Ever since Santhosh Madhavan alias Amritachaitanya, a bogus ascetic was arrested by police early this month, the time ahead for self-styled godmen across the state seems to be really tough. Stories of exposures of fake godmen coming day after day and public ire reaching its zenith, the Home Minister himself had to caution some organizations not to take law in their hands.
The controversial godman Amrit Chaitanya alias Santosh Madhavan was arrested for allegedly cheating Rs. 45 lakh from a gulf based Keralite woman and raping minor girls.
After Santhosh Madhavan’s arrest, a regional daily started publishing a series on fake godmen, which irked another self-styled ascetic Himaval Mahaeswara Bhadrananda. Under full media glare, he appeared at the local station brandishing a pistol and threatened to commit suicide. Though the suicide attempt was foiled, two shots were fired from his pistol when the police attempted to seize the weapon. Two police officers were later suspended for the incidents in police station.
It is reported that thousands of self-styled godmen(women) of all major religions are operating in different parts of the state and the authorities who should have acted before are now curious to know their source of funds and style of operation. Meanwhile, the surprise police search at the houses of Al-haj Sheik Yousuf Sultan, a Muslim godman at Desom and Thuruth in Kochi yesterday in connection with a cheating case against him could reveal nothing except some documents relating to land deals.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Pre-Monsoon Cleaning: Lack of Coordination Affecting the Drive
With monsoons around the corner in Kerala, the pre-monsoon cleaning drive organized by the local bodies across the state is likely to end up as a farce. Despite receiving warning that epidemics like chikungunya, dengue fever and viral fever that are likely to recur this year too, if preventive measures are not adopted, the government action seems to be limited in forming committees and conducting seminars only.
Local bodies, which were asked to organize the pre-monsoon cleaning work, held special meetings to discuss the matter, but very little worthy measures are taken to coordinate the activities at different levels. The state public works department was entrusted with the task of removing grass and weeds on roadsides and waste accumulated in the gutters. But lack of coordination is felt everywhere though there is direction from the part of government that Health Department personnel and voluntary agencies should be involved in activities at lowest level like panchayath and municipal wards.
Without carrying out activities like mosquito eradication at the household level, the pre-monsoon drive is unlikely to deliver its results as envisaged by the government. An awareness campaign to involve all family members to remove bottles, lids or anything that could collect water is yet to be made at the local level.
Local bodies, which were asked to organize the pre-monsoon cleaning work, held special meetings to discuss the matter, but very little worthy measures are taken to coordinate the activities at different levels. The state public works department was entrusted with the task of removing grass and weeds on roadsides and waste accumulated in the gutters. But lack of coordination is felt everywhere though there is direction from the part of government that Health Department personnel and voluntary agencies should be involved in activities at lowest level like panchayath and municipal wards.
Without carrying out activities like mosquito eradication at the household level, the pre-monsoon drive is unlikely to deliver its results as envisaged by the government. An awareness campaign to involve all family members to remove bottles, lids or anything that could collect water is yet to be made at the local level.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Rule Of Law: Phew; Who Said It Is For You and Me?
As an educated citizen who has great faith in the constitution of this land, I used to be a little bit extra vociferous about the maintenance of the rule of law in my state Kerala until I had a direct experience the other day about how the whole thing is being run. I used to argue that things are either blown out of proportion, or portrayed with some malicious intention whenever something bad about the maintenance of the rule of law appeared in the media or came up for discussion in public forums. But to know how politicized the whole system is, and how irresponsible matters are dealt with when a common man seeks assistance for the maintenance of rule of law, I had to get a direct experience with the local police itself.
It all started a week ago when my aged mother, accompanied by my brother in law and his 5 year old daughter, went to a nearby temple where the annual festival was going on. One drunken man tried to block their way and almost strangled my brother in law, and shouted obscene words. Even though my mother, seasoned by her age, and my brother in law because of his pragmatism ignored the incident as a normal altercation, I persuaded my brother in law to tell about the incident at least to the police party who was standing nearby. The drunken man was summoned by the sub-inspector who was on duty there, but without even a feeble warning he was set free as if nothing had happened. When I hinted that we had a valid complaint against him, he just nodded and mumbled something. However, I asked my brother in law to write a complaint to the sub inspector and give it to the police station itself.
Within a couple of days I realized that such a complaint would never deliver the results we had intended. But as a man who had immense faith in the police system in our ‘God’s Own Country,’ I got another neatly typed complaint of my mother and gave it to the deputy superintendent of police himself. The officials there assured me that such a complaint would never go in vain and the case would be dealt with utmost care and urgency. I was also relieved that justice would be done finally. But almost a week has passed since my mother has lodged that complaint, and nothing good has happened so far, except that a new realization that the maintenance of rule of law fails to deliver when it comes to common citizens like my mother and brother in law.
It all started a week ago when my aged mother, accompanied by my brother in law and his 5 year old daughter, went to a nearby temple where the annual festival was going on. One drunken man tried to block their way and almost strangled my brother in law, and shouted obscene words. Even though my mother, seasoned by her age, and my brother in law because of his pragmatism ignored the incident as a normal altercation, I persuaded my brother in law to tell about the incident at least to the police party who was standing nearby. The drunken man was summoned by the sub-inspector who was on duty there, but without even a feeble warning he was set free as if nothing had happened. When I hinted that we had a valid complaint against him, he just nodded and mumbled something. However, I asked my brother in law to write a complaint to the sub inspector and give it to the police station itself.
