I believe that all great achievements and success in life, and all changes for the better, have one powerful characteristic in common: The First Step. Take the first step, and the journey has a way of taking care of itself.”
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Wired path - Short Take - GULF TODAY - Dt. 29.01.11
Short Take - GULF TODAY - Dt. 29.01.11 - Wired path
My office is located in a busy shopping mall at the heart of the city. It gives me an opportunity to see different types of visitors to the mall.
Coming from various nations and places, they come along directly and indirectly with their culture and civilisation. It is an interesting subject to observe and study their interaction, especially when they come as a family.
Olden days, when we get to see a family going on holiday, the children mostly have story books with them. We could notice them reading along while the elders kept themselves busy shopping around. However, I realised, these days, children just do not have access to sufficient books other than those prescribed in their syllabus - which are generally not stimulating enough.
In addition, people have a different perception these days. Some people are opposed to the benefits of reading. A section of them want children to be a role model and may not allow them to read comics. Some are afraid of allowing their children to read novels because they think the characters will prompt children to fall in love.
Some other section of parents may want children to prepare for entrance examinations - MBBS and engineering etc rather than read novels or story books. Gone are the days when children enjoyed a read aloud story section with the elders in the family.
Now, looking at a family on a holiday, I get to see one child with a BlackBerry, the other with an Ipod, and one other with a tablet or notepad, engaged within their own world and connections. Interactions are reduced to a level of single words, nods and headshakes.
Are we as a society doing much harm by not encouraging our children to read more and read out more to our little ones?
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online.
My office is located in a busy shopping mall at the heart of the city. It gives me an opportunity to see different types of visitors to the mall.
Coming from various nations and places, they come along directly and indirectly with their culture and civilisation. It is an interesting subject to observe and study their interaction, especially when they come as a family.
Olden days, when we get to see a family going on holiday, the children mostly have story books with them. We could notice them reading along while the elders kept themselves busy shopping around. However, I realised, these days, children just do not have access to sufficient books other than those prescribed in their syllabus - which are generally not stimulating enough.
In addition, people have a different perception these days. Some people are opposed to the benefits of reading. A section of them want children to be a role model and may not allow them to read comics. Some are afraid of allowing their children to read novels because they think the characters will prompt children to fall in love.
Some other section of parents may want children to prepare for entrance examinations - MBBS and engineering etc rather than read novels or story books. Gone are the days when children enjoyed a read aloud story section with the elders in the family.
Now, looking at a family on a holiday, I get to see one child with a BlackBerry, the other with an Ipod, and one other with a tablet or notepad, engaged within their own world and connections. Interactions are reduced to a level of single words, nods and headshakes.
Are we as a society doing much harm by not encouraging our children to read more and read out more to our little ones?
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Do you have used story books which you would like to donate for a worthy cause?
Do you have used story books which you would like to donate for a worthy cause?
If so, please send it to:
Manzil, 06 5347663, Sharjah. Or contact:
Ramesh Menon, (E-mail: team1dubai@gmail.com) (if you are in Abu Dhabi.)
Manzil will receive these used story books which will be put on sale and the proceeds will be used for the welfare of challenged children.
Regards,
Ramesh Menon
If so, please send it to:
Manzil, 06 5347663, Sharjah. Or contact:
Ramesh Menon, (E-mail: team1dubai@gmail.com) (if you are in Abu Dhabi.)
Manzil will receive these used story books which will be put on sale and the proceeds will be used for the welfare of challenged children.
Regards,
Ramesh Menon
Manzil - Sports Day Invitation - 3rd February 2011
''
Dear Friends,
The much awaited Manzil Annual Sports Day is here.The students and staff have put in a lot of effort and being practising for the same for over two months.
Please come to cheer and encourage them and help make this sports day a success!
Manzil Admin
Ph.9716 5347663
Fax:9716 5347664
management@manzil.ae
www.manzil.ae
"manzil will provide a highly professional care-giving and learning environment for individuals with special needs to nurture their potential & develop the requisite self-help, social, educational & vocational skills that are required to function in society"
Dear Friends,
The much awaited Manzil Annual Sports Day is here.The students and staff have put in a lot of effort and being practising for the same for over two months.
Please come to cheer and encourage them and help make this sports day a success!
Manzil Admin
Ph.9716 5347663
Fax:9716 5347664
management@manzil.ae
www.manzil.ae
"manzil will provide a highly professional care-giving and learning environment for individuals with special needs to nurture their potential & develop the requisite self-help, social, educational & vocational skills that are required to function in society"
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Mind Speaks - When the tail just can’t tell On India/South Africa One day Series 2011
Mind Speaks - When the tail just can’t tell On India/South Africa One day Series 2011
Ramesh Menon
24.01.2011
The just concluded series between South Africa and India brought out exciting cricket. The new breed of South African players who did well in the UAE grounds recently against Pakistan continued there excellent learning curve against the depleted Indian eleven. When the seniors opted and injured out, the onus was left with the new generation players of Team India to prove their mettle. Some of them are in the 15 selected for the forthcoming World Cup tournament and it was a real testing ground indeed. Results will speak by itself how many of them proved their worth. The opening slot remained open only with the makeshift openers failing. Parthiv Patel did well using his opportunity, but he was not to be in the squad for World Cup. Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina and Ashish Nehra failed to prove their selection a right choice. Of course the argument is there, it is a different track in India and they will come good. Except for Virat Kohli no batters performed consistantly.
Hope we come out good in our own home conditions. There is light at the end of the tunnel. We have a long batting line up on paper, if not the bowling attack. And yes, we do have singh of spin who bat golden runs for the team in every type of this game. It’s true. Gone are the days where Indian spinners are those who can’t bat. But, we expect more. What if our tail just can’t tell the tricks of the opposition team, when our frontline batters fail often. Not much time left for M S Dhoni and company to sort it out.
Hope we come out good in our own home conditions. There is light at the end of the tunnel. We have a long batting line up on paper, if not the bowling attack. And yes, we do have singh of spin who bat golden runs for the team in every type of this game. It’s true. Gone are the days where Indian spinners are those who can’t bat. But, we expect more. What if our tail just can’t tell the tricks of the opposition team, when our frontline batters fail often. Not much time left for M S Dhoni and company to sort it out.
Ramesh Menon
24.01.2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Eighteen point safety request for implementation to avoid major Health Safety and Environment Hazard to pilgrims, nature as well as sanctity of Sabarimala temple
Eighteen point safety request for implementation to avoid major Health Safety and Environment Hazard to pilgrims, nature as well as sanctity of Sabarimala temple
Eighteen point safety request for implementation to avoid major Health Safety and Environment Hazard to pilgrims, nature as well as sanctity of Sabarimala temple.
1. Entrust completely the safety responsibility to Kerala Police Department in co-ordination with various other safety agencies including Rapid Action Force, without external influence. This will ensure there will be a single point responsibility for safety.
2. Modify the current website of Kerala Police at Sannidhanam to allow devotees to register their arrival in advance with option to input relevant details like:
a. Date of arrival
b. Mode of travel – by vehicle or walk using traditional forest route
c. If by walk – route opted
d. number of members in the party
e. coming from which place/state
f. team leaders name
g. number of children and women in the group
h. food options – self cooking or usage of hotel or seva sangams annadhanam facilities
i. vehicle type, if coming by vehicle
j. vehicle registration number
k. expected date of departure
l. route of return journey
This option of registering their arrival to the website could be done from their respective places or through special counters – an entry /check point camp operated by Kerala Police at Nilakkal, Vadasserikkara / Pulpara etc. Once logged on Special onetime stickers with color/number coding could be issued and pasted on the front glass of the vehicle for those coming by road and for those coming by walking a card issued with similar data.
Advantage:
The above exercise, if effectively introduced and implemented should give a good estimate of number of devotees arriving sannidhanam at any given time. Police and all relevant authorities can finalize necessary arrangements accordingly to meet the volume of devotees in various key points like sannidhanam, pampa, nilakkal and pullumedu accordingly.
For those pilgrims arriving without intimation final check point will act as a count-in centre . In addition, the queue could be controlled with bar coded hand bands giving approx time for Darshan, taking care of the route selected, stops ahead and age/health factor of the devotee.
3. Entrust the food/annadhanam activities to religious and voluntary groups like Ayyappa Seva Sangam, Hare Krishna Movement, Mata Amritanandamayi Math etc. Abolish the system of renting out restaurants and stalls on auction to external parties from Nilakkal and surrounding vicinities of Sannidhanam.
Effort should be made to provide simple and satwik food free/nominal cost by these voluntary service organizations to devotees.
Advantage: The above scheme if implanted should ensure distribution of good quality and hygienic food to all devotees and sevaks visiting sabarimala during pilgrimage season. The process will also ensure a compassionate and devotional treatment of the devotees with bhakthi and seva mind rather than commercial outlook as experienced recently in the case of devotees being beaten and poured with hot water etc.
4. Entrust the health and hygiene co-ordination completely to groups like Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Math during the pilgrimage season. Incidentally, AMMA has come out with Amala Bharatham campaign for this year, which will serve definitely for causes like this for the welfare of millions of pilgrims and their hygiene issues.
Since Mata Amritanandamayi has initiated a noble cause of Amala Bharatm this year, it will be a good idea to give the entire hygiene responsibility to Amrtandamayi Math .This will help them to set example for the country.
5. Provide adequate toilet facilities and pure drinking water availability throughout the pilgrimage season in all major destinations and pilgrim concentration areas during the season. In the local temples leading to sabarimala, the onus for this activity should be taken up by the regional temple/local people. On part of the pilgrims coming from other states, they should make a note to not pollute or contaminate or urinate indiscriminately to any open / secret place they get access to. The local people as well as the outstation devotees should make a clear and conscious effort to achieve this objective. This shall be the responsibility of the people who collects the income from Sabarimala.
6. Improve the forest roads from Pampa to Sannidhanam, especially Swami Ayyappan road as promised and planned in the government news reports released in Mid December 2010. Thus necessary renovation measures should be taken urgently to improve the road conditions, if possible expanding it, installing proper fencing arrangements for the convenience of devotees to ascend and descend safely. Necessary and adequate lighting arrangements should be done throughout the route and pilgrim concentration areas.
Proper roads and safety arrangement have to be made for which accountability (no excuses) to be fixed.
7. Introduce one way system for ascending and descending. Going upwards through the main walk way to Sannidhanam and then descending through Swami Ayyappan and link routes, after properly modifying the conditions of these roads. At no point of time, police or other safety/security staff should resort to using ropes to control the flow of devotees. As this method is extremely dangerous if it breaks or loosens crowd controlling activity should be well planned and organized from the base stage itself and movement are to be controlled to reduce the rush at peak points. This may include using of wireless communication system, cubicle systems. These may not be rooms/cubicles/closed type like other major pilgrim centres like Thirupathi but barricade or blocks to restrict easy movements of 200 or 300 pilgrims from one point to another and followed by another group.
8. Implement travel/transport timings for ayyappas and tractors and donkeys carrying heavy goods to and fro to sannidhanam. Mechanised Rope ways for transporting materials shall be also considered.
Advantage: If a specific time schedule is implemented say from 8 am to 9am in the morning then every three or four hours after it till 6:00 pm, for the purpose of movement of goods transportation only through this route, safety of pilgrims and workers operating these vehicles could be ensured along with the safety of innocent animals involved.
9. Introduce appropriate system of safety announcement and notice boards, cautioning devotees to keep order and peace throughout the pilgrimage, chanting all along ayyappa mantra. A connected sound system with repeat of ayyappa mantras along with important announcements could be initiated all along the final stretches towards sannidhanam. Every where,batch system of going up and down should be implemented
Advantage: This will instil more discipline and safety reminders amongst the devotees and act as a warning note in case they rush down fast threatening the life of other devotees, especially elderly and children.
10. Effort should be made to provide continuously good quality hot and medicated water on way to Sannidhanam.
11. No special preferences are to be allowed for celebrities, ministers, VIPs etc by way of Police protection and accompaniment from Pampa to Sannidhanam. The time/service values of those high ranked officers are precious and are to be used effectively for the conduct of smooth pilgrimage facilities to all devotees. As per Sabarimala and its religious rituals and principles all are equal as the lord himself. If an ever, someone highly ranked and feels himself above this factor, he could take the service of a specialized unit of sevak (volunteers) formed by Ayyappa Seva Sangam and should be charged heavily for taking up this service. Caution should be made to ensure that very limited people use this facility in order to bring in orderliness throughout. In addition, on peak days, ie on Makara Vilakku and Painkuni Uthram, Arattu etc days necessary announcement to restrict or reduce the arrival of ladies and children to the temple. This move will help to reduce crowd handling problems that may arise due to the presence of ladies and children.
Strict efforts should be made to see that only authorities responsible for the smooth functioning of the entire system should have special treatment for professional reasons.
12. There are several new procedures and rituals come up in the recent times, some of which are extremely dangerous. One of them witnessed during this makaravilakku festival is the ceremonious arathi conducted to the family members of panthalam/Trivandrum raja when they were accompanying the Thanka Anki and walking ahead of it. Those two sevak/volunteers were doing the arathi in a huge vessel with two levers stretched to each side and in it bhasmam and camphor lit in full glory and fume. The vessel was huge and heavy and the fire was in full fury and glow. What would have been the case, if by chance the hand of one of them slipped? The royal member and those around in the front of this fire ball engulfing themselves in ball of fires? Is it required to do arathi in such an elaborate way. If it is/was a tradition that has to be done, let it be done by using a small arathi and in a gentle way and not in such fury and hurry and heaviness creating dangerous condition to all around. Efforts should be made to stop this method and necessary caution and warning to be made all around the pilgrim destinations to use lighter and simpler methods to do arathi.
