എന്‍ഡോസള്‍ഫാന്‍ എന്ന ഭീകരത

ഡിസംബര്‍ 26 നു പുറത്തിറങ്ങിയ മാതൃഭൂമി ആഴ്ചപതിപ്പിന്റെ പ്രത്യേക എഡിഷന്‍ എന്‍ഡോസള്‍ഫാന്‍ ദുരിതം അനുഭവിക്കുന്നവരുടെ ചിത്രങ്ങളും വാര്‍ത്തകളും മാത്രം ഉള്‍കൊള്ളിച്ചുള്ളതാണ്. ഒറ്റനോട്ടത്തില്‍ അറപ്പുളവാക്കുന്ന ചിത്രങ്ങള്‍. വീണ്ടും നോക്കുമ്പോള്‍ നമ്മളില്‍ ദൈന്യതയും അനുകമ്പയും ഒടുവില്‍ രോഷവുമുണര്‍ത്തുന്ന ചിത്രങ്ങള്‍.


മാധ്യമങ്ങള്‍ വഴി നമുക്ക് പരിചിതമാണ് എന്‍ഡോസള്‍ഫാന്‍ എന്ന കീടനാശിനിയും അവ കേരളത്തിന്റെ വടക്കന്‍ മേഖലയില്‍, പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് കാസര്‍ഗോഡ്‌ ജില്ലയില്‍, മനുഷ്യനും പ്രകൃതിക്കും വരുത്തിവച്ച വിപത്തും. എന്നാല്‍ യഥാര്‍ത്ഥത്തില്‍ ഈ പ്രശ്നം എത്രത്തോളം ഗുരുതരമാണെന്ന് നമുക്ക് വ്യക്തമായ ധാരണയുണ്ടോ? സമീപകാലത്ത് എന്‍ഡോസള്‍ഫാനെപറ്റി എഴുതേണ്ടി വന്നപ്പോഴാണ് ഇതിനെപറ്റിയുള്ള എന്റെ അറിവ് എത്രത്തോളം പരിമിതമാണെന്നു ഞാന്‍ മനസിലാക്കിയത്.


കാല്‍നൂറ്റാണ്ട് മുമ്പ് കശുവണ്ടി തോട്ടങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് മുകളില്‍ ഹെലികോപ്ടറുകളില്‍ നടത്തിയ എന്‍ഡോസള്‍ഫാന്‍ ഏരിയല്‍ സ്പ്രേയിംഗ് അന്നാട്ടുകാര്‍ക്ക് ഒരത്ഭുതക്കാഴ്ചയായിരുന്നു. എന്നാല്‍ അവ അവശേഷിപ്പിച്ചതോ ലോകത്തെ മുഴുവന്‍ നടുക്കുന്ന ദുരിതക്കാഴ്ചകളും. വായുവും മണ്ണും ജലവും മാത്രമല്ല അമ്മയുടെ മുലപ്പാല്‍ പോലും വിഷലിപ്തമായ ഭീകരാവസ്ഥ. ബുദ്ധിമാന്ദ്യം, അംഗവൈകല്യം, ക്ഷയരോഗം, അപസ്മാരം, ചര്‍മ്മരോഗം, വന്ധ്യത തുടങ്ങി തീരാവ്യഥകളായി മാറുന്ന അസുഖങ്ങളുടെ പിടിയിലമര്‍ന്നുപോയ ഒരു തലമുറ ഈ നാട്ടില്‍ ജീവിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു. ഇവര്‍ക്ക് മതിയായ നഷ്ടപരിഹാരം ലഭിച്ചിട്ടില്ല. ഇവരുടെ പ്രശ്നങ്ങള്‍ വിശദമായി പഠനവിധേയമായിട്ടില്ല. ഇവരുടെ പുനരധിവാസം ചര്‍ച്ചചെയ്യപ്പെട്ടിട്ടില്ല. ഈ കൊടുംക്രൂരതയുടെ കുറ്റക്കാരെ കണ്ടുപിടിച്ചു ശിക്ഷിക്കാന്‍ പ്രാരംഭനടപടികള്‍പോലും എടുത്തിട്ടില്ല.

ആകാശത്ത് വട്ടമിട്ടുപറന്ന ഇരുമ്പുപക്ഷിയെക്കാണാന്‍ പുല്‍മേടുകളിലും പുഴയോരങ്ങളിലും ആരവങ്ങളോടെ ചിരിച്ചും കളിച്ചും ഓടിനടന്ന ബാല്യങ്ങളുടെ ഇന്നത്തെ ചിത്രം - ഓര്‍മ്മയായി നിലവിളക്കിനു മുന്‍പിലും, മനോരോഗത്തിന്റെയും ശാരീരികവൈകല്യങ്ങളുടെയും ദൈന്യതയാര്‍ന്ന നിഴലുകളായും മാത്രം അവശേഷിക്കുന്നു. ആ ചിത്രം നമ്മുടെ സുഖനിദ്രയെയും മനഃസാക്ഷിയെയും നിരന്തരം അലോസരപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു.

Everything is good

I recently witnessed a dance programme by the 9 year old daughter of a colleague.

When I returned my friends asked me “How was it?”
“Great“, I said “wonderful performance”.

And I stopped at that. In reality the show was horrible. The poor girl lost her balance, forgot her steps and stopped to stare at her teacher at the side of the stage a hundred times. So why did I say it was a great performance? It wasn’t in deference to my friend. It was in respect to that poor girl who had probably spent a couple of years and many hundred hours training and sweating for this one performance. Who am I to sit back and proclaim that it was bad especially since I am not a connoisseur of classical dance?

I have the same attitude to movies as well. A couple of friends have berated me for leading them to bad movies since when they asked my opinion of certain movies I answered “Great…wonderful movie.” And they found it bad. I myself had found it bad. But then who am I to pronounce judgments? The director, actors and others spent numerous hours and days to finish this ‘art’ product.

And what about the poor producer? He spends millions of rupees to entertain us. We spend a meager fifty rupees to watch a movie and then proclaim it “bad”! The injustice of it!

This is why I keep saying everything is good. Be a good sport and show your sunny side people!

