Financial Crunch Throws Schools in Mahe Out of Gear

Striking students assembled in front of Pandakkal HSS

Mahe: Eighteen government schools and 13 private schools within an area of nine square kilo metres, the school education scenario of the Mahe region of the Union Territory of Puducherry seems bright in terms of infrastructure. But, The expenditure cut of the Education Department, reportedly because of the financial crunch of the Union Government, has thrown the academic atmosphere out of gear in Mahe. And, the students in many schools and the Parent Teachers Associations have been on a warpath since the beginning of the academic year.

Many posts of teachers are lying vacant, as no appointment of permanent teachers took place during the last three years. The PTAs, which have been managing the schools with temporary teachers, have run out of funds to give wages to the teachers. The cooperative society MIT(Mahe Information Technology society), which is managing the appointment of computer instructors, is also finding it hard to provide wages. In all, about 75 posts, mainly of Computer, Mathematics, Arabic and specialist teachers, are lying vacant. Many temporary teachers are working without salary in the expectation that things would improve soon. Meanwhile, 18 temporary teachers in the primary section were terminated from service the other day. The teachers who take evening classes for students who are backward in studies, are also deprived of wages.
Majority of the temporary teachers receive a meagre salary of up to Rs 5,000. The fund crunch has affected the education sector so much that even the distribution of text books has not been done yet.
“Text books have to be bought from Kerala, which is getting lagged owing to the lack of funds. For the past five days, students have been on strike in the issue,” said C K Jayaram, an office-bearer of the joint council of the PTAs of 19 schools in the region. The joint council that met on Friday decided to strengthen the protest in this regard.
“The Centre has cut short the funds for the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan programme. Mahe used to receive a plan fund of Rs 1.5 crore for SSA. But recently, it has been cut short to `67 lakh,” SSA officer Prabhakaran Master said.
The weakened exchequer of Puducherry is learnt to be the reason for the failure in managing the fund cut through alternative resource mobilisation. The DYFI and the SFI have declared that they would launch a stir in this regard soon.
The administration of many higher secondary schools are also in crisis, as senior teachers from Puthucherry, who are often appointed as principals in schools on seniority basis, hesitate to stay in Mahe. They avail of long leave, entrusting duties to vice-principals, who fail to take time-bound decisions on significant issues. The CEO (Chief Education Officer) of the region, who is authorised to take care of academic and administrative matters, could not effectively monitor the concerns as the Plus-Two teachers do not heed to CEO as their designation is higher than that
of the officer. Moreover, many higher secondary teachers whose mother tongue is not Malayalam, find it difficult to communicate with students and they end up in virtually skipping classes.
Since the student outfits and PTAs are planning further protests asking the government to sincerely address the educational woes of the region, the Puducherry Director of School Education E Vallavan visited Mahe a couple of days ago. But it is learnt that he too abstained from offering any effective solutions to the burning issues.

newindianexpress.com

Snakes Charm Raginesh Day and Night

Raginesh with the python caught from Muzhappilangad beach

Kannur: As soon as he spots a snake Raginesh would be under the spell of tender affection. No shiver runs down his spine but fondness begins to ooze in him even if it is a king cobra. 

“The attachment one feels towards a newborn, that is how I can word my love towards snakes. Innocent neat creatures but hated by everyone,” the 23-year-old young man describes his passion towards snakes.

   15 years and 4,000 snakes Raginesh M still continues on the path of catching snakes. The first snake he caught was from the pond of a Snake Shrine at Munderi, his native village. “I was a class IV student of Nava Kerala School then. While swimming in the pond I happened to catch a water snake under the impression that it was a fish. Then and there my fear of snakes dissolved,” recalls Raginesh, who is now part of the Quick Response Team attached to the Taliparamba Forest Division. Quite surprisingly he revealed that no snake bit him so far. The experience that still reverberates in him is the catch of a king cobra at Chittarikkal: “It was during night and was difficult to locate the head of the four-and –a half-metre-long king cobra which was lying on the compound wall of a house. As I approached it the deadly snake leaped to the ground and started running so fast that I had to follow him kilometers before I could hold him.”

Raginesh with the king cobra caught from Chittarikkal

   As of now Raginesh has caught five king cobras of varying sizes part from thousands of wipers, cobras and other snakes. A python that weighed 60 kg was his record. Most of the catches were from Aaralam, Iritty and Chirrarikkal areas. All snakes were handed over to the Forest Department and they freed them in dense forest. The most poisonous one he caught was a sea snake which got trapped in the nets of fishermen at Azhikkal. People also sought his assistance to catch wild hedgehogs and foxes. “There were many incidents when I was called in to save foxes fallen in wells. I will climb down and catch them,” he says. People have the wrong notion that if a venomous snake falls in a well the water would turn poisonous, he quips. According to Raginesh snakes are hygienic creatures. “Its body is like the leaf of colocasia. Dirt will not stick to it. But when we attempt to catch a snake it will shit which is white in colour which may frighten people,” he said.
  His strange fancy also won him many female admirers. “There were many girl fans but all of them requested me to quit catching snakes as soon as the friendship got thickened and I had to say good-bye to them. But recently I found in one girl the maturity to encourage me. She never objected to my job and I would like to make her my companion,” with a tint of romance Raginesh said. Recently he has got a young assistant A M Sayanth, aged 17, who also catches snakes. On Saturday in the morning itself Raginesh caught a two-metre long python which was trapped in the nets of fishermen on Muzhappilangad-drive-in beach.  “My service is sought day and night, it’s a 24-hr duty,’’ said Raginesh with a vibrant smile. He wants everyone to love snakes and requests all not to kill those ‘mellow’ beings.