13. These days many devotees, especially from outside Kerala, returning after darshan have started following a system of throwing or letting to flow their black vasthras in the pampa river. This is addition to the level of pollution already existing within the holy river of pampa. If ever they wish to discard their vrutha vasthra’s and end their 41 days vrutham then and there in pampa, necessary authorities should come up with a facility of a fire place where they could deposit all such things. This will destroy those materials then and there leaving only ashes at the end of the festival period.
14. All possible sources of volunteering should be taken into consideration for the preliminary routes and stages of sabarimala darshan. That is till Pampa from one side and a few kilometers away from Sannidhanam if the traditional Pullumedu route or other routes are considered. After this, Police and related Rapid Action Force/Security agencies should take up the responsibility for crowd control and welfare. Transportation and Traffic arrangements should however remain within the control of Police authorities and completely computerized. The finalised list should be confirmed and authenticated by police sand they should give the go ahead for these volunteers to operate.
15. Introduce effective measures by way of notices and announcements educating the devotees not to throw offerings (notes and coins) when they reach the sanctum sanctorum. The offerings should be dropped appropriately into the hundi. It could be further streamlined by removing the hundi, currently in place in front of the sanctum sanctorum and moving it to a specific area in front of the temple, may be the vacant spot near Kodimaram. Handling of offerings to the temple and subsequent sorting are to be conducted in a well coordinated and electronically displayed manner to avoid theft or mishandling if any.
16. Sabarimala temple has already a huge reserve of fund from the offerings accumulated over a period of several years. However, the revenue is distributed to various sources and means of government bodies and other temples within the control of Travancore Devaswom Board. All efforts should be made to move out government bodies from handling the collection and offerings received and whatever received should be diverted only for the welfare of the pilgrims and associated activities of temples under the control of Travancore Devaswom board. All governmental expenses, water, electricity, police, protection, etc should be charged then and there so that surplus could be well utilized without the mishandling of the government/political bodies in place at any time.
17. Special arrangements are to be made for the safe deposit of offerings (rice, and other Pooja items) and collection of prasadams. Current counters and ways of handling the packaged prasadams are completely inadequate and unhygienic and prasadams sold do not remain even a few days. Special caution to be made in preparation and packaging of these Pooja prasadams. Here again, the production of the Pooja prasadams like appam, aravana, payassam etc could be handed over to devoted religious institutions, say again, Ayyappa Seva Sangam, or other groups like Sai organizations, Amma groups, Hare Krishna groups or any hindu religious bodies who handles or have resource to handle this task in bulk. The auctioning process of giving this task to external parties with commercial interest should be stopped once and for all. This will make sure that excessive commercialisation will not affect the quality of prasadams.
18. Finally, Sabarimala is the one of the main temple in Kerala which allows all devotees irrespective of religion allow darshan. Any assistance to better the facilities and smooth flow of pilgrims in a safe and hygienic way offered from any other religious bodies should be welcomed and accepted. In addition, the temple should remain open for one more week in all the months as per Malayalam calendar to facilitate smooth and convenient darshan by devotees.
The above are thoughts and plans that came in to the mind of an ardent ayyappa devotee after the wake of the tragic loss of 102 lives at Pullumedu. I am submitting it to the authorities as it is and to all readers who may suggest improvements on these points. There may be different or better solutions than these.
In addition a separate list of Health specific items will be submitted in due course.
End of the day, all efforts are to be made to see to it that a new pilgrim season starts with all available Health, Safety and Environment protection plans in place than on paper. Already we know that those politicians and bureaucrats have already moved out to their new areas of interest. End of the day, it is the onus of the devotees and Travancore Devaswom Board to see to it that a safe and smooth pilgrimage to Sabarimala sannidhanam could be conducted in future. Sabarimala is becoming an abode of politicians who make many promises every year during and after the pilgrim season is over and after which we do not see any action happening for the benefit of devotees. This should change once and for all.
Ramesh Menon
Following are thoughts and plans that came in to the mind of an ardent ayyappa devotee after the wake of the tragic loss of 102 lives at Pullumedu. I am submitting it to the authorities as it is and to all readers who may suggest improvements on these points. There may be different or better solutions than these.
Eighteen point safety request for implementation to avoid major Health Safety and Environment Hazard to pilgrims, nature as well as sanctity of Sabarimala temple.
1. Entrust completely the safety responsibility to Kerala Police Department in co-ordination with various other safety agencies including Rapid Action Force, without external influence. This will ensure there will be a single point responsibility for safety.
2. Modify the current website of Kerala Police at Sannidhanam to allow devotees to register their arrival in advance with option to input relevant details like:
a. Date of arrival
b. Mode of travel – by vehicle or walk using traditional forest route
c. If by walk – route opted
d. number of members in the party
e. coming from which place/state
f. team leaders name
g. number of children and women in the group
h. food options – self cooking or usage of hotel or seva sangams annadhanam facilities
i. vehicle type, if coming by vehicle
j. vehicle registration number
k. expected date of departure
l. route of return journey
This option of registering their arrival to the website could be done from their respective places or through special counters – an entry /check point camp operated by Kerala Police at Nilakkal, Vadasserikkara / Pulpara etc. Once logged on Special onetime stickers with color/number coding could be issued and pasted on the front glass of the vehicle for those coming by road and for those coming by walking a card issued with similar data.
Advantage:
The above exercise, if effectively introduced and implemented should give a good estimate of number of devotees arriving sannidhanam at any given time. Police and all relevant authorities can finalize necessary arrangements accordingly to meet the volume of devotees in various key points like sannidhanam, pampa, nilakkal and pullumedu accordingly.
For those pilgrims arriving without intimation final check point will act as a count-in centre . In addition, the queue could be controlled with bar coded hand bands giving approx time for Darshan, taking care of the route selected, stops ahead and age/health factor of the devotee.
3. Entrust the food/annadhanam activities to religious and voluntary groups like Ayyappa Seva Sangam, Hare Krishna Movement, Mata Amritanandamayi Math etc. Abolish the system of renting out restaurants and stalls on auction to external parties from Nilakkal and surrounding vicinities of Sannidhanam.
Effort should be made to provide simple and satwik food free/nominal cost by these voluntary service organizations to devotees.
Advantage: The above scheme if implanted should ensure distribution of good quality and hygienic food to all devotees and sevaks visiting sabarimala during pilgrimage season. The process will also ensure a compassionate and devotional treatment of the devotees with bhakthi and seva mind rather than commercial outlook as experienced recently in the case of devotees being beaten and poured with hot water etc.
4. Entrust the health and hygiene co-ordination completely to groups like Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Math during the pilgrimage season. Incidentally, AMMA has come out with Amala Bharatham campaign for this year, which will serve definitely for causes like this for the welfare of millions of pilgrims and their hygiene issues.
Since Mata Amritanandamayi has initiated a noble cause of Amala Bharatm this year, it will be a good idea to give the entire hygiene responsibility to Amrtandamayi Math .This will help them to set example for the country.
5. Provide adequate toilet facilities and pure drinking water availability throughout the pilgrimage season in all major destinations and pilgrim concentration areas during the season. In the local temples leading to sabarimala, the onus for this activity should be taken up by the regional temple/local people. On part of the pilgrims coming from other states, they should make a note to not pollute or contaminate or urinate indiscriminately to any open / secret place they get access to. The local people as well as the outstation devotees should make a clear and conscious effort to achieve this objective. This shall be the responsibility of the people who collects the income from Sabarimala.
6. Improve the forest roads from Pampa to Sannidhanam, especially Swami Ayyappan road as promised and planned in the government news reports released in Mid December 2010. Thus necessary renovation measures should be taken urgently to improve the road conditions, if possible expanding it, installing proper fencing arrangements for the convenience of devotees to ascend and descend safely. Necessary and adequate lighting arrangements should be done throughout the route and pilgrim concentration areas.
Proper roads and safety arrangement have to be made for which accountability (no excuses) to be fixed.
7. Introduce one way system for ascending and descending. Going upwards through the main walk way to Sannidhanam and then descending through Swami Ayyappan and link routes, after properly modifying the conditions of these roads. At no point of time, police or other safety/security staff should resort to using ropes to control the flow of devotees. As this method is extremely dangerous if it breaks or loosens crowd controlling activity should be well planned and organized from the base stage itself and movement are to be controlled to reduce the rush at peak points. This may include using of wireless communication system, cubicle systems. These may not be rooms/cubicles/closed type like other major pilgrim centres like Thirupathi but barricade or blocks to restrict easy movements of 200 or 300 pilgrims from one point to another and followed by another group.
8. Implement travel/transport timings for ayyappas and tractors and donkeys carrying heavy goods to and fro to sannidhanam. Mechanised Rope ways for transporting materials shall be also considered.
Advantage: If a specific time schedule is implemented say from 8 am to 9am in the morning then every three or four hours after it till 6:00 pm, for the purpose of movement of goods transportation only through this route, safety of pilgrims and workers operating these vehicles could be ensured along with the safety of innocent animals involved.
9. Introduce appropriate system of safety announcement and notice boards, cautioning devotees to keep order and peace throughout the pilgrimage, chanting all along ayyappa mantra. A connected sound system with repeat of ayyappa mantras along with important announcements could be initiated all along the final stretches towards sannidhanam. Every where,batch system of going up and down should be implemented
Advantage: This will instil more discipline and safety reminders amongst the devotees and act as a warning note in case they rush down fast threatening the life of other devotees, especially elderly and children.
10. Effort should be made to provide continuously good quality hot and medicated water on way to Sannidhanam.
11. No special preferences are to be allowed for celebrities, ministers, VIPs etc by way of Police protection and accompaniment from Pampa to Sannidhanam. The time/service values of those high ranked officers are precious and are to be used effectively for the conduct of smooth pilgrimage facilities to all devotees. As per Sabarimala and its religious rituals and principles all are equal as the lord himself. If an ever, someone highly ranked and feels himself above this factor, he could take the service of a specialized unit of sevak (volunteers) formed by Ayyappa Seva Sangam and should be charged heavily for taking up this service. Caution should be made to ensure that very limited people use this facility in order to bring in orderliness throughout. In addition, on peak days, ie on Makara Vilakku and Painkuni Uthram, Arattu etc days necessary announcement to restrict or reduce the arrival of ladies and children to the temple. This move will help to reduce crowd handling problems that may arise due to the presence of ladies and children.
Strict efforts should be made to see that only authorities responsible for the smooth functioning of the entire system should have special treatment for professional reasons.
12. There are several new procedures and rituals come up in the recent times, some of which are extremely dangerous. One of them witnessed during this makaravilakku festival is the ceremonious arathi conducted to the family members of panthalam/Trivandrum raja when they were accompanying the Thanka Anki and walking ahead of it. Those two sevak/volunteers were doing the arathi in a huge vessel with two levers stretched to each side and in it bhasmam and camphor lit in full glory and fume. The vessel was huge and heavy and the fire was in full fury and glow. What would have been the case, if by chance the hand of one of them slipped? The royal member and those around in the front of this fire ball engulfing themselves in ball of fires? Is it required to do arathi in such an elaborate way. If it is/was a tradition that has to be done, let it be done by using a small arathi and in a gentle way and not in such fury and hurry and heaviness creating dangerous condition to all around. Efforts should be made to stop this method and necessary caution and warning to be made all around the pilgrim destinations to use lighter and simpler methods to do arathi.
13. These days many devotees, especially from outside Kerala, returning after darshan have started following a system of throwing or letting to flow their black vasthras in the pampa river. This is addition to the level of pollution already existing within the holy river of pampa. If ever they wish to discard their vrutha vasthra’s and end their 41 days vrutham then and there in pampa, necessary authorities should come up with a facility of a fire place where they could deposit all such things. This will destroy those materials then and there leaving only ashes at the end of the festival period.
14. All possible sources of volunteering should be taken into consideration for the preliminary routes and stages of sabarimala darshan. That is till Pampa from one side and a few kilometers away from Sannidhanam if the traditional Pullumedu route or other routes are considered. After this, Police and related Rapid Action Force/Security agencies should take up the responsibility for crowd control and welfare. Transportation and Traffic arrangements should however remain within the control of Police authorities and completely computerized. The finalised list should be confirmed and authenticated by police sand they should give the go ahead for these volunteers to operate.
15. Introduce effective measures by way of notices and announcements educating the devotees not to throw offerings (notes and coins) when they reach the sanctum sanctorum. The offerings should be dropped appropriately into the hundi. It could be further streamlined by removing the hundi, currently in place in front of the sanctum sanctorum and moving it to a specific area in front of the temple, may be the vacant spot near Kodimaram. Handling of offerings to the temple and subsequent sorting are to be conducted in a well coordinated and electronically displayed manner to avoid theft or mishandling if any.
16. Sabarimala temple has already a huge reserve of fund from the offerings accumulated over a period of several years. However, the revenue is distributed to various sources and means of government bodies and other temples within the control of Travancore Devaswom Board. All efforts should be made to move out government bodies from handling the collection and offerings received and whatever received should be diverted only for the welfare of the pilgrims and associated activities of temples under the control of Travancore Devaswom board. All governmental expenses, water, electricity, police, protection, etc should be charged then and there so that surplus could be well utilized without the mishandling of the government/political bodies in place at any time.
17. Special arrangements are to be made for the safe deposit of offerings (rice, and other Pooja items) and collection of prasadams. Current counters and ways of handling the packaged prasadams are completely inadequate and unhygienic and prasadams sold do not remain even a few days. Special caution to be made in preparation and packaging of these Pooja prasadams. Here again, the production of the Pooja prasadams like appam, aravana, payassam etc could be handed over to devoted religious institutions, say again, Ayyappa Seva Sangam, or other groups like Sai organizations, Amma groups, Hare Krishna groups or any hindu religious bodies who handles or have resource to handle this task in bulk. The auctioning process of giving this task to external parties with commercial interest should be stopped once and for all. This will make sure that excessive commercialisation will not affect the quality of prasadams.