Oh, and by the way, if anyone asks you about this article… don’t hesitate to say “Great…it’s wonderful!”

Cheers!

Political clout of Indian army

As Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan gets ready to resign over the controversy of allotment of flats in Mumbai meant for the widows of Kargil heroes to unauthorized people, questions arise regarding the factors that led to him being abandoned by his party leadership.

Certainly this is a face saving exercise by the Indian National Congress to ride against the wave of public resentment. But corruption by political leaders is nothing new in our country. The recent Commonwealth Games scam shamed us in front of the entire world but no action has been taken against any one as such, no one has been asked to resign. So could there be other factors for the immediate action against Ashok Chavan?

Like the political clout of the Indian Army, for instance?

Unlike many third world countries the Indian military has always shown an aversion to direct meddling in the internal political scenario of the nation. This is not to say that the army has no say at all or has not influenced major decisions over the past few decades. Indeed no country can afford to deny the army think-tank a major role in the process of nation building.

In India controversy still abounds over the decisions made during the 1971 India –Pak war and the liberation of Bangladesh. Many former military personnel have argued that the decision of the Indian army to march to Dhaka was a purely military one and the political leadership only came to know about it later.

There is every reason to believe that the immediate action against Ashok Chavan could have been at the insistence of the army brass. Corruption in the name of Kargil martyrs is bound to make a soldier’s blood boil, even more than ours.

The inherent message is clear – don’t touch the army.

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The Latest Hot Celebrity in Town – 108 Ambulance

Last month during the Onam celebrations, in a colony near my home, a woman tried to commit suicide by jumping into a well. We managed to pull her out and somebody called the 108. Since it was a remote location the ambulance took some time to reach there. But once the siren started to reach us, all the people who had been dispersing immediately crowded back and the arrival of the 108 was greeted with much whistling and clapping! Children could be heard running and shouting “108 has come! 108 has come!” as if their favorite movie star had just walked into their homes. The paramedics and the driver were no doubt bewildered at the welcome they got. Older women crowded around them to ask their name and their homes. Someone even pinched the driver – maybe just to make sure that the famous 108 had truly arrived. The paramedics were frantically asking about the injured person and that is when we finally came to our senses and to our horror we found the woman lying abandoned in the mattress by the roadside where we had first laid her down. Once we got her into the ambulance there was a scramble for others to get in. One of our friends too got in the front. We asked “Why the hell are you going?” and he cheerily waved to us and said “I’m not going to miss this chance! It is now or never!” and we watched him with envy as he shook hands with the driver and posed for the guys to take photos in their mobiles. Usually a suicide attempt makes neighbours or relatives hesitant to accompany the victim to the hospital due to the police affairs and other complications that may arise. However with 108 that has changed too. People are fighting to get inside just to be able to say they have traveled in the 108.

The 108 ambulance is the latest talk of the town, having universally impressed everyone with their prompt and efficient service. It is the first time any city in Kerala has a systematic ERS - Emergency Response Service. 108 is a toll-free number, the biggest advantage, accessible from any landline or mobile. And it is absolutely free.

The loud siren has become a distinctive sign of the coming ambulance. And what a wonderful sight it is to behold, flashing all the colours - red, blue, orange – just like the arrival of a carnival.

The 108 has no doubt changed the face of medical response services. The waiting for an ill-equipped ambulance and the haranguing over the rate has all almost vanished. It is an initiative under Kerala Emergency Medical Services Project (KEMP) by the Kerala Government’s Health Department in association with the National Rural Health Mission (NHRM).

My house is located by the side of the by-pass road which is a preferred route for the 108 to the Medical College. The siren has become so familiar to us that even in our deepest sleep if a 108 passes through, we mumble “108!” and smile.

Santhigiri – nothing but business

All the media houses in the state were buzzing with huge pictures and news reports of the new Parnasala inaugurated at the Santhigiri Ashramam in Thiruvananthapuram the past week. Not a single of voice of dissent. No enquiries as to where they get so much money or influence.

“They tried to get American President Obama to inaugurate the thing”, a friend of mine who works there told me. A few years ago we would have laughed this off as a ridiculous comment. However, today it is evident that, this too is not impossible for them.

The name of Karunakara Guru has become as big as Mata Amritanandhamayi or Sai Baba. Rumours circulate about the divine powers he had. On the other side of the coin rumours are present too about his past, about how he was chased from his original village for immoral or illegal activities, and ended up here.

Anyway I used to visit the Ashramam when he was alive for the Annadanam – the free lunch they used to serve the general public on certain days (Well, back in those college days, we had an all-year-round list when free foodwould be given out anywhere in the district!). But, personally I think, it was ok when the guru was alive. People came to seek his blessings and we know the people have a tendency to seek blessings from godmen as a solution to all their problems.

Then he died. And Santhigiri started getting commercialized. Supposedly someone who completed his MBA and worked in US came to join the Ashramam and he spearheads the commercial activities. They have hundreds of industries going on in different locations. Whats wrong with that, some of you may ask. The thing is they are a charitable institution and they don’t have to pay tax. They have access to free money flow and they are above auditing. This virtually means they save crores on tax amount alone.

But more frightfully, they are buying up land by hundreds of acres in the surrounding areas. They are quickly developing a township with unaccounted money. In the blink of an eye, in the past few years, they had their own post office, petrol pumps, Medical College, a Panchayath ward exclusively for them – ‘them’ meaning people who may have come from any part of the state without proper identification and they are able to vote. This last issue is particularly causing concern because in a few years the entire area would be full of Santhigiri devotees who would be able to vote in all elections according to the orders issued by the Ashram authorities, thus creating a most powerful weapon – their own votebank.

I appreciate all the better initiatives taken by them – but remember they are not giving jobs to the public. And what goes inside the Ashram is a strictly guarded secret, strictly forbidden to outsider knowledge. And most worrisome is the lack of enquiring voices on the part of the media. Santhigiri Ashram needs to be audited (just like all the other godmen ashrams) and registered under the government as an industrial firm. Closing our eyes and blindly believing is easy – opening our eyes to see what is really happening is the difficult part.

