Corruption in India and the Rise of Aam Aadmi Party

It seems that corruption is a way of life for Indians and the citizens of the land don't mind giving bribe to put their things in a fast track mode which otherwise would get trapped in Red-Tapes. I think that corruption is the lubricant that keeps the political missionary functioning back here in India. Invariably, all the politicians are corrupt irrespective of the political parties they all belong to. As the whole system itself is corrupt, it has become totally impossible for any party or any politician to remain uncorrupt. Being in politics rather being a politician is no more a service, it is turned to be a profession where they can loot money from state exchequer and become rich in the blink of an eye.

At record speed a church is being constructed at Thodupuzha

Thodupuzha/Cheppukulam, December 12, 2013: The construction works of the new St. Thomas Catholic Church at Cheepukkulam are getting completed at record speed. The church which foundation stone was laid on December 18, 2012 will be blessed on December 18, 2013.

Language has got more connotative meanings that it really denotes

Meenamma and I were strolling through one of the serene campuses of India, MCC College. With its greenery, scrub forest, herd of deer, peacock make the campus one of the most-sought-after campuses and that is what truly allures everyone to the campus. I had a bad habit of introducing my classmate-friends to my other friends in the campus. On this fine evening Meenamma and I were walking towards Principal's road and a friend of mine named Mejo came towards us and I greeted him with a smile and I told him, Mejo, “This is my girl friend, Meenamma.” Meenamma went flabbergasted, nervous and uncomfortable at least for a few seconds, although she knew that I have all these pranks in my stock. After a small pause, I continued, “she is my girl friend, friend who is a girl.”

Guy is brutally beaten up by girl trying to grab her chicken fry

Kochi, November 04, 2013: It is first of its kind incident occurring in Kochi. Sniffing out it was chicken and fish fry in Deepika’s (name changed) lunch box, Sudhi (name changed) tried to snatch away her lunch box was allegedly beaten up by her in the Swoparnika L.S bus, which makes it service from Pala to Ernakulam, here in Vyttila Junction. The incident occurred when the bus reached in Vyttila Junction at 8.45am on Monday. Both of them boarded the bus from Koothattukulam and were travelling in the bus. When the accused, Sudhi, was about to unboard at Vyttila tried to snatch away Deepika’s lunch box and Deepika who was on alert bet him severely and saved her lunch box.

“I have no boyfriend;’ for you have had five boyfriends, and the one you have now is not your boyfriend.

The above anecdote from Holy Bible is being contextualized and rewritten in the today’s scenario where a good percentage of Bangalore Malayali Christian girls are reliving the life of the Samaritan woman whom Jesus confronts when she came to draw water from the well. The Holy Gospel according to St. John Chapter 4, word-cycles from 1 to 40 narrate the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman.   

If we could anticipate the catastrophe – we would be better equipped to handle it

Life is always a blend of both happiness and sorrows as there is a sunlight for a rain and there is a mountain for a valley. When we are obsessed with people and things we are unlikely to foresee the other side of the coin as in the kind of catastrophe that could occur other way around. If we could anticipate emotionally the misfortune that is about to hit us we will be better equipped to handle when it really hits us with a sudden turnaround of things.  

An innocent girl being forced to wear a cruel-mask

The gender she belongs to and the unprecedented atrocities against her flock make otherwise sweet girl to act stubborn and to be looked cruel. Annamika is the epitome of the slogan ‘Survival of the Fittest’ and teaches us that a girl should find ways to move forward in the patriarchal society which looks down woman as an object where her subjectivity is being always challenged and at stake.

Life of common man always crippled by government’s inaction

The mantra of Oommen Chandy led UDF government is ‘with great speed more distance.’ But on the contrary here the life of a common man is moving at snail's pace, this is the how the slogan is actually translated into the life of common man. The life of a common man is always torn asunder and his life is always at troubleshoots when the government which is supposedly to work for his well being is always in quiescence.

Mass Contact Programme of Oommen Chandy just a political game

The much hyped mass contact organized by Shri.  Oommen Chandy takes us back to the period of old kingly rule where the King used to meet his people (praja) on special occasions and seeking their needs, he fulfilled their wishes in terms of money and material goods. In a democratic system of government, it is not the way that the government should function, when we have a well established administrative hierarchy and various departments to look into the matters concerning the people and implement solutions.

Chovva Dosham a fact or a fable?

