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