P.S. - No, I don't have any proof to substantiate my claims... just like the claims about divinity and miracles.

The internet is making me stupid

Everyday I wake up with this prayer:

“Dear Google God…grant me the serenity to accept the fact that all url’s don’t work; the courage to keep browsing through even more websites; and the wisdom to save money for paying the internet bill. “

A few years ago my life changed forever when I discovered google god within my system. All the wealth of knowledge of the entire universe at my fingertips with the click of a mouse. I slowly became addicted to the world wide web. I had to check my mail everyday. I had more than 15 blogs at the same time on different topics – some didn’t even have a topic. Friends came to with all sorts of doubts because I was the one who could find any answer. Thanks to the internet, of course.

But now I have begun doubting myself. Is the internet really making me more intelligent?

I spend a long time in front of the computer. I don’t go to movies. I download and watch it from the net. I am losing my interest in going out and meeting new people. Instead I send out friend requests through social networking sites.

Now if I have to do a simple math like 25 x 5, I click “start”, “run” and “calc”. It won’t be much longer before I require a calculator to do 2 + 2.

I have become confused about the spelling of a lot of words. The net corrects them for me so I don’t bother about the correct spellings or grammar. And to think I used to insist on correct grammar even while chatting with friends.

Forgot where the library was. Never goes there anymore. Download the books I need – including the entire Harry Potter series. I miss the smell of books – both the new and dusty ones :( (oh yea – another one is the overuse of smileys).

And more importantly am I losing my perceptibility? Can I distinguish what is true and what is not in the answers I find? Everything I read in the net is infused with viewpoints that clearly outline a hidden propaganda. Or am I just being paranoid?

I don’t know. I feel the internet is making me stupid and impotent – changing me from a real person to just another user profile.

I am one of them

I need to make a confession. And today is the day I have got to do it. I need to come out of the closet and reveal to the world who I truly am.

No more whisperings. No more lame excuses for suspicious behavior. I can’t bear it any more. I know it will hurt my family, some of my friends or even my career prospects.

I am one of them.

How or when I became so I don’t remember. I have been that way as long as I can remember. Maybe it ran in some of my family. Maybe my friends when I was small. But I am not afraid any longer. Today I have come out to proclaim to the world – you can humiliate me, isolate me or curse me for being one of them.

But I shall remain firm. My loyalty shall not change. And I shall believe till the end – “FOOTBALL IS THE GREATEST GAME IN THE WORLD”

Yes. I am one of those raging football lunatics. One of those who leave everything behind to watch the World Cup. Family, job – even parties.

Ballack is the tragic hero of this world cup. Oliver Kahn shall always remain an idol. Never liked Ronaldo much. Maradona personifies me. Baggio broke my heart. Wept for Escobar. Secretly admired Zidane and Beckham. Believes Rooney is a goon. Messi is a magician. My team is Germany. And I support the football hooligans. As someone famously remarked – “It is the closest thing we have to war”.

Yes… I am one of them.

From today don’t talk to me if it isn’t about football. Don’t invite me to parties where there is no big screen. Don’t expect me to write anything else other than about football.

So this time for Africa- WAKA WAKA !!

Dead Guy Talking

I stared out into the drizzling rain… and I heard the fluttering wings of a butterfly by my ear. Oh… wait! That’s not a butterfly. Its something else… like a huge housefly…. huge and ugly. Ugh!

Anyway…

I was about to die. I knew it.

I sat motionless in the chair with my arms resting awkwardly on both sides and my chin drooping to my right shoulder. I avoided all movements as I knew it would lead to another fit of deadly coughing. The only movement I make is that of my eye balls. I try to act like Stephen Hawking as much as I can. I know I have the brain; I just need the looks.

People think its silly you will die of a common cold. Not me. I have always known I would die of something dreadful like a cold, coughing or sneezing - sneeze, sneeze, SNEEZE! That’s it. I drop dead. How terrible. Yet all these stupid people out there keep telling you to shake off such ‘fancy’ notions. What do they know? Here it’s lonely at the end.

I always get philosophical when I am about to die. Clouds of memories floating before my eyes in the rain and …

Suddenly a steaming hot cup is thrust into my direct view.

“Here… have some chukku kappi (medicinal coffee)”
“I don’t want it”
“It’s good for that sore throat”
“I said I don’t want it…anyway I think it’s too late for these now”
“Oh shut up! All you have is a silly cold”
“It might be just a silly cold to you. But to me it is a…uhh…it is the most important cold of my life!”
“I’m leaving it here. Drink if you want to.”

What does she know about dying? Medicines cannot help once your life energy has started ebbing away. But anyway I drink it because it is not right to hurt our beloved ones just before we pass into another world. Well, and also, because it tastes good.

I sit back and rub some more Vicks on my neck. Feels like someone tried to strangle me yesterday night. The only good smell there is about a cold is that of Vicks – brings back memories. Like the time you wanted to…

At that moment my mobile rings loudly jarring my memories. I cut it off. It rings again. This really is making me angry. Will no one let a man die in peace? I pick it up.

(Grumpily) “Who is this?”
“Hey…it’s Vishnu”
“What do you want?”
“Aren’t you coming to Mahesh’s party?”
“NO!”
“Aww…C’mon. Everyone is waiting”
“I’m not interested”
“All of our friends will be there”
“I don’t care”
“Mahesh had specifically requested you to be there”
“Tell him to go to hell”
“There will be free beer"
“I’LL BE THERE IN FIVE MINUTES!! Don’t start without me!”

What the hell. I guess I’ll have to live to see yet another day. Till then the dead guy’s musings will just have to wait for the next rainy day.

Cheers!

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Its Better to Leave Aliens Alone says Stephen Hawking

Alien life is almost certain to exist in many other parts of the universe according to the world’s most famous living scientist Stephen Hawking but he warns that contact with them might end up in disastrous results for mankind. Therefore humanity should be doing all it to avoid any contact with other intelligent life forms they don't fully understand.

Earth is unlikely to be the only place where life is present in a universe that has 100 billion galaxies containing millions of stars. According to Hawking most of the extra terrestrial life will be made up of microbes or simple animals. However some of these life forms could be intelligent and pose a threat. “Such advanced aliens would perhaps become nomads, looking to conquer and colonize whatever planets they can reach.”