The New Indian Express 15 June 2013

Patriarch of Indian Circus to Turn 90

Thalassery: While watching the hectic moves of this simple and agile man, no one could realise his age or identity. The news that Kannur will celebrate the 90th birthday of Gemini Sankaran alias M V Sankaran who paved the way for the modernisation of Indian Circus has surprised even those who have long-standing association with him. With simple lifestyle and gentle interaction, people can hardly find any trace of egoism and pomp in Sankaran, who is now the owner of three prominent Indian circuses and many other business enterprises.
   "It was the Kittunni Circus popular in Malabar in 1940s that attracted me to the wonders of circus," recalls Sankaran. After acquiring the basic lessons of circus from the school of Keeleri Kunhikannan, the father of Indian circus, Sankaran began his tent life as a trapeze artiste in Bosline Circus of Calcutta in 1942. In the early 1950s, he had mesmerised spectators with chilling performances on horizontal bar and flying trapeze, the most attractive and challenging items in circus those days. He has been serving the Indian circus for over 70 years, initially as an artiste and later as the owner of Gemini, Jumbo and Royal circuses.
    Circus enthusiasts began to call him fondly as Gemini Sankarettan, ever since he founded his first circus company Gemini, named after his birth star in 1951 at Chikora in Billimora district of Gujarat. Gemini later became a world-renowned Indian circus troupe. Sankaran also had the pioneering role in converting circus troupes in India as pan-Indian touring companies. He established his second circus company, Jumbo, in 1971 at Patna. His sons Asok Sankar and Ajay Sankar also joined as partners in this circus. With Sankaran's troupes, circus became a popular entertainment in India, which could draw thousands of spectators to each show. He also became the guardian of thousands of circus artists and their families, majority of whom belonged to very poor families, Sreedharan Champad, renowned circus artist novelist and scriptwriter, recalls in his book on Indian circus ‘An Album of Indian Big Tops: A History of Indian Circus' to be published soon.
    Sankaran was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award during the 125th anniversary celebrations of the Indian Circus held at Talkotra Stadium, Delhi, on November 24, 2004, organised by the Circus Owners Federation of India. The autobiography of Gemini Sankaran ‘Malakkam Marayunna Jeevitham' compiled by Taha Madayi was published in 2012. The documentary on him ‘The Circus Legend', directed by Taha, will be released at a function to be held in Kannur on Thursday in connection with Gemini Sankaran's 90th birthday celebrations. “It was Sankaran who facilitated the entry of thousands of Malayalis to Indian circus which was earlier predominated by north Indian artistes and owners. The quality of Sankaran that deserves special mention is his readiness to modernise Indian circus by imbibing innovative items of circuses from countries like Russia,” Taha said.
   Sankaran had the rare fortune to see Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Dalai Lama, A K Gopalan, Feroze Gandhi and many other great leaders watching his circuses. In recognition of his varied talents, Nehru sent him to the World Circus Conference held in Moscow in 1963 as the representative of Indian circus. Old age does not prevent Sankaran from preserving youthful enthusiasm in extending wholehearted support to India's premier Circus Academy in Thalassery, Circus Employees Union, North Malabar Chamber of Commerce and Palmgrove Retreat Hotel in Kannur.

The New Indian Express June 11

50 Years on, Families on Banks of Koottupuzha Wait for Title Deeds

Ayisha

Iritty: Almost half a century has passed since the oldest among the 12 families began their life on the banks of the Koottupuzha on Kerala-Karnataka border. In last May three of them were evicted for the new bridge to be built across the Koottupuzha as part of the renovation works of Thalassery-Valaupara Road (to Kodagu) under the KSTP. The rest of the families are also under the threat of imminent displacement. Yet, the determination visible in the eyes of Ayisha, one of the inhabitants on the Purambokku land, to move ahead in life would startle anyone.
    The families of Ayisha and others find their livelihood through sand mining in the Koottupuzha and minor clearing and planting works in the Karnataka forest. They are labourers of e-sand scheme of Kannur district, voters of Peravaur constituency and remitting tax at Payam panchayat. They possess ration cards of the Kerala state and power connection of the KSEB but denied of title deeds, which resulted in losing the reasonable compensation offered during recent land acquisition.
  It may seem strange that all of them purchased the purambokku land decades ago from a person known as ‘Ottakakm Kakka’ who sold out government land scattered amidst Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary and Kottupuzha River. As soon as they realised that they had no legal rights on the land they began knocking at all doors yet no one helped them. With much anguish the locals said in one voice that the politicians populated the area ahead of every elections showering false promises.
   “K P Noorudheen, Congress leader and former MLA of Peravoor had promised title deeds for the lands of my father Hydru a decade ago. But Revenue officials later informed that title deed offered to him had been issued for someone else with the same name. We don’t beg for anyone’s mercy as we know how to strive ahead in life,” says Ayisha.
   It was in May, the houses of Chellamma, Sobhana and Sarojini were demolished as part of land acquisition for the new bridge. All of them were given a consolidated amount of Rs 1.5 lakh as compensation for their land and house and they found shelter in rented homes at Peratta and Makkutta where they are paying Rs 4,000 a month. As land prices have crossed a lakh for a cent in the region these poor people cannot afford buying new land or build a house. On the narrow strip of land between the forest, highway and the river they find tiny moments of happiness amidst harsh realities. During summer they have to pay Rs 100 for a can of potable water. A land slide would be fatal for them, and if the river floods their huts would be submerged in water but they await title deeds or a reasonable rehabilitation. 
  “As long as there is water in Kootupuzha and we are able to collect firewood from the forest we will survive. Still a strong roof over our heads is a dream for us too,” Ayisha concluded narrating her hard-earned life with full of optimism for kindness from authorities and philanthropists. 
June 5,2013 
The New Indian Express

