarily involve the removal of the trees and plants on either side, which gives us a multifaceted advantage. One thing is that dry leaves will not pollute the water in the canals, the second is that it provides enough space to widen roads and construct shop-buildings and the third biggest advantage is that it will stop sheltering the public from anti-social activities <i>in the mornings.</i></div>
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Let us not have the impression that this is not feasible because Alleppey lies on the sea-level or below that. A good number of studies involving Dutch experts have taken place here and their projects are still sleeping on the shelves of some government departments. It is not impossible to invite them once again and devise a project if we have the will to do so. In any case, there must be drainage systems in places like Alleppey in some parts of the world and what is needed is the determination to implement it.</div>
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Once the canals are saved from the inflow of polluted water, the rest is easy. They were once clean when seawater used to enter it from either side. The tides used to do the duty of flushing and cleaning them, which can be easily reinstated by opening (or creating) sluice valves on the west and allowing seawater to flow into the Vembanad Lake in a controlled manner. This will be far cheaper and efficient than creating artificial flow using pumps or other devices. The imbroglio created by theThanneermukkom barrage is on the verge of being solved, thanks to the efforts of Irrigation department, which will greatly assist the cleaning of the canals.<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<h2>
HYGIENE</h2>
<h1 style="font-weight: bold;">
<span style="font-size: 100%;">Waste Management</span></h1>
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Another department where the local authority exhibits callous unconcern is the disposal of waste materials. Now only a minor percentage of waste produced is removed occasionally and the rest lies where it is and putrefies, giving the town the stench of a garbage bin. Heaps of such material can be seen lying around even major roads and streets for weeks, waiting for disposal. Even what is collected is carried away in the most unhygienic conditions and dumped callously into vast heaps close to inhabited places causing great health hazards. No proper mechanism to separate the materials or incinerate them functions there.</div>
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A proper garbage treatment plant is highly needed for Alleppey, if possible two at the southern and northern ends of the Municipality. Garbage collection has to be efficient and regular. For this, the system prevalent in many major townships outside Kerala can be implemented without much difficulty. I have the following suggestions in this respect:</div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Each house-owner and owners of other establishments should be directed to collect the solid waste produced in their places in plastic/polythene bags, tie them neatly and place such bundles in front of their houses.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Municipality is already divided into 50 wards. Under the supervision of each councilor, a required number of people may be employed to collect these bags in trolleys/handcarts regularly and bring them to specified spots on the main roads and streets and stack them. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Municipality should provide enough lorries/tippers to collect the garbage at regular intervals and carry them to the treatment plants.Their job will be much easier, faster and hygienic, once the material is collected in bags.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In the plants, the material should be separated with the help of modern machines into organic and non-organic materials. Bio-degradable products may be used as manure and other items like plastic and polythene can be disposed in the proper way.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Instead of keeping open cans on the roadside, expecting people to bring their waste and throw them into it, collecting waste materials from their houses has many advantages. Sides of the streets will not be littered with uncollected polluting dumps; the plastic menace can be properly handled.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">This may not cause much additional burden to the Municipal exchequer. The owners of each house or shop from where the waste is collected may be persuaded to pay a nominal sum on monthly basis, which will generate enough income to pay the laborers to be commissioned under the supervision of the Municipal councilors.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Let us not have the impression that we will not get enough people to do this. We are witnesses to the rush for even menial jobs when the government staff went on strike for weeks together. By and by, the culture of disposing off garbage in this safe manner will catch up with the people. This has happened in many modern townships.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Once this becomes a habit with the people, our streets and, more importantly the canals, will not be littered with waste materials. Streets and roads, when covered edge-to-edge with tar or concrete will have a more decent look and will be much cleaner.</li>
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<o:p> </o:p><br />
These are some of the primary things the local authorities and the government should try to implement before we plan to attract global tourists in great numbers. We are blessed by Nature in abundance, but we fail to cash in on them with our negligence and greed for temporary gains. The tourist amenity center recently inaugurated is a good step towards improving our basic infra-structure. Many such centers should come in different parts of the town to look after the needs of local men and visitors. ‘Cleanliness’ should be our watchword in all our actions. Tourists prefer to to places better than their own hometown. Tourists are god-sent messengers who carry all over the world news about the good and bad of the places they visit. Our asset is their goodwill; that is what makes others visit this place. </div>
