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O J’s Corner
No alternative to rail-road infrastructure
Developments on the earth are fast overtaking us, but we are yet to catch up with many of the mind-boggling user-friendly achievements, which have become the order of the day elsewhere. Often we are stymied by mind-blocks of negativity. It is high time we shed the ruinous tendency and whole-heartedly go in for massive infrastructure installations, facilities and services essential for mankind in the third millennium. Services are becoming available at the press of a button. No one can think about falling back to the bullock-cart days. My father’s generation was witness to discerning changes in the transportation sector. They had the bullock-carts, some even had horse-drawn carriages for traveling from one place to another. Bus transport was funny. Those days pneumatic tyres were not there. Bus wheels were fitted with blocks of rubber, which were dragged on by a primitive engine. When the bus stopped, the cleaner was ready with a rod to insert in a hole in front of the bus, with which he rotated the shaft. Now we have scooters with press-button engine starters.
We are aspiring to reach the moon soon, but we have largely ignored the high-speed road and rail travel facilities existing in developed countries. Even the train bogies are antediluvian, compared to Euro standards. When do we think about absorbing some of these modern facilities? Owing to concerns about greenhouse effect, carbon emission and global warming, these modern amenities are largely harmless, issue-wise.
K M Roy, in his column, “With an open mind”, has referred to the knotty traffic problem caused by a conference of doctors held in Kochi. About 10,000 doctors from various parts of the country had converged on the Gulfar International Convention Centre situated on the National Highway Bypass in Kochi. Probably this is the broadest road stretch in Kochi. About 5,000 cars carrying participant-doctors from various places got catapulted themselves on this road stretch, creating a traffic snarl of seven hours unheard-of earlier. Buses, other cars, two-wheelers etc which had to convey students, housewives and the general public to the hinterlands were hamstrung by the traffic block. They resorted to picketing. The district administration and the police top-brass stood mute witness to the clatter of crowds, cars, creatures and care-takers. If things move on like this , we have already fallen into the “Chakravyuha” faced by Abhimanyu.
Kochi has become an international hub on many counts. Smart City, Info mammoths, trans-shipment container terminal, LNG terminal, airport, sea port and the like cry for breathing space for all those working for these institutions, the general public and outlets for people who travel to and fro the hinterlands. Kochi cannot afford to provide accommodation for all. People will have to stay in places close to Kottayam, Alappuzha and Thrissur districts and travel for work.
There is no way out for us, unless new avenues are built. This reminds one of the vociferous campaign undertaken by P J Joseph for high-speed rail and road corridors on the western sector and interlinking of golden quadrilateral and express highways criss-crossing the length and breadth of the country. Plan ahead and catch up with the developments in tune with the times.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
P J Joseph’s campaign chariot rolls from
Mumbai to Kanykumari for
high-speed rail-road corridor
The bugle was sounded in the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji, at Hutatma Chowk, in Mumbai, the very place where hundreds of people had sacrificed their lives for unified Maharashtra, for a national cause mooted by P J Joseph for the realisation of the high-speed Mumbai – Kanyakumari rail-road corridor.
The giant project would cover states on the east coast, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The campaign was flagged off by celebrated film director and social activist Mahesh Bhatt.
Mahesh Bhatt was convinced that this campaign would prove to be a historic moment. When the project takes off, those who have given shape to the mega idea and those who worked behind the campaign would ever be remembered, he added. People would have to dream about big development.
Former Railway Minister Ram Naik who addressed the gathering reminisced that the venue of the campaign roll out was the fighting field where more than a hundred lives were lost in connection with the unified Maharashtra cause.
The vehicle jatha commenced its journey on January 12, the day of Swami Vivekananda Jayanti. It was meaningful that the campaign was for a mega project linking Mumbai with Kanyakumari, famous for its Swami Vivekananda memorial.
People and leaders cutting across party line participated in the inaugural function and subsequent receptions at select points en route. A large number of party workers from Kerala and activists of Malayali associations, organisations of Keralites settled in Mumbai and local enthusiasts had converged on the Hutatma Chowk for the flag-of ceremony.