It is an astrological blend that occurs if Mars (Mangal) is in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, or 12th house of the Vedic astrology Ascendant chart. A person born in the presence of this state is termed a manglik. This state is astrologically believed to be inauspicious for marriages, causing uneasiness and tension in relationship, leading to total disharmony among the couples and sooner or later to other bigger problems. This is accredited to the "fiery" nature of Mars, the planet of war.

How far Kerala emerged after Emerging Kerala Investor meet - 2012?

It has been one year since the much hyped Emerging Kerala – Investor meet organized in Kochi on September 12 - 14, 2012 to woo investors and thus, to bring more business to the economical capital of the state, Kochi. But the question remains, how far Kerala emerged after the much hyped Emerging Kerala?

The dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu over Mullaperiyar dam – Aftermath of the Divide and Rule policy of British being continued?

Bearing in mind the gravity of chaos and dispute between the Mullaperiyar dam, I am forced to believe that the Divine and Rule Policy of British Kingdom is still prevailing in India thought they left our country 67 years back. The ripples of evil regime of British Kingdom are still prevailing in India as well as the good deeds that they had initiated in our country though it was for the easy domination over Indians.

The second thought is the best

I am swiftly reminded of a satirical joke on How to avoid the first-sight love and the answer is to have a second sight. Having said this let me come to the point, when life throws numerous questions right in front of us; it is always difficult to take a right decision in the given context.  When the expectation is high and we are ought to deliver our duties triggered with tension and worries our first thought rather decision might go wrong. 

If superstition is an act of reinforcement, what about faith in God?

Rationalists and theists always argue that superstition is simply an act of reinforcement. For an example when a person sets out his journey, a cat happens to jump in front of him and crosses his way as the result; his journey was turned out to be utter mess. Later, he would find out its reasons as the jumping of the cat and crossing his way. Thus, the cat jumping in front of him and crossing his way is reinforced and it has been considered bad omen.

Democratic (country) – just an adjective used???

The preamble of the constitution aptly defines what a democratic country is and it sounds great when it is put in words but in reality it is not that fabulous. Anything that is put in words sounds vibrant but not in pragmatism so as the case with democratic, as the common definition of the Democratic Country goes: – It is By the People, For the People and Of the People.

Juvenile being exempted from committed crime is ridiculous

The arrest of 17-year-old in the outrageous sexual assault and slaughter of Delhi victim, Nirbhaya in December 16, 2013 and 16-year-old in the heinous sexual assault of Mumbai journalist in August 22, 2013 reveal the alarming rates of the involvement of juveniles in heinous sexual assaults. In both the cases, the juvenile sexually assaulted the girls atrociously but what was more shocking was that the Child Welfare Society and Human Right Activists were up in arms demanding that they should not be punished, being juveniles.

There always exists ceasefire between the so-called Political Arch Enemies

Irrespective of the political ideologies the parties belong to, both ruling and opposition parties are equally corrupt, therefore, there is always a leeway of ceasefire between the political arch enemies on any political deadlock or impasse of governance over any scam. The hostility between ruling and opposition parties on political matters that we get to read in the newspapers and watch in television channels is mere fiction.

Life is rather a becoming

People have various theories about life based on what they wish to become or achieve in life, a few is tended to follow the theory of Karma, a few believe in destiny, for a few everything is accidental but the rest of the them think that it is all providential.

Film stars - people with the least social commitments

Perhaps, in no other profession people are so much so indebted to general public for what one has become than in movie industry. One’s dramatic skills alone would not make him a great artist, he becomes a great artist when his skills are acknowledged, applauded and above all watched in theater. Film stars greatly owe to their audience for what they have become but many a time they have least commitment to the people and the society at large.

Diesel Vs Petrol Car Variants – mileage – mere psychological satisfaction

When every middle class Indian decides to chase down his dream to own a car, the first thing he would try to negotiate with himself and the car is the mileage that his car would be offering him with. The middle class Indians are more concerned about mileage other than comfort, luxury and safety features that the car could offer him.

Manju Warrier making a comeback after 14 years of 'Vanavasa'

Having been there in the limelight of popularity and fame for hardly 3 years that movie could offer her, then making a comeback after 14 years of ‘vanavasa’ through the visual advertisement of Kalyan Silks is fabulous and what a comeback it is indeed. It clearly shows her star value and popularity have not diminished at all but only rose dramatically otherwise a leading brand, Kalyan Silks, would not have done an advertisement staring Manju Warrier though it is with the legend Amitabh Bachchan.