18. Finally, Sabarimala is the one of the main temple in Kerala which allows all devotees irrespective of religion allow darshan. Any assistance to better the facilities and smooth flow of pilgrims in a safe and hygienic way offered from any other religious bodies should be welcomed and accepted. In addition, the temple should remain open for one more week in all the months as per Malayalam calendar to facilitate smooth and convenient darshan by devotees.
The above are thoughts and plans that came in to the mind of an ardent ayyappa devotee after the wake of the tragic loss of 102 lives at Pullumedu. I am submitting it to the authorities as it is and to all readers who may suggest improvements on these points. There may be different or better solutions than these.
In addition a separate list of Health specific items will be submitted in due course.
End of the day, all efforts are to be made to see to it that a new pilgrim season starts with all available Health, Safety and Environment protection plans in place than on paper. Already we know that those politicians and bureaucrats have already moved out to their new areas of interest. End of the day, it is the onus of the devotees and Travancore Devaswom Board to see to it that a safe and smooth pilgrimage to Sabarimala sannidhanam could be conducted in future. Sabarimala is becoming an abode of politicians who make many promises every year during and after the pilgrim season is over and after which we do not see any action happening for the benefit of devotees. This should change once and for all.
Ramesh Menon
23.01.2011
Please also visit and read:
http://clicksandwrites.blogspot.com/search/label/Sabarimala
Kindly post your your valuable input to these thoughts as comments below. It will assist me to compile it as a final document for submission to the authorities.
Please also visit and read:
http://clicksandwrites.blogspot.com/search/label/Sabarimala
Kindly post your your valuable input to these thoughts as comments below. It will assist me to compile it as a final document for submission to the authorities.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Exploring Abu Dhabi through Clicks and Writes - And it rained and is still drizzling
Finally, it rained here in Abu Dhabi. It's still raining or rather drizzling since yesterday afternoon. It is one part of the year we get to enjoy very rarely. Hope those drivers on the street drive safely and slowly and make it truly enjoyable.
Short Take - GULF TODAY - Dt. 22.01.2011 - Another Day
Take - GULF TODAY - Dt. 22.01.2011 - Another Day
I was reading a blog post of one of my friends. He has humorously commented on the numerous special days we celebrate. A few years ago, these were not there, but have now become an integral part of our lives. Expensive gifts, lunch, parties all followed along each of them. Thinking more about it, do we need these special occasions to remember our mother, father, children and loving wife? It is a daily affair and it should be the case.
Suddenly this thought came to me. Many are affected by recession and joining the “unemployed” group. Crazy about these “special” days, we tend to explore the width and breadth of our purse and credit/debit cards - just for the sake of it.
Why not “World Recession Day” to wish your friends, family and colleagues? It seems we need a special day for everything. We need a day to remember and warn the realities of things happening around and as a siren of the economically tougher days that we walked past and the days coming ahead till the global situation is accustomed and worked over by all.
It will be a day to remember the importance of diligent saving, the importance of efficient spending, the importance of long term and short term planning, the importance of educating our children the value of money, not getting carried away by plastic money, and many more financial principles that we learn on a daily basis.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online.
If you are interested to promote this idea, join it's Face Book Fan page and share your thoughts and ideas on how we can create a no Recession world.
World Recession Day on Face Book.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/World-Recession-Day/176262509076697
I was reading a blog post of one of my friends. He has humorously commented on the numerous special days we celebrate. A few years ago, these were not there, but have now become an integral part of our lives. Expensive gifts, lunch, parties all followed along each of them. Thinking more about it, do we need these special occasions to remember our mother, father, children and loving wife? It is a daily affair and it should be the case.
Suddenly this thought came to me. Many are affected by recession and joining the “unemployed” group. Crazy about these “special” days, we tend to explore the width and breadth of our purse and credit/debit cards - just for the sake of it.
Why not “World Recession Day” to wish your friends, family and colleagues? It seems we need a special day for everything. We need a day to remember and warn the realities of things happening around and as a siren of the economically tougher days that we walked past and the days coming ahead till the global situation is accustomed and worked over by all.
It will be a day to remember the importance of diligent saving, the importance of efficient spending, the importance of long term and short term planning, the importance of educating our children the value of money, not getting carried away by plastic money, and many more financial principles that we learn on a daily basis.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online.
If you are interested to promote this idea, join it's Face Book Fan page and share your thoughts and ideas on how we can create a no Recession world.
World Recession Day on Face Book.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/World-Recession-Day/176262509076697
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
My Letters - GULF NEWS - Dt. 18.01.2010 - Don't read and drive
My Letters - GULF NEWS - Dt. 18.01.2010 - Don't read and drive
Gulf News reader Mohammad Ansar Basrur Habibullah said he was horrified
to see a motorist engrossed in reading material while driving. He said: “I took this picture from my mobile phone while I was on Shaikh Zayed Road, driving towards Abu Dhabi. I was watching the [motorist] for quite a long time. He was actually reading something while driving. We were at a speed of between 80km/hr to 100km/hr and there was light traffic. [The sight] shocked me. People need to drive more safely.”
- The reader is a businessman in Dubai
My Comments as follows:
Added 12:44 January 18, 2011
What the driver was doing is absolutely wrong. We get to see many drivers texting while driving, which is another danger. I request the community reporter too to not take photos while driving, if it was he who clicked, it is also a mistake. Safety First - let that be each drivers motto.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
To read it in original, please visit GULF NEWS Online.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
World Recession Day - 17 February
World Recession Day - 17 February
Why not? Just suddenly this thought came to me. Many are affected by recession and joining the un-employment group. Even then, crazy about these artificially created days, we tend to explore the width and breadth of our purse and credit/debit cards - just for the sake of it. An article written by Sri Joy Mathews in his blog, prompted me to create this special day " World Recession Day - 17 th February". Let us participate and share our knowledge to not face another year of Recession.
വരവായി വാനരക്കാലം blog post dated 13 February 2009.
Thinking about it, do we need these special occasions to remember our mother, father, children and loving wife? It is a daily affair and it should be the case.
So, wish your friend, relative, brother and sister a Happy World Recession Day - 17 February.
We need a special day for everything. Thus, we need a day to remember and warn the realities of things happening around and a siren of the alarming economically tougher days that we walked past and the days coming ahead till the global situation is accustomed and worked over by all. A day to remember our dear friends who lost out in the great battle of recession during the last several month. A day to support and cheer those who are still fighting to survive it and look ahead.
So, let us all mark 17th February as WORLD RECESSION DAY.
The day is chosen as the third thursday in February. Thursday being a universal working day, will be suitable for all to share and spread the importance of due diligence in finance management.
A day to remember:
* the importance of diligent saving
* the importance of efficient spending
* the importance of long term and short term planning
* the importance to educate our children the value of money
* the importance to not get carried away by PLASTIC MONEY
* many more financial principles that we learn on a daily basis.
Here it is, one more day in our life to remember. If you feel this day has to be remembered, include it in your diary, and spread the word around.
Ramesh Menon
18.01.2011
Why not? Just suddenly this thought came to me. Many are affected by recession and joining the un-employment group. Even then, crazy about these artificially created days, we tend to explore the width and breadth of our purse and credit/debit cards - just for the sake of it. An article written by Sri Joy Mathews in his blog, prompted me to create this special day " World Recession Day - 17 th February". Let us participate and share our knowledge to not face another year of Recession.
വരവായി വാനരക്കാലം blog post dated 13 February 2009.
Thinking about it, do we need these special occasions to remember our mother, father, children and loving wife? It is a daily affair and it should be the case.
So, wish your friend, relative, brother and sister a Happy World Recession Day - 17 February.
We need a special day for everything. Thus, we need a day to remember and warn the realities of things happening around and a siren of the alarming economically tougher days that we walked past and the days coming ahead till the global situation is accustomed and worked over by all. A day to remember our dear friends who lost out in the great battle of recession during the last several month. A day to support and cheer those who are still fighting to survive it and look ahead.
So, let us all mark 17th February as WORLD RECESSION DAY.
The day is chosen as the third thursday in February. Thursday being a universal working day, will be suitable for all to share and spread the importance of due diligence in finance management.
A day to remember:
* the importance of diligent saving
* the importance of efficient spending
* the importance of long term and short term planning
* the importance to educate our children the value of money
* the importance to not get carried away by PLASTIC MONEY
* many more financial principles that we learn on a daily basis.
Here it is, one more day in our life to remember. If you feel this day has to be remembered, include it in your diary, and spread the word around.
Ramesh Menon
18.01.2011
Mind Speaks - Sreesanth will come in to the team for the final eleven of World Cup 2011
Mind Speaks - Sreesanth will come in to the team for the final eleven of World Cup 2011
As a cricket lover from Kerala, it is sad to see the 15 names announced for World Cup Cricket 2011 without Sreesanth in it.
I believe, Sreesanth lost the chance not because he lack ability but because of “his mind’s extra agility” which is making the Indian team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni vary of his plans. Two years ago itself he has told in an interview and I have quoted his statement in a blog post as early as October 2008 (I was reading an article in which Mahindra Singh Dhoni was expressing his comments about his wish to have a good bowler who bowls according to the captains plans).
(To read the above comment - please read my post Mind Speaks - Unsung heroes and untimely aggressions http://clicksandwrites.blogspot.com/2008/10/mind-speaks-unsung-heroes-and-untimely.html )
He at that time clearly mentioned, I want someone who bowls each ball according to the instructions I give. I am not negating here that Sreesanth bowls against Dhoni’s will. But, within his mind Sreesanth has an aggressive player and the conflict to overpower the opposition batsman on his own skills, he end up going against the tide, which may indirectly making his progress difficult. This is an example. However, it doesn’t mean that it is the end of the world. He will fight and come up. As each time, or time has proved that end of the day, Dhoni had no other options, within Indian Fast – medium Fast bowling resource, other than Sreesanth to look forward to when it matters aggression and skills combined within one.
Hope, this treatment, or experience in life will make Sreesanth a more striking bowler in terms of economy and wickets than in terms of hits on twitter and media.
I hope and wish he comments no further as it may reduce his chances further.
I still believe, before the tournament begins, there will be omissions and Sreesanth will play in the final eleven for India in the 2011 World Cup tournament.
Best Wishes to Team India.
(picture courtesy cricinfo.com)
Poste Note: In the current sereis between South Africa and India, including this 3rd match Sreesanth did not play. If the team combination before the selection to the final 15th for world cup was an indicator, it was clear that Sreesanth was not in the scheme of things planned by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. In a way it is good for Sreesanth too, as the playing conditions in South Africa are not the same as that of in India. So, the more these selected bowlers play in South Africa, the more the chances for injuries, which may help him to get his spot back into the 15 member squad.
As a cricket lover from Kerala, it is sad to see the 15 names announced for World Cup Cricket 2011 without Sreesanth in it.
I believe, Sreesanth lost the chance not because he lack ability but because of “his mind’s extra agility” which is making the Indian team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni vary of his plans. Two years ago itself he has told in an interview and I have quoted his statement in a blog post as early as October 2008 (I was reading an article in which Mahindra Singh Dhoni was expressing his comments about his wish to have a good bowler who bowls according to the captains plans).
(To read the above comment - please read my post Mind Speaks - Unsung heroes and untimely aggressions http://clicksandwrites.blogspot.com/2008/10/mind-speaks-unsung-heroes-and-untimely.html )
He at that time clearly mentioned, I want someone who bowls each ball according to the instructions I give. I am not negating here that Sreesanth bowls against Dhoni’s will. But, within his mind Sreesanth has an aggressive player and the conflict to overpower the opposition batsman on his own skills, he end up going against the tide, which may indirectly making his progress difficult. This is an example. However, it doesn’t mean that it is the end of the world. He will fight and come up. As each time, or time has proved that end of the day, Dhoni had no other options, within Indian Fast – medium Fast bowling resource, other than Sreesanth to look forward to when it matters aggression and skills combined within one.
Hope, this treatment, or experience in life will make Sreesanth a more striking bowler in terms of economy and wickets than in terms of hits on twitter and media.
I hope and wish he comments no further as it may reduce his chances further.
I still believe, before the tournament begins, there will be omissions and Sreesanth will play in the final eleven for India in the 2011 World Cup tournament.
Best Wishes to Team India.
(picture courtesy cricinfo.com)
Poste Note: In the current sereis between South Africa and India, including this 3rd match Sreesanth did not play. If the team combination before the selection to the final 15th for world cup was an indicator, it was clear that Sreesanth was not in the scheme of things planned by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. In a way it is good for Sreesanth too, as the playing conditions in South Africa are not the same as that of in India. So, the more these selected bowlers play in South Africa, the more the chances for injuries, which may help him to get his spot back into the 15 member squad.
Indian Bloggers Nest - Inviting Bloggers to submit their blog links
Indian Bloggers Nest - Inviting Bloggers to submit their blog links
Inviting all bloggers of Indian origin to submit their blog links here. A place where your blog will be categorised and listed to give it maximum visits to successfully meet the objective you created it. List your blogs here and let us enjoy the journey ahead.
Inviting Bloggers to submit their blog links
Dear Blogger,
To get your blog listed here, please send your blog URL to team1dubai@gmail.com and also a short profile with the following details:
URL of your blog:
Your Name:
Location:
Category/topics you cover in your blog:
Blogger since:
E-mail:
Contact Address:
Contact Phone:
Best wishes and enjoy visiting Indian Bloggers Nest - http://indianbloggersnest.blogspot.com/
Exploring Abu Dhabi through Clicks and Writes - Chevrolet beauty on the road
A read Chevrolet Camaro beauty on the street. Power and beauty combined.
Exploring Abu Dhabi through Clicks and Writes - Weather - whether to rain or not
A light shower last night. Weather was in two minds - whether to rain or not?
Ramesh Menon
18.01.2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
e Nidhi SREE Nidhi - an opportunity to support children who wants to study
e Nidhi SREE Nidhi - an opportunity to support children who wants to study
Dear Friends,
On behalf of Team 1 Talent Share group and blogs, I wish to encourage, motivate and support poor children to study and progress well in the life. With this in mind, I wish to initiate:
• A Scholarship in terms of a variety of assistance (monetary benefits, books, uniform, support etc) - to those children from families with difficulties to educate their children in the 10th, 12th and Degree education.
