I haven't been able to open my 'inner pages' for a while. Then i thought that it would be unfair to haven't written about my Nagpur trip when i have a blog. To a certain age, i did not imagine of going out of Kerala or even Thrissur. But how fast the time goes and things change. I travelled to a place 1600 km away from my home and returned ! You may wonder why it is a big deal since most of you may have done it a hundred times ! But it was something for me to cherish always, especially taking the purpose of the journey into account.
I went to participate the National University Youth Festival representing Calicut University. My team, consisting of me, Davood and Amith finished at 5th. Unless you get into top 3, you will have frustration and depression naturally. I too felt it. But more than that, the journey helped me differently. The national fest was the meeting point of many different cultures. I can proudly say that India is among the few nations that boast of the cultural diversity to great extents. That is the same thing i could witness there. That too at the central point of the country ! Yes, Nagpur is the central point of India. The gathering of people from different parts of a country spanning over 32,00000 sq km. People from snowbathed Kashmir, Rajasthan's deserts, Greenish Kerala and mountaneous North East states ! Different climates, languages, cultures, lineages all are meeting.. How nice it would be ! Of course it was. Eventhough we were all competing with each other, we (not everyone, of course !) could find time to meet and chat with others. I could acquaint some of my compatriots living miles away from my home and share some moments with them. Bengalis, Telugus, Punjabis, Marathis, Tamils, Assamese and all were there to showcase their talents. The art forms from various places reflected the respective traditions and cultures. The good performances recieved applause from all hands. Those were the times it seemed not to be a competition. Since not everyone can take the prize home, some had to shed tears as well. And a great moment, i celebrated Republic Day of my country out of my state for the first time. It was an incredible scene to watch the foresaid different cultures meeting under a single flag !
Let me tell you, not everyone gets such oppurtunities. If you get it, don't let it get away at any cost. These are the moments we can't afford to lose..
Friday, February 3, 2012
Monday, December 5, 2011
The Mullaperiyar Imbroglio..
The poets are getting ready to write an elegy; an elegy for the Mullaperiyar dam and the 3.5 million people who are supposed to leave earth soon.
3.5 million is an exaggerated number, a few may say, though it's not. That is the matter of humans. But what about the number of other living organisms ? It's really hard to do the statistics anyway.
It's been ages that the anxiety over Mullaperiyar was raised and the pot is still boiling.
The only thing Kerala demands is a new dam at the position of the existing one. And it is evident that there is no other solution for it.
Any person with a little commonsense will agree with the the fact that a 116 year old dam, which was predicted a life span of 50 years, should be rebuilt. But i can never understand on what basis the Government and politicians from Tamil Nadu are opposing it even the Kerala government has agreed to give them water as in the past. Even the Tamilians living in the vicinity of Mullaperiyar want the dam to be rebuilt. This is not just the problem of Malayalis only. Thousands of people from Tamil Nadu, North East India, Bengal, Andhra and other parts are working here. Who can guarantee all their lives ?
Here is given an outline of the aftermath of the Mullaperiyar dam collapse likely to be happened.
The Tamil Nadu politicians say that the Kerala politicians are playing with the people's emotions. Whether they are or not, the Keralites have only one emotion and demand. In fact, it is the TN politicians who are playing for some vested interests.
Even the country's most respected scientist and former President APJ Abdul Kalam said that the Koodankulam Nuclear Plant is cent percent safe. Still the people are on strike against it and the government supports it. Then what about a structure that is cent percent threat for millions of people and other creatures ?
A disaster is waiting to happen; a disaster that will be 200 times terrible than Hiroshima witnessed in 1945; a disaster that can break the spine of economy; a disaster that none want to face.
I reserve the respect to the people of Tamil Nadu and this is not to hurt anyone's emotions. But just to convey our emotions. This is not just triggered by emotions either. You should be able to see the logic behind it. Then you can understand what the real situation is..
3.5 million is an exaggerated number, a few may say, though it's not. That is the matter of humans. But what about the number of other living organisms ? It's really hard to do the statistics anyway.
It's been ages that the anxiety over Mullaperiyar was raised and the pot is still boiling.
The only thing Kerala demands is a new dam at the position of the existing one. And it is evident that there is no other solution for it.
Any person with a little commonsense will agree with the the fact that a 116 year old dam, which was predicted a life span of 50 years, should be rebuilt. But i can never understand on what basis the Government and politicians from Tamil Nadu are opposing it even the Kerala government has agreed to give them water as in the past. Even the Tamilians living in the vicinity of Mullaperiyar want the dam to be rebuilt. This is not just the problem of Malayalis only. Thousands of people from Tamil Nadu, North East India, Bengal, Andhra and other parts are working here. Who can guarantee all their lives ?
Here is given an outline of the aftermath of the Mullaperiyar dam collapse likely to be happened.