From the United States in pursuit of food and friendship

By Sucheth P R | ENS - THALASSERY

03rd June 2013 08:57 AM  newindianexpress.com

James Oseland in Thalassery in last May

For James Oseland, a food writer from the US, Thalassery is a home away from home. He has been returning to this coastal town again and again for the past 15 years and cherishing a strong bond with his friendship circle here comprising hotel workers, teachers, drivers and journalists.

 He mingles with common men, savouring ethnic Malabari delicacies prepared in their home kitchens. “Food is the best way to peep into a culture and its sociological and anthropological traits. Beyond political and economic aspects, it tells something genuine about the mindset of a society,” says Oseland.  During the last week of May, he strolled around villages in Thalassery and whoever wanted to have a chat, Oseland was ready to dwell on their queries. Replies were instant to questions of locals about Hollywood films, human relationships, religion, food and sexuality in the US.
  “We barely knew English when he came here for the first time. But now, because of our enthusiastic communications with him, we are much confident to converse in English,” quipped his village friends. Oseland visited Thalassery for the first time at the invitation of a pilgrim group, including Vijayan and Balakrishnan, who met him at Palani. Now, Oseland’s friends here range from M P Radhakrishnan, an intellectual, to Vijayan Swami of Pinarayi, who earns his living from yoga and flute classes.
  Though Oseland went through a turbulent adolescence mired in poverty, his father, who was a skilled cook, instilled in him the flavour for food writing that helped him later to become the editor-in-chief of the US food magazine ‘Saveur’. Now his life is spent touring continents and learning the culinary art of people of various ethnicities.  “There is an increased awareness about healthy food habits in the US and people are increasingly giving up factory food. So many strong pockets have emerged in cities as New York and Washington where people rigorously practise organic food habits. They have realised the harmful effects of poisonous packed food which was much in trend in my childhood and youth,” said Oseland. 

  When asked about the mushrooming mulch-cuisine restaurants in India, he replied with a smile that they serve only Indian food. They are a kind of tasty junk food which of course is enjoyable, he said. Mexican novel ‘Like Water for Chocolate’ the plot of which revolves around food is the literary work Oseland cherishes the most. The food writer is now busy writing a memoir ‘Jimmy Neurosis’, narrating his nomadic life in search of food varieties and also his turbulent youth. During his latest visit, quite unexpectedly, a new topic struck him- ‘toddy and toddy tapping of Pinarayi village’.

RTI 'Activists' Turning to Extortion

Kannur: The Right to Information Act which is considered the most powerful weapon in the hands of common man to combat corruption at high-levels of administration is being misused by a group of people for monetary benefits and other personal gains. It is learnt that the Intelligence wing has reported to the State government that a group of so-called ‘RTI activists’ in the district is engaged in intimidating many builders, contractors and organisers of some exhibitions run on a commercial basis.

  With the information obtained through RTI queries, these people reportedly demanded money from various persons citing flaws in construction works. It is also learnt that the group has been tactfully availing of the assistance of a few employees at municipal offices in obtaining the details of misappropriations in the construction of roads and buildings. The issue came to the notice of the Intelligence after the Special Branch received a tip-off that the RTI activists demanded money from a prominent contractor who had carried out the road works in Dharmadam panchayat. Since irregularities abound in construction of commercial establishments and apartments, the ‘RTI activists' are learnt to be making a good business.

  In Thalassery town, a three-member group has approached the owners of many buildings which are allegedly being constructed flouting several norms. Earlier, there were allegations that the RTI activists had also approached the organisers of the Flower Show held in Thalassery and demanded money pointing out that the sound decibel of speakers used for stage programmes at the venue was beyond the permitted level. The organisers were threatened with legal action unless they provided them the demanded money.

 The group has also approached the engineers and contractors who undertook PWD projects in several parts of the district, including the contractors of the recently renovated roads in Dharmadam and Anjarakkandy. Some builders at Thottada and Peringathoor had also faced the threat of this group. There are already several allegations against these activists, and the latest Special Branch and Intelligence reports may throw light on more grim aspects of the issue. The ongoing Special Branch inquiry in this regard is said to be centred on a person at Chokli and two others at Dharmadam. Several others are suspected to be involved in similar activities, police sources said. The Special Branch is collecting details of the telephone calls made by these persons and the information regarding the contractors and other government employees approached by them. 

