Novel venture by Math

The willingness of the Mata Amritanandamayi Math to take up the responsibility of cleaning public places and constructing bathrooms and toilets in every town in the country is admirable. It is true that we are lagging much behind many other world countries regarding hygiene and public sanitation. The public awareness is too poor about the standard of cleanliness.
All local bodies and State Governments should support and cooperate with the new venture of Mata Amritanandamayi Math.

K A Solaman

Deal with separatists firmly

Any peace-loving person will be distressed to see the turn of events in the Kashmir valley. It is sad to see that the bigotry of fundamentalists has reached new heights.

The common people of Kashmir are living as refugees in their own country and the Kashmiri children have not been able to attend schools and colleges for the last three months. The Centre and the state should enlist the cooperation of all peace-loving people and try to resolve the Kashmir tangle.

The demand for withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Kashmir requires serious introspection. There is no problem in the country that cannot be solved through debate, dialogue and discussion across the table.

K.A. SOLAMAN,
The Tribune, Chandigarh, 23 Sept 2010

Burning Kashmir

It is matter of sorrow for any peace loving person to see the turn of events in the Kashmir valley. And it is sorer to see that the bigotry of the fundamentalists has augmented and reached its new height. The common people Kashmir are living as refugees in their own country and Kashmiri children are not been able to attend their schools for the past 3 months. The State and Central governments along with all involved in the Kashmir entangle should sit together and contemplate for a solution.

The withdrawal of special powers of Army in Kashmir requires serious introspection.

K A Solaman

T J Joseph is in the making of a ‘Thodupuzha Christ’

Dismissed professor of Newman College, Thodupuzha T J Joseph is in the making of a new ‘Christ of Thodupuzha’ by justifying his foolish act of setting up the blasphemous question paper. The argument of Joseph that the management has invented new story to punish him, is on the wrong footing. It is a routine practice of all institutions to get explanation from its employees who erred during their service time. And most often these explanations end with the phrase “feel sorry for the mistake that I had committed and it may be pardoned”. This is a file closing ritual where words find no meaning and the offender is never measured for further action. But enthused by the overwhelming support, from the so called human right crusaders and left wing teachers, who were seen absconding when religious fanatics craving for his blood, Joseph has turned against the church. Joseph has also found his gaffe as a golden opportunity to tick off the church, a recent trend in Kerala which emerged with the blessing of the Ruling Front. The Taliban and the Kerala Christian clergies are akin, according to a few godless party men!

Joseph now says he didn’t want the generosity of the church if he had to apologize for things he had not done. However, he admits that DTP operator of the college who printed the question, smiled at him on reading the question paper. Joseph would have also smiled then. If Joseph needs no generosity, would he accept donation from church that is put in his bank account published in a channel along with a request?

Remember “life is not measured by the number of breathes we take, but rather by the number of moments which take our breathes away”. Joseph has had enough moments in his life that took his breathes way. Don’t pursue further in this direction by thoughtless act. Whatever may be our minister’s claim about earning from lottery selling, it is too hard to subsist by selling lottery tickets alone. The ‘right activists and pacifiers’ will soon disappear into thin air, Mr Joseph. Ask your mother about what to do. The elders know much more about life than the educated.

K A Solaman

Ban lottery, ban spurious toddy

Why the State Government in Kerala wait for action Union Government to amend the Lotteries Act to save Kerala from the lottery steal when fake lotteries of the other states are sold here? Is there any connection for Union government with fake lotteries? The poor and less educated people who buy lottery tickets copiously have now realized that they are the victims of lottery mafia and that is why sale of other state lotteries in Kerala has come to a still. People now like cine actor Jagathy are hesitant to entertain and buy Bhutan or Sikkim tickets.

Inter-State lottery mafia under the guise of selling approved Bhutan and Sikkim lotteries are selling fake lotteries here and for that there is consent from ruling front bigwigs for reasons known to all.

The consumption of liquor and the mania for the lotteries are death traps for poor and ignorant people of Kerala and the Government that is bound to restrict it stand as a mute spectator. Common man is falling prey to this social evil and is spending all his hard earned money without caring children and the ailing old ones in homes. It is not campaigns and awareness programmes that are needed to check the danger but strict law enforcement is needed. By no means should other state lotteries be allowed in the state. If a few people are not able to sustain without lottery and liquor allow only state lottery and that too once in a week as practiced now and provide cheap and non-toxic liquor at beverages outlets.

KA Solaman

Greatest teaching of Jesus is forgotten.

Mahatma Gandhi University Syndicate revoked the suspension of Prof. T.J. Joseph. However, Newmann college management suspended him for the embarrassment created by his setting up of the controversial question paper. It is unfortunate on the part of Newmann College Management to go on with action leading to the dismissal of the teacher from the college. Prof Joseph has made apology to the general public and then why the management is so particular in further punishing him for what is called an appeasement from Muslim fanatics? ‘Forgive and be kind’ is the greatest Christian teaching and a college running on such principles has forgotten this teaching.

I fear the craving for getting 20-40 lakh as donation from a fresh recruit is the crucial issue for any management to throw away an incumbent staff member on an insignificant matteer

K A Solaman