A day at Koodankulam

 
A day at Koodankulam

Lawn of sagar Milan

 

Vishnu had often said that the guesthouse at Kudankulam Atomic Power station township and the private beach are very attractive and that we can go and stay there for a day.  I was one of those who opposed the agitation by SP Udayakumar and a few locals against the nuclear power plant in 2011. That time I had the intention to visit the place, but not materialized. So I became happy to take the opportunity.

 In Tamil Nadu, there was a power cut of 16-18 hours that time. Many of the companies were locked up. I remember that there was half an hour power cut  in Kerala too. Our environmental activists had written numerous articles against the nuclear plant. There was a lot of negative news like the fishes would die due to release of hot water to the sea , the human beings  would not be able to tolerate nuclear radiation etc. The protest became strong after  the Fukushima accident in Japan . The protesters received foreign aid as certain countries wanted to torpedo the Russian project. The church also joined. In 2012, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a statement in the Lok Sabha about the diversion of fund received for religious activities by three NGOs to support  the agitation. A case was registered against them for misappropriation of foreign money. The agitation was later called off. The first plant became operational in 2013. Kerala also gets 266 MW of electricity now from kudankulam plant.

 The township is located on the road from Nagercoil to Thiruchendur via Anchugramam. We informed our arrival for lunch and left Nagarcoil at eleven o'clock.  The road was not so smooth ,but we arrived there at one o'clock. The township can be summed up in one word, beautiful. I did not expect the township to be so wonderful. Well-planned roads, buildings, large open spaces, grounds for various games, shops, school, flats and guesthouse enhance the beauty of the township. Nice green gardens are the most attractive. As soon as we reached the Sagar Milan guest house where we were staying, we felt the positive energy that surrounds us. Everywhere ,we can see  birds and trees,excellent clean spaces.  Delicious food, lovingly served by the staff added its beauty. We rested on the lawn for some time after the meal. Grand daughter Padma  also enjoyed it. Just watching the  peacocks, cranes and various migratory birds roam the fields in search of food ,itself was interesting.

 We went into the room and rested for a while. In the evening ,we  went to the beach. It is a private beach with access only to those who live in the township. Nice clean shore. There were about ten people. One security person was there. He said ,on safety point ,bathing is not allowed.We agreed to it though the waves are not very strong. We thoroughly enjoyed the beach and the sea. Spent about two hours there. Came back and had dinner. The north indian dishes were extremely good. Mean while , a Malayalee working at the nuclear power plant came there. He already knew Vishnu. He is a member of the Thripunithura Palace. His conversation was humorous enough and interesting. He talked about the agitation against the nuclear power plant. He said ,the evacuees received large sums of money. The natives got jobs also. All those who were protesting then, feel guilty of that. The same was agreed by the staff there.
 
The public has the opportunity to see the nuclear plant,he said. Before Covid,there was a flow of school- college students every day, but ,now, comparatively less . The township is home to 7,000 people,with all the facilities  including hospitals. We decided to visit the nuclear power plant next time. He reminded that  children under 12 would not be permitted. We  said goodbye to him and walked out and spent some time on campus and into the park. We woke up in the morning to the sounds of birds. Sreekutty and Vishnu had to go to work, so we started  before breakfast.We returned with full satisfaction. Vishnu and Sreekuttan went to  Thoothukudi and we to Nagercoil.

Enjoying the beach

A red salute to this comrade

 

A red salute to this comrade

 Such comrades are very rare at present , who follow the ethical politics and find difficulty to survive  .Nanmaran is such a person.  He is a two-time Member of the Legislative Assembly from Madurai East constituency in Tamil Nadu. He led many struggles for workers' rights and is now in his seventies. His wife N. Shanmukhavalli is 60 years old. They are living in rented accommodation in Rajakoor. He lives according to party law and pays his pension to the party. Instead, the party gives back  a monthly allowance of Rs 12,000. Of this, a rent of Rs 6,000 has to be paid. 6000 per month for expenses.

 His current wish is to live with his wife in a house of his own. He has applied to the Madurai Collector for a house to be included in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

 Nanmaran is a rarity nowadays where even local leaders have become owners of their own homes and cars. I urge the comrades not to leave him to the mercy of the government. Party should stop the traditional  practice of collecting the pension of people's representatives.  Even if all the comrades in the country pay Rs 10 each, party can build a good house for Nanmaran . It would be appropriate to consider such a campaign as well. Nanmaran should be made a subject of study in party classes. Anyway a red salute to this comrade!!

What the youth of Kerala can do

 

What the youth of Kerala can do

 Kerala is currently in the midst of a wave of protests by those included in the PSC rank list. Backdoor appointments and permanency to contract posts are in full swing. This is nothing new. This is the dirt that the LDF and the UDF constantly perpetuate. It will be widespread just before the end of the term . It involves party influence, personal influence and ruling party's  fund raising etc. This is one of the many pitfalls of democracy. It needs to end forever.

