Names for fake identity

The names like Trivandrum, Bombay, Kerala and others are meaningless for some people. They need Kerala as Keralam, Trivandrum as Thiruvananthapuram etc. However, whaty I have to say is my letters addressed to Trivandrum still reaches there on time. Does one require more meaning than this? The names like Kesavan, Kumaran, Karthikeyan, Remesan, Krishnan, Raman, Bhamakshi etc are purely names of Keralaites of yester years. Now they are all known as Kesav, Kumar, Karthik, Remesh, Krish, Ram, Bhama etc. Do these people need a go back to old name identity? And it is also the habit of more refined ones to delete the tags like Nair, Menon, Potty, Pillai, Mappilai etc in their names. Still a few keep these tags for their fake identity.

K A Solaman

Who need ‘Keralam’?

All the burning problems in the State have been settled by the LDF Government! If one still remains unattended it is the renaming of the State into ‘ Keralam’. I would like to say the demand for changing the official spelling of the state to ‘Keralam’ to make it conform to the way it is pronounced in Malayalam is unnecessary and wasteful. The advocates for ‘Keralam’ may have arguments with many examples of change of name such as ‘Bombay into Mumbai, Calicut into Kozhikode, Trivandrum into Thiruvananthapuram etc. What did we gain from these changes? If one writes Thiruvananthapuram instead of Trivandrum he has to write 18 letters instead of 10. What a terrible waste! Today if I write a letter to Bombay it still reaches Mumbai.

Attack against colonialism by people like Pallisserry is silly and superficially restricted only in trivial matters. Keralites are mostly world citizens disposed to see beyond any language barrier. The discussion to change name of the State may kindly be kept in vault.

K A Solaman

Happy secret

The engagement and marriage of the Indian cricket captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and his childhood friend, Sakshi Singh Rawat, were closely guarded secrets. But this cannot be entirely explained by Dhoni’s wish to keep the media at bay. Was it also done to prevent heartbreaks and suicides? Soon after the wedding, Dhoni is supposed to have met the Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi. Perhaps he had a discreet message to convey to the 40-year-old politician — that politics, like cricket, can be managed in wedlock.

K.A. Solaman
The Telegraph, Kolkata, 13 July 2010

Legal protection for campus politics

Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the Government was planning to give legal protection to lawful political activity in campuses. In one aspect it is good as there is now none to question the spite practices of some unscrupulous managements. For instance look at the anomaly in the fee collected as application money for lectureship in private colleges in Kerala. When one college demands Rs 750 per application form others collect Rs 500, Rs 300 etc. No uniformity could be seen in fee collected from students for various necessities. There is no effort from any corner to control capitation fee for admission and appointment. The fund collected for a lecture post is about Rs 15-30 lakhs whereas fee for a degree seat admission is Rs 3000-15000. Who will check these malpractices other than students? If students, politics is legalized this could be controlled a bit.

Nevertheless, the student leaders in politics, unaware of their duties and obligations most often curtail the freedom of learning of a lot of students. The classes are often obstructed by political outfits for trivial issues and most often smooth running of the college becomes a tough job. And that is why some able PTAs in schools and colleges succeeded in abandoning students’ politics. But it soon brought adverse effect. So while giving legal coverage politics in campuses, students who are not interested in politics should be given legal protection to pursue their learning without the interruption from political outfits.

Interesting aspect is there would be anarchy sponsored by managements if politics is banned in campuses and at the same time there would be more anarchy as that one witnessed in the past if students’ politics are legalized. Can’t we look for an intermediary path?

K A Solaman

Casuality--story

Thomas Mash and peon Krshnankutty took Bhargavan Mash to nearby hospital. Bhargavan Mash was inflicted with a new disease. He remained still with wide opened mouth. Though his respiratory system is normal no other vital sign is clear!

The duty doctor pushed on the puffed up nerve on the throat of Bhargavan sir. Bhargavan sir became normal and started talking to doctor.

The doctor came out of the casualty and inquired the matter.
“Any reason for this accident? I mean an incident in class room?”