Growing girl child mannish

In the quest to have a boy child against ancestral, social, economical and religious backdrops, couple would keep on procreating children until they have a boy child. Despite of all the attempts made, if they have only girl children born, imbued with the desire to have a boy child perhaps the youngest girl child in the family would be brought up virile and it is happening other way around as well.

Time is the perfect gift that we could give to someone

If someone tells you, ‘Dear, I have time for YOU’ perhaps that would the best gift that he could give to you. We are living in a fast moving modern world where people do not have time for each other and if someone has ears to listen to our needs, sorrows, and worries that would be the greatest thing he could do unto us. Anything could be sold and bought in this consumer market but not time (of course advertisement time slot could be sold and bought, but what is meant here is the personal time we have in front us as 24 hours a day format). 

The two ‘Apsaras’ who wooed the Tapasya of Oommen Chandy led UDF government

An apsara is a female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. Apsaras are beautiful, supernatural female beings. They are youthful and elegant, and superb in the art of dancing. They are often the wives of the Gandharvas, the court musicians of Indra. They dance to the music made by the Gandharvas, usually in the palaces of the gods, entertain and sometimes seduce gods and men. Urvasi, Menaka, Rambha and Tilottama are the most famous among them. 

Over-pampering causes high suicide rates among children

We have too many uncles and aunts, that means our parents were blessed with so many siblings but when it comes to the preset nuclear family system there is only one child for the parents, whether it is a boy or a girl. Population explosion, economical and social status, financial condition force a family to go by the slogan ‘Hum ek humem ek’ and as a result there is only one child is being brought up by the parents. 

Nadakkavu-Koothattukulam highway made a canal of accidents

As one side of the Nadakkavu-Koothattukulam highway is muddy now, KSRTC bus plunging into the pipe-line canal on Monday, June 17, 2013 when the monsoon is in its full swing

The highway with the abrupt curves, heaps and slope was already a risky path for the public to commute on daily basis therefore, there had been huge campaigns and agitation from the local civics on tunneling the Nadakkavu-Koothattukulam highway for Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) to reach drinking water for Kochi from Piravom River. But blindly closing the eyes to all these protests and campaigns, K. Babu, Minister for Fisheries, Ports and Excise, nodded for the already-delayed pipe-laying project to woo the voters of his constituency and thus to have an easy win for the coming election.

How ‘live’ are our so-called live news channel discussions?

Photo Caption: On Wednesday, June 12, 2013, 9pm to 10pm news hour, where M.B. Rajesh MP of CPM (I) taking part in the live news channel discussions over A move to establish Federal Allies both in Indiavision and Mathrubhumi news channels simultaneously.

Generally news are created, anything and everything don’t just turn out to be news contrary to the parameters that define news; prominence, timeliness, proximity, impact, magnitude, controversy, novelty and emotional impact. Keralalites are blessed to have 5 exclusive news channels to watch news live; Asianet News, Manorama News, Indiavision, Reporter, Mathrubhumi and part-time news channels such as; Jeevan TV, Surya TV, Jai Hind, Amrita TV and Media one.

Does mega serial elicit behavioral changes in serial artists?

Eventually, we would end up being what we have been exposed to. Unlike movie shooting, mega serial shooting is very prolonged and the artists have to be in the shoes of the particular cast that they have been giving life on screen throughout. A movie shooting could be done within a month or a couple of months and the stars who finish their roles in one movie embrace another character in the next. So there is no question of being in a particular character for a long-drawn-out time period and therefore, the old character is soon forgotten and paves way for the new one.

Keralites becoming sadists or what ……….

Having come across a few TV programmes in the leading Malayalam channels, what I strongly feel is that Keralites are enjoying sadistic pleasures and find happiness out of it. To ascertain the facts, here are the catalog of such programmes; Asianet has a new programme titled ‘Bharthakkanmarude Sradhakku’ (For the attention of husbands), Mazhavil Manorama had a reality programme titled ‘Veruthe Alla Bharya’ (Wife is not worthless), Amrita TV has ‘Kathayallithu Jeevitham’ (life is not mere a story) and Kairali TV has ‘Amma Ammayiamma’ (Mother-Mother-in-law) and all these programmes pointing to one single subject matter that is the sadist frame of mind of Keralites.