He compares that outcome scenario with the landing of Christopher Columbus in America “which didn’t turn out very well for the Native Americans.”

Other experts too have warned that aliens might prove to be beyond human understanding.

“The real challenge is to work out what aliens might actually be like” says Stephen Hawking

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Same Sex Marriages on Top of the World… Literally

After India, it is now Nepal’s turn to openly embrace same sex couples. The Nepal Tourism Department is planning to promote gay weddings by holding same sex marriages at - where else but - Mount Everest!

The campaign was kicked off by the Nepal Tourism Minister sending a message to the International Conference on Gay & Lesbian Tourism in Boston - “As the world knows, Nepal is the land of Mount Everest, world’s highest peak and the birth place of Lord Buddha, light of Asia,” the message said. “I, therefore, would like to take this opportunity to invite and welcome all the sexual and gender minorities from around the world.” Nepal is also due to host the first Asian Symposium on Gay & Lesbian Tourism in Kathmandu in June.

One of the pioneers for this sudden change in Nepal’s policies is Sunil Babu Pant, Nepal’s leading gay rights activist and the only openly homosexual MP in South Asia. While some officials fear a backlash in more conservative rural areas, Mr. Pant says that most Nepalis are instinctively tolerant “as long you don’t walk naked or do something explicit”.

South Asia seems to be certainly expanding its horizons in unprecedented directions.

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Stained with Blood - The Red Corridor

Maoists brutally kill 75 soldiers in Chhattisgarh. Kanu Sanyal commits suicide.

The naxal menace has once again emerged as the most pressing issue in national media and politics. No one, myself included, in their right senses can support the Naxals for launching a war against their own country. But a lethal offensive by armed forces, either of the state or the Center, alone may not be sufficient to solve this crisis.

40 years after Naxalbari, adivasis and other down-trodden masses are still taking up arms. Why? The Home Minister claims the Maoists are terrorizing the villagers to take up arms. That may be true when applied to a small percent. But thousands and thousands of people? Spread over 16 states?

Politics and development are the twin centers of this deadly movement. Only after that would come the threat of weapons and ideology to force or lure people into armed revolution. The establishment succeeded in killing Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal. And what happened? Kishanji and Khobad Ghandy came up. If they are killed, others will take their place.

At present a massive re-distribution of wealth from the poor to the rich is taking place in the country. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Unless the economic issues are resolved and development reaches the lowest strata of society and the poorest of the tribals and adivasis are empowered politically the Maoist menace won’t end. Ministers and bureaucrats sitting in AC offices in metros please sit up and take note. In the not distant future Maoist guerrillas will come out of the forests and engage in urban warfare. And then the cost this country will pay for ignoring the oppressed voices – might just be too much to recover from.

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Agasthyarkoodam Trip - Part VIII - Concluding

We decide to complete the return journey the same day itself as most members of our group are working and would like a full day rest. So in spite of the warning of others that by the time we reach Bonacaud it might get dark we start from Athirupara at 2 PM. We also hoped to see some animals since we are told that most animals who prefer to lie in the shade during noon when it is hottest come out around sunset for one last forage for food. Though we are tired we are happy we made it to the top and the thought of the warmth of our homes help us to proceed in good speed.

At a place near a stream called Attapara we find a team on their way up waiting with their guide who inform us that right near by where we came down an elephant had been spotted and trekkers were advised to wait till the danger cleared. Of course since we were without a guide we were unaware of this and while some of us were disappointed that we didn’t spot the elephant, others were relieved that the elephant didn’t spot us!

We finally made it back to Bonacaud right as the sun was setting. It goes without saying the forest officers too were relieved to see us. Here we stopped to have tea. While we were walking we hadn’t really noticed the pain in our legs as we were busy taking in the mesmerizing sights nature had to offer. However now after having tea we found that we couldn’t even get up from a chair without help. Our legs had become stiff and our muscles were stretched to their extent. But, as everyone who has made this trip will tell you, it’s worth it.

So here’s what I finally have to say – Agasthyarkoodam is one place in Kerala, or the whole world for that matter, you definitely have got to see. The beauty and wonder will linger in your mind long after you have left the place. Let me put it this way – you may leave the place, but the place never leaves you. The trees, the flowers, the rocks, the rivers, the waterfalls, the sky, the clouds, the mist and Agasthyamuni at the peak – shall always be in my mind.

Whaling in Denmark – Dispelling myths of Fwd mails

I have a habit of checking the veracity of the ‘Fwd mails’ I get – you know the e-mails on some remote subject that are forwarded by everyone. About dangerous viruses, on health and the most recent trend – violently shocking pictures of wars, killings and suicides. I usually reply to the friend who sends me the mail sometimes asking them to refrain from forwarding graphic pictures without checking their genuineness. For example when the civil war in Sri Lanka reached its height before the killing of Velupillai Prabhakaran I received lots of mails with pictures of gruesome dead bodies, some reportedly killed by the LTTE and some by the Sri Lankan army. In fact I ended up receiving the same photos of dead bodies twice – one claimed it to be a massacre by the Sri Lankan army and the second claimed it to be a massacre by the LTTE!

Another one I have received recently a couple of times is about the killing of whales in Denmark. The mail shows a sea stained in red with hundreds of dead whales. The whales are supposedly killed by teens as an initiation into manhood. The cruelty must stop – this is the content of the mail.
The pictures looked authentic. What could possibly make men so cruel and why is it still happening in the modern world? So I did my research in the internet and here is what I came up with. I am not going to say if it is a good or bad thing – readers have to draw their own conclusions. Here are some of the facts:

The pictures of the mass killings of whales (the particular species is called pilot whale) are authentic. It takes place in an island called Faroe Islands – a constituent of Denmark. However I can’t find anything to suggest it is a ritual – rather it is a community action, called the grindadráp, to provide food. The whale meat is never sold; instead it is divided evenly to everyone who wants it. Records of whale drive hunts in the Faroe Islands date back to 1584. Most Faroese consider the hunt an important part of their culture and history whereas animal-right activists consider the hunt as being cruel and unnecessary.