“No doctor. Bhargavan Mash was a substitute in the newly started English medium class. The teacher in charge of the class was absent today. He had spent only five to ten minutes in the class, the time for taking attendance”.

“Yes, that is the reason. When a teacher call the names of students as Aswin, Akash, Arjun, Abhinav, Akhil, Azin, Allan, Andrew, Ann, Ashok, Aromal etc., this type of disease will happen. Wide opened mouth is the noticeable symptom. This could happen to anyone calling these names. Our present day parents are making their children first in the class by putting naming starting with A. Could we find any Oommen, Thomman, Kunju, Meenakshy, Ponnamma, Thankamma, Kamalakshy in future?”

By saying this doctor stood from his seat and went for ward inspection.

K A Solaman

This Is Good-Motivational story

An old story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"

One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!" To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail.

About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake. As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way.

As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. "You were right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this."

"No," his friend replied, "This is good!" "What do you mean,'This is good'? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?" "If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you."

- Author Unknown

Can’t we have a World Malayalam Conference?

The Coimbatore city in TN is all set for a World Tamil Conference. More than 5,000 people from India and abroad, including a large number of scholars, will take part in the first five-day World Classical Tamil Conference. Thousands of delegates from India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Singapore, Canada, the US, Greece and other countries have confirmed their participation. These include around 1,000 scholars who will submit research papers. The conference is expected to raise the awareness level for cooperative and collaborative research on the classical side of Tamil language.

Then why can’t the Kerala CM V S Achuthanandan consider a similar Malayalam Conference in Kerala? If one is accomplished in Kerala, and of course not in London as organised by thoughtless people, more students study Malayalam and do research. The Tamil language has already won classical status in the country. The proponents of Malayalam are still knocking at the doors of Delhi bigwigs to get classical status to Malayalam. It is far good to conduct a World Malayalam conference to convince the authority and to make them aware of the importance of Malayalam language. And for this Achuthanandan need not pen title song for the conference as did by Karunanidhi. This job can be handed over to minister poets in the Cabinet like Binoy Viswom or G Sudhakaran.

The classical status to Malayalam should come through activity and not by act of contrition.


K A Solaman

Kerala University bids goodbye to a 44-year-old tradition

University of Kerala bidding to 44 year annual degree system and switching over to credit and semester system is an effort to sail smoothly with the present trend. Nevertheless it would not bring any substantive gain. This is not an isolated opinion but many teachers working now in colleges join with this. The foremost reason is that all colleges in Kerala experience a staff-crunch and without adequate number of teaching staff the semester system cannot be carried out successfully. Teachers in guest faculty are working for a wage and they are not competent enough to make grade in the credit and semester system.

More intriguing is the undue importance of social service in the proposed system. In most of the colleges in Kerala currently what is largely going on is social service and no time for teaching class. Cattle feeding, thattukada running, mosquito census are some of the existing services available in the colleges now. With the introduction of more social services the colleges will turn into a market place where teaching and learning process will be a leisure work. As many as 20 different forums working in the college will bring a pandemonium comparable to one that is full swing at CMS College, Kottayan at present. Offering additional open courses to students, who are not at all interested teaching-learning processes, is very prying to note.

The clause that attendance would fetch grades and each student should have not less than 75 per cent attendance for all semesters will open more war grounds in colleges. The teachers would have to read threatening SMS from student outfits for denying attendance to their workers. It will be a tough time for teachers to manage second-rate degree course students who are destined to join these colleges because of denial of admission in professional courses. The Education Minister had made the school education already a mess. The proposed choice based credit system, will extent this confusion to Arts and Science colleges too. Let us wait and see number of years the students admitted to the newly introduced credit and semester would take to get their first degree.

Why I love football?