The New Indian Express  19 April 2013

Taking a ringside view after long years under the big tent

Sherly Sumithra and Damodar Bhosley, renowned Marathi circus artistes

 

by Sucheth P R 
Thalassery: Basking in the memories of those golden days when she thrilled thousands of viewers with mesmerising performances, Sherly Sumithra, a Marathi circus artiste, shared her experiences on the sidelines of the circus artistes' meet held at the Circus Academy here on Sunday. The memories of an adventurous life as a circus artiste echoed in her bold expressions. Joining the world of circus at a tender age of seven, she soon became the most sought-after artiste from the major circus troupes in India, with her unique talents and stunning beauty. After long years of a nomadic life with circus troupes that toured the length and breadth of the nation, and now in her middle age, she has settled at Kakkad in Kannur. Allergic to an idle life, she tried her hands as a beautician in many beauty parlours in Kannur and Kozhikode, but quit the job as she developed hand tremors as an after-effect of the frequent performances of many hazardous items while in the circus.
  Born to a Jain father and an Indo-Anglian mother, both circus artistes who fell in love and got married with the blessings of the Maharaja of Mysore, Sherly spent her early life at Kagwade in Maharshtra. Group and single trapeze, single rope cycling, cross-bar, revolving trapeze, Rezi dance, sword box, double boldness, performances with hippopotamus, elephant and tiger every act in the Indian and Russian circuses was performed by her. Golden, Jupiter, Oriental, Great Gemini, Kamala, Rio, Sunlight, Raymond and Raj Kamal circuses availed of her unique talents which created an adrenaline rush among spectators. The performances on the trapeze would freeze the brain for a few seconds and the artistes had to run for a while to escape from that horrible feeling of being engulfed in darkness, Sherly recalls.
  Sherly says that sexual harassment was common in almost all circus companies and unless the artiste has the boldness to resist, they would succumb to it. "Whatever talent a female artiste has, she is ultimately viewed by many circus owners as an object of sexual gratification. Many leave the field because of this unbearable torture," she says. According to her, there were many instances when powerful gang of female artistes had to intervene to save many girls who were made slave to owners. "There was an item in Kamala Circus where a tiger would ascend on top of an elephant and I used to sit on the tiger, clad in a red apron, carrying a trident, resembling Goddess Durga. Nowadays, I feel the presence of Durga in me on some occasions," says Sherly.
 She also narrated a strange incident when she visited a Jain temple in Maharshtra recently.

"I stood near an elephant. It touched my head with its trunk and within seconds lifted me and kept me on top of it. The devotees were so astonished that many offered huge amounts of money to the mahout." 

Life post retirement is hard for circus artistes as many of them require frequent medical assistance after a life of strenuous performances. With the irregular salaries in circus and no savings, Rs 1,000 pension would not be enough to meet even the medical expenses. According to Sherly, many are denied their provident fund also.
22 April 2013
newindianexpress.com

35-Year Old NH Bypass Work Leaves Mahe Natives in the Lurch

16 January 2013   

by Sucheth P R

Mahe: The lives of 270 families in West and East Palloor villages here have been virtually stagnated at many realms since 1978, the year when the unending procedures for the long-pending Thalassery-Mahe national highway bypass commenced. More than a decade had passed since the land acquisition completed in Thalassery municipality and adjacent panchayats in Kerala, but things stood still in Mahe and Palloor constituencies of the Union Territory of Puduchery and the people living in 30 hectares of land, which was notified for acquisition, have been toiling with their properties on which they lost ownership rights for all practical purposes. They cannot sell property, construct new buildings or even renovate houses. Neither the project, which is the most urgent need to ease the region’s traffic woes, was realised nor did the people allow using their land and buildings as they wish. The issue of Mahe residents is indeed pathetic.

“As the land is proposed for NH, no permit will be issued for construction of any building by the Planning Authority and no permission will be granted by the Revenue Department for sale or gifting of properties,” Adv A P Asokan, legal advisor to the Action Council told ‘Express’ on Tuesday.

 The Action Council has been demanding to constitute a district-level purchase committee to negotiate with the affected parties and ensure market prices for land. But it is getting delayed. “A strong lobby of bar and petrol bunk owners here has been actively engaged in torpedoing the project. They are afraid that their business will come to nothing if the bypass is realised and the NH does not touch the town. The people’s representatives could not overcome the influence of this lobby, said Action council convener Kannipoyil Babu. 
“E Valsaraj MLA has been representing Mahe for decades and he was the Home Minister in Puduchery Government. However, he failed to take any earnest effort to find a solution to the burning concern of a large number of people in the region. Palloor MLA A V Sreedharan, who was Deputy Speaker in Puducherry Assembly, also did not involve in the issue sincerely,” council leaders said.

E Valasraj whom ‘Express’ contacted said that he has done everything possible to find a speedy solution to the issue. He added that the allegations raised by the Action Council come from a small group in the leadership who has been nurturing anti-Congress sentiments for a long time.

The Puducheery Collector visited Mahe in last August and promised that immediate action would be taken to ensure reasonable price for the property to be acquired and speed up the project. But later the Collector tried to delay things by raising unwanted concerns. Former Sub-Collector Asok Kumar had taken all initiatives to find a solution but he was soon transferred from here, Babu said. Present Sub-Collector A Arunachalam, however, told ‘Express’ that after he has taken charge in Mahe things have gained momentum. “I personally went to Thalassery RDO office and collected all details of land acquisition there and submitted a detailed report to the Collector. It is up to the Collector to take a decision in this regard,” he said.

Whatever may be the truth behind official explanations, the fact remains that life has come to a stand still for a section of people in the region whose property has in effect been grabbed from them. 