The Tamil Nadu politicians say that the Kerala politicians are playing with the people's emotions. Whether they are or not, the Keralites have only one emotion and demand. In fact, it is the TN politicians who are playing for some vested interests.
Even the country's most respected scientist and former President APJ Abdul Kalam said that the Koodankulam Nuclear Plant is cent percent safe. Still the people are on strike against it and the government supports it. Then what about a structure that is cent percent threat for millions of people and other creatures ?
A disaster is waiting to happen; a disaster that will be 200 times terrible than Hiroshima witnessed in 1945; a disaster that can break the spine of economy; a disaster that none want to face.
I reserve the respect to the people of Tamil Nadu and this is not to hurt anyone's emotions. But just to convey our emotions. This is not just triggered by emotions either. You should be able to see the logic behind it. Then you can understand what the real situation is..
Sunday, October 30, 2011
What we need more ? Formula 1 or Formulae to be No.1 ?
Today I came across the tweet of the central sports minister Ajay Makken. He tweeted, "When F1 is flagged off; as Sports Min I am laying foundation stone for 5cr synthetic track at P.T.Usha's academy in Koyilandi near Calicut."
I don't know, in what prospect, he came out with this words. Whether it was born out of his gladness to take part in the Usha school ceremony or the grief of not getting invited to the Indian GP. Anyhow, it made me think, in fact rethink, some of the matters that have been cliched with repeated discussions.
If you ask in which sports India has got an identity, then first answer would be cricket. Chess, Shooting, Badminton and a few more can be added to it. But still, considering the multisports events, it is terrible to see our standings. A country with a billion people, India is. Yet, what we got in the last Olympics were a gold and two bronze. When the countries with one-tenth of our population returned with pride, we were standing with 3 medals. Taking football or tennis into account, the things are not very much different. Once we were the kings of hocky, and now struggling to win a game. The people can blame the athletes, the easy thing to do. But, thinking from the side of the athletes, I cant. The most encouraged sports here are cricket and now F1. Badminton too, since there is one Saina Nehwal. Who sponsors these ? Mainly corporates. Because these sports have good market value. How many of these firms come forward to sponsor athletes and others. Only a few, since there can't be expected profit. The soul of sports is getting swallowed by the business interests. After getting fame with their talent, the athletes will find a queue of sponsors. He then has a brand value. But before that he/she is discouraged or even humiliated everywhere. The governments are little different. Who should be changed ? What should be changed ? How should be changed ? Tough questions hanging over there. The attitude of all, I think. First we have to learn appreciate and encourage. Before blaming the sportspersons, we have to look into the facilities and support they get. They should be given the facilities to improve their talents. If the government had put the same amount of effort they took in facilitating the F1, in sponsoring and encouraging the other sports, we wouldn't have had to bow our heads. It is the sports of common people that need support not the sports of corporates or the sporting events born out of business interests. The system need some overhaul, as we know and say. But the initiative is important. I hope that there will be a few brave enough to take the initiative and lead the rest.
I don't know, in what prospect, he came out with this words. Whether it was born out of his gladness to take part in the Usha school ceremony or the grief of not getting invited to the Indian GP. Anyhow, it made me think, in fact rethink, some of the matters that have been cliched with repeated discussions.
If you ask in which sports India has got an identity, then first answer would be cricket. Chess, Shooting, Badminton and a few more can be added to it. But still, considering the multisports events, it is terrible to see our standings. A country with a billion people, India is. Yet, what we got in the last Olympics were a gold and two bronze. When the countries with one-tenth of our population returned with pride, we were standing with 3 medals. Taking football or tennis into account, the things are not very much different. Once we were the kings of hocky, and now struggling to win a game. The people can blame the athletes, the easy thing to do. But, thinking from the side of the athletes, I cant. The most encouraged sports here are cricket and now F1. Badminton too, since there is one Saina Nehwal. Who sponsors these ? Mainly corporates. Because these sports have good market value. How many of these firms come forward to sponsor athletes and others. Only a few, since there can't be expected profit. The soul of sports is getting swallowed by the business interests. After getting fame with their talent, the athletes will find a queue of sponsors. He then has a brand value. But before that he/she is discouraged or even humiliated everywhere. The governments are little different. Who should be changed ? What should be changed ? How should be changed ? Tough questions hanging over there. The attitude of all, I think. First we have to learn appreciate and encourage. Before blaming the sportspersons, we have to look into the facilities and support they get. They should be given the facilities to improve their talents. If the government had put the same amount of effort they took in facilitating the F1, in sponsoring and encouraging the other sports, we wouldn't have had to bow our heads. It is the sports of common people that need support not the sports of corporates or the sporting events born out of business interests. The system need some overhaul, as we know and say. But the initiative is important. I hope that there will be a few brave enough to take the initiative and lead the rest.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
You are rich ; 32 times !!
Thirty Two and Twenty Six ; the planning commision has underlined its words. And they left me confused, whether i am rich or not.