The idea now is to plan and provide:
Looking forward to your positive reply in this regard and then we will work on further to make it a reality.
Ramesh Menon
E-mail: team1dubai@gmail.com
Dear Friends,
On behalf of Team 1 Talent Share group and blogs, I wish to encourage, motivate and support poor children to study and progress well in the life. With this in mind, I wish to initiate:
• A Scholarship in terms of a variety of assistance (monetary benefits, books, uniform, support etc) - to those children from families with difficulties to educate their children in the 10th, 12th and Degree education.
• Encourage them to join for higher studies in Engineering subjects (Civil, Electrical, Electronics and Engineering) and Medicine.
The idea now is to plan and provide:
• one cash award each for girls and boys for 10th, 12th and Graduation who gets high marks in the respective exams.
• additional bonus amounts ( in terms of cash) will be awarded according to:
- The child's extracurricular abilities like skills in sports and arts will get extra rating.
- His/her parents education (the lesser the education of the parent and the higher mark he gets, he will get a higher rating)
- Any physical disabilities he/she has in life will get special consideration and rating
You can participate in two ways:
- If interested, you may join hands with me are welcome to contact me by email team1dubai@gmail.com.
- You may identify a needy child and introduce him/her and his/her parents to me so that as a team we could finalise what are their requirements for a successful educational environment to come up in life.
It is also planned support and facilitate better reading room facilities in school and villages in the rural areas.
As we work ahead, we will fine tune the proposed scheme named e Nidhi SREE Nidhi and make it more attractive and interesting to those needy children in our community.
Thanking in advance my family and friends for the support for the success of this educational scheme.
Looking forward to your positive reply in this regard and then we will work on further to make it a reality.
True regards,
Ramesh Menon
E-mail: team1dubai@gmail.com
An opportunity to learn Indian Languages - Technology Development for Indian Languages (TDIL) Programme
An opportunity to learn Indian Languages - Technology Development for Indian Languages (TDIL) Programme
Here is an opportunity for you to learn Indian Languages. On behalf of the Technology Development for Indian Languages Programme, Department of Information Technology (DIT), Govt. India is distributing free language learning CDs to your home address.
It is very easy for you to obtain them.
- Log on to http://www.ildc.in/
- Click on to any language listed on the left side.
- On right side you will find a button for registering your details. Register with a user id and password.
- Once registered, log on and then request for any number of languages, that you may wish to learn.
Why hesitate, give it a try and learn one (or many) new language in 2011.
This is what the introduction on the site have described about this programme:
India is a multilingual country with as many as 22 scheduled languages and computer technology breaks the language barrier and bridges the gap between the various sections of the society through easier access to information using their respective languages and hence language computing becomes central to the exchange of information across speakers of various languages.
Technology Development for Indian Languages (TDIL) Programme initiated by the Department of Information Technology (DIT), Govt. India has the objective to develop information processing tools to facilitate human machine interaction in Indian languages and to develop technologies to access multilingual knowledge resources. Department of Information Technology launched another major initiative called National Rollout Plan to aggregate these software tools and to make these available through a web based Indian Language Data Centre (ILDC). This activity is being executed in close coordination with CDAC,GIST,Pune. Under this user friendly software tools and fonts are being made available free for public through language CDs and web downloads for the benefit of masses.
The availability of these software tools, fonts and resources in local languages at no cost is intended to motivate general public to use ICT tools and technology in their day to day work like Word Processing, Presentation preparation, Spread Sheets preparation, Web Page Surfing & Designing, Messaging etc. in local languages. Further, the consolidated availability of linguistic resources and tools at one place will help researchers to carry out their research in a smooth and efficient manner.
Here is an opportunity for you to learn Indian Languages. On behalf of the Technology Development for Indian Languages Programme, Department of Information Technology (DIT), Govt. India is distributing free language learning CDs to your home address.
It is very easy for you to obtain them.
- Log on to http://www.ildc.in/
- Click on to any language listed on the left side.
- On right side you will find a button for registering your details. Register with a user id and password.
- Once registered, log on and then request for any number of languages, that you may wish to learn.
Why hesitate, give it a try and learn one (or many) new language in 2011.
This is what the introduction on the site have described about this programme:
India is a multilingual country with as many as 22 scheduled languages and computer technology breaks the language barrier and bridges the gap between the various sections of the society through easier access to information using their respective languages and hence language computing becomes central to the exchange of information across speakers of various languages.
Technology Development for Indian Languages (TDIL) Programme initiated by the Department of Information Technology (DIT), Govt. India has the objective to develop information processing tools to facilitate human machine interaction in Indian languages and to develop technologies to access multilingual knowledge resources. Department of Information Technology launched another major initiative called National Rollout Plan to aggregate these software tools and to make these available through a web based Indian Language Data Centre (ILDC). This activity is being executed in close coordination with CDAC,GIST,Pune. Under this user friendly software tools and fonts are being made available free for public through language CDs and web downloads for the benefit of masses.
The availability of these software tools, fonts and resources in local languages at no cost is intended to motivate general public to use ICT tools and technology in their day to day work like Word Processing, Presentation preparation, Spread Sheets preparation, Web Page Surfing & Designing, Messaging etc. in local languages. Further, the consolidated availability of linguistic resources and tools at one place will help researchers to carry out their research in a smooth and efficient manner.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
പുല്മേട്ടിലെ സംഭവം - ഒന്ന് ശ്രദ്ധിച്ചിരുന്നെങ്കില് ഒഴിവാക്കാമായിരുന്ന ദുരന്തം
പുല്മേട്ടിലെ സംഭവം - ഒന്ന് ശ്രദ്ധിച്ചിരുന്നെങ്കില് ഒഴിവാക്കാമായിരുന്ന ദുരന്തം
മകര സംക്രമ ദിനത്തില് ശബരിമലയില് നടന്ന ദുരന്തം. ഇത്രയും അധികം ഭക്ത ജനങ്ങള് ശബരിമല മകര വിളക്ക് തൊഴാന് എത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ട് എന്ന് ഉള്ള വിവരം വ്യക്തമായി ധാരണ ഉള്ള അധികാരികള് അതിനു അനുസ്സരിച്ച് ഉള്ള സുരക്ഷാ നടപടികള് മുന്വിധിയോടെ തന്നെ ചെയ്യേണ്ടതായിരുന്നു. പല ന്യൂസ് ചാനലുകളും തല്സമയ പരിപാടികള് പ്രക്ഷേപണം ചെയ്തപ്പോള് നടത്തിയ മുഖാമുഖത്തില് എല്ലാം തന്നെ സംസാരിച്ച അധികാരികള് ഇന്നലത്തെ അഭൂതപൂര്വമായ തിരക്കിനെ പറ്റി സൂചിപ്പിക്കുകയുണ്ടായി. കൂടാതെ പുല്മെട്ടിലൂടെ ഉള്ള പാത ഗതാഗതത്തിനു വേണ്ടി തുറന്നു കൊടുത്ത വനം വകുപ്പ് ജില്ല അധികാരികള്ക്കും ഇക്കാര്യങ്ങള് അറിയാവുന്ന സംഗതിയാണ്. എന്നിട്ടും അവിടെ വേണ്ട അത്യാവശ്യം സുരക്ഷാ ക്രമീകരണങ്ങള് അടിയന്തിരമായി സമാഹരിക്കുന്നതിനോ അവിടെ നിന്ന് ജ്യോതി ദര്ശിച്ചു മടങ്ങുന്ന ഭക്തരുടെ സുരക്ഷാ നടപടികള്, അതായത്, ചിട്ടയായി തിരക്ക് കൂട്ടാതെ ഇറങ്ങാന് ഉള്ള അവസ്സരങ്ങള് ഉടക്കുവാന് ശ്രമിക്കുകയോ ചെയ്തില്ല. കേരള സംസ്ഥാനത്തിന് ഇത്രയും അധികം വരുമാനം ഉണ്ടാക്കി കൊടുക്കുന്ന ഒരു ഉത്സവം നടക്കുന്ന വേളയില്, ദേവസ്വം മന്ത്രിയും ആ സമയത്ത് ശബരിമലയില് അല്ലെങ്കിലും അതിനടുത്ത ജില്ലകളിലോ ഉണ്ടാവാന് ശ്രമിക്കേണ്ട കാര്യം പ്രത്യേകം എടുത്തു പറയേണ്ടി ഇരിക്കുന്നു.
ഡിസംബര് മാസം ആദ്യം ശബരിമല സന്ദര്ശിക്കാന് അവസ്സരം കിട്ടിയപ്പോള് സ്വാമി അയ്യപ്പന് റോഡിന്റെ ദുരവസ്ഥ നേരിട്ട് കാണാന് ഇടയാവുകയും അവിടെ നിന്ന് അപ്പോള് തന്നെ മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയുടെയും ദേവസ്വം മന്ത്രിയുടെയും ഓഫീസ്സുകളില് വിളിച്ചു വിവരം അറിയിക്കുകയും കൂടാതെ മാതൃഭുമി അമൃത ടീവി എന്നി മാധ്യമങ്ങളുടെ സഹകരണത്തോടെ ആ അവസ്ഥ കൂടുതല് വെളിച്ചത്തു കൊണ്ട് വരികയും ചെയ്യാന് ഈയുള്ളവന് ശ്രമിക്കുകയുണ്ടായി. ആ അവസ്സരങ്ങളില് എല്ലാം തന്നെ പറഞ്ഞിരുന്ന കാര്യം ആണ് ഭക്തരുടെ ദര്ശനം കഴിഞ്ഞു തിരക്ക് പിടിച്ചു ഉള്ള ഒട്ടതിനെ പറ്റി. ഇത് എല്ലാവര്ക്കും അറിയാവുന്ന കാര്യവും ആണ്. ഇന്നലെ തന്നെ സന്നിധാനത്തില് പോലീസ്സ് അയ്യപ്പന്മാരുടെ പ്രത്യേക ശുഷ്കാന്തി ഇല്ലായിരുന്നു എങ്കില് ഇതേ സംഭവം അവിടെയും ആവര്ത്തിക്കുമായിരുന്നെനെ.
പുല്മെട്ടിലെ പാതയും മറ്റു സൌകര്യങ്ങളും ഗതാഗതത്തിനു വേണ്ടി തുറന്നു കൊടുത്തു അവിടെ നിന്ന് വാഹനങ്ങളില് നികുതി പിരിച്ച അധികൃതര്ക്ക് വ്യക്തമായി അറിയാവുന്ന കാര്യമാണ് ഇന്നലത്തെ അവിടെ വന്നു ജ്യോതി കാണാന് വേണ്ടി ഉള്ള ഭക്തരുടെ കണക്കു. അത് മറച്ചു വക്കാന് നോക്കിയിട്ട് ഒരു കാര്യവും ഇല്ല. കൂടാതെ വിവിധ ന്യൂസ് ചാനല് നടത്തുന്ന അഭിമുഖത്തില് സ്ഥലവാസികളും ന്യൂസ് റിപ്പോര്ട്ടര്മാരും ഇ തിരക്കിനെ പറ്റി ഉച്ചക്ക് മുന്പേ സൂചിപ്പിച്ചിരുന്നതായി പറയുന്നു. ഇത്രയും വലിയ ഒരു മന്ത്രി-അധികാരി തല സംഘം സംഭവം നടന്നതിനു ശേഷം അവിടെ എത്തി ചേരാന് കാണിച്ച ഉത്സുകത അതിനു മുന്പ് കാണിച്ചിരുന്നെങ്കില് നൂറില് പരം ജീവന് രക്ഷിക്കാമായിരുന്നു. ആ കൂട്ടക്കുരുതിയില് സംസ്ഥാന ഭരണ കൂടത്തിനും ദേവസ്വത്തിനും ഫോറെസ്റ്റ് അധികാരികള്ക്കും ഒരു പോലെ ഉത്രം (utharam) പറയേണ്ട കടമയുണ്ട്. എന്ത് കൊണ്ട് ഒരു മുന്വിധിയോടെ കാര്യങ്ങള് കണ്ടില്ല? എന്ത് കൊണ്ട് ആ പാത തുറന്നു കൊടുത്തപ്പോള് ഇങ്ങനെ ഒരു പ്രശ്നം കൈകാര്യം ചെയ്യാന് ഉള്ള വഴികള് ആലോചിച്ചില്ല. അവിടെ ലഭ്യമാക്കേണ്ട, ഭക്ഷണം, വെള്ളം, മറ്റു പ്രാഥമിക സൌകര്യങ്ങള് പോകട്ടെ എന്ന് വക്കാം.
ശബരിമലയില് പോലിസിനെ പഴി ചാരാന് ആരും ശ്രമിക്കേണ്ട കാര്യമില്ല. ഇത് മൊത്തമായി അവിടെ ഭരണാധികാരികള് ശബരിമല മണ്ഡല മകര വിളക്ക് കാലത്തെ എത്ര ലാഘവമായി കാണുന്നു എന്നതിന്റെ ഒരു ഉദാത്ത ഉദാഹരണം മാത്രം. നട വരവ് മാത്രം ലക്ഷ്യമാക്കി, ഞങ്ങളുടെ ഭരണം കഴിയാറായി ഇനി ഇതിലൊക്കെ എന്ത് കാര്യം എന്നാ ചിന്തയാണോ ഇതിനു പിന്നിലെ ശുഷ്കാന്തി കുറവിന് കാര്യം?
