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