According to The Office of Protected Resources, an US government agency responsible for protecting marine mammals and endangered marine life, there is no danger of the pilot whale becoming extinct.

From Wikipedia: “Most part of traditional Faroese food consists of (whale) meat. Because of the harsh Faroese climate, grain and vegetables have not been able to grow very well... During the winter months the Faroe Islanders´ only option was to mostly eat salted or dried food… including pilot whale meat. This means that over the centuries, the pilot whale has been an important source of food and vitamins to the isolated population on the North Atlantic archipelago.” (edited)

So what may seem repulsing in one culture may be quite acceptable or necessary in another. Cultural differences have to be taken into account while passing judgment on issues. Such mails and pictures could offend people and cultures we don’t know about and we have no right to criticize as much as they don’t have a right to criticize ours. Though I agree with the good intentions behind most of these mails I urge my friends to be a little more cautious and understanding while forwarding such “Fwd mails”. If not, you could end up producing the opposite of the desired effect.

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Agasthyarkoodam Trip - Part VII

Finally we reach the top of the summit after a three hour walk and lie down on the rocks with joy and exhaustion. However we are forced to jump up in less than a minute as the cold wind gets us shivering. We are disappointed to find that we cannot observe the majestic sights from the top as we are covered in mist. However we cannot help feeling that we are among clouds and the wind threatens to sweep us off our feet into the heavens itself.

At the top there is an idol of Agasthya muni where pilgrims make their offering. Small trees surround this statue and not surprisingly it is less windy here and therefore less cold too. All of us huddle together in this place to keep ourselves warm while other groups make their offerings and perform pooja. We are told that on clear days we can see three dams from the top. We wait for one hour braving the cold even after other groups have started their descent in the hope that the fog will clear and we can take in the view. However this proves futile as the wind and mist only seem to get stronger.

So after spending one hour on the top we start our downward trek which turns out to be even more dangerous than the upward one. Now the winds are blowing against us and we can’t even stand up straight or the wind will bowl us over. So most of the group sit and crawl through the rocky part. But once we pass AC Vanam and Ponkalapara most of the downward journey becomes smooth and we reach back at Athirupara at around 1: 30 PM.



(To be continued...)

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Agasthyarkoodam Trip - Part VI

On the second day of our trip we wake early from a well-earned sleep, all ready to take on the mighty Agasthya peak. We start early around 6:30 with minimum supplies, which includes lots of food anyway, as we don’t want to be burdened with too much weight through the steep climb that awaits us. We also take only empty bottles since we are told that water can be found in plenty on the way, in places such as Ponkalapara. As we keep going we realize the true beauty and varied specimen of nature that is endemic to this place. Most of us can’t identify any of the plants and flowers that catch our eye. We found trees that weren’t very tall, blooming with violet flowers, spread throughout the hillside.

The major resting point on the way up is called Ponkalapara. By the time we reached the entire area has been covered in mist with strong winds. If we sat down for two minutes we would start shivering and most of us weren’t adequately protected with sweaters. We had let our bigger sweaters behind at Athirumala not wanting to carry the additional burden. That turned out to be a mistake. It was colder that usual that day. At Ponkalapara pilgrims make ‘Pongala’ as offering and carry it to the top which is how the place got the name. After Pongalapara the climb gets unusually steep and dangerous. At a couple of places you have to use all four limbs to make your way up.

The next major point is one of the most amazing places of all - a forest near the top called (aptly) ‘AC Vanam’ as it very cold in there all throughout the day. It is said that the forest is always dripping wet and indeed there is no single dry rock to sit or a dry leaf to see. It is said that due to the numerous medicinal plants present there anyone who spends some time in the AC Vanam will not fall sick for one month. This is the final stop before the final climb to the top.

On days such as this day when there is constant mist the rocks will all be slippery and dripping wet making it even more hazardous. At two places big ropes have been placed for helping people to climb up. Here the strong wind blows upwards to the peak actually helping us to climb.

(To be continued..)


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Agasthyarkoodam Trip - Part V

There is a dormitory in Athirumala built by the Forest department for trekkers to take rest with a canteen that provides food - for a small price. Small considering that most of the ingredients are carried up there by tribals since it is not allowed for anyone to cultivate or take anything from the forest.

You get delicious hot ‘kanji’ and rice as well as other food during the day. They also provide free hot water to drink which is a blessing in the nights when it can be unusually cold. The building however has a scary look – not in the sense that it looks haunted but that it looks like it could fall on your head anytime. Another typical example of government inefficiency when you learn that it is only a few years old. Well something over your heads is better than nothing. At night the wind, which was a blessing during our long walk in the day turns into wild ravaging animal, smashing window panes and threatening to hurl the roof off and break huge branches over our head. It is also extremely cold and having to lie in the cement floor without sufficient blankets will make you feel frozen stiff in the morning.

However it a festive atmosphere inside with all kinds of people, nearing about 100, engaged in their own activities. Some groups chose to pray and sing hymns while others play cards or tell stories, some secretly smoke or drink – anything to make your forget today’s exhaustion and get ready for tomorrow’s walk to the summit.

It is from Athirumala that you can actually see the Agathya peak which you are going to climb. It sits like a huge boulder, like a sentinel guarding our territory. You can usually only see the summit during midday as in the mornings and evenings it will be covered with mist. Seeing the hills also remind you of something – that these hills like the Agasthyamala played an important role in creating the collective consciousness that we call Kerala. Bordered by sea on one side the Western Ghats somewhat isolated this geographical place from the rest of the Indian sub-continent and thus played an important role in shaping our culture. This is the reverence we feel when we stand at the foot of the imposing mountain range – that we owe something to them, something that is a part of us.

(To be continued...)

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Agasthyarkoodam Trip - Part IV

The water from the stream there was the tastiest I have ever drunk. And so cold even at midday. The Agasthya forests contain numerous medicinal herbs and plants that are not found elsewhere. And the water that comes trickling through the roots of these plants and filtered by nature is supposed to be medicinal and healthy. After drinking like 2 bottlefuls after trekking – I totally have to agree.