MPs P C Thomas and Francis George, Kerala’s PWD Minister Mons Joseph, and others were present.
P J Joseph said that the MPs had submitted memoranda to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. The Centre has already ordered for a techno-economic survey.
In European countries and Japan, bullet trains are available for long-distance journey. On an average bullet trains cover 1,000 kms in eight hours. Our Rajadhani Express trains maintain 70 kms per hour speed in India. There should be a concerted effort from all corners to introduce bullet trains when journey to Kerala would be less time consuming.
Mohan Rawale, MP from Maharashtra, MLA Annie Shekhar, BMC corporator Vinod Shekhar, CITU state secretary P R Krishnan, Minorities Commission vice-chairman Abraham Mathai and V K Khader were among those who graced the inaugural function.
From Kerala, Former Minister T U Kuruvilla, MLA, Surendran Pillai, MLA, former MP Vakkachen Mattathil, Antony raju, John K Mathews, K F Varghese, E P Mathew, Jacob Abraham, Mathew George, D K John, Kulathoor Kunjukrishna Pillai, Thottathil Mohamed, Shibu Thekkumpuram, Mathew Kunnappally, Raju Neduvampuram, advocate Chandralekha and a host of others were among the participants.
The entourage was received with fanfare at Thane, Wagle Estate, Vashi, Kerala House, Lonavala, Pune and other important points.
The jatha proceeded along Pune, Ratnagiri,Panaji and Mangalore. It would cross Kasargod in Kerala and proceed to Kanyakumari where the concluding function would be held on January 31.
Mumbai to Kanykumari for
high-speed rail-road corridor
The bugle was sounded in the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji, at Hutatma Chowk, in Mumbai, the very place where hundreds of people had sacrificed their lives for unified Maharashtra, for a national cause mooted by P J Joseph for the realisation of the high-speed Mumbai – Kanyakumari rail-road corridor.
The giant project would cover states on the east coast, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The campaign was flagged off by celebrated film director and social activist Mahesh Bhatt.
Mahesh Bhatt was convinced that this campaign would prove to be a historic moment. When the project takes off, those who have given shape to the mega idea and those who worked behind the campaign would ever be remembered, he added. People would have to dream about big development.
Former Railway Minister Ram Naik who addressed the gathering reminisced that the venue of the campaign roll out was the fighting field where more than a hundred lives were lost in connection with the unified Maharashtra cause.
The vehicle jatha commenced its journey on January 12, the day of Swami Vivekananda Jayanti. It was meaningful that the campaign was for a mega project linking Mumbai with Kanyakumari, famous for its Swami Vivekananda memorial.
People and leaders cutting across party line participated in the inaugural function and subsequent receptions at select points en route. A large number of party workers from Kerala and activists of Malayali associations, organisations of Keralites settled in Mumbai and local enthusiasts had converged on the Hutatma Chowk for the flag-of ceremony.
MPs P C Thomas and Francis George, Kerala’s PWD Minister Mons Joseph, and others were present.
P J Joseph said that the MPs had submitted memoranda to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. The Centre has already ordered for a techno-economic survey.
In European countries and Japan, bullet trains are available for long-distance journey. On an average bullet trains cover 1,000 kms in eight hours. Our Rajadhani Express trains maintain 70 kms per hour speed in India. There should be a concerted effort from all corners to introduce bullet trains when journey to Kerala would be less time consuming.
Mohan Rawale, MP from Maharashtra, MLA Annie Shekhar, BMC corporator Vinod Shekhar, CITU state secretary P R Krishnan, Minorities Commission vice-chairman Abraham Mathai and V K Khader were among those who graced the inaugural function.
From Kerala, Former Minister T U Kuruvilla, MLA, Surendran Pillai, MLA, former MP Vakkachen Mattathil, Antony raju, John K Mathews, K F Varghese, E P Mathew, Jacob Abraham, Mathew George, D K John, Kulathoor Kunjukrishna Pillai, Thottathil Mohamed, Shibu Thekkumpuram, Mathew Kunnappally, Raju Neduvampuram, advocate Chandralekha and a host of others were among the participants.