<h2>
HERITAGE</h2>
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<o:p> </o:p>We are proud to announce that Kerala is “God’s Own Country”, but we do nearly nothing to make it a tourist’s haven. Alleppey, with its resplendent backwaters, abundant waterways, majestic houseboats, enchanting snake-boats, gorgeous resorts, restorative treatment of the physique and endearing cultural bounty has a rich heritage. It can very well be a <b>‘Heaven on Earth’</b> for the visitors. It is the bounden duty of this generation to complete the platform to raise the town to its ancient glory through dedicated efforts forgetting partisan divisions and personal rivalries. <br />
<o:p> </o:p> </div>
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<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">(This project dated </span><st1:date day="25" month="6" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" year="2002">25 June 2002 was sent to all Government authorities, but no action was taken except giving some cosmetic changes to the Canals.)</st1:date><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
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<st1:city><st1:place></st1:place></st1:city><br /></div>
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PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35391546.post-1161400069206493392006-10-20T20:05:00.000-07:002014-02-26T04:06:01.111-08:00NEED FOR ROAD DIVIDERS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Urgent need for road dividers</span> <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The increasing number of road-accidents in Kerala is a matter of great concern.. Most of these can be avoided, if there were enough road dividers along the important roads in the State.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is certainly the duty of the Government to provide its citizens with <b>the right to drive their vehicles safely and comfortably</b> along the roads and not just collect road tax without fulfilling this requirement.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Most accidents occur when vehicles come face to face. The number of vehicles coming on to the road every month is increasing rapidly and the roads do not expand proportionately to accommodate them. <b>When the number of vehicles doubles, the chances for accidents increase exponentially</b>. The occasions of vehicles coming face to face increase multifold. Accidents are highly fatal when this happens; such occasions can be drastically reduced if the roads are modified in such a way that vehicles move only in one direction along a single lane.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We do not have enough roads to make them one-way, but most of them are wide enough to allow two-way traffic in either direction. Such roads shall be <b>divided with ‘physical’ dividers,</b> instead of drawing just a white line as is done at present. The white line does not prevent the drivers from crossing them whenever it suits their fancy, to speed along or to overtake. Most accidents occur when fast vehicles overtake others. Many drivers are overconfident about their ability to swerve the vehicle at the last moment, but frequently this fails them. While overtaking other vehicles, the drivers increase the speed, and when they are in doubt about clearing the oncoming vehicle, they increase it further. Such accidents are highly destructive. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Many studies regarding accidents have come to the conclusion that 90% of the accidents are the result of the negligence of the driver. But my reading is that we provide them with enough opportunities to err and put the blame on them. I believe that <b>nobody ever drives a vehicle to commit suicide. </b>Reducing the chances of vehicles coming face to face will reduce such incidents to a great extent. That will also save a lot of life.<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Most of the roads in Kerala are typically accident prone because of the absence of road dividers. Roads are wide enough for three or four vehicles to pass either way, but there is nothing to prevent them from coming face to face. <b>If only dividers were provided, a major share of the accidents could be averted.</b> Also, <b>shoulder lanes</b> should be provided wherever possible to allow the movement of slower vehicles. Wherever possible, <b>bus bays</b> also should be provided.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The dividers don’t have to be permanent or stable. They can be structures made of steel, plastic or cement blocks, propped up along the white line. Vehicles might hit them occasionally, but that will not cause such a great disaster as loss of life. The government may not have to spend a lot on such dividers, because the cost of installing them can be passed on to local business houses, who will be happy to display their advertisements on them. Corporations, Municipalities and other local bodies can take care of finding the sponsors for this in their respective areas. The role of the government is almost restricted to giving permission or enacting a law to enable this. It can also help in designing the most effective structure of dividers.<o:p> </o:p></div>
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This is an urgent necessity because lots of lives are sacrificed everyday for want of this safety precaution. The pain is felt only by those who lose their kith and kin. It is high time that the Government acted on this.<o:p></o:p></div>
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PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35391546.post-1160478171936635962006-10-10T04:01:00.000-07:002014-02-26T04:06:50.149-08:00KERALA - AN IDEAL STATE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">Kerala - an ideal State!</span></div>