ഇതൊന്നും കൂടാതെ, ശബരിമല അമ്പലത്തില് സോപാനത്തില് ഒരു സിനിമ നടി കയറി അയ്യപ്പ വിഗ്രഹം തൊട്ടു എന്ന വസ്തുത കേസും കൂട്ടവും ആയി മൂര്ധന്യത്തില് നില്ക്കുന്ന സമയം. ഇന്നലെ സൂര്യ ടീവി തല്സമയ പ്രക്ഷേപണം കണ്ടപ്പോള് തിരുവാഭരണം വരുന്നതിനു അല്പ സമയം മുന്പ് സോപനതിനു അടുത്ത് മൂന്നോ നാലോ സ്ത്രീകള്, അതില് ഒരാള് ഹാന്ഡ് ബാഗും ആയിട്ടാണ് നില്പ്പ് - തൊഴാന് നില്ക്കുന്നത് കണ്ടു. ഒരു മണ്ഡലക്കാലം വൃതം എടുത്തു ഇരുമുടിയോടെ അയ്യപ്പനെ കാണാന് വരുന്ന ഭക്തന് പോലും ലഭിക്കാത്ത സൌഭാഗ്യം. ആ തങ്ക അങ്കി അവര്ക്ക് ശ്രീ കോവിലിനുള്ളിലേക്ക് കടക്കുന്നതിനു മുന്പ് തൊട്ടു തൊഴാന് ഉള്ള ഭാഗ്യം കിട്ടി. എത്ര പുണ്യവതി. എത്ര മനസ്സുകള് ആ കാഴ്ച കണ്ടപ്പോള് ആശിചിരിക്കാം താങ്കളെ പോലെ ഞങ്ങള്ക്കും ആരെങ്കിലും ഉന്നതര് ശുപാര്ശക്ക് ഉണ്ടെങ്കില് എന്ന്. ശബരിമല മറ്റു തീര്ഥാടന കേന്ദ്രങ്ങളില് നിന്ന് വ്യത്യസ്തമാണ്. അവിടെ ചില ചിട്ടകളും ചടങ്ങളും കൃത്യതയോടെ ചെയ്യേണ്ടതുണ്ട്. അതില് വസ്ത്രധാരണ രീതിയും കയ്യില് കരുതെണ്ടുന്ന വസ്തുക്കളും ഉള്പ്പെടുന്നു. ഇരുമുടിയും തോള് സഞ്ചിയും പോയി ഇന്ന് പരിഷ്കരിച്ചു വാനിട്ടി ബാഗും നീട്ടി അഴിച്ചിട്ട മുടിയും ഒക്കെ ആയി ഇപ്പോള് അവസ്ഥ.
എത്ര സുരക്ഷാ വിധികള് ഉണ്ടെങ്കിലും, കണ്ണ് വെട്ടിച്ചു കക്കാന് കയറുന്ന കള്ളനെ പോലെ, അഥവാ, എത്ര സുശക്തമായ പ്രതിരോധം ഉണ്ടെങ്കിലും ഗോള് അടിക്കുന്ന കളിക്കാരനെ പോലെ, അയ്യപ്പ) ഇത്തവണ മണ്ടലക്കാലത്ത് സ്വാമിയും ഒരു ഗോള് അടിച്ചു. അതേവരെ എല്ലാം കൃത്യമായി നടന്നിരുന്ന ഒരു മണ്ഡല കാലം കണ്ണീരില് കുതിര്ന്നു നിമിഷങ്ങള്ക്കകം.
ഇനി വരും കാലം എങ്കിലും അവിടത്തെ ഭക്തര്ക്ക് ജാതി മത വ്യത്യാസം ഇല്ലാതെ, വലിയവന് ചെറിയവന് എന്ന വ്യത്യാസം ഇല്ലാതെ, തത്ത്വമസ്സി എന്ന മഹത് വാക്കിന്റെ പൂര്ണ അര്ഥം ഉള്ക്കൊണ്ടു കൊണ്ട് അവിടത്തെ ദര്ശിക്കാന് ഇട നല്കണേ.
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മകര സംക്രമ ദിനത്തില് ശബരിമലയില് നടന്ന ദുരന്തം. ഇത്രയും അധികം ഭക്ത ജനങ്ങള് ശബരിമല മകര വിളക്ക് തൊഴാന് എത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ട് എന്ന് ഉള്ള വിവരം വ്യക്തമായി ധാരണ ഉള്ള അധികാരികള് അതിനു അനുസ്സരിച്ച് ഉള്ള സുരക്ഷാ നടപടികള് മുന്വിധിയോടെ തന്നെ ചെയ്യേണ്ടതായിരുന്നു. പല ന്യൂസ് ചാനലുകളും തല്സമയ പരിപാടികള് പ്രക്ഷേപണം ചെയ്തപ്പോള് നടത്തിയ മുഖാമുഖത്തില് എല്ലാം തന്നെ സംസാരിച്ച അധികാരികള് ഇന്നലത്തെ അഭൂതപൂര്വമായ തിരക്കിനെ പറ്റി സൂചിപ്പിക്കുകയുണ്ടായി. കൂടാതെ പുല്മെട്ടിലൂടെ ഉള്ള പാത ഗതാഗതത്തിനു വേണ്ടി തുറന്നു കൊടുത്ത വനം വകുപ്പ് ജില്ല അധികാരികള്ക്കും ഇക്കാര്യങ്ങള് അറിയാവുന്ന സംഗതിയാണ്. എന്നിട്ടും അവിടെ വേണ്ട അത്യാവശ്യം സുരക്ഷാ ക്രമീകരണങ്ങള് അടിയന്തിരമായി സമാഹരിക്കുന്നതിനോ അവിടെ നിന്ന് ജ്യോതി ദര്ശിച്ചു മടങ്ങുന്ന ഭക്തരുടെ സുരക്ഷാ നടപടികള്, അതായത്, ചിട്ടയായി തിരക്ക് കൂട്ടാതെ ഇറങ്ങാന് ഉള്ള അവസ്സരങ്ങള് ഉടക്കുവാന് ശ്രമിക്കുകയോ ചെയ്തില്ല. കേരള സംസ്ഥാനത്തിന് ഇത്രയും അധികം വരുമാനം ഉണ്ടാക്കി കൊടുക്കുന്ന ഒരു ഉത്സവം നടക്കുന്ന വേളയില്, ദേവസ്വം മന്ത്രിയും ആ സമയത്ത് ശബരിമലയില് അല്ലെങ്കിലും അതിനടുത്ത ജില്ലകളിലോ ഉണ്ടാവാന് ശ്രമിക്കേണ്ട കാര്യം പ്രത്യേകം എടുത്തു പറയേണ്ടി ഇരിക്കുന്നു.
ഡിസംബര് മാസം ആദ്യം ശബരിമല സന്ദര്ശിക്കാന് അവസ്സരം കിട്ടിയപ്പോള് സ്വാമി അയ്യപ്പന് റോഡിന്റെ ദുരവസ്ഥ നേരിട്ട് കാണാന് ഇടയാവുകയും അവിടെ നിന്ന് അപ്പോള് തന്നെ മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയുടെയും ദേവസ്വം മന്ത്രിയുടെയും ഓഫീസ്സുകളില് വിളിച്ചു വിവരം അറിയിക്കുകയും കൂടാതെ മാതൃഭുമി അമൃത ടീവി എന്നി മാധ്യമങ്ങളുടെ സഹകരണത്തോടെ ആ അവസ്ഥ കൂടുതല് വെളിച്ചത്തു കൊണ്ട് വരികയും ചെയ്യാന് ഈയുള്ളവന് ശ്രമിക്കുകയുണ്ടായി. ആ അവസ്സരങ്ങളില് എല്ലാം തന്നെ പറഞ്ഞിരുന്ന കാര്യം ആണ് ഭക്തരുടെ ദര്ശനം കഴിഞ്ഞു തിരക്ക് പിടിച്ചു ഉള്ള ഒട്ടതിനെ പറ്റി. ഇത് എല്ലാവര്ക്കും അറിയാവുന്ന കാര്യവും ആണ്. ഇന്നലെ തന്നെ സന്നിധാനത്തില് പോലീസ്സ് അയ്യപ്പന്മാരുടെ പ്രത്യേക ശുഷ്കാന്തി ഇല്ലായിരുന്നു എങ്കില് ഇതേ സംഭവം അവിടെയും ആവര്ത്തിക്കുമായിരുന്നെനെ.
പുല്മെട്ടിലെ പാതയും മറ്റു സൌകര്യങ്ങളും ഗതാഗതത്തിനു വേണ്ടി തുറന്നു കൊടുത്തു അവിടെ നിന്ന് വാഹനങ്ങളില് നികുതി പിരിച്ച അധികൃതര്ക്ക് വ്യക്തമായി അറിയാവുന്ന കാര്യമാണ് ഇന്നലത്തെ അവിടെ വന്നു ജ്യോതി കാണാന് വേണ്ടി ഉള്ള ഭക്തരുടെ കണക്കു. അത് മറച്ചു വക്കാന് നോക്കിയിട്ട് ഒരു കാര്യവും ഇല്ല. കൂടാതെ വിവിധ ന്യൂസ് ചാനല് നടത്തുന്ന അഭിമുഖത്തില് സ്ഥലവാസികളും ന്യൂസ് റിപ്പോര്ട്ടര്മാരും ഇ തിരക്കിനെ പറ്റി ഉച്ചക്ക് മുന്പേ സൂചിപ്പിച്ചിരുന്നതായി പറയുന്നു. ഇത്രയും വലിയ ഒരു മന്ത്രി-അധികാരി തല സംഘം സംഭവം നടന്നതിനു ശേഷം അവിടെ എത്തി ചേരാന് കാണിച്ച ഉത്സുകത അതിനു മുന്പ് കാണിച്ചിരുന്നെങ്കില് നൂറില് പരം ജീവന് രക്ഷിക്കാമായിരുന്നു. ആ കൂട്ടക്കുരുതിയില് സംസ്ഥാന ഭരണ കൂടത്തിനും ദേവസ്വത്തിനും ഫോറെസ്റ്റ് അധികാരികള്ക്കും ഒരു പോലെ ഉത്രം (utharam) പറയേണ്ട കടമയുണ്ട്. എന്ത് കൊണ്ട് ഒരു മുന്വിധിയോടെ കാര്യങ്ങള് കണ്ടില്ല? എന്ത് കൊണ്ട് ആ പാത തുറന്നു കൊടുത്തപ്പോള് ഇങ്ങനെ ഒരു പ്രശ്നം കൈകാര്യം ചെയ്യാന് ഉള്ള വഴികള് ആലോചിച്ചില്ല. അവിടെ ലഭ്യമാക്കേണ്ട, ഭക്ഷണം, വെള്ളം, മറ്റു പ്രാഥമിക സൌകര്യങ്ങള് പോകട്ടെ എന്ന് വക്കാം.
ശബരിമലയില് പോലിസിനെ പഴി ചാരാന് ആരും ശ്രമിക്കേണ്ട കാര്യമില്ല. ഇത് മൊത്തമായി അവിടെ ഭരണാധികാരികള് ശബരിമല മണ്ഡല മകര വിളക്ക് കാലത്തെ എത്ര ലാഘവമായി കാണുന്നു എന്നതിന്റെ ഒരു ഉദാത്ത ഉദാഹരണം മാത്രം. നട വരവ് മാത്രം ലക്ഷ്യമാക്കി, ഞങ്ങളുടെ ഭരണം കഴിയാറായി ഇനി ഇതിലൊക്കെ എന്ത് കാര്യം എന്നാ ചിന്തയാണോ ഇതിനു പിന്നിലെ ശുഷ്കാന്തി കുറവിന് കാര്യം?
ഇതൊന്നും കൂടാതെ, ശബരിമല അമ്പലത്തില് സോപാനത്തില് ഒരു സിനിമ നടി കയറി അയ്യപ്പ വിഗ്രഹം തൊട്ടു എന്ന വസ്തുത കേസും കൂട്ടവും ആയി മൂര്ധന്യത്തില് നില്ക്കുന്ന സമയം. ഇന്നലെ സൂര്യ ടീവി തല്സമയ പ്രക്ഷേപണം കണ്ടപ്പോള് തിരുവാഭരണം വരുന്നതിനു അല്പ സമയം മുന്പ് സോപനതിനു അടുത്ത് മൂന്നോ നാലോ സ്ത്രീകള്, അതില് ഒരാള് ഹാന്ഡ് ബാഗും ആയിട്ടാണ് നില്പ്പ് - തൊഴാന് നില്ക്കുന്നത് കണ്ടു. ഒരു മണ്ഡലക്കാലം വൃതം എടുത്തു ഇരുമുടിയോടെ അയ്യപ്പനെ കാണാന് വരുന്ന ഭക്തന് പോലും ലഭിക്കാത്ത സൌഭാഗ്യം. ആ തങ്ക അങ്കി അവര്ക്ക് ശ്രീ കോവിലിനുള്ളിലേക്ക് കടക്കുന്നതിനു മുന്പ് തൊട്ടു തൊഴാന് ഉള്ള ഭാഗ്യം കിട്ടി. എത്ര പുണ്യവതി. എത്ര മനസ്സുകള് ആ കാഴ്ച കണ്ടപ്പോള് ആശിചിരിക്കാം താങ്കളെ പോലെ ഞങ്ങള്ക്കും ആരെങ്കിലും ഉന്നതര് ശുപാര്ശക്ക് ഉണ്ടെങ്കില് എന്ന്. ശബരിമല മറ്റു തീര്ഥാടന കേന്ദ്രങ്ങളില് നിന്ന് വ്യത്യസ്തമാണ്. അവിടെ ചില ചിട്ടകളും ചടങ്ങളും കൃത്യതയോടെ ചെയ്യേണ്ടതുണ്ട്. അതില് വസ്ത്രധാരണ രീതിയും കയ്യില് കരുതെണ്ടുന്ന വസ്തുക്കളും ഉള്പ്പെടുന്നു. ഇരുമുടിയും തോള് സഞ്ചിയും പോയി ഇന്ന് പരിഷ്കരിച്ചു വാനിട്ടി ബാഗും നീട്ടി അഴിച്ചിട്ട മുടിയും ഒക്കെ ആയി ഇപ്പോള് അവസ്ഥ.