The entourage was received with fanfare at Thane, Wagle Estate, Vashi, Kerala House, Lonavala, Pune and other important points.
The jatha proceeded along Pune, Ratnagiri,Panaji and Mangalore. It would cross Kasargod in Kerala and proceed to Kanyakumari where the concluding function would be held on January 31.
Sweet dreams about bullet trains on the east coast
We speak about materialising our dreams. But do we dream?
The world is developing at a fast pace. China and India are poised to be big players in the world economic sphere in the next decades. But India has to catch up with several respects to achieve a developed status. Particularly, our transport system, among other things, have to be developed in tune with the times. Our long-distance trains carry us from one destination to the other taking many days for the journey. But the world has changed in the matter of rail travel.
By constructing a high-speed corridor, bullet trains can be pressed into service. Bullet trains can travel at a speed of over 500-580 kms per hour. True, it cannot run on our existing rails. Building high-speed rail corridor is expensive initially. But over a period of time, when tourists and the general public use them, the system would be profitable. And the nation should be proud of providing modern amenities on par with world facilities.
In this connection, one should salute the high-speed rail-road-corridor, mooted by P J Joseph connecting Mumbai with Kanyakumari and covering five States of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala on the east coast.
Mind you, high-speed train-systems have been pressed into service in the US, UK, France, Germany, Japan, China, Italy, Argentina, Brazil, Thailand, South Africa, Morocco, Thaiwan, Spain, Belgium, Korea, Switzerland, Turkey, Sweden, Malaysia etc.
The high-speed passenger corridor, for which P J Joseph has already launched a vehicular campaign from Mumbai to Kanyakumari, from January 12 and scheduled to conclude on January 31, would connect the tourist centres on the east coast. There are plenty of tourist spots en route. Places of interest include Mumbai, Goa, Mangalore, Kappad, Kodungalloor, Kochi, Alappuzha, Kollam, Vizhinjam and Kanyakumari.
On a rough estimate, the high-speed rail and parallel road corridor from Mumbai to Kanyakumari would cost about Rs one lakh crore. This is not an impossible task provided we would be able to rope in personalities like E.Sreedharan who was instrumental in constructing the Konkan rails and the Delhi metro. Funding would also not be a problem if agencies like Japanese Bank for International Co-operation is accessed. International agencies offer loans at 0.5 per cent interest spread over 25 years.
This east coast corridor would benefit 25 crore people belonging to five states. The railways’ income would be going up considerably, if the system is put in place.
The magnetic levitation trains in Japan ply at a speed of 580 km per hour.
No doubt, we have to catapult ourselves into the realm of the bullet train system
We speak about materialising our dreams. But do we dream?
The world is developing at a fast pace. China and India are poised to be big players in the world economic sphere in the next decades. But India has to catch up with several respects to achieve a developed status. Particularly, our transport system, among other things, have to be developed in tune with the times. Our long-distance trains carry us from one destination to the other taking many days for the journey. But the world has changed in the matter of rail travel.
By constructing a high-speed corridor, bullet trains can be pressed into service. Bullet trains can travel at a speed of over 500-580 kms per hour. True, it cannot run on our existing rails. Building high-speed rail corridor is expensive initially. But over a period of time, when tourists and the general public use them, the system would be profitable. And the nation should be proud of providing modern amenities on par with world facilities.
In this connection, one should salute the high-speed rail-road-corridor, mooted by P J Joseph connecting Mumbai with Kanyakumari and covering five States of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala on the east coast.
Mind you, high-speed train-systems have been pressed into service in the US, UK, France, Germany, Japan, China, Italy, Argentina, Brazil, Thailand, South Africa, Morocco, Thaiwan, Spain, Belgium, Korea, Switzerland, Turkey, Sweden, Malaysia etc.
The high-speed passenger corridor, for which P J Joseph has already launched a vehicular campaign from Mumbai to Kanyakumari, from January 12 and scheduled to conclude on January 31, would connect the tourist centres on the east coast. There are plenty of tourist spots en route. Places of interest include Mumbai, Goa, Mangalore, Kappad, Kodungalloor, Kochi, Alappuzha, Kollam, Vizhinjam and Kanyakumari.