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What an ideal State is Kerala!</div>
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Here, no farmers commit suicide.</div>
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Nobody dies of chikungunya.</div>
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Crime rate is the lowest here.</div>
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Molestation is unknown here.</div>
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Goonda act is superfluous for us.</div>
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Blade mafia doesn’t threaten us.</div>
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None dies in Police custody.</div>
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We top the States in personal hygiene.</div>
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We have won awards for sanitation.</div>
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Primary health is the best here.</div>
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We have the highest literacy rate.</div>
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Education for the poor is for the asking.</div>
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People below BPL are minimal here.</div>
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Our standard of living is very high,</div>
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because ration shops are deserted,</div>
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liquor shops have long queues. </div>
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We have achieved all this</div>
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Because our politicians don’t tell lies!</div>
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PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35391546.post-1159854216567909252006-10-02T22:41:00.000-07:002014-02-26T04:08:07.685-08:00HYDROELECTRIC POWER CONTROVERSY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> Hydro Electric Power – the raging controversy<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b>What has gone wrong with us?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><o:p> </o:p></b></div>
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Keralites are known for their intelligence and hard work. They are recognized as the champions of dedication anywhere outside Kerala. But inside the State, they are ridden by cross-purposes and retrograde activities. We elect governments with vast majorities in the Assembly, but do not allow them to do anything. Any progressive move is quickly stifled by opposition and dialectical differences. We need institutions of higher education, but we will not pay for them. We have no money of our own, but we shall not borrow from those who have it. Private enterprises we look for, but they should not make profit. Unemployment is increasing at a fast pace, but we do everything to prevent factories from working. The rights of labourers are more sacred to us than labour itself. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Hydro Electric Power (HEP) is by far the cheapest and most sustainable source of energy. It is the most eco-friendly form of producing electric power. It will go on as long as there are rains and rivers and the water used is not wasted. It runs on to irrigate uncultivated land, thus increasing our agricultural output.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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But a controversy arises every time we plan further Hydro-electric projects. Environmentalists cry out against them, writers and poets and the so called ‘intelligentia’ rise in agitation. Many projects have had to be discontinued half way. We have to take a fresh look at such things and arrive at a consensus, in view of the future generations.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Mostly, I believe, such controversies arise as a result of our setting wrong priorities. It usually happens in Politics where we put individuals before the People. In the modern world of scientific achievements and technological development, there is no doubt that we need a lot of electricity, much much more.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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During the days when electricity began to be used, it was primarily meant for lighting up the house. Then slowly it came in handy for running fans, and replacing traditional household gadgets. Nowadays, even the AC is not considered a luxury; leave alone the scores of electrical equipments that come in handy for the housewife. The computer has revolutionized our whole way of life – beginning from the advantages of personal computers, we have passed into a world where electricity is required 24 hours a day, non-stop. The rise in job opportunities provided by BPOs and other computer-related opportunities demand an exponential growth in the supply of electricity. In short, we have become so dependent on this source of power that life is not virtually possible without it. Other sources of energy like thermal, nuclear and solar power are stilted with either high risk factor or low productivity. </div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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I believe that it is the duty of every generation to provide for the future generations. We live on what our predecessors did for us. We should never be the cause for blocking the unending process of human progress. The comforts in our life, the facilities that we enjoy, are the results of what our previous generations did. The electricity that we use now is the gift of some great minds who took the risk of ‘destroying’ a little environment for the sake of greater benefits to humanity. If the creators of Pallivasal and Idukki projects had not taken the risk, what would have been our plight? If some people had not chosen to cut a few trees and construct palaces and houses in ‘Ananthan kadu’, the city now known as Thiruvananthapuram would not have been there. Why, the house that Sugathakumari lives in would not have been there. The electricity that she now uses up in running her house, in making speeches and glaring through the visual media would not have been there, if some ‘thoughtless’ people had not constructed the power generating stations.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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It is inhuman to say ‘enough is enough’. We have been gifted by the deeds of our previous generations and we have no right to deny the rights of the coming generations.</div>