So after the refreshing dip at the Bona Falls we continued our journey – again through the dense forest till we re-joined the official trail. All through our slight detour we only saw one soul – a tribal guard. He was amazed to see us emerge from the dense clearing with no guide. Anyway he pointed us to right direction and we finally joined the others who had started before us. The last group that went before us were obviously going slowly and we were moving very quickly, which is why we could catch up with them even though we had taken a longer route.

Another exciting feature of an Agasthyaarkoodam trip is that you pass through all types of scenery – from dense forests with huge trees to grasslands peppered with bonsai trees to steep rocks. We pass all these to come to Athirumala, about 10kms below the summit, where we rest for the day. Since the next stage of the trekking is extremely steep and dangerous no one is allowed to proceed after dusk. However there are pilgrims who insist on going the same day itself but since we are devoid of any divine intentions we stop and rest for the day.

(To be continued...)

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Gerald Posner resignation

.Gerald Posner, a noted writer and journalist, resigned from the newspaper he was working for - Daily Beast - on allegations of plagiarism. He published his views on the issue in his blog where he expresses regret for the inadvertent mistakes he made. I think this is an important letter to be read by every journalist, especially in the age of the New Media.

Some excerpts:

"I realize how it is that I have inadvertently, but repeatedly, violated my own high standards. The core of my problem was in shifting from that of a book writer – with two years or more on a project – to what I describe as the “warp speed of the net.” For the Beast articles, I created master electronic files, which contained all the information I developed about a topic – that included interviews, scanned documents, published articles, and public information. I often had master files that were 15,000 words, that needed to be cut into a story of 1,000 to 1500 words.

In the compressed deadlines of the Beast, it now seems certain that those master file were a recipe for disaster for me. It allowed already published sources to get through to a number of my final and in the quick turnaround I then obviously lost sight of the fact that it belonged to a published source instead of being something I wrote."

I am posting the link of the entire letter below. Read on.

http://geraldposner.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-resignation-from-daily-beast.html



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Agasthyarkoodam Trip - Part III

Luckily the wind came to soothe our fears a little bit. The breeze brought us relief as we were soaking wet with sweat from walking with our backpacks (as well as fear too, I believe). The wind also provided some much needed noise through the swaying trees. We continued walking and the sound of the breeze grew bigger and the forest grew thicker.

Suddenly Pakaran stopped and said “Listen carefully!” We stopped dead in our tracks. “What? What is it?” He said “It is not the sound of the wind getting stronger. It is the sound of water. Falling on rocks. A waterfall!” We listened carefully now and realized he was telling the truth. We ran straight ahead. We could see a clearing in front of us and we ran together and came out from behind the last tree to see the most breath-taking view of a wonderful waterfall nested right there in between lush greenery, the spray from the fall drawing a rainbow in front of our eyes! This was paradise! And not another single soul in sight but us! A small lake had formed where the water fell and the rocks right below the fall was raised like a platform and we immediately slipped out of our clothes and those of us who knew swimming swam there while the rest of us waded through the side between the rocks to reach there. And we stood there right beside the water falling from such a height with so much power. We held our hands together and shouted like we had conquered the world. All our tiredness and exhaustion had disappeared like a bad dream. This was certainly the closest place to heaven on earth.

Pakaran told us that this time the water was less since it had been a couple of weeks without rain. Usually the water falls from the top to much farther so we can actually stand on the platform behind the waterfall. We could see the place where water usually fell was deep though it looked shallow. Even then it was an amazing sight. The pit formed from the waterfall was colourful like nothing I had ever seen before. There were designs on the smooth rocks below, presumably algae, in different colours – green, blue, red, yellow. You couldn’t stop looking – it seemed as if a magical world existed down there. So alluring and so deadly too for we were warned it was much deeper than it appeared. And with the ice cold water someone not an expert would be in real danger if he tried to swim cross.

(To be continued ...)

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Agasthyarkoodam Trip - Part II

By the time we started it had become almost noon and all the 4 groups allowed for this day had proceeded with the designated guides, leaving us without anyone to guide or protect us. All the more better! Pakaran was making his 9th trip and we were pretty much confident in him. Going without a guide could prove to be a blessing so we could do as we pleased – though I must certainly admit it was dangerous.

We followed the official trail for some distance and then Pakaran took a detour. He said he would take us to the Bona Falls which is a waterfall in the middle of the forest a little far away from the official path. It was near here where last year’s tragedy had taken place and so it was strictly forbidden for anyone to go near the falls. Anyway it was apparent that the way we were going was through thick forest and there was absolutely no trail of any kind. Or any sign of water or a stream let alone a waterfall. Our confidence in Pakaran quickly turned into skepticism and then doubt and then fear as we went deeper into the forest and had to climb over or crawl under fallen trees as it became more and more silent all around. I have been to many forests and I have heard elephants and other animals roar. They are frightening but absolute silence is eerily more frightening that the deafening roar you expect to hear in a forest.

Every few steps we would ask “Brother, is this the right way?” and he would simply say “Follow me” without saying yes or no. Now that answer makes you very uncomfortable because you don’t know whether he knows the way or he too is lost. I mean if he just said “Yes this is the way” or at least “No we are lost” we would have felt better. Knowing you are lost is definitely better than not knowing whether you are lost or not. And so we continued our journey wondering what lay ahead.

(To be continued...)

Agasthyarkoodam Trip - Part I

I have always wanted to go to Agasthyaarkoodam since I had first heard of it. It is the second highest mountain peak in Kerala after Anamudi, standing at a height of 1890 m above sea level. It is a protected ecological area and you have to obtain sanction from the Forest Office at Trivandrum to make the trip, which is usually only permitted in January – February period.

We started our journey early morning on 27th January, 2009. We traveled by car and bike to Bonakkadu from where the trekking starts. We had reached by 7 AM when the first team of trekkers is allowed to go. There are about 15 people in one group and a guard / guide will be assigned to them. Though we had reached before the first group took off some technical problems delayed our start. There were seven people in our group. But two of them couldn’t make the trip due to personal reasons. So we included two other friends in their place at the last moment. The senior most person in our group, affectionately called ‘Pakaran’ by us, said that this would be no problem with the forest authorities since they had gone likewise in the previous years too. But when we reached there the forest authorities wouldn’t permit these two ‘others’ to enter.