On a rough estimate, the high-speed rail and parallel road corridor from Mumbai to Kanyakumari would cost about Rs one lakh crore. This is not an impossible task provided we would be able to rope in personalities like E.Sreedharan who was instrumental in constructing the Konkan rails and the Delhi metro. Funding would also not be a problem if agencies like Japanese Bank for International Co-operation is accessed. International agencies offer loans at 0.5 per cent interest spread over 25 years.
This east coast corridor would benefit 25 crore people belonging to five states. The railways’ income would be going up considerably, if the system is put in place.
The magnetic levitation trains in Japan ply at a speed of 580 km per hour.
No doubt, we have to catapult ourselves into the realm of the bullet train system
Saturday, January 12, 2008
O J’s Corner
Campus killings
Children carry the attitude and behaviour evolved at home to campus and conduct themselves abominably, leading to even unabashed killings.
The latest series of murder of fellow students by wayward wards of mostly wealthy parents betray a bomb ticking at the door-step of culture and civilization alien to ours. No doubt they have gone astray. But the dangerous trend has to be nipped in the bud.
A carrot-and-stick policy is essential to deal with the situation. Conscientisation of students as well as parents with the involvement of teachers, counsellors and the society at large would go to a great extent to create a harmonious climate on the campus. The erratic ways of students indulging in opulence and concomitant high-handedness should be sternly dealt with.
Rabindranath Tagore’s Shantiniketan was the scene of blood-shed the other day as a third-year under-graduate girl student of Vishwabharati University was shot dead apparently by a jilted lover.
Earlier in January, a school student shot his junior to death at a Government school in Satna, Madhya Pradesh. In December, a 14-year-old student was shot dead in Gurgaon in Haryana, bordering Delhi.
These are shocking, horrifying and tragic incidents. This kind of grotesque behaviour, unheard-of in Indian conditions, should be an eye-opener. The environment in which children are growing up, under the influence of arms and money, should be scanned scientifically to correct the situation.
Money and status of parents in society are the main criteria to secure admission in top schools. Most of the parents do not keep track of the conduct of their children in schools. They have no idea of the peers with whom the kids interact. Some of the students extend the attitude developed at home to the campus. They were encouraged to be harsh with their friends and acquaintances.
Mind you, the students spend only 25 per cent of their time in school. The rest of the time is spent at home. Which means parents have to act as counsellors.
Peer pressure, increasing over-emphasis on studies, need to excel, non-availability of parents for interaction etc result in pent-up anger. The children do not know how to control anger. They direct it at anyone who comes their way. Aggressive behaviour is often transferred to children from parents. Adjustment problems, cultural shocks and attitudinal aberrations deviate children from positivity.
Take the case of ragging incidents at various educational institutions. Aggressive ragging is nothing but a sort of killing instinct. The victims are subjected to heinous cruelty in the guise of orienting the new entrants to campus life. Ragging which was intended to be innocuous strengthening of attitude to weather difficult situations has turned out to be abject cruelty.
Disharmony at home, lack of attention paid to children, disregard to their just demands, pressure to always study for best results, dearth of physical activity, sports and games, entertainment programmes, not even listening to music and the like make them taut, tough and rough.
Balanced diet and balanced behaviour should be provided to the children who constantly and unknowingly imbibe trends from their parents, who should therefore be careful.
Campus killings
Children carry the attitude and behaviour evolved at home to campus and conduct themselves abominably, leading to even unabashed killings.
The latest series of murder of fellow students by wayward wards of mostly wealthy parents betray a bomb ticking at the door-step of culture and civilization alien to ours. No doubt they have gone astray. But the dangerous trend has to be nipped in the bud.
A carrot-and-stick policy is essential to deal with the situation. Conscientisation of students as well as parents with the involvement of teachers, counsellors and the society at large would go to a great extent to create a harmonious climate on the campus. The erratic ways of students indulging in opulence and concomitant high-handedness should be sternly dealt with.
Rabindranath Tagore’s Shantiniketan was the scene of blood-shed the other day as a third-year under-graduate girl student of Vishwabharati University was shot dead apparently by a jilted lover.