Within a couple of days I realized that such a complaint would never deliver the results we had intended. But as a man who had immense faith in the police system in our ‘God’s Own Country,’ I got another neatly typed complaint of my mother and gave it to the deputy superintendent of police himself. The officials there assured me that such a complaint would never go in vain and the case would be dealt with utmost care and urgency. I was also relieved that justice would be done finally. But almost a week has passed since my mother has lodged that complaint, and nothing good has happened so far, except that a new realization that the maintenance of rule of law fails to deliver when it comes to common citizens like my mother and brother in law.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Chinese Crack Down In Tibet: No Human Right’s Violation?
Authoritarian regimes may differ in ideology and perception, but in effect they are almost the same everywhere. The crack down on the Tibetan protestors by the Chinese government provides ample evidence to the fact that the modus operandi of even (?) a communist ideology led government cannot differ much. From China’s point of view, it can be debated that they are not supposed to tolerate something like a rebellion of Tibetans for self rule on the very eve of the greatest sports event in the world that the country is host. Untimely for the Chinese mandarins only, because there could never be a ripe time like this to raise the Tibetan issue that has been smoldering for over 6 decades and attract international sympathy for the problem. It has been just sour grapes for the Tibetans, and their spiritual leader in exile all these years since China occupied their country, and you cannot expect things to be comfy and regal in Chinese occupied Tibet on account of the Beijing Olympics.
But my question now is: where are the champions of human rights here in India? They have been shouting slogans for the Palestinians, Saddam, Mandela, Gujarat victims, Madani, and a lot others, but not a single voice in favor of those hapless Tibetans. This is where politics comes in, because the protestors’ real concern is votes and not human rights as at least some people may believe.
Ask any activist why is it that the Chinese crackdown in Lhasa is something that will not come under the list of human rights violations that they preach and profess; he/she would certainly admonish you not to interfere in the sovereignty of another country!! Sovereignty, no doubt China enjoys fully in its territory; but will that apply in an occupied land like Tibet and its people in exile? We are smart champions of human rights violations elsewhere in the world if only they could help fan some sentiments here and could be traded against votes. But is it so bad if we start thinking a little more human for those Tibetans?
But my question now is: where are the champions of human rights here in India? They have been shouting slogans for the Palestinians, Saddam, Mandela, Gujarat victims, Madani, and a lot others, but not a single voice in favor of those hapless Tibetans. This is where politics comes in, because the protestors’ real concern is votes and not human rights as at least some people may believe.
Ask any activist why is it that the Chinese crackdown in Lhasa is something that will not come under the list of human rights violations that they preach and profess; he/she would certainly admonish you not to interfere in the sovereignty of another country!! Sovereignty, no doubt China enjoys fully in its territory; but will that apply in an occupied land like Tibet and its people in exile? We are smart champions of human rights violations elsewhere in the world if only they could help fan some sentiments here and could be traded against votes. But is it so bad if we start thinking a little more human for those Tibetans?
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Some Reminiscences of Aluva Sivarathri
Yesterday evening as I was getting bored staying home the whole day, I decided to go to Sivarathri Manappuram on the banks of Aluva Puzha(Periyar) where a great fair in connection with Maha Sivarathri was going on. Since my childhood days, as it has been ever since my parent’s and grand parent’s also, Sivarathri time used to be looked upon as a great event - the elements of spirituality, recreation, and merchandise beautifully woven together. One may, at times, find it difficult to draw a clear demarcating line between any of these elements.
Every year, around half a million people assemble there on Maha Sivarathri night, pay libations to their ancestors, make a round of the trade fare going on there, buy something and leave. The giant wheel at Manappuram used to shoot up the adrenaline level of people like anything. I am not sure if the younger generation feels the same now a days because the excitement is far greater in the amusement parks near and around. However, such options weren’t even heard of those days and it is certain that people used to enjoy the wallet suiting merchandise here any how.
There must be something that brings people year after year to a place that would lie almost deserted during the rest of the year. Of course, people come here to perform the last rites of their dear and near. But this much crowd on a single day is something few other places in Kerala can boast of. It is a great wonder that in spite of the well oiled machinery and propaganda of a cadre based political party like the CPM, not more than a few ten thousands of people come for a district meeting at the same place. I was witness to the recently concluded district public meeting of that party and I was amazed to find that less than a quarter area of Manappuram was sufficient to contain the crowd!
By the time I reached Manappuram yesterday, the Sivarathri rush has subsided, but it was brisk business at the stalls there. I decided not to go farther than the book stalls and propaganda stalls erected by various spiritual organizations. Sivarathri celebrations come only once in a year; so why shouldn’t you splurge a little on those days?
Every year, around half a million people assemble there on Maha Sivarathri night, pay libations to their ancestors, make a round of the trade fare going on there, buy something and leave. The giant wheel at Manappuram used to shoot up the adrenaline level of people like anything. I am not sure if the younger generation feels the same now a days because the excitement is far greater in the amusement parks near and around. However, such options weren’t even heard of those days and it is certain that people used to enjoy the wallet suiting merchandise here any how.
There must be something that brings people year after year to a place that would lie almost deserted during the rest of the year. Of course, people come here to perform the last rites of their dear and near. But this much crowd on a single day is something few other places in Kerala can boast of. It is a great wonder that in spite of the well oiled machinery and propaganda of a cadre based political party like the CPM, not more than a few ten thousands of people come for a district meeting at the same place. I was witness to the recently concluded district public meeting of that party and I was amazed to find that less than a quarter area of Manappuram was sufficient to contain the crowd!
By the time I reached Manappuram yesterday, the Sivarathri rush has subsided, but it was brisk business at the stalls there. I decided not to go farther than the book stalls and propaganda stalls erected by various spiritual organizations. Sivarathri celebrations come only once in a year; so why shouldn’t you splurge a little on those days?
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