Last year one trekker had been killed by an elephant and it seemed the authorities were very strict after that. We couldn’t blame them for taking stringent precautionary measures but we were desperate too. We wouldn’t get another chance this year and so made some phone calls to the Forest Division office in Trivandrum to contact the forest officers here and convince them that we weren’t trouble makers or terrorists and in the end we were allowed to proceed.


(To be continued...)

Greatest discovery of the century in the Antarctic – 100 year old whiskey

We usually find ice in whiskey. But this time whiskey has been found in ice.

One of the greatest re-discoveries of the 21st century was made in the Antarctic this year when 5 crates containing whiskey was recovered after lying for more than 100 years in the ice.

They belonged to the polar explorer Ernest Shackleton who attempted to be the first person to reach South Pole in 1908. Due to hazardous conditions the trip would not be successful although he became the man to come closest to the South Pole at that time.

The crates containing the whiskey were found buried beneath Shackleton’s Antarctic hut where his expedition team was forced to leave behind supplies. According to the researchers who found the crates they are confident the liquor is intact inside as liquid could be heard when the crates were moved. It is believed the crates contain Mackinlay’s whiskey and according to the company this discovery may open a door into history since the original recipe no longer exists – “a gift from heaven for whiskey lovers.”

So here’s a toast to the bravery of men like Shackleton who journeyed into uncharted lands in the most hazardous conditions armed with nothing but strength of mind and whiskey – Cheers!

Wayanadu – brilliant political move by CPI (M)

The latest struggle by Adivasis for the land held by Shreyamskumar and George Pothan is the result of a brilliant tactical move by the CPI (M). M P Veerendrakumar should have been expecting this since after being with them for so long he should know that CPI (M) never forgives its enemies.

M P VeerendraKumar though his books and speeches gives out the image of someone who loves nature. As far as we know a good part of the land in Wayandu district belongs to him and his family. And his friends. Even the opposition leaders are finding it extremely hard to protect his interests since it was Oomen Chandy himself who first spoke out about the encroachment by Veerendra Kumar some years back when he was with the Left.

Even Mathrubhumi has utterly failed to in its attempt to malign the CPI (M) in this matter. Even though they have now dedicated an entire page with rants against the ‘encroachment’ by CPI (M) led Adivasis on the ‘encroached’ land, these outbursts of protest are by leaders of small parties, mostly JanataDal, within the UDF. No major literary or cultural figures have come out in support of Veerendra Kumar.

CPI(M) already has the upper hand in this political labyrinth. This battle is political, no doubt about it. Either way it is a win –win for CPI(M). If the courts decide against Veerendra Kumar hundreds of Adivasi families will get land. Even if it ends otherwise CPI (M) has already wreaked enough damage to Veeran’s reputation.

പ്രേമലേഖനം ആവശ്യമുണ്ട്

കോളേജില്‍ പഠിക്കുന്ന കാലത്ത് പൈസക്ക് വേണ്ടി പ്രേമലേഖനങ്ങള്‍ എഴുതി കൊടുത്തിരുന്ന ഒരു കൂട്ടുകാരനുണ്ടായിരുന്നു എനിക്ക്. പേര് മനോജ്‌. മികച്ച മദ്യപാനി.

പത്തു രൂപയായിരുന്നു ഒരു പ്രേമലേഖനത്തിന്റെ വില. കോളേജിലെ ഒട്ടു മിക്ക ആണ്‍കുട്ടികള്‍ക്കും കാണാപാഠമായിരുന്ന ഇവന്റെ വരികള്‍ പക്ഷെ പെണ്‍കുട്ടികള്‍ എന്ത് കൊണ്ടോ അറിയില്ലാ എന്ന് ഭാവിച്ചു. തങ്ങള്‍ കൊടുക്കാന്‍ പോകുന്ന പ്രേമലേഖനങ്ങള്‍ ആണ്‍കുട്ടികള്‍ എല്ലാ കൂട്ടുകാരെയും കാണിച്ചിട്ട് കൊടുക്കുമ്പോള്‍ പെണ്‍കുട്ടികള്‍ തങ്ങള്‍ക്കു കിട്ടുന്ന കത്തുകള്‍ മറ്റാരെയും കാണിക്കാതെ ഒളിപ്പിച്ചിരുന്നതിനാലാവാം ഇത്.

എന്തായാലും പറഞ്ഞും പാടിയും കേള്‍പ്പിക്കാന്‍ കാമുകിമാരില്ലാഞ്ഞതിനാല്‍ ഞാനും മനോജും ചില ദിവസങ്ങളില്‍ രണ്ടു പെഗ്ഗും അടിച്ചു ഹോസ്റ്റലിലെ ടെറസ്സില് കിടന്നു ആകാശം നോക്കി ഈ വരികള്‍ ഉരുവിടുമായിരുന്നു. കാണുന്ന എല്ലാ സുന്ദരിമാരോടും മനസ്സില്‍ പ്രണയം തോന്നിയിരുന്ന ഞാന്‍ ആകാശത്തിലെ എണ്ണമറ്റ നക്ഷത്രങ്ങളെയും പ്രണയിച്ചപ്പോള്‍ മനോജ്‌ തനിക്കു വേണ്ടി മാത്രം എവിടെയോ ഉണ്ടെന്നു വിശ്വസിച്ച ആ പെണ്‍കുട്ടിയെ എന്ന പോലെ നിലാവിനെ മാത്രം സ്നേഹിച്ചു.

അവന്റെ മാസ്റ്റര്‍പീസ് എന്ന് വിശേഷിപ്പിക്കാവുന്ന ഒന്നുണ്ടായിരുന്നു. തന്നെ വഞ്ചിച്ചു വിവാഹിതയാകാന്‍ പോകുന്ന പെണ്‍കുട്ടിക്ക് കാമുകന്റെ അവസാനത്തെ കത്ത്.