Earlier in January, a school student shot his junior to death at a Government school in Satna, Madhya Pradesh. In December, a 14-year-old student was shot dead in Gurgaon in Haryana, bordering Delhi.
These are shocking, horrifying and tragic incidents. This kind of grotesque behaviour, unheard-of in Indian conditions, should be an eye-opener. The environment in which children are growing up, under the influence of arms and money, should be scanned scientifically to correct the situation.
Money and status of parents in society are the main criteria to secure admission in top schools. Most of the parents do not keep track of the conduct of their children in schools. They have no idea of the peers with whom the kids interact. Some of the students extend the attitude developed at home to the campus. They were encouraged to be harsh with their friends and acquaintances.
Mind you, the students spend only 25 per cent of their time in school. The rest of the time is spent at home. Which means parents have to act as counsellors.
Peer pressure, increasing over-emphasis on studies, need to excel, non-availability of parents for interaction etc result in pent-up anger. The children do not know how to control anger. They direct it at anyone who comes their way. Aggressive behaviour is often transferred to children from parents. Adjustment problems, cultural shocks and attitudinal aberrations deviate children from positivity.
Take the case of ragging incidents at various educational institutions. Aggressive ragging is nothing but a sort of killing instinct. The victims are subjected to heinous cruelty in the guise of orienting the new entrants to campus life. Ragging which was intended to be innocuous strengthening of attitude to weather difficult situations has turned out to be abject cruelty.
Disharmony at home, lack of attention paid to children, disregard to their just demands, pressure to always study for best results, dearth of physical activity, sports and games, entertainment programmes, not even listening to music and the like make them taut, tough and rough.
Balanced diet and balanced behaviour should be provided to the children who constantly and unknowingly imbibe trends from their parents, who should therefore be careful.
Mullapperiyar issue should be eye-opener
The logic, or lack of it, on the part of Tamil Nadu in resolving the
Mullapperiyar dam issue defies all canons of reasoning. Its insistence should have been directed towards securing water from Mullapperiyar river. Tamil Nadu does not appear to be concerned about the safety of the dam or the impending danger of lakhs of people living downstream, stretching from Thekkady to Alappuzha. Tamil Nadu has lease right for 999 years over the water from the dam, which by now is more than 110 years old. No human being can be convinced that this dam, built in mud and lime, would survive 999 years.
Those who were responsible for drafting the wording of the lease agreement did not think that it necessary to have a specific clause for building a new dam and demolishing the antique dam. No one thought that in human transactions, anyone would oppose reconstruction of a dilapidated dam. When the agreement was renewed during the tenure of Chief Minister C.Achutha Menon, there was no re-thinking as the whole transactions appear to have been done on political expediency. Now when the dam’s condition is precarious, the Tamilians, in the same tenacity is opposing every move to have a new dam, amply supported by reports got readied with political clout at the Centre from time to time.
The life of a modern-day dam, built with the firmest infrastructure possible, is expected to be roughly 50 years. Let it survive for 100 years. But our antique structure is older and it is crumbling It has to be replaced. Delay tactics would only worsen the safety aspect of the dam, endangering precious lives.
The statistics provided by the Central Water Commission, culled out for the purpose of deposition before the Supreme Court underscores the need for urgent steps to tide over the dangerous situation. If there occurs a flash flood by some means (that is possible in times of unpredictable rain and thunder showers arising from global warming and melting of ice caps) and the water level goes beyond 136 feet, the overflow would be too risky. The ground portion where the water falls out would be thinning out and there are chances of being washed away endangering the dam proper.
The Supreme Court has been magnanimous enough to identify eight main issues involved in the Mullapperiyar dam issue. It should be possible for Kerala to insist on the non-safety aspect and get the issue thrashed out either through discussions or through the apex court. Dilly-dallying and stretching of time-frames, which is being pursued by Tamil Nadu, would imperil the situation further.
It seems Tamil Nadu belatedly agreed to have the leakage in the dam being studied in depth is a ploy to derail the deadline. Possibly, it could get the study process extended up to a year. It seems prudent to include other aspects in the study like the non-safety and old age of the dam proper. It is well-known that the earlier report submitted by the Central Water Commission was not impartial.