The media is seemed to be obsessed now with the news of the World cup football. The news of cricket is being shelved for football for a while. In my opinion football is definitely a more intense sport than cricket with more countries able to compete at a high level. Watching seven-hour days of cricket without a result is really profitable for channels but a boring experience for the viewers. The 90 minutes football thrills everybody and avoids boredom. Further football offers a much more intense display, and it creates an air of uniqueness that cannot be simulated by cricket. The tribal nature of football crowds may overstep the mark at times, but it undoubtedly trumps the cricket fans in terms of creating and maintaining an atmosphere. Football fans are almost a part of the game and this sort of affection is not seen in cricket.


Football is a simple game that appeals to a lot. In many countries it is the only game. Cricket has only a fraction of the exposure that football has. Scandalous match fixing in cricket is unheard in football. I love football more than cricket.

K A Solaman

Kannur killing

Kannur killing field, notorious for its history of fatal political violence of more than three decades in which hundreds of people had lost lives, is now in the lime light with the killing of two BJP workers.. This incident could spot a new phase of violence in Kannur.

The political attacks of Kannur are never based on socio-economic justice but footed on silly politics. It is a game of count for martyrs and has no long term objective. It culminates when an election is in the offing. Kerala is to face election to local bodies and State Assembly in one year.

All party meeting and reconciliation talks are futile in Kannur. A stubborn district administration could control the worse situation in Kannur and it depends on the resolve of the Government. The government should impose strict police rule in all affected area
The state should treat political killing in Kannur as a serious problem and eliminate the revolt using all resources.

K A Solaman

Is sex unsafe during menstruation?

The school children of Kerala are going to be the victims of the worst actions of sex mafia and immoral traffickers. The state education department has decided to instruct sex lessons to adolescent students. The teachers at present in schools will be busier and no free hour will be available in schools hereinafter for extra-curricular activities. I fear about pattern of question like: “Is sex unsafe during menstruation, you Raju say?” and after effect of practical work and project analysis of sex education.

There are teachers in schools who took only reproductive system when they handle human physiology. The range of this category would be more in schools with the opening of next academic year. What the students have to do is to check the veracity of sex lessons instructed in the class rooms and those available in porno sites.

No mark, only grade in SSLC and Higher Secondary were planned to diminish number of suicides at exam results. Nevertheless, this year all the calculations have gone wrong and cases of suicides were alarming. The gender education without proper planning need not necessarily yield better result. And it is unnecessary for all students to know about menstruation.

K A Solaman

Mahatma Gandhi University in killing spree

Mahatma Gandhi University in Kerala is in a killing spree to derecognise some of it’s off campus centres and affiliated institutions. Latest in this direction is the suspension the recognition of Sreenikethan Off Campus Centre at Karamkode, Kollam dist, following the reported seizure of answer scripts of students involved in mass copying. Controller of Examinations Thomas John Mambara, along with other bigwigs of the University is all in a mood to end the widespread malpractice in the examination centres. However, no woman member is seen in the squad. Does it mean that women candidates are less vulnerable to misconduct or woman bureaucrats in the University are not plucky enough to spot out the miscreants in the examination hall?

I personally believe the action of Mambara and his coterie is against the accepted policy of the Kerala Education ministry. The Education Minister M A Baby is all the time taking huge effort to lessen the hardships of examinations and thereby to avoid mental stress of students. A student who puts only number of the questions in the answer script he or she is awarded full marks in the plus 2 examination. On the other hand Mambara and company's act is just opposite to it.

The laxity in conducting the examination has been created by school/college authorities. The teacher- assisted copying in examination hall is the feature of many new generation CBSE schools. No external invigilators are posted and if posted one he enjoys the hospitality of the school management and closes his eyes at malpractice. Is hundred percent result and that too all with distinctions in SSLC examination in Gulf countries, an indication of the fact that the sons and daughters of people in Gulf are more intelligent than their counterparts in Kerala? The invigilators posted from Kerala to conduct examination there always sit in a/c rooms enjoying gulf hospitality while examination goes as desired by the school authority. If one has still doubts then ask the government to conduct a narco analysis on those who had done the job in Gulf schools. All schools are in a competition mood in Kerala and hence they resort unscrupulous acts to get hundred percent results and that is essential for their existence. The students passed out from these schools view examinations in the manner of their experience and hence resulted in mass copying. The fault is not with the students but with the teachers of the institution and the University authorities who had given permission to bland agencies to run off-campus centres.