The New Indian Express

NGOs are Weapons of Multinational Capitalism: Alexandra Lymperi

by Sucheth P R

06 Apr 2013

Kannur: Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are the most dangerous weapons in the hands of multinational capitalism, according to Alexandra Lymperi, a vibrant youngster from Greece, who is in Kannur to represent the World Federation of TradeUnions(WFTU) and the World Federation of Teachers Unions at the 14th CITU national meet being held here. Sharing her apprehensions about the impact of globalisation on education, culture and economy and trade union movements, Alexandra told the Express that the NGOs funded by capitalist groups had been engaged in dilutingthe working class ideology across the globe. International monetary agencies havedeputed hundreds of such organisations particularly in Asian and African countries, she said.

  Raising catchy pro-people slogans on all issues, these NGOs are engaged in fostering an ideological ambience suitable for popularising the policies of transnational capitalism. The trade unions in Europe are highly vigilant about the camouflaging activities of these funded agencies, Alexandra said. In the education sector, capitalist forces are making interventions to change the content of the education in such a way that the students would eventually become agents of the market,believes Alexandra.

The teachers' unions in France and Greece are engaged in a prolonged battle against the implementation of the strategies formed at a higher-education symposium held in the city of Bologna in Italy. The Bologna process is aimed at destroying the very fabric of education, Alexandra said. “The integrated study combining subjects at opposite poles makes it impossible for students to gainin-depth knowledge in any subject. They come out with blurred brains and the multinational capitalism can effectively make them agents of market,” she said. As part of this process, all concessions have been nullified and education has become a costly affair. Students' organisations at large failed to address these issues and in Europe, they concentrate on mere technical aspects of education. University bodies no longer have the representation of students' organisations, she said.

  On the impact of globalisation on cultures, Alexandra said, globalisation is determined to uproot the cultural identity of nations and bring them under the single roof of commercial aestheticism. “This strategy has not been fully successful in Greece since it is a nation with a great tradition and strong cultural roots. Yet there are obvious conflicts in the cultural sphere and Greece is of course in a transition stage,” she said. According to Alexandra, globalisation has negatively affected the economies of many countries. Globalisation has resulted in the pauperisation of many European nations including Spain, Italy and Greece. Greece followed the norms of European Union and the IMF with the expectation that the nation will be freed off debts. But the very opposite happened. The debt has increased up to four-fold within a decade. Unemployment has become rampant in all European nations. To overcome the crisis, governments are taxing the common man heavily. In Greece, the house taxes have become unbearable. Even small house owners are reeling under huge tax and a large portion of their income is thus consumed by the government.
  Globalisation is also posing serious challenges to trade unions. Though trade unions are trying to strengthen the proletarian unity, globalisation has created many impediments which seem to be insurmountable. A section of workers in the IT sector draw huge salaries and they are convinced of being part of petty bourgeois. They close eyes to the fact that they are being over-exploited by their masters whose income has crossed that of many individual nations. A challenging task is ahead of trade unions at this juncture. They will have to focus on sectors like mining and transport where life is painfully hazardous for workers, Alexandra concluded.

The New Indian Express

For a Greener Tomorrow

by Sucheth P R 

01 April 2013
Kannur:. Peethambar Park, a tiny island of greenery near the Prabhat Junction on the bustling Fort Road here is witnessing a protest lead by Kalakootam Raju and Unnikrishnan Namboothiri two environmental activists popular among townsfolk. A major chunk of the park had already been carved out for bus shelters. Bunks have also been built on the land and rented out to commercial establishments. The municipality has now plans to wipe out the trees on the remaining part of the park to construct a bus bay and a traffic circle.
  “When developed nations are chalking out all possible ways to counter global warming by protecting greenery we ruthlessly cut down trees which have been providing shade to people over decades. The governments spend crores of rupees every year for social afforestation but pay scant regard to preserve the existing patches of greenery. The municipality lacks the aesthetic and environmental sense to preserve a natural oxygen parlour at the heart of the town,” Nampoothiri and Raju said. 

  The hundred-metre long park was built on a few cents of land donated to the municipality decades ago by Gujarathi merchant Purushotham Gokuldas to construct a park in memory of his father Hemaraj Peethambar. The land for the nearby Kannur Public Library was also donated by another member of the same family. Sooryakanth Purshotham, son of Goukuldas, said that the family members are dejected and annoyed at the cruel and thoughtless attitude of the municipality. “The municipality has given the public land for others to run shops on the property donated by us for the welfare of common man. Through an RTI enquiry we were shocked to learn that the municipality had made an agreement to lease the land to private parties. This is nothing but a shameless cheating. The Arakkal Royal family and we used to provide butter milk to people who used to take shelter there from scorching heat. On several occasions we pleaded municipal authorities to preserve the precious greenery and the well inside the park which provides crystal clear water to nearby shops even in the peak days of summer. Now we are fed up as it is clear that the Municipal Council has been bribed. They are selling public property worth crores of rupees causing irreparable loss to the town.” Sooryakanth said. Meanwhile, Municipal chairperson M C Sreeja said the municipality has plans to construct a traffic circle there. “Hundreds of people wait there for buses and they need more shelters. It is meaningless to argue for a park in the middle of a busy town,” councillor Taha said.
  Of late, the park has also turned out to be dumping yard for many who throw waste in plastic covers. Yet, the gentle cool breeze offered by trees is a big solace to people who often leave bus shelters and wait in the shadow of these trees. “They have taken all decisions to carve out the park. To satisfy business interests of a few the municipality is damaging a precious green island. We will continue our protest and no one can deter us from this struggle,” Kalaootam Raju said amidst his spontaneous flow of lyrics on nature and people. 