Mullapperiyar dam issue should be an eye-opener to the ruling dispensations in Kerala from time to time. While drawing up agreements for lease, there should be specific provisions for dealing with similar situations. One should not assume that the other side would see the human side of various aspects. Credulousness would cost us dearly.
The logic, or lack of it, on the part of Tamil Nadu in resolving the
Mullapperiyar dam issue defies all canons of reasoning. Its insistence should have been directed towards securing water from Mullapperiyar river. Tamil Nadu does not appear to be concerned about the safety of the dam or the impending danger of lakhs of people living downstream, stretching from Thekkady to Alappuzha. Tamil Nadu has lease right for 999 years over the water from the dam, which by now is more than 110 years old. No human being can be convinced that this dam, built in mud and lime, would survive 999 years.
Those who were responsible for drafting the wording of the lease agreement did not think that it necessary to have a specific clause for building a new dam and demolishing the antique dam. No one thought that in human transactions, anyone would oppose reconstruction of a dilapidated dam. When the agreement was renewed during the tenure of Chief Minister C.Achutha Menon, there was no re-thinking as the whole transactions appear to have been done on political expediency. Now when the dam’s condition is precarious, the Tamilians, in the same tenacity is opposing every move to have a new dam, amply supported by reports got readied with political clout at the Centre from time to time.
The life of a modern-day dam, built with the firmest infrastructure possible, is expected to be roughly 50 years. Let it survive for 100 years. But our antique structure is older and it is crumbling It has to be replaced. Delay tactics would only worsen the safety aspect of the dam, endangering precious lives.
The statistics provided by the Central Water Commission, culled out for the purpose of deposition before the Supreme Court underscores the need for urgent steps to tide over the dangerous situation. If there occurs a flash flood by some means (that is possible in times of unpredictable rain and thunder showers arising from global warming and melting of ice caps) and the water level goes beyond 136 feet, the overflow would be too risky. The ground portion where the water falls out would be thinning out and there are chances of being washed away endangering the dam proper.
The Supreme Court has been magnanimous enough to identify eight main issues involved in the Mullapperiyar dam issue. It should be possible for Kerala to insist on the non-safety aspect and get the issue thrashed out either through discussions or through the apex court. Dilly-dallying and stretching of time-frames, which is being pursued by Tamil Nadu, would imperil the situation further.
It seems Tamil Nadu belatedly agreed to have the leakage in the dam being studied in depth is a ploy to derail the deadline. Possibly, it could get the study process extended up to a year. It seems prudent to include other aspects in the study like the non-safety and old age of the dam proper. It is well-known that the earlier report submitted by the Central Water Commission was not impartial.
Mullapperiyar dam issue should be an eye-opener to the ruling dispensations in Kerala from time to time. While drawing up agreements for lease, there should be specific provisions for dealing with similar situations. One should not assume that the other side would see the human side of various aspects. Credulousness would cost us dearly.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
O J’s Corner
Braver than many men
Destiny’s Daughter Benazir lived up to the Bhutto legacy. She was braver than many men. That was why she chose to end her eight years of exile and return to her homeland amidst a lot of uncertainties. She might have been over-confident initially as she could strike a deal with Pervez Musharraf at the behest of the US. I wonder how serious allegations of corruption levelled against her necessitating her exile could be quashed by the rulers one fine morning. I cannot understand how “corrupt” leaders can be allowed to run way to foreign countries. That is with regard to the affairs of Benazir Bhutto and her husband Asif Zardari. Is Nawaz Sharif not a wrong-doer once he is outside Pakistan? If Bhutto was chaperoned by the US, Saudi Arabia apparently did the bidding for Nawaz Sharif. One way or other the leaders’ affairs are beyond ordinary laws. Which means not everything was above board. When one leader assumes power, it is good riddance for the former leaders. This is nothing but rustic ways, far away from the ways of democracy. But that is an aside.
Benazir saw her father Zulfikar hanged to death by tyrant Zia-ul-Haq. When her father was incarcerating in prison under death sentence handed down by the Pakistani military dictatorship in 1979, other members of her family were trying to flee the country. Benazir boldly flew back to Pakistan. Her confrontation with brutal Zia-ul-Haq cost her five years of her life in prison.