 The youth of Kerala should become a force to be reckoned with to include this issue in the manifesto. There is a need for a campaign for that now.

Now ,the Kerala Public Service Commission prepares the rank list slowly and it is time consuming. Departments and institutions report vacancies even slower. Two things can be put forward to solve this.

1. The Kerala Public Service Commission should be entrusted with the work of selecting candidates for the posts which need written test and interview.Government should start Kerala Staff Selection Commission with modern facilities for recruitment in all other posts for which Government pays. Arrangements should be made to make the appointment within three months if the vacancy is reported. There should be a law to be passed by the Assembly in this regard. Provisions should be there to take action  on those responsible for delay in appointments.

2. The term of temporary appointments should be fixed at 6 months. The legislature must also pass a law deciding that .No one who takes on a temporary appointment for any reason will be made permanent. The personal staff of the people's representatives, including the ministers, should also be appointed only through the Staff Selection Commission.

 Beyond politics, young people need to be able to make the tough decision to vote only for those who accept these terms and include them in the manifesto. I wish that there would be a forum be formed  from the agitation ground in front of the Secretariat.

A rainy day in Chitaral

Western side of the monument

Rock pillar

A rainy day in Chitaral

I went to Chitaral a year ago with Jayasree,Sajeev and Radhakrishnan . It was in the scorching heat of a midday,but we enjoyed the visit thanks to the  soothing wind of the hills. At that time, I thought of visiting this place on a rainy day. Only recently had it become possible. Sreekutty, Vishnu, Sreekuttan, Vava, Jayasree and I  planned to leave in the afternoon. It was three o'clock when we finally left Nagercoil. Cloudy atmosphere indicated possibility of a rain.When we got there it was doubtful whether the time for entry would be over. It was half past four. Admission is until 5 p.m. We paid Rs.20/- for car parking to the lady who took contract from the panchayat for that. She  has a small shop near by.

 The official entry time is up to 5 but people stay until 6:30, she said.When we began climbing,it started to rain. We carried umbrella and  hats. There is a short walk to the monument. The path is good having  trees on the sides. Cashew plants are abundant in the compound. More than fifty people, including Malayalees, were there then. Many enjoyed the rain, including Sreekuttan. Two young local men were exercising on a rock in the rain. Even though I was getting old, I thought of  join with them. Since Jayasree is with me, it is common to contain such ambitions. She cares about my health!

 Carefully climbed up the hill through the wet rock. The rock is not slippery. We reached the top of the hill through the steps carved in the rock. The view of  Kanyakumari district from Chitral hills is really a wonderful one ,a  confluence of greenery and clouds.

Chitaral Hill had been inhabited by Jain monks since the 1st century BC. The monument was developed during the reign of Mahendra Varman I in the 6th century. The Digambara Temple was built in the 9th century. The entrance to the temple is through a naturally formed gorge. There is a sculpture of Parshvanath and Padmavathi carved in the rock. The guards are Yakshas and cobra. In the left corner is a sculpture of three Tirthankaras standing. Mahavira and Ambika in the middle. Two children, an attendant and a lion can also be seen carved. The descriptions on the donors are in vattezhuth. The  cave temple is in the western side. There is a mandapa, a veranda and a balikallu . The three chambers have Mahavira in the middle, Devi on the right and Parshvanath on the left. Vimana of the temple was damaged due to lightning years back. In front of the temple there is a natural pond on the rock. Going further after the pond, there is another rock. Sreekuttan and Vishnu went there too. Kunju vava enjoyed the rain and the temple surroundings.The rain slowly subsided, we enjoyed it. The threads of rain that obscure the horizons and then the mist began to spread slowly.

In the 13th century, there was a move to make it a Bhagavathi temple and the move still continues. Chitaral Hill is under  the Thrissur region of the Archaeological Survey of India. The monuments under the Archaeological Survey of India have a poor exposure. The same is true here. A museum on Jain influence in South India and a description of the temple can be provided . It would be better to train two or three local people and appoint them on a daily basis . Local body  can provide  guides for those who need them  at a fixed fee. It is also advisable to charge a fee of Rs 10 for entry to the premise. The mobile number of the guide and others can also be given. It is necessary to be able to maintain and preserve the Jain monument by providing more facilities in association with state government and local body, without disturbing the ambience and aesthetics of the temple .

It was raining when we got off. We returned with the pleasure of a happy evening.

Natural pond

Vishnu and Padmavathi

Jayasree in front of the temple

Yaksha in front of the temple

 

Kerala top on number of Covid patients- Is this also considered a golden feather?

 

Is this also considered a golden feather?

