A tribute to Dev Anand*

" Style is the man " - these lines of Alexander Pope is an ample testimony to the persona of Dev Anand. His romantic exuberance had permeated from the evanescence of real life to the eternal life of art.His evergreen presence is to be rated with the style ,and the spirit that he infused rather than kayakalp or sanjeevani.Even before the globalisation drive had started he had served as a parameter of a synthesis of East and West, and the death of that cult figure is an immense loss to Indian cinema.

*Published in the Letters to the Editor, The New Indian Express Daily dtd 6th Dec 2011

Mullaperiyar- End emotions initiate Dialogue

The emotional downpour that the political parties of Kerala have been giving to the Mullaperiyar issue is not an amicable solution.
It is incomprehensible as to why a political dialogue is not initiated to draw a consensus sans the letter drafting processes alone.It is high time our PM intervenes to call for an agreement over the issue. Hope to see Oommen Chandy paying a visit to his TN counterpart to resolve the crisis. The satyagraha and dharnas staged will never provide relief, for Tamilnadu has even more tactics such as immolation which were witnessed during the Cauvery issue. Call for political consensus and judicial intervention.

ANNA HAZARE AND THE CIVIL SOCIETY HYPE

With statements of Anna Hazare occupying space of headlines everyday, it seems we are forced to embrace his civil society hype. Quite unexpectedly tuning across the channels, I happened to see the film ‘ Indian ’ of Kamal Hassan. Really I felt amused on seeing the old man waging a single handed attempt to cleanse the society ; amused in a sense that the persona of Anna Hazare suited the old man’s attire. When I had seen the film in 1997 a sense of rebellion reverbrated my veins, but this time it really gave way to jingoism rather than patriotism – for this Gandhian of sort –challenges the democratic ideals and even the constitutional fabric of this country. Anna Hazare should bear in mind that "All Gandhians are respected but only the Mahtma is revered".

Centralised Test for Aviation*

Kudos to Edex for having rightly observed the deplorable conditions of aviation education in India (30 May .2011).The DGCA despite of having audited 40 flying schools, ignores the eligibility criteria for becoming a pilot. Why can't an All India Entrance & Aptitude Test be conducted atleast for the above affiliated flying schools under DGCA, to recruit pilot-trainees. In fact, commercial pilot is an expensive course, but are we to stake our lives at the hands of these 25-30 lakh invested pilots,who flout all the eligibility norms. The Indian Air Force's assistance can be availed for an assessment of the flying schools, for it deserves accolades to have given the best training to its flight lieutenants only on the basis of merit.

* Published in the Letters to the Editor, EDEX,The New Indian Express dtd. Monday,06.06.2011

Unwise Decision on Nuke Plants*

Is science and technology cueless? This comes in the wake of Germany’s decision to shut down Nuclear Plants by 2022. If the Japan’s nuclear disaster has provoked such an initiative, it is really astounding as to why preventive measures are not taken to counter the nuclear crisis despite of the advancements in nuclear science and technology. Closing down plants is not the better alternative when the conventional sources of energy are dwindling and resources scarce.Hope India will not join this bandwagon.

* published in Letters to the Editor, The New Indian Indian Express Daily dated 1st July 2011

Headley's Disclosures*

David Coleman Headley has disclosed that ISI and LeT had helped in the Mumbai blasts. Then why can't the Indian Govt ask the US to extend its war on terror to Pakistan and extradite those involved. When an Indian case is cited, the US practises double-standards despite it asking Pakistan to soften its ire against India.

* published in Letters to the Editor, The New Indian Express dtd. 26 May 2011.

Terrible Turn for Kanimozhi*

"The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power and all that wealth ever gave lead but to the grave". Thomas Gray's lines are apt in the case of Kanimozhi in the 2G scam.Never would have she expected such a turn of events: The CBI inquiry,the rout in the elections and an ailing father fast losing his clout at the Centre.

*(published in Letters to the Editor,The New Indian Express dtd 23 May 2011)

Raise responsible kids*

The stormy childhood of modern day tiny tots is deplorable.Parents should make it clear to their children their intention of rearing them with strong value systems.Costly things they demand should not be given to them on a silver platter. Values like sharing,caring and respect for the aged, responsibilities as citizens growing up into the 'generation next' should be what parents must seek to ingrain into their children.

*(published in Letters to the Editor,Zeitgeist dtd.29 Jan 2011)

The Impropriety of Astrological Time of Birth

“

Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother’s womb

Untimely ripp’d

”

(Macbeth Act V. Sc. Viii.15)

Thus says Macduff that he was not born in a natural manner but was prematurely ripped from the body of his mother, before his birth was due, in reply to Macbeth’s assertion that he cannot be harmed by any man who is born of a woman.

The above anecdote from Shakespeare’s Macbeth throws light as the time of birth and astrologers horoscope on the fortunes of a newborn. The time of arrival of a newborn and the complexities of deciding birth time on various factors had gained a great deal of debate in terms of science and astrology. Let us consider the case of a baby born of a Caesarian operation, he or she is not born on the exact time, rather is ripped from the mother’s womb, untimely at the hands of a doctor. Taking the above case how can the exact time of the new born be considered. It is rather inexplicable in terms of the geographical time or Almanac signs. Recently there has been a trend to have Caesarian operation fixed at a relatively auspicious time by doctors at the advice of soothsayers, for the sake of couples. As a matter of fact, when most of the new-born of today are Caesarians, it seems that their Almanac signs are different, and it confounds how the astrologers decide their fortunes. Despite of many advances in science, it is strange, that none have looked into this aspect which had been dealt with a different purpose by Shakespeare himself. Glad that we Caesarians, including myself are invincible in term of Macduff, curiosity fills how our fortunes are dealt within our horoscopes, quite ridiculously.

Sabarimala Master Plan – Understand Realities.

The stampede at Pulmedu track enroute Sabarimala has triggered many a debate, arriving to a conclusion on the Master Plan implementation. There were comments citing comparison to Tirumala, Shird temples. One has to bear in mind that from the 135 crores earned a year in Sabarimala is utilized for the hundred odd Minor, Major temples of TD Board. Whereas the TTD, is an autonomous body, and compare the plight of a ‘Santhi’ in remote temples in Andhra to that of a Devaswom Board Santhi in Kerala.

The revenue from Sabarimala has to be resourced on an extended basis thereby ensuring both renovations as per Master Plan as well as care taking of all Devaswom temples in the state.