She saw one of her brothers, Shahnawaz, die in mysterious circumstances in south of France in 1985. Another brother, Mir Murtaza, was shot down outside the family home in Karachi by uniformed police in 1996.
When she was Prime Minister ( mind you, she was the first woman Prime Minister of an Islamic country!), she pursued a very active pro-Taliban policy, which was intended to have her sway over Afghanistan one the one side and secure strategic depth in its long confrontation with India over Pakistan. In all she spent thirty years navigating turbulent, sometimes extremely violent Pakistani politics.
Daughter of Destiny was the title she gave to her autobiography. Lately, she was willing to lead a battle against Taliban and al-Qaeda. It seems she was truly worried about lack of democracy and the mullah-manipulated politics in Pakistan.
Perhaps the Bhutto legacy would be carried on by her son Bilaval and ,if need be, two daughters. But it is a long time to come.
Pakistan getting destabilised is a real threat to India, and the world at large. Whatever the assertions of safety of nuclear weapons in Pakistan, the world’s deadliest terrorists are camping in that country. No one is totally controlling them. Ultimately, the US will have to act strongly against them one way or other. Otherwise, it would be a worse danger for them than that it witnessed in the twin tower tragedy in 2001.
Braver than many men
Destiny’s Daughter Benazir lived up to the Bhutto legacy. She was braver than many men. That was why she chose to end her eight years of exile and return to her homeland amidst a lot of uncertainties. She might have been over-confident initially as she could strike a deal with Pervez Musharraf at the behest of the US. I wonder how serious allegations of corruption levelled against her necessitating her exile could be quashed by the rulers one fine morning. I cannot understand how “corrupt” leaders can be allowed to run way to foreign countries. That is with regard to the affairs of Benazir Bhutto and her husband Asif Zardari. Is Nawaz Sharif not a wrong-doer once he is outside Pakistan? If Bhutto was chaperoned by the US, Saudi Arabia apparently did the bidding for Nawaz Sharif. One way or other the leaders’ affairs are beyond ordinary laws. Which means not everything was above board. When one leader assumes power, it is good riddance for the former leaders. This is nothing but rustic ways, far away from the ways of democracy. But that is an aside.
Benazir saw her father Zulfikar hanged to death by tyrant Zia-ul-Haq. When her father was incarcerating in prison under death sentence handed down by the Pakistani military dictatorship in 1979, other members of her family were trying to flee the country. Benazir boldly flew back to Pakistan. Her confrontation with brutal Zia-ul-Haq cost her five years of her life in prison.
She saw one of her brothers, Shahnawaz, die in mysterious circumstances in south of France in 1985. Another brother, Mir Murtaza, was shot down outside the family home in Karachi by uniformed police in 1996.
When she was Prime Minister ( mind you, she was the first woman Prime Minister of an Islamic country!), she pursued a very active pro-Taliban policy, which was intended to have her sway over Afghanistan one the one side and secure strategic depth in its long confrontation with India over Pakistan. In all she spent thirty years navigating turbulent, sometimes extremely violent Pakistani politics.
Daughter of Destiny was the title she gave to her autobiography. Lately, she was willing to lead a battle against Taliban and al-Qaeda. It seems she was truly worried about lack of democracy and the mullah-manipulated politics in Pakistan.
Perhaps the Bhutto legacy would be carried on by her son Bilaval and ,if need be, two daughters. But it is a long time to come.
Pakistan getting destabilised is a real threat to India, and the world at large. Whatever the assertions of safety of nuclear weapons in Pakistan, the world’s deadliest terrorists are camping in that country. No one is totally controlling them. Ultimately, the US will have to act strongly against them one way or other. Otherwise, it would be a worse danger for them than that it witnessed in the twin tower tragedy in 2001.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Grand finale to agriculture fair
O J George
Farmers had a feel of the explosion of knowledge available in the field. Children were drawn to the unending expanse of science wisdom. Giant-sized crops exhibited at the fair were the cynosure of the mela. Evenings reverberated with songs, dance and other entertainment programmes. Various stalls provided an ocean of information for the common folk. The 10-day farmers’ fair, which has by now become a by-word for the people all around, held under the auspices of the Gandhiji Study Centre chaired by P J Joseph, drew to a close on December 31.