Allegedly, all decisions are right when taken

Deliberately, no one would axe his or her own life taking any bad decisions. Supposedly all the decisions are right at the moment they are taken, but course of time we would gradually start getting puzzled out whether the taken decisions were right or wrong with their practical implications and responses the taken decisions have brought in our life. We presume that all the decisions we have taken in our life, whether big or small, are precise.

Who are the ultimate encroachers of this land?

When we coin the headline, we put it as ‘Animals intrude human territory and devastate cultivation,’ but if animals were to coin the headline for the same news, how it would have been? Perhaps it would be ‘Humans attack animals when they entered into their land’ or so.   

Dekha jab maine pehli baar usko

doKa jaba  maOMnao phlaI baar ]sakao

lagaa mauJao bah maorI hOM

mahsaUsa huAa Pyaar ]sasao

magar khU^M maOM Apnao Pyaar ]sao kOsao?

saahsa nahI qaa mauJamaoM ]sasao baatoM krnao

magar maorI Aa^MKaoM ]sakI tlaaSa maoM rhI

banaayaa  mauJao KuSa ]sakI naja,dIkI

magar khU^M maOM Apnao Pyaar ]sao kOsao?

The fake moral consciousness built within us

Despite the fact that we have universally accepted moral laws and codes of ethics, we ourselves have created a false individual moral consciousness within us on which we all operate. Each of us have created a set of individual moral laws and ethical codes for ourselves based on our convenience and comfort level and we operate on them. That is why most of the time we get into arguments and try proving that we have been right, though our moral laws and codes of ethics do not correspond to the universal codes of ethics and morality.

The short-lived new generation marriages

In a marriage wholly decided and arranged by the parents of both the parties; bride and groom, perhaps our grand parents met each other for the first time could be on the very day of their engagement. The height, weight, complexion, educational qualification, job, monthly income, interests, hobbies and nothing was asked about or enquired neither by the groom nor by the bride. It was not a matter of concern at all. Despite of all these, those marriages lasted long and it was fruitful. Unlike the new generation youngsters, they did not have any facility or medium of communication to know more about their life partner nor did have a space to interact with their would-be life partner before engagement but the marriage lasted long. Among them, perhaps the divorce was an unheard word.

Corruption is a way of life for Indians

Seemingly majority of Indians go by the general notion that ‘Corruption is a lubricant that keeps political machinery functioning.’ I feel that a good percentage of Indians keep the same psychology when it comes to giving and taking bribe. When the government proceedings and files get stuck in the red tape, it is bribe that puts everything back in a fast track mode and gets the things done for the beneficiaries.   

Inevitably Kochi needs flyovers not metro rail

Finally, the much awaited and acclaimed metro rail project is on the track after having the whole project got into the web of controversies and political deadlock. As far as the traffic woes are concerned in the city, the immediate requirement of Kochi is flyovers not metro rail project. The four traffic junctions at Edappally, Pipeline Vyttila and Kudannoor alone burn approximately 10khs rupees worth fuel due to the traffic gridlock every day, an expert study reported. Metro rail can only give a posh look to the city and get Kochi a place in the map of metro cities of India. 

Coalition government always in a troubleshooting mode

Gone are the days of any single party enjoying the absolute majority to be in power in a multiparty democratic system thus parties had to come together and set up a coalition government to keep the system functioning. After the independence of India, for almost three and half decades Congress party enjoyed absolute majority but since 1990s India was following a relatively new concept of coalition government as the single party failed to get the majority to form a government.

Failure of life begins when we start lamenting on our past decisions

What we are today is the end result of the series of decision that we have taken in our life journey. Decision does not necessarily means the involvement of large amount of people, time, thinking process and money that have gone into but any small step we make in our life is a decision. I am writing a blog on ‘Failure of life begins when we start regretting on our past decisions’ is a small decision of mine to do so. Therefore, any action we perform is the end result of our intellectual decision and perhaps a decision could turn around our life itself.

The war over water is on

“If there is a 3^rd world war, it would be over drinking water,” someone had predicted it long back and the current scenario is leading to this devastating scenario.  Fight over water is already begun; the Kerala – Tamil Nadu dispute on Mullaperiyar water and Karnataka - Andra Pradesh on Kavari Water.  Water has become so dearer to us because of its scarcity and it is not a product that can be produced in any factory like any other product but it is a free gift of nature.  