എത്ര സുരക്ഷാ വിധികള് ഉണ്ടെങ്കിലും, കണ്ണ് വെട്ടിച്ചു കക്കാന് കയറുന്ന കള്ളനെ പോലെ, അഥവാ, എത്ര സുശക്തമായ പ്രതിരോധം ഉണ്ടെങ്കിലും ഗോള് അടിക്കുന്ന കളിക്കാരനെ പോലെ, അയ്യപ്പ) ഇത്തവണ മണ്ടലക്കാലത്ത് സ്വാമിയും ഒരു ഗോള് അടിച്ചു. അതേവരെ എല്ലാം കൃത്യമായി നടന്നിരുന്ന ഒരു മണ്ഡല കാലം കണ്ണീരില് കുതിര്ന്നു നിമിഷങ്ങള്ക്കകം.
ഇനി വരും കാലം എങ്കിലും അവിടത്തെ ഭക്തര്ക്ക് ജാതി മത വ്യത്യാസം ഇല്ലാതെ, വലിയവന് ചെറിയവന് എന്ന വ്യത്യാസം ഇല്ലാതെ, തത്ത്വമസ്സി എന്ന മഹത് വാക്കിന്റെ പൂര്ണ അര്ഥം ഉള്ക്കൊണ്ടു കൊണ്ട് അവിടത്തെ ദര്ശിക്കാന് ഇട നല്കണേ.
To read it in original, please visit Mathrubhumi online
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Sabarimala Pulmedu stampede - an incident that could have been avoided
Sabarimala Pulmedu stampede - an incident that could have been avoided
In my video community report enclosed in this blog post, you may listen to my repeated request to the authorities to act before a danger happens and not after. Unfortunately, it happened despite of several attempts to highlight these dangers to responsible parties through various medium.
http://clicksandwrites.blogspot.com/2010/12/for-benefit-of-those-who-are-visiting.html
Further to this, please also read a letter published online in Mathrubhumi today:
പുല്മേട്ടിലെ സംഭവം - ഒന്ന് ശ്രദ്ധിച്ചിരുന്നെങ്കില് ഒഴിവാക്കാമായിരുന്ന ദുരന്തം
മകര സംക്രമ ദിനത്തില് ശബരിമലയില് നടന്ന ദുരന്തം. ഇത്രയും അധികം ഭക്ത ജനങ്ങള് ശബരിമല മകര വിളക്ക് തൊഴാന് എത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ട് എന്ന് ഉള്ള വിവരം വ്യക്തമായി ധാരണ ഉള്ള അധികാരികള് അതിനു അനുസ്സരിച്ച് ഉള്ള സുരക്ഷാ നടപടികള് മുന്വിധിയോടെ തന്നെ ചെയ്യേണ്ടതായിരുന്നു. പല ന്യൂസ് ചാനലുകളും തല്സമയ പരിപാടികള് പ്രക്ഷേപണം ചെയ്തപ്പോള് നടത്തിയ മുഖാമുഖത്തില് എല്ലാം തന്നെ സംസാരിച്ച അധികാരികള് ഇന്നലത്തെ അഭൂതപൂര്വമായ തിരക്കിനെ പറ്റി സൂചിപ്പിക്കുകയുണ്ടായി. കൂടാതെ പുല്മെട്ടിലൂടെ ഉള്ള പാത ഗതാഗതത്തിനു വേണ്ടി തുറന്നു കൊടുത്ത വനം വകുപ്പ് ജില്ല അധികാരികള്ക്കും ഇക്കാര്യങ്ങള് അറിയാവുന്ന സംഗതിയാണ്. എന്നിട്ടും അവിടെ വേണ്ട അത്യാവശ്യം സുരക്ഷാ ക്രമീകരണങ്ങള് അടിയന്തിരമായി സമാഹരിക്കുന്നതിനോ അവിടെ നിന്ന് ജ്യോതി ദര്ശിച്ചു മടങ്ങുന്ന ഭക്തരുടെ സുരക്ഷാ നടപടികള്, അതായത്, ചിട്ടയായി തിരക്ക് കൂട്ടാതെ ഇറങ്ങാന് ഉള്ള അവസ്സരങ്ങള് ഉടക്കുവാന് ശ്രമിക്കുകയോ ചെയ്തില്ല. കേരള സംസ്ഥാനത്തിന് ഇത്രയും അധികം വരുമാനം ഉണ്ടാക്കി കൊടുക്കുന്ന ഒരു ഉത്സവം നടക്കുന്ന വേളയില്, ദേവസ്വം മന്ത്രിയും ആ സമയത്ത് ശബരിമലയില് അല്ലെങ്കിലും അതിനടുത്ത ജില്ലകളിലോ ഉണ്ടാവാന് ശ്രമിക്കേണ്ട കാര്യം പ്രത്യേകം എടുത്തു പറയേണ്ടി ഇരിക്കുന്നു.
ഡിസംബര് മാസം ആദ്യം ശബരിമല സന്ദര്ശിക്കാന് അവസ്സരം കിട്ടിയപ്പോള് സ്വാമി അയ്യപ്പന് റോഡിന്റെ ദുരവസ്ഥ നേരിട്ട് കാണാന് ഇടയാവുകയും അവിടെ നിന്ന് അപ്പോള് തന്നെ മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയുടെയും ദേവസ്വം മന്ത്രിയുടെയും ഓഫീസ്സുകളില് വിളിച്ചു വിവരം അറിയിക്കുകയും കൂടാതെ മാതൃഭുമി അമൃത ടീവി എന്നി മാധ്യമങ്ങളുടെ സഹകരണത്തോടെ ആ അവസ്ഥ കൂടുതല് വെളിച്ചത്തു കൊണ്ട് വരികയും ചെയ്യാന് ഈയുള്ളവന് ശ്രമിക്കുകയുണ്ടായി. ആ അവസ്സരങ്ങളില് എല്ലാം തന്നെ പറഞ്ഞിരുന്ന കാര്യം ആണ് ഭക്തരുടെ ദര്ശനം കഴിഞ്ഞു തിരക്ക് പിടിച്ചു ഉള്ള ഒട്ടതിനെ പറ്റി. ഇത് എല്ലാവര്ക്കും അറിയാവുന്ന കാര്യവും ആണ്. ഇന്നലെ തന്നെ സന്നിധാനത്തില് പോലീസ്സ് അയ്യപ്പന്മാരുടെ പ്രത്യേക ശുഷ്കാന്തി ഇല്ലായിരുന്നു എങ്കില് ഇതേ സംഭവം അവിടെയും ആവര്ത്തിക്കുമായിരുന്നെനെ.
പുല്മെട്ടിലെ പാതയും മറ്റു സൌകര്യങ്ങളും ഗതാഗതത്തിനു വേണ്ടി തുറന്നു കൊടുത്തു അവിടെ നിന്ന് വാഹനങ്ങളില് നികുതി പിരിച്ച അധികൃതര്ക്ക് വ്യക്തമായി അറിയാവുന്ന കാര്യമാണ് ഇന്നലത്തെ അവിടെ വന്നു ജ്യോതി കാണാന് വേണ്ടി ഉള്ള ഭക്തരുടെ കണക്കു. അത് മറച്ചു വക്കാന് നോക്കിയിട്ട് ഒരു കാര്യവും ഇല്ല. കൂടാതെ വിവിധ ന്യൂസ് ചാനല് നടത്തുന്ന അഭിമുഖത്തില് സ്ഥലവാസികളും ന്യൂസ് റിപ്പോര്ട്ടര്മാരും ഇ തിരക്കിനെ പറ്റി ഉച്ചക്ക് മുന്പേ സൂചിപ്പിച്ചിരുന്നതായി പറയുന്നു. ഇത്രയും വലിയ ഒരു മന്ത്രി-അധികാരി തല സംഘം സംഭവം നടന്നതിനു ശേഷം അവിടെ എത്തി ചേരാന് കാണിച്ച ഉത്സുകത അതിനു മുന്പ് കാണിച്ചിരുന്നെങ്കില് നൂറില് പരം ജീവന് രക്ഷിക്കാമായിരുന്നു. ആ കൂട്ടക്കുരുതിയില് സംസ്ഥാന ഭരണ കൂടത്തിനും ദേവസ്വത്തിനും ഫോറെസ്റ്റ് അധികാരികള്ക്കും ഒരു പോലെ ഉത്രം (utharam) പറയേണ്ട കടമയുണ്ട്. എന്ത് കൊണ്ട് ഒരു മുന്വിധിയോടെ കാര്യങ്ങള് കണ്ടില്ല? എന്ത് കൊണ്ട് ആ പാത തുറന്നു കൊടുത്തപ്പോള് ഇങ്ങനെ ഒരു പ്രശ്നം കൈകാര്യം ചെയ്യാന് ഉള്ള വഴികള് ആലോചിച്ചില്ല. അവിടെ ലഭ്യമാക്കേണ്ട, ഭക്ഷണം, വെള്ളം, മറ്റു പ്രാഥമിക സൌകര്യങ്ങള് പോകട്ടെ എന്ന് വക്കാം.
ശബരിമലയില് പോലിസിനെ പഴി ചാരാന് ആരും ശ്രമിക്കേണ്ട കാര്യമില്ല. ഇത് മൊത്തമായി അവിടെ ഭരണാധികാരികള് ശബരിമല മണ്ഡല മകര വിളക്ക് കാലത്തെ എത്ര ലാഘവമായി കാണുന്നു എന്നതിന്റെ ഒരു ഉദാത്ത ഉദാഹരണം മാത്രം. നട വരവ് മാത്രം ലക്ഷ്യമാക്കി, ഞങ്ങളുടെ ഭരണം കഴിയാറായി ഇനി ഇതിലൊക്കെ എന്ത് കാര്യം എന്നാ ചിന്തയാണോ ഇതിനു പിന്നിലെ ശുഷ്കാന്തി കുറവിന് കാര്യം?
ഇതൊന്നും കൂടാതെ, ശബരിമല അമ്പലത്തില് സോപാനത്തില് ഒരു സിനിമ നടി കയറി അയ്യപ്പ വിഗ്രഹം തൊട്ടു എന്ന വസ്തുത കേസും കൂട്ടവും ആയി മൂര്ധന്യത്തില് നില്ക്കുന്ന സമയം. ഇന്നലെ സൂര്യ ടീവി തല്സമയ പ്രക്ഷേപണം കണ്ടപ്പോള് തിരുവാഭരണം വരുന്നതിനു അല്പ സമയം മുന്പ് സോപനതിനു അടുത്ത് മൂന്നോ നാലോ സ്ത്രീകള്, അതില് ഒരാള് ഹാന്ഡ് ബാഗും ആയിട്ടാണ് നില്പ്പ് - തൊഴാന് നില്ക്കുന്നത് കണ്ടു. ഒരു മണ്ഡലക്കാലം വൃതം എടുത്തു ഇരുമുടിയോടെ അയ്യപ്പനെ കാണാന് വരുന്ന ഭക്തന് പോലും ലഭിക്കാത്ത സൌഭാഗ്യം. ആ തങ്ക അങ്കി അവര്ക്ക് ശ്രീ കോവിലിനുള്ളിലേക്ക് കടക്കുന്നതിനു മുന്പ് തൊട്ടു തൊഴാന് ഉള്ള ഭാഗ്യം കിട്ടി. എത്ര പുണ്യവതി. എത്ര മനസ്സുകള് ആ കാഴ്ച കണ്ടപ്പോള് ആശിചിരിക്കാം താങ്കളെ പോലെ ഞങ്ങള്ക്കും ആരെങ്കിലും ഉന്നതര് ശുപാര്ശക്ക് ഉണ്ടെങ്കില് എന്ന്. ശബരിമല മറ്റു തീര്ഥാടന കേന്ദ്രങ്ങളില് നിന്ന് വ്യത്യസ്തമാണ്. അവിടെ ചില ചിട്ടകളും ചടങ്ങളും കൃത്യതയോടെ ചെയ്യേണ്ടതുണ്ട്. അതില് വസ്ത്രധാരണ രീതിയും കയ്യില് കരുതെണ്ടുന്ന വസ്തുക്കളും ഉള്പ്പെടുന്നു. ഇരുമുടിയും തോള് സഞ്ചിയും പോയി ഇന്ന് പരിഷ്കരിച്ചു വാനിട്ടി ബാഗും നീട്ടി അഴിച്ചിട്ട മുടിയും ഒക്കെ ആയി ഇപ്പോള് അവസ്ഥ.
എത്ര സുരക്ഷാ വിധികള് ഉണ്ടെങ്കിലും, കണ്ണ് വെട്ടിച്ചു കക്കാന് കയറുന്ന കള്ളനെ പോലെ, അഥവാ, എത്ര സുശക്തമായ പ്രതിരോധം ഉണ്ടെങ്കിലും ഗോള് അടിക്കുന്ന കളിക്കാരനെ പോലെ, അയ്യപ്പ) ഇത്തവണ മണ്ടലക്കാലത്ത് സ്വാമിയും ഒരു ഗോള് അടിച്ചു. അതേവരെ എല്ലാം കൃത്യമായി നടന്നിരുന്ന ഒരു മണ്ഡല കാലം കണ്ണീരില് കുതിര്ന്നു നിമിഷങ്ങള്ക്കകം.