The action of Mambara and company send a wrong notion to the outside world that the degree certificates of the pass outs from M G University are not genuine. What we need is a fool proof method to ensure the genuineness of the examination system and not a dire practice at the end to ‘kill’ the students. Because of utter ignominy if a candidate ends his life will Mambara compensate for it? The alternative is this: Inculcate the importance of examination in the very beginning of curriculum. Examination should be conducted with external examiners and their remuneration should be given in time. Mass humiliation in the examination hall should not be taken as mean for getting more money as TA and DA to the University authorities.

K A Solaman

Controversial match-the telegraph

The tennis player, Sania Mirza, should not worry about not conforming to people’s expectations while marrying Shoaib Malik, a cricketer from Pakistan. The news of their wedding has become very popular not just because both parties are celebrities, but also because they belong to ‘rival’ countries (“Caught on TV: Shoaib at Sania home”, April 4). However, even world-class players are ordinary citizens and their decision to get married is not a political statement but an individual choice, which will, in no way, improve or worsen Indo-Pak relationship.

Bal Thackeray has raised questions about Mirza’s decision to continue playing for India even after she is wedded to Malik. Thackeray’s comment can be put off as an old man’s joke. His mind is seemingly twisted — he had earlier spoken against Mirza wearing “tight clothes” on the tennis court. He was also of the opinion that Mirza would no longer be an Indian national after she marries Malik. Mirza is a true Indian and she can remain so if she desires. Perhaps the only dampener in this alliance is the ruckus over Malik’s previous wedding.


K.A. Solaman, Alappuzha, Kerala

The Telgraph, Calcutta, Dated 10 April 2010

PSC to appoint University teachers.

I endorse KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala’s demand that the Public Service Commission (PSC) should be authorised to make university appointments. All University appointments at present are done on the basis of political affiliations and that should come to an end. The University Syndicates are conglomeration of politically privileged ones who siphon out huge sum from university fund why way of TA/DA. The PSC appointment should extended to aided colleges too in Kerala where the salaries to teaching staff and non-teaching staff are paid from state exchequer but the appointments are done erratically. The appointment committee constituted in colleges with a government nominee and a subject expert often shows their expertise in eating a lavish dinner after the interview. There is not even a single private college in Kerala where appointments are done without a price. And with the implementation of revised UGC package the donation will augment to half a crore.


Act of turning universities into its feeder organizations of political parties is not a new phenomenon. All political parties are responsible for turning the centres of academic excellence in to shambles.
K A Solaman

Revisit anti-Maoist strategy

The Maoist rebel attack that claimed the lives of 76 security personnel in Dantewada district calls for an urgent need to combat Naxal terrorism in India with a time-bound solution. Ministers may express deep concern in the event of such incident, but none seems to own up to the responsibility. The Government’s anti-Maoist strategy must be revisited and the police and the military should be supplied with most modern weapons to combat such attacks.

Maoism is not a one-off problem that can be dealt with a crisis-management approach. We need a final solution to the Maoist menace.

KA Solaman

Alappuzha, Kerala Published Daily Pioneer dated 7-4-2010

Condolence at the death of my friend Dr K K Sudevan

It was with a great feeling of loss when I heard of sudden demise of my friend K K Sudevan, the director, K R Gouri Amma College of Engineering, Valamangalam, Thuravoor. My heart is truly distraught.

Sudevan was more than just a humble and wonderful person; he was always so kind and considerate to me that I always welcomed seeing him at every occasion. He was my class mate in standard ten of High School, Kandmangalam. We were the only the two first classes from standard XB of the school in the SSLC examination of 1968 March. Our class teacher was Damodaran Sir. Sudevan’s paintings on the life cycle of frog was pasted on walls of the class room by Damodaran sir and asked us to learn from it. Radha Teacher, wife of Damodaran sir, was our Malayalam teacher. Rajappan sir and Valiya Thampan sir taught us Mathematics. The lessons we learned from the class were the same. However, he fathomed more miles than me with his intelligence and tireless effort. He was a professor at an Engineering college, Mumbai before joining at Valamangalam Engineering College as director.