The New Indian Express

Hawala Money Flowing into Communal Outfits: P Jayarajan

Thalassery: The Muslim League state leaders are receiving a huge chunk of the hawala money flowing to the communal outfits of Taliparamba, which don the mantle of voluntary organisations engaged in philanthropic mission, CPM Kannur district secretary P Jayarajan told ‘Express’ on Monday. He was elaborating on the issues related to the recurring clashes between the CPM and Muslim League activists in Taliparamba. "A section of Muslim League workers turn religious fanatics and join hands with armed communal outfits whenever the party comes to power. Taliparamba is the worst hit by such communal politics in recent times, and the CPM cannot remain mute spectators on such occasions," said Jayarajan. Regarding his role in the Shukkur murder case, he said, if the allegation that he did not try to prevent the murder of Ariyil Shukkur is true, the League sympathisers who claimed to have heard that at the Taliparamba Cooperative Hospital also should be on the list of the accused as they too did not try to prevent the crime. 

   He brushed aside the allegation that the CPM had used money power to win over the witnesses in the Shukkur case and said that the truth was revealed through the factionalism in the Muslim League. Jayarajan further lashed out at the SKSSF saying that it called for special prayers at mosques for Shukkur and never bothered about CPM worker Asharaf who was murdered recently. The mahal committees in the district have been widely used by the Muslim League to propagate political ideas, which is against the Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act 1988. “The party had brought this to the notice of the district police chief and the police had planned to convene a meeting of mahal committee secretaries to discuss the matter. But the chief minister and the home minister intervened and prevented that move,” he said. 

  Asked why the CPM did not launch ideological campaigns against the alleged funded move to spread communalism, Jayarajan admitted that because of the surging number of other issues, the party often fails to gain the required momentum in organising such awareness programmes. He added that communal polarisation has worsened to the extent that in several parts of North Malabar, it is reflecting even on students’ participation in arts competitions and sports meets. The organisations like the Thiyya Mahasabha also have a detrimental role in polluting the secular fabric of north Malabar, he added. 

   On the silence kept by the CPM when Congress worker Surendran was allegedly attacked by RSS workers forcing him to jump into the Anjarakkandy River the other day, he said that the Congress party was least dependable and they may join hands with the attackers and divert the whole issue. About the allegations raised from several quarters about the secret alliance between  the leadership of the BJP and CPM, Jayarajan said if any party leader tries for such compromises, he will not be in the CPM. "It is my opinion that never in future the CPM should try for a poll alliance with any communal party under any circumstances. Earlier, we had political alliance with Muslim League but history has proved that the alliance with any communal force is  catastrophic," he said.

newindianexpress.com

In Solidarity with Oppressed Womanhood

by Sucheth P R

Kannur: 'Pranayapoorvam Penkoottaymakku' (With Love to Women's Collectives) is how filmmaker M G Sasi likes to describe his documentary 'Thozhil Kendrathilekku' (To the Work Place). It is an adaptation of the first ever all-women drama made in Malayalam, jointly written by the members of the Namboothiri Antharjana Samajam and the inhabitants of the Thozhil Kendram at Lakkidi Cherumangalathu Mana which was inaugurated by E M S Namboothirippad in 1947. Having already completed 16 screenings arranged by various collectives across the state in the past two months, the documentary is obviously a hit among the women audience, especially the members of Kudumbashree units who thronged the venues of the show at many places and described the film as their own lives being portrayed on the silver screen.

  "The work place is still a symbol of the freedom and emancipation of women. Just like the Mysore weddings nowadays, the practice of marrying off women to the people in South Canara and Coorg for money was rampant among the Namboothiries in Valluvanad in the early decades of the bygone century. Many women who managed to escape from such traps sought shelter at the Thozhil Kendram which was damned and derided by men. The play was made to change the image bestowed on them by the male hegemonic forces and as a reaction of the oppressed women of the community to gender inequalities. Though 'Thozhil Kendrathilekku' deserves to be known as the first feminist play in Malayalam and a major work of feminist literature, it was not celebrated the way V T Bhattathirippad's 'Adukkalayil Ninnu Arangathekku' or MRB's 'Marakkudakkullile Mahanarakam' were," Sasi said on the sidelines of the documentary screening organised by the Chethana Film and Cultural Society at Desaseva Sangham Hall at Puthiyatheru here the other day. Sasi, a native of Valluvanad himself, wanted to give a new birth to the historic play which had been relegated to oblivion.

 The director added that he had to face the question from many feminists in the state about the moral right of a man tomake such a movie. "It's meaningless to criticise someone who expresses his solidarity with the oppressed sections of the society, including the adivasis, women or peasants." M G Sasi, director of the feature film ‘Adayalangal’ which bagged the State Awards for the Best Film and Best Direction in 2007 and the documentary ‘Kanavu Malayilekku’ which won the National Film Award for Best Educational Film in 2002, has successfully overcome the creative challenge of adapting a drama into a documentary with the help of a\ vibrant narrative style.
  Sasi's wife Geetha Joseph, daughter of writer Sarah Joseph, has played the lead role in the movie. The plot has been designed as the attempt by a new women's collective to revive the old drama. ‘Thozhil Kendrathilekku’ was enthusiastically received at Puthiyatheru and an interactive session followed the show. 