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We should not behave like ‘the people who have got into the bus’ and deny entry for others. </div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Progress necessarily means a selective destruction of environment. We cannot achieve anything without sacrificing something. It is one thing to speak of Nature and write poetry on it, but interfering emotionally with the requirements of the future is another thing. Let us not confuse our priorities. Surely, Sugathakumari et al. do not expect our children to live on traditional jobs like pot-making, mat-weaving and hoeing in the fields.</div>
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The times when a person could make a living by writing poems and singing ritualistic songs before the serpent god are far gone; not everyone does win the Booker Prize. Those who enjoy all the comforts of life can be philosophic, but it doesn’t provide bread for the future. Those who have enjoyed the benefits of progress have no right to deny it for their children.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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The world is growing at such a pace that we need to tap all the available sources of energy. The wrong priorities set in the political arena and the dictates of outdated labour policy have already put our State some 20-25 years behind other southern states. Our potential in the IT field remains unexploited because of our craze for frequent hartals and bandhs. Foreign investors dread to step in because of our uncertain work culture. </div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Already, electricity is in short supply. It is high time that we did something about it. Unless some firm steps are taken, the State will enter into a dark age. Many projects have been dropped half way and the latest one, Pathrakkadau, is facing stiff objection. Environmentalists have to realize that any progress is possible only by making certain concessions. Here again, we have to set the right priorities. Some forest area and some living area may be inundated, but we have to suffer this necessary evil. The question of endangered species will have to be assessed in the face of the larger benefits to the State and its subjects. Those who have to be evacuated should be rehabilitated properly. </div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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The disturbance caused to the environment will have to be limited to the minimum. We have to admit that much more interference with environment takes place when the cities develop, natural waterways are blocked and large areas of backwaters are filled up as in GCDA. After all, the survival of human beings, their freedom to work and earn a living, their right to live comfortably, and the overall progress of the State where they live in should be placed far above the discomfort to some monkeys and birds which have no present bearing on human life. </div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Writing poetry and short stories can be a pastime for the affluent, but it does not fetch a living for the great majority. Emotional entanglement with the world of facts only results in confusion and arousal of unwanted sentiments. Nature is no doubt a beautiful subject for poetry and fiction, but attempts to import them into real life to block the progress of humanity and deny the coming generation their job opportunities and necessities of life tantamount to violation of fundamental human rights.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Well, regarding the argument that the engineers and politicians think up such projects and try to implement them for the sake of making money for themselves, speaks volumes about the corruption prevalent in the higher echelons of power. I do not deny such possibilities, but they can indulge in such things in any other field too – not necessarily in the construction of Hydroelectric Power Stations alone. The interference of the environmentalists is in fact a blessing in disguise to them. They can always make money out of incomplete projects and blame the environmentalists for not allowing them to complete it. They can conveniently look for another project, make budget and estimates, get the commission for whatever is done and wait for someone to ask them to stop. I am afraid we spend most of our efforts in this vicious circle – propose new power projects, hinder them, then look for newer ones.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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To sum up, it is the need of the day to put the horse before the cart. Let us prioritize our requirements and work towards achieving them, even though we have to make some concessions and sacrifices. If Mahatma Gandhi and his people were worried about losing the lives of some of them, we would not have got freedom. If our researchers had qualms about trying their medicines on a few guinea pigs, many of our medicines would not have been found. If we were sorry about killing animals, the world would have experienced a terrific shortage of food materials. All progress, even human existence, depends on some casualities; let us sacrifice a few woods and birds for the larger benefit of humanity around us, ultimately for the progress of our State. </div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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PCMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14415997571325711914noreply@blogger.com1