"എന്റെ കണ്ണില്‍ നിന്ന് ഇറ്റു വീണ ചോരതുള്ളികള്‍ നീ കണ്ടില്ല... പ്രാണന്‍ വേര്‍പെടുമ്പോള്‍ ഉണ്ടാകുന്ന ഹൃദയത്തിന്റെ പിടച്ചില്‍ നീ അറിഞ്ഞില്ല ... അപ്പോഴും മറ്റാരുടെയോ ചാരത്തണയാനുള്ള വെമ്പലിലായിരുന്നു നീ..."

"ഒരു കുടന്ന പുഞ്ചിരി പൂവുമായി വഴിയോരത്ത് എന്നെ കാത്തു നില്ക്കാന്‍ ഇനി ആരുമില്ല ... കടലില്‍ വീണ മണ്‍തരി പോലെ നിന്നെ ഞാന്‍ തേടി...നിന്നെ കണ്ടുമുട്ടിയ ഓരോ നിമിഷവും ഞാന്‍ അറിഞ്ഞു. പക്ഷെ നീയോ...?"

"ആത്മാര്‍ത്ഥ സ്നേഹത്തെ നീ ഏതു ഏകകം കൊണ്ടാണ് തുലനം ചെയ്തത്? പണമോ പദവിയോ അതോ സൗന്ദര്യമോ?"

"ഇനി വരുന്ന നാളത്തെ പുലരികള്‍ നിറമുള്ളതായി തീരട്ടെ എന്ന് ആശംസിച്ചു കൊണ്ട്..."

അങ്ങനെ നിരവധി വരികള്‍. പലതും മറന്നു പോയി. ഹൃദയരക്തം ചാലിച്ചു പലരും എഴുതി കൈമാറിയ ഈ കത്ത് പല പെണ്‍കുട്ടികളും ഇന്നും പെട്ടിക്കടിയിലോ അതുമല്ലങ്കില്‍ മനസിനുള്ളിലോ സൂക്ഷിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടാകും എന്ന് ഞാന്‍ കരുതുന്നു. അങ്ങിനെയെങ്കില്‍ ബാക്കി വരികളും കൂടി ഒന്ന് ഓര്‍മിപ്പിച്ചു തരണം എന്ന് വിനീതനായി അഭ്യര്‍ത്ഥിക്കുന്നു.

പെണ്‍കുട്ടികള്‍ പലരും കടന്നു പോയെങ്കിലും ആകാശത്തിലെ നക്ഷത്രങ്ങളും നിലാവും ഇന്നും ബാക്കിയുണ്ടല്ലോ...


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Ride of the Year

My first bus ride of the new year. Yes yes I know – what's the big deal? Bus rides used to be my favorite pastime before. Especially when the college I studied was 25 kms away from my home. I used to spend atleast 3 hours in buses a day, creatively spending the time by day dreaming and letting my imagination run wild. However it all changed when I became bike-addicted. Once I straddled my black panther (I own a black Yamaha Libero) I never let him slip away from between my legs (sexual innuendo overruled). Except when I had to leave the district – otherwise he became my constant companion and I bid goodbye to bus rides.

However yesterday my bike called in sick (he had a tire puncture) and I had to resort to my long forgotten means of transport. Everything was the same. In the morning at the bus stop I heard that favorite mantra – “bus just left- next is only after half hour”. Luckily got a seat in the next one. The conductor looks familiar. I hand him the money, trying to smile.

He: “Give Rs. 2.50 change”.

Me: “I don’t have it”.

He: “Who do you think I am? The Reserve Bank? Stupid people! Won’t carry any change, blah blah…”

Oh yea. Now I remember him. He hasn’t changed too. Why can’t he at least take the trouble to learn some new ‘theri’ (uhh…colourful native form of verbal abuse).

Its even more familiar in the evening. Over crowded bus. Looks like Wagon Tragedy part - 2. And when I get in it’s the same smell – sweat, rum and peanuts. A candy somewhere. And all the wonderful, different people. Some just can’t wait to get home – they keep looking at their watches and making impatient gestures whenever the driver stops. Perhaps its their wives, or maybe their favorite TV show. Other people seem determined to sit there till eternity – they don’t have watches, don’t even bother to look where they have reached. Some women stare at you making you wonder “What’s wrong with her?” Some men stare at you making you wonder “What’s wrong with me?”

Then there are the angry ones who shout for every silly matter, rude ones who push you out of the way for seats, indecent ones who ogle, drunk ones who don’t know where they want to go, young, old, strong, weak, sullen, happy (singing out loud) and every other imaginable type. – Veritably an exact representation of the cross section of our society. I need this more. I am going to travel by bus everyday. Well…at least once in a while. Cheers!

What on earth is an Islamic Bank??!!

Now what on earth is an Islamic Bank supposed to mean??

The Kerala High Court has passed an order restraining the commencement of an Islamic Bank in the state.

A banking institution exclusively for Muslims? And that too in our secular god’s own country - under the auspices of the state government. The company, Al-Barakah Financial Services, was registered by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) with the holding of 11 per cent equity.

And till now not a single organization or leader inside the state has raised voice against this action which is against the country’s secular principles. The court ruling was made on a public interest litigation filed by Dr. Subramanian Swamy, former Union Law minister and leader of the Janta Party who hails from outside our state.

The company claims that it would function not on the basis of Islamic Laws or the Shariah but in accordance with the Companies Act and the Reserve Bank of India Act. According to the proposal, the bank will not pay interest to customers, while a Shariah board will decide what sort of investments it will make. The proposed bank would have Sharia-compliant banking products and profits made out of the investments would be distributed to the shareholders.

According to Swamy, a Harvard-educated economist, the new firm was bound by the Shariah law and its chief executive was to report to Shariah Advisory Body and not to any constitutional authority and investing public money in such a company was unconstitutional.

This is a blatant case of minorty appeasement purely for the sake of vote banks and is absolutely unacceptable in our democratic setup. Are we now to move towards Nair banks, Roman Catholic banks and so on? It is troubling to see a progressive state like Kerala moving backwards to divisions based on religion and caste. Citizens should be made aware and vigilant against such regressive tendencies of the institutions in power.