High-end phone, a symbol of social status??

Chappa Kurishu - Malayalam movie, directed by Sameer Thahir, starring Fahadh Fazil and Vineeth Sreenivasan in lead characters, as people living in two poles of life, luxury and poverty, depicts the kind of transition that takes place in Vineeth Sreenivasan once he gets a high-end phone. He speaks it to his lover that the amount of confidence he has within himself while having the high-end phone with him. 

Well beginning but lost the momentum

It was a well beginning for the UDF government with a mantra ‘with great speed more distance.’ Literally, the government was living up to its mantra. Though it is always said well begun is half done but the UDF Government led by Oommen Chandy sworn in on 18 May 2011 to power with a thin majority, had only a well beginning. After 1 year, the government lost its sheen and started limping, issues triggered by its allies. Now the governance is progressing in snail’s space.   

Culture - Kerala

Culture is the spontaneous outburst of happiness, excitement and contentment of life. The culture is the celebration of life, the way how people live their life happily with the resources and conveniences that the region provides. The combination of climate, nature, food production, health and happiness ascertains a culture thus the culture resembles the very life style of the people of the particular region.

Christian fasting purely westernized

As far as the Eastern Church is concerned, the fasting concept that has been followed by the entire Catholic Church is purely a western concept. As part of Catholic Church’s inculturation policy, Eastern Church should have adopted a new method of fasting long back, in terms of the intake of the food items during the fasting periods. 

Negation always calls for action

The moment we are asked ‘not to do’ something somehow we all would end up doing it otherwise we would not have made an attempt to do it at all or perhaps not event thought of it. So negation always spreads a subliminal message and calls for reverse action.

The Tale of ‘Twin’ Hunt (Final Part)

Due to the unprecedented internal issues, every proceeding of the twin hunt is put on a halt now; perhaps this is going to be the final part of The Tale of ‘Twin’ Hunt and I strongly feel both as a huntsman and writer I had a space in the mind of my ardent readers and I could sustain the interest of my passionate readers with a real life story. I thought of putting in words whatever attempt has been made from my end, as a result the whole hunt would have five parts altogether because my life is always an open book.

Bangalore-Malayali girls carry a bad tag always

Invariably, every Indian guy who has been there in abroad, when it comes to marriage, would be looking for a traditional Indian bride and it is the same case with Malayali guys they least prefer a Malayali girl who had been there in Bangalore on account of studies or job. Banaglore-studied and worked girls have less demand when it comes to marriage market and it is a fact discussed among the guys.

The Tale of ‘Twin’ Hunt (Part IV)

When I sit down to pen the Part IV of The Tale of ‘Twin’ Hunt, I feel that I have lost the zeal and there is no vigor in my hunt or in narrating the story. However, I thought I should continue with the story for the sake of it and for the friends who already know all the 3 parts of Tale of ‘Twin’ Hunt.

Old age home and orphanage set up spread a culture of abandonment

Indeed, it was the need of the hour to set up old age homes and orphanages when people were no longer willing to bear the unwanted burdens and piles of responsibility in their busy life. But the paradox is that these old age homes and orphanages set up are spreading a culture of abandonment thus more of this kind are coming up like mushrooms and are turned to be a big business under the label of charitable act. 

Sexual crimes being reported more like erotic novels

Adding all the ingredients to it, the media spices up the sexual offense case and present it like erotic novel thus it is being sold like hot cakes. Reading the sexual crime stories that get published in the newspapers is more like reading an erotic novel that we get to read in any of the weekly publications. Reading the spiced up sexual crimes our imagination go wide and really get the feel of the incident. Though it is a sexual crime reported, readers get to read it with all kinds of ingredients and thus enjoy maximum reading it.

Contributory pension system and the chaos it makes

When all the 25 states of the country have already adapted the contributory pension system, why these kinds of fuss and chaos are being made by the leftist parties in the state? The age old pension scheme is the biggest challenges before the state exchequer where more than 60% of the budget money is spent on pension which should have been otherwise put in for development projects of the state.

Women are equally culpable for the atrocities happening against them

As the responsible citizens of the society, both men and women should share the guilt and shame for the unprecedented atrocities that are happening against the women in the society. Men alone can’t be blamed for all these disgraceful actions against women instead there are women who are stealthily sponsoring all these kinds of atrocities though it is not deliberate.