His passing will not only leave a void in our lives, but in the hearts of all those who knew him. He was a true follower of Sree Narayana Guru. His association with Thaickal Muslim church, Thankey Christian Church, and Kandamangalam temple will be ever remembered. He was a man of vision and secular thoughts. Sudevan will always remain within my heart

My sincere prayers for my friend.

K A Solaman
Friday, April 02, 2010

Less liquor, less damage.

Smoking in public places is prohibited in India but some do it in open. The law enforcing agencies often take don’t care stance in such occasions. However, the people have learnt about smoking hazards and its health risk. So they have a wariness to smoke in open. However, this kind of approach is not seen in the use of liquors. Kerala crossed the Rs.100-crore mark in the sale of Indian made foreign liquor during the last Onam period and in this Easter season also the case will not be different. The cash crunchy State coffers eyes at money from liquor sale along with the income from check posts and sale of sands. The sand sale from river plateaus remember us the famous Biblical teaching: “Remember, O man, that you are dust(sand), and unto dust you shall return”.

The illicit liquor and its sale through bars and other private places would estimate another hundred core. The Government that had recognized the health risk of tobacco has failed to take the blow of the ill-effects of liquor use. The Government has not evolved any effective step to create an awareness to reduce alcohol consumption instead permission is given to open more outlets for sale. In toddy shops what is now sold is not pure toddy but chemically poisoned water which is very injurious to health. If smoking brings a person a long term ailment the toddy now sold brings him immediate ailment and permanent handicap. Particularly, the young men are the victim to the evils of liquor consumption as they often find no opening to shed their extra energy. All the play grounds and public places have vanished and there is no space for them to play foot ball or hand ball. The only option for them is to watch live TV cricket in closed rooms and continue intake of liquor profusely.

An added handicap of liquor sale is worst law and order situation which is never a by-product of the smoking habit. The system of promoting liquor sales during Onam, Vishu, Deepavali, Christmas and Easter should be abandoned in the larger interest of society. The government starting rehabilitation centres along with Beverages Corporation outlets is a laughing stock. Consumption of alcohol is undoubtedly damaging to one's health, more damaging than smoking. Besides it consumes more money than that spend for smoking. If Rs 20 is spent for buying cigarettes then Rs 200 is needed for buying liquor. Serving liquor has become a bogus status symbol and is an integral part to societal gatherings. No meaningful awareness against this handicap has been taken by the government.

It is unwise to ban sale and purchase of alcohol as the base of most medicines is alcohol. A meaningful and sincere awareness programme should be envisaged for younger people about the damages done by liquor. If so the rate of crimes, accidents, domestic violence along with health hazards could be reduced.

K A Solaman

Mass march into retirement

The Thuglakian Kerala model of retirement age unification has made on this March 21,000 employees to leave service at the same time. Some had wept, some cried and some even drunk thinking that there is not life after retirement. The most distressed are police men and college professors as the former to lose their chance to abuse the innocents and latter to lose the company or frequent cock tails. The weeping is heavy for police personals at sent-offs because if they resort to older habits at home they are likely to lose their lunch and supper as there would be none to care them.

I welcome all the 21000 retirees to our majority group as the life is simple and worriless after retirement. Of course you have no chance for getting extra money as bribe except pension and that too if Isaac’s coffers have that might. And of course your subordinates will not entertain you hereinafter as they did in the past.

I also bring your attention to the story of a Professor who demanded a sent-off when he was to go to Nigeria for five years money making break. He cried at the sent-off and just after one year he returned to the college as the condition in Nigeria was not as good as expected. He again cried at his actual sent-off from service and now he leads a happy life. Loneliness, loss, frustration, and grief are not in his dictionary. He now preaches people about eternal life and guides them to the noble way he thinks but often repents for the folly of crying at sent-offs.