ഇനി വരും കാലം എങ്കിലും അവിടത്തെ ഭക്തര്ക്ക് ജാതി മത വ്യത്യാസം ഇല്ലാതെ, വലിയവന് ചെറിയവന് എന്ന വ്യത്യാസം ഇല്ലാതെ, തത്ത്വമസ്സി എന്ന മഹത് വാക്കിന്റെ പൂര്ണ അര്ഥം ഉള്ക്കൊണ്ടു കൊണ്ട് അവിടത്തെ ദര്ശിക്കാന് ഇട നല്കണേ.
http://www.mathrubhumi.com/story.php?id=139514
In a recent video community journalism report I had clearly mentioned (please refer my video community journalism report in Mathrubhumi online) about the lack of vision for safety by those responsible authorities related to Sabarimala pilgrimage. It is really sad to see an accident of huge magnitude like this happen yesterday. In case of a bus accident, or overcrowded programme venue stampede without proper crowd management facilities in place, the authorities rush and blame those owners as responsible, here the concerned forest and government authorities are to be held responsible for allowing lakhs of devotees to concentrate at Pullumedu and then without even arranging necessary police or authorities assistance for a safe and easy dispersal after the Makara Jyothi.
All concerned, irrespective of Devaswom Board, district authorities, Forest Authorities are equally responsible for this accident to happen.
It would have been a similar story within sannidhanam, if not the police force raised their performance level to the maximum best, irrespective of the extreme hardship and lack of facilities they had to face during this special duty season. We would have definitely witnessed another massacre of this kind at either Sannidhanam or Pampa. They were well controlled.
However, the duty of effectively policing the police remains within the authorities concerned and this area should have been highlighted as a vulnerable zone considering the fact that it was opened for traffic by the authorities. Added to it, the news and reports by all concerned parties before noon time yesterday (14.01.2011) should have alerted the concerned authorities to forewarn the pilgrims of order and discipline required while descending. Extra police force and announcement systems would have temporarily sufficed this sudden concentration of pilgrims. I wish, sincerely wish, if at least 1/4th of the authorities who rushed to the spot thought about such a situation and preventive measures. This includes the honorable Devaswom Minister and Forest Minister and all other concerned authorities, without forgetting the role of Sabarimala Devaswom Board and it’s members role to ensure safety of pilgrims during sabarimala season.
It is sad and hope the authorities learn at least now, to give value to the life of pilgrims rather than concentrating on the revenue generated.
I pray to god for the peace of the departed souls and to give courage to those near and dear ones who lost them.
Link For the video community report:
In my video community report enclosed in this blog post, you may listen to my repeated request to the authorities to act before a danger happens and not after. Unfortunately, it happened despite of several attempts to highlight these dangers to responsible parties through various medium.
http://clicksandwrites.blogspot.com/2010/12/for-benefit-of-those-who-are-visiting.html
Further to this, please also read a letter published online in Mathrubhumi today:
പുല്മേട്ടിലെ സംഭവം - ഒന്ന് ശ്രദ്ധിച്ചിരുന്നെങ്കില് ഒഴിവാക്കാമായിരുന്ന ദുരന്തം
മകര സംക്രമ ദിനത്തില് ശബരിമലയില് നടന്ന ദുരന്തം. ഇത്രയും അധികം ഭക്ത ജനങ്ങള് ശബരിമല മകര വിളക്ക് തൊഴാന് എത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ട് എന്ന് ഉള്ള വിവരം വ്യക്തമായി ധാരണ ഉള്ള അധികാരികള് അതിനു അനുസ്സരിച്ച് ഉള്ള സുരക്ഷാ നടപടികള് മുന്വിധിയോടെ തന്നെ ചെയ്യേണ്ടതായിരുന്നു. പല ന്യൂസ് ചാനലുകളും തല്സമയ പരിപാടികള് പ്രക്ഷേപണം ചെയ്തപ്പോള് നടത്തിയ മുഖാമുഖത്തില് എല്ലാം തന്നെ സംസാരിച്ച അധികാരികള് ഇന്നലത്തെ അഭൂതപൂര്വമായ തിരക്കിനെ പറ്റി സൂചിപ്പിക്കുകയുണ്ടായി. കൂടാതെ പുല്മെട്ടിലൂടെ ഉള്ള പാത ഗതാഗതത്തിനു വേണ്ടി തുറന്നു കൊടുത്ത വനം വകുപ്പ് ജില്ല അധികാരികള്ക്കും ഇക്കാര്യങ്ങള് അറിയാവുന്ന സംഗതിയാണ്. എന്നിട്ടും അവിടെ വേണ്ട അത്യാവശ്യം സുരക്ഷാ ക്രമീകരണങ്ങള് അടിയന്തിരമായി സമാഹരിക്കുന്നതിനോ അവിടെ നിന്ന് ജ്യോതി ദര്ശിച്ചു മടങ്ങുന്ന ഭക്തരുടെ സുരക്ഷാ നടപടികള്, അതായത്, ചിട്ടയായി തിരക്ക് കൂട്ടാതെ ഇറങ്ങാന് ഉള്ള അവസ്സരങ്ങള് ഉടക്കുവാന് ശ്രമിക്കുകയോ ചെയ്തില്ല. കേരള സംസ്ഥാനത്തിന് ഇത്രയും അധികം വരുമാനം ഉണ്ടാക്കി കൊടുക്കുന്ന ഒരു ഉത്സവം നടക്കുന്ന വേളയില്, ദേവസ്വം മന്ത്രിയും ആ സമയത്ത് ശബരിമലയില് അല്ലെങ്കിലും അതിനടുത്ത ജില്ലകളിലോ ഉണ്ടാവാന് ശ്രമിക്കേണ്ട കാര്യം പ്രത്യേകം എടുത്തു പറയേണ്ടി ഇരിക്കുന്നു.
ഡിസംബര് മാസം ആദ്യം ശബരിമല സന്ദര്ശിക്കാന് അവസ്സരം കിട്ടിയപ്പോള് സ്വാമി അയ്യപ്പന് റോഡിന്റെ ദുരവസ്ഥ നേരിട്ട് കാണാന് ഇടയാവുകയും അവിടെ നിന്ന് അപ്പോള് തന്നെ മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയുടെയും ദേവസ്വം മന്ത്രിയുടെയും ഓഫീസ്സുകളില് വിളിച്ചു വിവരം അറിയിക്കുകയും കൂടാതെ മാതൃഭുമി അമൃത ടീവി എന്നി മാധ്യമങ്ങളുടെ സഹകരണത്തോടെ ആ അവസ്ഥ കൂടുതല് വെളിച്ചത്തു കൊണ്ട് വരികയും ചെയ്യാന് ഈയുള്ളവന് ശ്രമിക്കുകയുണ്ടായി. ആ അവസ്സരങ്ങളില് എല്ലാം തന്നെ പറഞ്ഞിരുന്ന കാര്യം ആണ് ഭക്തരുടെ ദര്ശനം കഴിഞ്ഞു തിരക്ക് പിടിച്ചു ഉള്ള ഒട്ടതിനെ പറ്റി. ഇത് എല്ലാവര്ക്കും അറിയാവുന്ന കാര്യവും ആണ്. ഇന്നലെ തന്നെ സന്നിധാനത്തില് പോലീസ്സ് അയ്യപ്പന്മാരുടെ പ്രത്യേക ശുഷ്കാന്തി ഇല്ലായിരുന്നു എങ്കില് ഇതേ സംഭവം അവിടെയും ആവര്ത്തിക്കുമായിരുന്നെനെ.
പുല്മെട്ടിലെ പാതയും മറ്റു സൌകര്യങ്ങളും ഗതാഗതത്തിനു വേണ്ടി തുറന്നു കൊടുത്തു അവിടെ നിന്ന് വാഹനങ്ങളില് നികുതി പിരിച്ച അധികൃതര്ക്ക് വ്യക്തമായി അറിയാവുന്ന കാര്യമാണ് ഇന്നലത്തെ അവിടെ വന്നു ജ്യോതി കാണാന് വേണ്ടി ഉള്ള ഭക്തരുടെ കണക്കു. അത് മറച്ചു വക്കാന് നോക്കിയിട്ട് ഒരു കാര്യവും ഇല്ല. കൂടാതെ വിവിധ ന്യൂസ് ചാനല് നടത്തുന്ന അഭിമുഖത്തില് സ്ഥലവാസികളും ന്യൂസ് റിപ്പോര്ട്ടര്മാരും ഇ തിരക്കിനെ പറ്റി ഉച്ചക്ക് മുന്പേ സൂചിപ്പിച്ചിരുന്നതായി പറയുന്നു. ഇത്രയും വലിയ ഒരു മന്ത്രി-അധികാരി തല സംഘം സംഭവം നടന്നതിനു ശേഷം അവിടെ എത്തി ചേരാന് കാണിച്ച ഉത്സുകത അതിനു മുന്പ് കാണിച്ചിരുന്നെങ്കില് നൂറില് പരം ജീവന് രക്ഷിക്കാമായിരുന്നു. ആ കൂട്ടക്കുരുതിയില് സംസ്ഥാന ഭരണ കൂടത്തിനും ദേവസ്വത്തിനും ഫോറെസ്റ്റ് അധികാരികള്ക്കും ഒരു പോലെ ഉത്രം (utharam) പറയേണ്ട കടമയുണ്ട്. എന്ത് കൊണ്ട് ഒരു മുന്വിധിയോടെ കാര്യങ്ങള് കണ്ടില്ല? എന്ത് കൊണ്ട് ആ പാത തുറന്നു കൊടുത്തപ്പോള് ഇങ്ങനെ ഒരു പ്രശ്നം കൈകാര്യം ചെയ്യാന് ഉള്ള വഴികള് ആലോചിച്ചില്ല. അവിടെ ലഭ്യമാക്കേണ്ട, ഭക്ഷണം, വെള്ളം, മറ്റു പ്രാഥമിക സൌകര്യങ്ങള് പോകട്ടെ എന്ന് വക്കാം.
ശബരിമലയില് പോലിസിനെ പഴി ചാരാന് ആരും ശ്രമിക്കേണ്ട കാര്യമില്ല. ഇത് മൊത്തമായി അവിടെ ഭരണാധികാരികള് ശബരിമല മണ്ഡല മകര വിളക്ക് കാലത്തെ എത്ര ലാഘവമായി കാണുന്നു എന്നതിന്റെ ഒരു ഉദാത്ത ഉദാഹരണം മാത്രം. നട വരവ് മാത്രം ലക്ഷ്യമാക്കി, ഞങ്ങളുടെ ഭരണം കഴിയാറായി ഇനി ഇതിലൊക്കെ എന്ത് കാര്യം എന്നാ ചിന്തയാണോ ഇതിനു പിന്നിലെ ശുഷ്കാന്തി കുറവിന് കാര്യം?
ഇതൊന്നും കൂടാതെ, ശബരിമല അമ്പലത്തില് സോപാനത്തില് ഒരു സിനിമ നടി കയറി അയ്യപ്പ വിഗ്രഹം തൊട്ടു എന്ന വസ്തുത കേസും കൂട്ടവും ആയി മൂര്ധന്യത്തില് നില്ക്കുന്ന സമയം. ഇന്നലെ സൂര്യ ടീവി തല്സമയ പ്രക്ഷേപണം കണ്ടപ്പോള് തിരുവാഭരണം വരുന്നതിനു അല്പ സമയം മുന്പ് സോപനതിനു അടുത്ത് മൂന്നോ നാലോ സ്ത്രീകള്, അതില് ഒരാള് ഹാന്ഡ് ബാഗും ആയിട്ടാണ് നില്പ്പ് - തൊഴാന് നില്ക്കുന്നത് കണ്ടു. ഒരു മണ്ഡലക്കാലം വൃതം എടുത്തു ഇരുമുടിയോടെ അയ്യപ്പനെ കാണാന് വരുന്ന ഭക്തന് പോലും ലഭിക്കാത്ത സൌഭാഗ്യം. ആ തങ്ക അങ്കി അവര്ക്ക് ശ്രീ കോവിലിനുള്ളിലേക്ക് കടക്കുന്നതിനു മുന്പ് തൊട്ടു തൊഴാന് ഉള്ള ഭാഗ്യം കിട്ടി. എത്ര പുണ്യവതി. എത്ര മനസ്സുകള് ആ കാഴ്ച കണ്ടപ്പോള് ആശിചിരിക്കാം താങ്കളെ പോലെ ഞങ്ങള്ക്കും ആരെങ്കിലും ഉന്നതര് ശുപാര്ശക്ക് ഉണ്ടെങ്കില് എന്ന്. ശബരിമല മറ്റു തീര്ഥാടന കേന്ദ്രങ്ങളില് നിന്ന് വ്യത്യസ്തമാണ്. അവിടെ ചില ചിട്ടകളും ചടങ്ങളും കൃത്യതയോടെ ചെയ്യേണ്ടതുണ്ട്. അതില് വസ്ത്രധാരണ രീതിയും കയ്യില് കരുതെണ്ടുന്ന വസ്തുക്കളും ഉള്പ്പെടുന്നു. ഇരുമുടിയും തോള് സഞ്ചിയും പോയി ഇന്ന് പരിഷ്കരിച്ചു വാനിട്ടി ബാഗും നീട്ടി അഴിച്ചിട്ട മുടിയും ഒക്കെ ആയി ഇപ്പോള് അവസ്ഥ.
എത്ര സുരക്ഷാ വിധികള് ഉണ്ടെങ്കിലും, കണ്ണ് വെട്ടിച്ചു കക്കാന് കയറുന്ന കള്ളനെ പോലെ, അഥവാ, എത്ര സുശക്തമായ പ്രതിരോധം ഉണ്ടെങ്കിലും ഗോള് അടിക്കുന്ന കളിക്കാരനെ പോലെ, അയ്യപ്പ) ഇത്തവണ മണ്ടലക്കാലത്ത് സ്വാമിയും ഒരു ഗോള് അടിച്ചു. അതേവരെ എല്ലാം കൃത്യമായി നടന്നിരുന്ന ഒരു മണ്ഡല കാലം കണ്ണീരില് കുതിര്ന്നു നിമിഷങ്ങള്ക്കകം.