In the opinion of the PC, those who have a daily income of 26 Rupees in rural areas and that of 32 Rupees in urban areas are no longer poor. And they claim to have reached this conclusion in the light of authentic study results.
In a country, where oil price scaling new hights bimonthly, where vegetable prices skyrocketing, where self financing colleges carrying out day robbery, where cola companies exploiting the last drop of drinking water, where the 90% of the wealth is concentrated in a few persons, you are still rich if you earn 32 rupees a day. Isn't that invention something deserves a grand applaud ?
So what you can do with these 32 rupees ? In North India, chapathi (assume 5 rupees for one )is the main food item. So in govt's words Richness is the financial capacity to eat 6 chapathis a day without any curry ! You can save 1 rupee for future ! Coming to South (where things are far better ??), they eat rice. Govt gives a kg rice for a rupee, and a person need barely 150 gm rice a day. If you are ostentatious, you can have a curry of 15 - 20 rupees ! More money to save !!
If you earn 32 rupees a day, eventhough you dont have electricity, no LPG connection, no money to spend on education, health and leisure, you are rich !!
I dont know whether the planning commission and the govt are living in fool's paradise, but to believe all this nonsense, i wasn't born yesterday..
Put your thinking cap on, friends..
In the opinion of the PC, those who have a daily income of 26 Rupees in rural areas and that of 32 Rupees in urban areas are no longer poor. And they claim to have reached this conclusion in the light of authentic study results.
In a country, where oil price scaling new hights bimonthly, where vegetable prices skyrocketing, where self financing colleges carrying out day robbery, where cola companies exploiting the last drop of drinking water, where the 90% of the wealth is concentrated in a few persons, you are still rich if you earn 32 rupees a day. Isn't that invention something deserves a grand applaud ?
So what you can do with these 32 rupees ? In North India, chapathi (assume 5 rupees for one )is the main food item. So in govt's words Richness is the financial capacity to eat 6 chapathis a day without any curry ! You can save 1 rupee for future ! Coming to South (where things are far better ??), they eat rice. Govt gives a kg rice for a rupee, and a person need barely 150 gm rice a day. If you are ostentatious, you can have a curry of 15 - 20 rupees ! More money to save !!
If you earn 32 rupees a day, eventhough you dont have electricity, no LPG connection, no money to spend on education, health and leisure, you are rich !!
I dont know whether the planning commission and the govt are living in fool's paradise, but to believe all this nonsense, i wasn't born yesterday..
Put your thinking cap on, friends..
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Witnessing the death of traditions..
Another Onam season has been over. The Malayalees across the world celebrated it with joy and happiness. But, these days also made me deeply think into it. Being a representative of a new generation, i asked myself that whether i'm celebrating the Onam in its real colours ? I got 'NO' as answer. Because they have been lost somewhere in the way back. And in the age of instants, it is impossible to bring those colours back and refill the celebration with them. I dont know how many Keralites, i'm no different, have heard of the traditions namely Thumbi Tullal, Onavillu and Onappottan all observed during the Onam season. There are some places, relatively 'unsophisticated' areas, where they are still observed, but soon it may become history.
Though i stressed Onam, the case is not of that alone. There are many traditions and folk arts awaiting their extermination from the world. Those include religious and non religious arts. Though i'm not a religious person, i used to think on it. The disappearance of some arts, unless they are immersed in superstition and dont include black magic, that once defined a culture has been always a loss for the society. Nevertheless, even some native sports and langugaes across the world are on the verge of extinction. They are getting erased from the picture as the time goes on.
People may ask what is the point in protecting these 'outdated' and tedious arts and all. I still have no firm answer for that, but one thing is that they are the remains of the cultures that have been passed over the generations. And every culture is unique and important as any other.
The usual scene of society is that when someone expresses this concern, most probably he fails to find an echo. People have no time to give an ear to it. These words too, might go unheard as well, i know. That is why i'm of mixed feelings, as the only thing i can do is to word my opinion on it, but not doing something else. But i hope there may have people who can do something..
Though i stressed Onam, the case is not of that alone. There are many traditions and folk arts awaiting their extermination from the world. Those include religious and non religious arts. Though i'm not a religious person, i used to think on it. The disappearance of some arts, unless they are immersed in superstition and dont include black magic, that once defined a culture has been always a loss for the society. Nevertheless, even some native sports and langugaes across the world are on the verge of extinction. They are getting erased from the picture as the time goes on.
People may ask what is the point in protecting these 'outdated' and tedious arts and all. I still have no firm answer for that, but one thing is that they are the remains of the cultures that have been passed over the generations. And every culture is unique and important as any other.
The usual scene of society is that when someone expresses this concern, most probably he fails to find an echo. People have no time to give an ear to it. These words too, might go unheard as well, i know. That is why i'm of mixed feelings, as the only thing i can do is to word my opinion on it, but not doing something else. But i hope there may have people who can do something..
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)