It was a colourful festival, held on the sprawling campus of Newman College, Thodupuzha. The peculiarity of this festival, regularly organised annually since 1989, is that a permanent venue has been fixed at Thodupuzha. Gandhiji Study Centre’s first farmers’ fair was organised at Kottayam. Dr U R Anantamurthy, who was then Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University, had suggested that there should be a permanent venue so that the event would be anticipated by people and could be organised on a perennial basis. P J Joseph accepted the proposal and has been mobilising the agriculture fair single-handedly, as opposed to the subsequent fairs and exhibitions being got up by government, agricultural varsities and other organisations.
The all-inclusiveness of this fair has been noteworthy. Commoners can participate and even win prizes as a matter of right for their well-earned produce and meticulously reared cattle-heads. Information, participation and entertainment for the real sons of the soil, tillers and farmers, are being provided on a platter. That is the grass-roots dimension of the fair. There is a diametrically opposite involvement, which is intended to provide help to the commoners.
The latest developments in agriculture research and the findings of experts are incorporated in the mela. Scientists from agricultural universities, central agricultural research institutions, ISRO, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Rubber Board, Spices Board, fisheries institutions, Coconut Development Board, Department of Atomic Energy, agriculture department etc participated in various seminars, discussions and lecture-demonstrations. ISRO, Spices Board, Coconut Development Board, Oil Palm, Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Agirculture University, Farm Information Bureau, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kerala Police and various State Government departments etc had put up stalls showcasing their products, achievements and capabilities which are of use to the farmers, workers, students and the people at large. Private institutions also got an opportunity to display their products.
Seminars held on various days concentrated on farmers and debt relief, ornamental fish farming, inland water fish farming, water conservation
O J George
Farmers had a feel of the explosion of knowledge available in the field. Children were drawn to the unending expanse of science wisdom. Giant-sized crops exhibited at the fair were the cynosure of the mela. Evenings reverberated with songs, dance and other entertainment programmes. Various stalls provided an ocean of information for the common folk. The 10-day farmers’ fair, which has by now become a by-word for the people all around, held under the auspices of the Gandhiji Study Centre chaired by P J Joseph, drew to a close on December 31.
It was a colourful festival, held on the sprawling campus of Newman College, Thodupuzha. The peculiarity of this festival, regularly organised annually since 1989, is that a permanent venue has been fixed at Thodupuzha. Gandhiji Study Centre’s first farmers’ fair was organised at Kottayam. Dr U R Anantamurthy, who was then Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University, had suggested that there should be a permanent venue so that the event would be anticipated by people and could be organised on a perennial basis. P J Joseph accepted the proposal and has been mobilising the agriculture fair single-handedly, as opposed to the subsequent fairs and exhibitions being got up by government, agricultural varsities and other organisations.
The all-inclusiveness of this fair has been noteworthy. Commoners can participate and even win prizes as a matter of right for their well-earned produce and meticulously reared cattle-heads. Information, participation and entertainment for the real sons of the soil, tillers and farmers, are being provided on a platter. That is the grass-roots dimension of the fair. There is a diametrically opposite involvement, which is intended to provide help to the commoners.
The latest developments in agriculture research and the findings of experts are incorporated in the mela. Scientists from agricultural universities, central agricultural research institutions, ISRO, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Rubber Board, Spices Board, fisheries institutions, Coconut Development Board, Department of Atomic Energy, agriculture department etc participated in various seminars, discussions and lecture-demonstrations. ISRO, Spices Board, Coconut Development Board, Oil Palm, Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Agirculture University, Farm Information Bureau, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kerala Police and various State Government departments etc had put up stalls showcasing their products, achievements and capabilities which are of use to the farmers, workers, students and the people at large. Private institutions also got an opportunity to display their products.
Seminars held on various days concentrated on farmers and debt relief, ornamental fish farming, inland water fish farming, water conservation
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