The New Indian Express

The Teacher Who Challenged DIET Criticising Content and Methodology of School Education in Kerala

by Sucheth P R 

Thalassery: Rebelling against left and right wing teachers’ unions a new collective here is all organised a send-off meeting on March 28 to honour V Raveendran, head master of Pothuvacherry West LP School, Paral, who was humiliated by union leaders for raising voice against the flaws in the report submitted by the Alappuzha DIET to the Education Department. Since the DIET (District Institute of Education Training) report, which blame teachers for the alleged ‘poor’ quality of education in the uneconomic schools in the state, did not invite criticism from the teachers’ organisations the individual teachers who protest against the flaws in the report are often ridiculed, says Raveendran who is retiring from service this month.
Raveendran along with the teachers' unity formed at Karivellur cutting across political lines has been fighting against the new syllabus being introduced in the state for the last two years. With the slogan ' Give Back the Right to Teach’ the collective has been questioning the very foundation of the new education system. Though the proponents of the new education system often boast of the effectiveness of debates, the reality is that no discussion was allowed during symposiums conducted by DIET and other agencies. “Though critical thinking and questioning were projected as vital elements of the new system whoever dares to raise doubts were mocked and humiliated by resource persons. But I used to question some of their theories and that often led to unpleasant incidents, the culmination of which was seen last day during a send-off meeting organised for over 60 head masters in Thalassery. The teachers’ organisation leaders used the occasion to hurl words of displeasure and anger against me," said Raveendaran.
The main criticism raised by Raveendran is that the new concepts of education put into practise in the state will destroy the ability for long term memory. The students who proceed with mere working knowledge without preliminary understanding of basic concepts cannot make meaningful leaps in the construction of knowledge. The notion that all children have innate talent to acquire knowledge without the help of teachers has no scientific basis and hence the concept of making them learn everything from their own observations is meaningless. He said that the numerous projects and posts which have come along with the introduction of changes in the education system have created many conveniences, including monetary benefits. Those who avail of them will go on praising anything inculcated in the system in the label of change.
The teachers who have differences of opinion with their respective unions over their silence concerning the gross flaws in the educational reforms arranged a send-off party to Raveendran Master in Thalassery on March 28. The organising committee chairman V E Kunhanandan said that a teacher who deserved to be revered by experts for his well-thought suggestions and opinions regarding the structure of education and curriculum has been made to suffer negligence and humiliation from the so-called exponents of education who actually have no concern regarding the future of coming generations and that is why we arrange this send-off meeting. A seminar on ‘Changing Society and the Realm of Education’ was also held as part of it which was addressed by A N P Ommer Kutty, former vice-chanceloor of Calicut University and CMP leader Choorayi Chandarn. 

The New Indian Express 

Thalassery Carnival Losing Its Charm Among Townsfolk

by Sucheth P R

03 April 2013
Thalassery: The Thalassery Carnival launched over three decades ago with a mission to wean away youngsters from bloody political clashes and engage them in cultural activities, fails to arouse the attention of townsfolk of late. Envisaged by then Sub-Collector of Thalassery Amitabh Kanth the carnival was introduced as a grand cultural extravaganza in 1982 after a series of political murders in 1981 threw normal life of the region out of gear. The visionary Sub-Collector whom the town always revere had the idea that a grand cultural event would heal the wounds in the minds of warring political activists and bring much needed prosperity to the heritage town. As the Carnival now entered the 31st year it has moved far from its initial objectives, lost charm and reduced to a mere venue for orchestra and dance troupes. People of the region who are now after commercially and professionally organised events in adjoining villages, shopping malls and beaches show little enthusiasm in turning up for the carnival.
The event which was interrupted for a few years at the dawn of the new millennium was revived during the term of Kodiyeri Balakrishnan as Tourism Minister. Kodiyeri had announced that the event would be included in the tourism calendar of the state and revived in an elaborate manner. Though it was also declared that the event would be conducted in January every year, this time it has been postponed to March-April. The founders of the carnival had decided to conduct it between November and January as it was found that the political violence used to reach its zentih during these months.
Till the late 1990s the carnival was conducted with the wholehearted participation of business establishments, schools, colleges, NCC and arts and sports clubs in the region. The entire town used to get decorated in novel ways which used to charam travellers. Historical monuments of the town, including the Thalassery Fort and the dark caverns in it were opened for public during day and night. A grand food festival offering the unique items of Thalassery was another attraction of the carnival. 

Artist K K Marar said that it was the success of the Thalassery Carnival in the 1980s which later prompted Amitabh Kanth to introduce Malabar Fest in Kozhikode when he was appointed Collector there. He said that the people of Thalassery have been fed up with the mere repetition of substandard mimicries and orchestras being presented in carnival venues recently. 

“The carnival organisers should respect the aesthetic sense of the people. Lack of variety in programmes and the absence of innovative cultural events have dampened the spirit of a great idea. The art forms from various parts of India should be staged in the carnival. The Tourism Department has the responsibility, in ensuring quality of programmes beyond sponsoring the event” he added. 

Literary critic M P Radhakrishnan said that a festive context like the carnival must have its intellectual content which is noticeably missing in Thalassery. 