Dear retirees you can think of the following for a happy retired life. Try to wake up early in the morning to realize that, it is not the usual day. You are retired. You should try to learn how to spend the day and give up the feeling that you are a worn out individual and should be placed in the corner of the house sitting idle most of the time. Don’t waste time by simply watching TV.

This period of life can be made fun and worth living to explore the unexplored.
There may be times in your life when you wanted to write a book on your experience and learning. But your desires where never fulfilled, because you were too busy at work or family. This is the right time to explore your hidden talents and fulfill your earnest desires. Here are few ways to stay active and make money after retirement. Work is the important way of coping with the niggling worries.

1) Physical activity:
The best way to be healthy, independent and occupied is by doing some minor physical exercise such as walking and yoga. Daily one our walking is sufficient. Joining karate or kalari schools is not suited for many but can try joining laughter club. Being healthy will also help you be independent.

2) Meet friends:
Meet your old friends outside. There may be times when you missed out the most important events with your friend.

3) Gardening:
Gardening and vegetable cultivation are the best ways to keep you occupied. They are also great stress busters.

4) Help grandkids:
The grandkids may be busy with studies; however you can help them by joining their company

5)Go on a holiday:
Visit pilgrim or tourist spots, which you have always wanted to see.

6)Volunteer:
Be a volunteer to an NGO helping the society.

7)Join a course:
Join a course that interests you and fulfill all your desires. The universities like IGNOU are conducting many courses for the retirees.

8) Have a grip on your money.
Don’t spend money for schemes that are unknown to you. Have a free hold and don’t let anyone to have control on your hard earned money.

Remember retirement is the admiration given to your years of service. And your ‘age is the state of your mind.'

K A Solaman

RSP is dejected

The LDF small partner RSP is seen dejected with the latest development in Kerala. The rival groups in RSP came separately in collision course with CPM. The RSP national general secretary TJ Chandrachoodan has made a scathing attack of CPM. Its Kerala secretary VP Ramakrishna Pillai said that LDF is in a sinking situation. For Pillai, it is of no doubt that the Congress-led UDF would come to power after the next Assembly election. This sort of plane speak has become a shock LDF bigwigs. However, the Pillai’s version of denial of Rajya Sabha seat to his party’s national secretary has no many takers. It is known that Pillai was playing all foul to deny seat to Chandrachoodan.
Formerly it was only a desire for UDF to acquire power in the next election. And now the RSP has approved it. The jubilant outfits in UDF such as Youth Congress and other partners started demanding their chunk. The silent Chief Minster or the media adversary Pinarayi does not see the sand that is eroded from under their feet.

K A Solaman

Tension over question paper

How careless are some of our teachers? This I ask on the wake Thodupuzha in Idukki Ditrict, Kerala falling into tension following the aggressive dissent of Muslim organizations over the mention in a question paper humiliating the Prophet. The police had a tough time to contain the mob. It all happened when a less compassionate teacher of Newmann’s college, Thodupuzha prepared a question paper. He may, perhaps, be enthused with the new UGC package sanctioned to college teachers by the Kerala Government.
The teacher T Joseph in the Malayalam department of the college was the question setter and I think he is the sole person responsible for the grave mistake. A fellow teacher arguing that “Joseph could have prepared the question paper but it had been passed by others after scrutiny” seems pointless. There is no such scrutiny for any question paper and preferably the internal examination is not a big business in many of the colleges in Kerala. T J joseph needs some counseling before he being reinstated in the college.
However, the remarkable thing is the timely action of the State Administration. Education Minister MA Baby instructed the District Administration to register a case against the teacher. And that sort of action is never expected from Education department as we have previous examples of non-care approach. The incident of “Jeevan without religion’ is still in our mind. The college authorities have also taken a wise decision by apologising for the mistake which hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community.

K A Solaman