ഇനി വരും കാലം എങ്കിലും അവിടത്തെ ഭക്തര്ക്ക് ജാതി മത വ്യത്യാസം ഇല്ലാതെ, വലിയവന് ചെറിയവന് എന്ന വ്യത്യാസം ഇല്ലാതെ, തത്ത്വമസ്സി എന്ന മഹത് വാക്കിന്റെ പൂര്ണ അര്ഥം ഉള്ക്കൊണ്ടു കൊണ്ട് അവിടത്തെ ദര്ശിക്കാന് ഇട നല്കണേ.
http://www.mathrubhumi.com/story.php?id=139514
Short Take - GULF TODAY - Dt. 15.01.2011 - Read and relax
Short Take - GULF TODAY - Dt. 15.01.2011 - Read and relax
DURING my childhood days in my native Kerala, we had very few options to read. Except for the local library run by the Panchayat, we did not have a bookstall or the shops that existed did not sell magazines those days.
The library was thus our main source to read various newspapers in Malayalam and English. It also received some weeklies that were coming from Russia as part of some government aid to improve bilateral relationship between the countries.
Both the newspapers and these news magazines along with the national and regional radio stations carried and conveyed different views of the bigger world outside our small village.
For little ones like me, to complement those available sources of information, whatever printed material coming into home or reachable places were of golden value. It may include even those old newspapers coming along as wrapping paper, or those newspapers and magazines we get when an outstation guest arrives at home.
He might have purchased it for reading during the long train journey from his work place to our village home. These long train journeys helped all to relax and read and blend with the nature and fellow human beings.
As days passed now, the new generation is flooded with options to update their information banks, mainly electronic sources and paperless. As it brought its advantages, it also came along with its own dangers. Children became addicted to more and more e-games and words and letters reduced from their vocabulary. For those who love to read, books are expensive and rare to get making it all the more difficult.
The Fourth Used Book Festival organised in the UAE by Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services is scheduled to be held in Palm Oasis, Buhaira Corniche on March 1- 4, 2011. This event aims at promoting reading among students, give them an opportunity to acquire books for a small fee and enable them to raise funds for the more vulnerable in our community.
Manzil, a voluntary organisation for challenged individuals is taking part in this Book Festival with a view to create more reading opportunities and awareness among children and adults alike. Noble task indeed.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online.
Note:
DURING my childhood days in my native Kerala, we had very few options to read. Except for the local library run by the Panchayat, we did not have a bookstall or the shops that existed did not sell magazines those days.
The library was thus our main source to read various newspapers in Malayalam and English. It also received some weeklies that were coming from Russia as part of some government aid to improve bilateral relationship between the countries.
Both the newspapers and these news magazines along with the national and regional radio stations carried and conveyed different views of the bigger world outside our small village.
For little ones like me, to complement those available sources of information, whatever printed material coming into home or reachable places were of golden value. It may include even those old newspapers coming along as wrapping paper, or those newspapers and magazines we get when an outstation guest arrives at home.
He might have purchased it for reading during the long train journey from his work place to our village home. These long train journeys helped all to relax and read and blend with the nature and fellow human beings.
As days passed now, the new generation is flooded with options to update their information banks, mainly electronic sources and paperless. As it brought its advantages, it also came along with its own dangers. Children became addicted to more and more e-games and words and letters reduced from their vocabulary. For those who love to read, books are expensive and rare to get making it all the more difficult.
The Fourth Used Book Festival organised in the UAE by Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services is scheduled to be held in Palm Oasis, Buhaira Corniche on March 1- 4, 2011. This event aims at promoting reading among students, give them an opportunity to acquire books for a small fee and enable them to raise funds for the more vulnerable in our community.
Manzil, a voluntary organisation for challenged individuals is taking part in this Book Festival with a view to create more reading opportunities and awareness among children and adults alike. Noble task indeed.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online.
Note:
I am happy to inform all my friends and readers that this is my 300th creative work (either a piece of writing, or a click) which is getting published in print, online and visual media. I am thankful to all of you for your continuous encouragement, support and prayers. Keep visiting, reading and invite and introduce your friends and contacts to www.clicksandwrites.blogspot.com
Product Standards Unit needed - My Letters - THE NATIONAL Dt. 14.01.2011
Product standards unit needed
I refer to the front page news article Food reserve to combat rising prices (January 12). The recent surge in consumer prices, in line with related increases in the world market, especially in Asia, calls for the implementation of a consumer standards unit.
This is essential when we look at the shelf price of various products and discounts offered. Over a period of time, prices of items like tea bags, rice and wheat have increased silently. Some companies’ market items like tea bags with discounts compared to similar products distributed by other companies. These products are of inferior quality and thus the need for the grading of consumer products comes in.
A general assumption is that these products repacked here are not higher quality when outsourced from the world market for short-term profit making. Thus these marketing techniques may lead to identifying UAE products as cheaper quality when compared to others imported and marketed directly. A solution would be a UAE standards unit for consumer products sold within the country
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit THE NATIONAL online.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Exploring Abu Dhabi through Clicks and Writes - Forever Green
Monday, January 10, 2011
Manzil - at the 4th Used Book Festival organized in the UAE by Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services
We are delighted to inform you that Manzil is taking part in the Fourth Used Book Festival organized in the UAE by Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services.
This event is meant to promote reading among students, give them an opportunity to acquire books for a small fee and enable them to raise funds for the more vulnerable in our community.
The Festival will take place in Palm Oasis, Buhaira Corniche on 1st – 4th March 2011 from 10:00am to 10:00pm.
Please help the centre make this event successful by volunteering and sending in second-hand books to the centre by 20th February 2011.
(Those interested to donate the books from Abu Dhabi may also send the books to Ramesh Menon, C/o TOTAL ABU DHABI, 13th Floor East Wing, Abu Dhabi Mall)
The books will be re-priced, classified and sold during the Used Book Festival at Manzil stall.
We are counting on your support and thank you in anticipation.
Nooriya Naushad
Staff Coordinator
Ph.9716 5347663
Fax:9716 5347664
Email:nooriya.n@manzil.ae
management@manzil.ae
www.manzil.ae
Twitter page - @friendsofmanzil
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=17418043003
''manzil will provide a highly professional care-giving and learning environment for individuals with special needs to nurture their potential & develop the requisite self-help, social, educational & vocational skills that are required to function in society''
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Short Take - GULF TODAY - Dt. 08.01.2010 - Unpredictable life - a tribute to Levin Madhavan
Short Take - GULF TODAY - Dt. 08.01.2010 - Unpredictable life - a tribute to Levin Madhavan
DURING the later part of the ‘90s, I used to have a good friend here. He was a sound engineer and a good RJ working for a radio station that time. Due to his passion for music and arts, we became good friends.
It happened that due to some wrong relationships and moves in life and due to job loss, he had a disastrous end of residency in UAE and left to India for good.
I lost touch with him. It was after almost seven years, I got a call from him and he talked a lot about his life now and then and in between. He was still in love with Dubai and the life and friends and connections he had and was finding it difficult to overcome his huge losses and betrayals. We continued to keep in touch once in a while since then.
It was in April 2010 first week, he called me last and I promised him, next time when I visit India, I will make it a point to travel via his city and meet him.
Although I visited several times after, due to conflicting and hectic schedule, it never happened. However, I kept on writing him mails and was hoping that he was busy but reading my clicks and writes, as he used to tell me and appreciate them whenever he calls.
He was not a regular on email and his schedules were also not easy to reply and hence I thought he must be extremely busy. Last week suddenly, I received an email from a common friend based in Saudi Arabia, asking me about my friend’s or his family contact details back home. In his letter, he wrote about his demise in the first week of April itself.
It was a shock for me when I checked my diary. I found it was exactly after a day he talked to me. All throughout our friendship, he never asked me anything, but that time, he had asked me to enquire about a recording instrument, which may be obsolete now, but may still be available in Dubai second-hand market.
He told me that time itself it may be difficult to find, and even then I searched for it and never found one such unit and had written to him in one of the emails. My emails continued till I received this shocking news.
We meet people strangely in our life’s journey and some remain with us, some move away. Some even though they move, still remain in many ways in our memories, thoughts and deeds. Levin Madhavan was one such person, who will remain in my thoughts and prayers throughout my life.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online.
DURING the later part of the ‘90s, I used to have a good friend here. He was a sound engineer and a good RJ working for a radio station that time. Due to his passion for music and arts, we became good friends.
It happened that due to some wrong relationships and moves in life and due to job loss, he had a disastrous end of residency in UAE and left to India for good.
I lost touch with him. It was after almost seven years, I got a call from him and he talked a lot about his life now and then and in between. He was still in love with Dubai and the life and friends and connections he had and was finding it difficult to overcome his huge losses and betrayals. We continued to keep in touch once in a while since then.
It was in April 2010 first week, he called me last and I promised him, next time when I visit India, I will make it a point to travel via his city and meet him.
Although I visited several times after, due to conflicting and hectic schedule, it never happened. However, I kept on writing him mails and was hoping that he was busy but reading my clicks and writes, as he used to tell me and appreciate them whenever he calls.
He was not a regular on email and his schedules were also not easy to reply and hence I thought he must be extremely busy. Last week suddenly, I received an email from a common friend based in Saudi Arabia, asking me about my friend’s or his family contact details back home. In his letter, he wrote about his demise in the first week of April itself.
It was a shock for me when I checked my diary. I found it was exactly after a day he talked to me. All throughout our friendship, he never asked me anything, but that time, he had asked me to enquire about a recording instrument, which may be obsolete now, but may still be available in Dubai second-hand market.
He told me that time itself it may be difficult to find, and even then I searched for it and never found one such unit and had written to him in one of the emails. My emails continued till I received this shocking news.
We meet people strangely in our life’s journey and some remain with us, some move away. Some even though they move, still remain in many ways in our memories, thoughts and deeds. Levin Madhavan was one such person, who will remain in my thoughts and prayers throughout my life.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Indian president arrives on first state visit to UAE - My Comments - THE NATIONAL - Dt 22 Nov 2010
My Comments - THE NATIONAL - Dt 22 Nov 2010 - Indian president arrives on first state visit to UAE
Dear Sirs,
To read it in original, please visit THE NATIONAL online.
Dear Sirs,
Yesterday night, I saw a beautiful dream while sleeping. The excitement brought out by the elaborate arrangement being carried out by all to welcome the President of India after 7 years was there in my mind before going to sleep. I was thinking of the various landmark improvements that could come along with this visit that is taking place immediately after India being branded “as a nation that has arrived” amongst the pioneers by the US President. Yes, after a period of recession, India is coming out high in terms of progressive measures as a nation of importance and UAE, confidently emerging with it’s economic and administrative capabilities as a regional leader of significance. The visit is thus significant and I was in a high and my dream evolved. Yes, I was seeing numerous scenarios, as in a movie. First and foremost was the journey from our port of exits to UAE. Air India flying on time and that too on a regular basis at an economical and competitive rate and service standards competing with other airlines of the region. At the lounge I could see numerous politician and government dignitaries on official mission using the services of Air India rather than opting for other airlines. I was surprised first, but then came to know the new reformist and progressive measure by the government (in my dream!). The airline is running on loss anyway and thus instructions to all government representatives to opt for the airline to serve their travel needs have done magic as the airline now fly on time and with quality value. At the exit lounge I could see a computerized desk manned by personnel of the Human Resources Development Ministry taking a simple exit survey of the passengers traveling on work and leisure. They were gathering relevant information, which then were being relayed to the respective Embassy offices to update their residents on board data register in each gulf country. Interestingly, this desk was maintained with utmost efficiency that it was proving more than a help desk to numerous working class people who were exiting the country for jobs they knew or not. They were identifying those who were being taken wrongly and guiding them the right of course of action according to the problem they identified. Well, so far so good, I turned to the other side thinking of what next. And my screen moved to a sprawling university complex, where I could see the IITs and All India Institute of Medical Sciences extending it’s branches to the UAE. I could see both local and resident Indian students competing with each other to imbibe and share the educational expertise of our pioneer institutions at an affordable price, without leaving UAE after school years. On stretching, I could also see schools and universities in India teaching Arabic, Islamic Studies and Arts to know more about them and understand and educate the historic importance they carry to the modern day youth. Trrrnnggg, my alarm bell rang, well my dream interrrupted, and there were many more items to be seen and wished for. Not bad, as an ordinary Indian, without any political or business interest, my movie has been an interesting one, covering some of the basics requirements like economically viable and punctual transportation to and from my home country to my home away from home, increased educational facilities for my children, and safe and secure working environment for me and my fellow Indians and overall welfare of our families back home. I am thankful that I work in the UAE where all my interests are well protected and I look forward to the add-on’s that could materialize from this historic visit by the 12th and first lady president of the Republic of India Her Excellency Prathibha Devisingh Patil to the UAE.
Regards,
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Information - Health + : Magic of VicksVapoRub
Our foot soles can absorb oils and medicaments very easily and spreads it around our body . A very good example can be seen by putting garlic on our feet. Within 20 minutes you can 'taste' it.
Some of us have used Vic’s VapoRub for years for everything from chapped lips to sore toes and many body parts in between. It works 100% of the time, although the scientists who discovered it aren't sure why. To stop night time coughing in a child (or adult as we found out personally), put Vic’s VapoRub generously on the soles of his/your feet, cover with socks, and the heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of relief. It will work 100% of the time and is more effective in children than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition it is extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly.
If you have Children or grandchildren, pass this on. Try it yourself and you will be amazed at how it works.
I am sure there is no harm in trying this remedy.
Source: received by email
Some of us have used Vic’s VapoRub for years for everything from chapped lips to sore toes and many body parts in between. It works 100% of the time, although the scientists who discovered it aren't sure why. To stop night time coughing in a child (or adult as we found out personally), put Vic’s VapoRub generously on the soles of his/your feet, cover with socks, and the heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of relief. It will work 100% of the time and is more effective in children than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition it is extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly.
If you have Children or grandchildren, pass this on. Try it yourself and you will be amazed at how it works.
I am sure there is no harm in trying this remedy.
Source: received by email
Sunday, January 2, 2011
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