“The carnival has been reduced to an event of self indulgence on the part of television heroines and mimicry artists. Those who mastermind this drama do not go beyond its commercial texture. Central to this farce is a void which is suggestive of our intellectual bankruptcy,” he added. 

The New Indian Express

Gas Leak Scare Chokes Thalassery Town

Sucheth P R
28 March 2013

Lorry cleaner Dennis with the fire extinguisher that leaked

Thalassery:The town witnessed unusualpanicky scenes on Wednesday morning following rumours about a gas inferno. The incident occurred at 11.30 am whena damaged fire extinguisherof a truck carrying LPG cylinders leaked. The chemical powder burst out of it soon formed a white fumes inside the driver's cabin. Hearing the bursting sound and seeing smoke in the truck on A V K Nair Road at Narangappuram, panickedpeople including women and children started running towards seaside and many of them fell down and suffered minor injuries. Drivers left vehicles, policemen abandoned stations and officemen and schoolchildren joined them in the panicked race to save themselves. A few cops added to the chaos saying that they smelt leaked gas. Barbers left their customers and people started running with half-shaven faces and half-cut hair. Within minutes the entire town wore a strange deserted look with vehicles scattered on roads and opened shops without people. Meanwhile, the Ernakulam-Kannur Intercity Express was detained at Mahe Station for about 45 minutes and rumour spread in Mahe also. People calmed down only after the Sub-Collector, Tahasiladar and senior police officials reached the accident spot and informed that the situation was out of danger. By the time, a sea of people had formed near the pier, Sea View Park and Centenary Park near the District Courts about two km away from Narangappuram. The truck (KL-09 R 7093) which had left the scene in the meantime was later takEn into custody from Mahe. “We stopped near Mahe to wash the vehicle as it was difficult to travel with the thick layer of white chemical substance that filled the cabin. The police who first allowed us to leave the place, later took us into custody from there,” truck cleaner Dennis said. He addedthat the truck was returning from Kalliassery to Chelari in Malappuram with empty cooking gas cylinders. “Asone of the fire extinguishers was damaged, we had keptit in the cabin. The lid of it was accidentally pressed against the cabin box and that caused the chaos.A shiver ran down our spines as chemicals burst with big noise,” he added. The Fire and Rescue Services personnel could not reach the spot as people left vehicleson road causing traffic snarls. A case has been registered against truck driver Yeldo for reckless driving, Thalassery police said.

The New Indian Express

Re-reading of Paavangal can awaken a new political conscience'

By Sucheth P R | 

KOCHI 08th October 2012

As celebrations galore in Europe to mark the 150th anniversary of a renowned classic novel, before which the masters of the genre Leo Tolstoy and Dostoevsky bowed their heads, its reverberations are felt in Kerala as well. Yearlong events are being held in the state as part of the sesquicentennial celebrations of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables (1862), a novel of profound humanism and genuine compassion which had enlightened the writers, political activists and literary enthusiasts around the world.  A committee comprising prominent writers and academicians, chaired by former Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Kerala University N A Karim, is spearheading the events in the state. While briefing on the relevance of the celebrations Karim said that a re-reading of the classic manifesting the great ideals of human dignity and justice can arouse a new political conscience in the state.

 Over the years the novel has got more than hundred and seventy film adaptations in different languages. The movie Neethipeedam released in Malayalam in 1977 is a free rendering of the novel in the Kerala context.

Veteran actor Madhu who essayed the lead role in the movie proudly remembered it as the most challenging and beautiful role in his career.

Madhu’s character Velayudhan in the movie was that of the novel’s protagonist Jean Valjean.  It was one of the most remarkable performances of the actor after his role in Chemmeen.

 Better known as Paavangal in Kerala after the epoch-making translation by Nalappat Narayana Menon in 1925 Hugo’s novel had a pivotal role in moulding  the socio-political sensibilities of erstwhile literary luminaries in Malayalam, including Basheer, Thakazhi and Kesavadev. Poet Vallathol’s remark that Paavangal should be read in front of ‘nilavilakku’ as if devouring a sacred text is a befitting testimony to the novel’s influence in the society then. “It was an astonishing factor that a man of an elite class had translated a novel on the poor, that too before the emergence of the progressive literature movement in the language,” said N A Karim.  New editions of the novel’s translation have hit the book stalls recently. Venu V Desam, a noted translator of classics in Malayalam, who recently rendered a fresh translation of the novel suiting the sensibilities of present day readers, said that the work was well received by the literary enthusiasts in the state.

In his foreword to the latest edition of Paavangal writer M Mukundan has described the work as ‘the mother of all novels’. ‘Make youngsters, including students and emerging politicians, read Paavangal’ is the motto of the celebrations in the state. The organisers are of the view that it will cleanse their minds and enlighten their subjectivities. A slew of programmes, including talks by eminent writers, film shows, staging of plays, painting exhibitions and scriptwriting competition will be held across the nook and cranny of the state as part of the celebrations. 

The festivities have already been held with the vibrant participation of eminent writers and literary enthusiasts at Thiruvananthapuram, Thodupuzha, Angamaly, Kozhikode and Thalassery. Writer N Prabhakaran who inaugurated the gathering at Thalassery said that Paavangal is a ‘must read’ for politicians and a re-reading of the novel would make politics more humane and meaningful.

The New Indian Express