 

Now,Kerala has the highest number of Covid patients in India . Will the Government consider it also as an award ?No idea. What was the situation a few months ago. An hour-long press conference by the esteemed Chief Minister in the presence of two ministers as security on either side,one of them was the Minister of Health. He had given  details of the containment  zone, which was being set up even in a panchayat ward . He also announced the amount collected and deposited to CM's relief fund by different organizations. He was not satisfied with health workers performance and handed over  health related  work to the police. Social media contingent projected Kerala being the world's first in handling Covid, projected Chief Minister as a Messiah. No one cared that at this time Kerala was only conducting 50% sensitive antigen tests on a limited number of people,instead of RTPCR test that was advised by the Centre. Malayalis blamed the guest workers coming from other states including Tamil Nadu as those spreading the disease.In fact, Kerala was on a tactical strategy to ensure that the total number of patients diagnosed did not exceed one thousand and that reported deaths were limited to one or two.

 

During this time, more than 50,000 people in Tamil Nadu were subjected to mandatory RTPCR tests on a daily basis. When more than 7500 patients were found there daily, we said,the health sector in Tamil Nadu was in bad shape and should make Kerala as the model.The same time, health department of TN made the daily test up to 75,000. The peak of the disease was detected and then the graph began to decline. It has declined from five thousand to one thousand and now from 38 districts of TN, only 500 people are found sick on a daily basis. The same time , Kerala was moving beyond one thousand and five thousand. Now Tamilians are afraid of Malayalis coming to Tamil Nadu. After the entry of "celebrities" like Swapna and Saritha as political swords , the great victory in the local government elections, Kerala began to ignore Covid just as done by US and Brazil . Now there is no press conference and no statement from CM. All is entrusted to health minister Shylaja.

 

Bars and cinemas were opened to boost the commercial activities and to entertain the public.  Defensive actions ceased. Wedding celebrations are in full swing . The Indian Medical Association and the Union Ministry of Health began blaming Kerala. It is the right time for Vijayaraghavan,LDF convenor to make a statement that this is a destructive act planned globally by ugly forces to humiliate Kerala.

 

Now, there is something that can be done honestly. At least, one lakh people should be tested daily by RTPCR test to control the disease as soon as possible. Then,the number of patients may reach 10,000 daily. Without inhibition, Government should accept the reality and has to take responsibility to prevent the disease and save the people and Kerala . What is needed now is to buy the necessary equipment and expedite the process. It would be a mistake to think that the vaccine will come and everything will be fine. It is better for the government to remember that the vaccine does not help the sick, only prevent the spread

 

Tractor rally- everything was as expected

 

Everything was as expected

 

I was one of the supporters of the agriculture bills from the very beginning. However, I did not oppose the right to protest in a democracy. It was felt that the struggle was being aided by the middlemen who run the mandis in Punjab and the wealthy Punjabis in countries including Canada. Of course, the struggle was fueled by the combination of several neighboring countries that wanted to weaken the country and the united opposition as an opportunity to weaken the ruling party. The forces that want to keep the struggle above the peasants real cause. When the strike went ahead without yielding to the many compromises put forward by the government and the intervention of the Supreme Court, it spread like wildfire to many including on social media.

 

The tractor rally in Delhi was part of that intoxication. The Delhi Police, the Central Government and the protesters knew for sure that the agitation would turn violent . We know the violent history of many freedom struggles, including the Quit India Movement. Gandhiji, the Prophet of non-violence, condemned and stopped such struggles. The Babri Masjid was demolished by a mob. When any agitation escalates, it will be taken over by the vested interests rather than the people in the leadership.

 

That is what happened here too. The flag hoisted at the Red Fort made it clear that this was not a struggle for the needs of the farmers, but a struggle to weaken the country and beat the Center.

 

There should be a buffer zone between the forest and the human settlement

 There should be a buffer zone between the forest and the human settlement

 It is natural for those who start  resorts or start farms  in or near the forest to have to fight with wild animals. It is advisable to leave the wildlife's own space to them instead of  cut down or encroach the space. Humans are the last born on earth. Humans have a misconception that everything they see is made by God for themselves. Perhaps man is a trap set by nature to destroy everything it has made. The complete destruction of the Earth is certain. It can be done by human hands only. It is important to extend the disaster as much as possible. Rulers need to be thoughtful and concerned about the next generation. We need such rulers. Those who killed an elephant at a resort in Masanagudi by burning it with a fire, and those who  trapped a leopard,killed it , shared meat and planned to sell its teeth,skin and claws in Mankulam in Idukki deserve the same punishment as those who kill people.

 The Left was the movement that should have been able to implement the Gadgil Commission report, but they backed down for fear of loosing the vote bank. No one can implement it anymore. The Western Ghats will gradually disappear. Kerala Sastra Sahithya Parishad, a powerful group among the left just translated the Gadgil report to Malayalam,but failed to convince the left rulers to implement it . But, a few creative actions we can do. It is important to create a buffer zone of 2 km between the forest and the human settlement. Another thing is to bring the adivasis out of the forest ,settle them and give them jobs in the forest department. Now, the Government is helping the resort lobby by building roads in the name of the adivasi settlements inside the forest. That should be avoided. Another thing that needs to be done, at least, is to turn jungle roads as flyovers .The  knowledgeable should be prepared to understand that the Earth is the place for all living beings and be able to educate those who are not aware of the fact