Mahi in Haryana State

The outright opinion on the tragic death of a four-year-old  Mahi  in Haryana State in an unprotected borewell  should  serve you as an eye-opener.  It reflects how slack you are  where safety aspects  of human lives matter.  Despite the Supreme Court’s  order in the year 2009 to place safety precautions in the “To Do List” of priorities, the authorities seem to have got it in one ear only to be out the other.  Accidents do happen most of which are preventable if a few fundamentals are strictly followed.  Given the number of accidental deaths in the recent past elsewhere, the cost of dying seems cheaper than cost of living.  Who do you point your finger at to this state of affairs?  The answer is sins of omission, to say the least. 

They are Sherlock Homes indeed.  The members who are investigating the murder cases of T.P. Chandrasekharan and Shukkoor  deserve unreserved  praise for the job they did so conscientiously.  A bouquet  to them is not more than their due.  It’s the divine duty of a lawfully elected government  to protect the life and property of its citizens without fear and favour, be it anybody for that matter.  In this context the Home Minister’s statement that all members involved in the ongoing investigation will be protected  should there be a threat to their life is reassuring.  It truly reflects his firmness  of mind to stick to his guns regardless of the outcome.  A criminal by any other name is a criminal.  They deserve severe punishment fit to the nature of offence they commit.  It would deter others from  repeating  such brutal killings they did just for the sake of political dominance.  You may do it where the law of the jungle is justified.   Democracy means not liberty to violence. 

Such cases of nagging are not uncommon among people who are sometimes unduly concerned about nothing serious.  They borrow worry and make trifle a tragedy.  The doctor who recommended the MRI scan has obviously taken you for a ride just because of your imaginary fears of double vision.  While you became poorer by more than Rs. 10,000  on your nest-egg, the doctor who recommended the MRI scan to his friend lost all his credibility and ethics for the sake of money without a drop of sweat on his brow.

 

Bravo: Well played.

I lack words with which to express my unstinted praise on Sainal Nehwal’s grand victory in the Indonesia Open Series badminton.  She has all the reason to feel ten feet tall to be on the top podium once again.  The national coach P. Gopichand who trained her under strict regimen is arguablly the best mentor behind her success in style.  The credit goes to him to what she is today.  Saina’s successive win revolves around three main factors, namely her single-minded devotion and ruthless determination to excel in badminton and she did show it in all departments admirably well against her stronger opponents.  It’s worthy to be emulated by all sportspersons who are passionate in sports.  With the titanic struggle ahead in Olympics. She will be put into severe test by her opponents.  I am  sure her abilities would  stand her in good stead  to outrun  her ambitions.

 In words of one syllable, I czan say they have themselves to be blamed for the defeat.  They should hold a post-mortem on the party’s poor performance at neyyantikara election.  As is often said, “Garbage in, Garbage out” (GIGO) would give them  a straight answer to the straight question.  It makes no sense to scapegoat other factors  while in fact they have been their own enemy to the present state of affairs.  You run a great risk of life if you are ever to be a turn-coat by the mindless butchers  around .  It was mainly against this backdrop the voters  let the party down.  In this context the message they send out is clear and loud in the wake of recent  murder cases in which they are reportedly been involved.  Perhaps little did they realize it would backfire on the party’s image.  The voters’ verdict  has been a perfect example that good deeds always outweigh evil.  The sooner they realize their  mistake the better to the party and the members as well.   Violent crimes  are to be condemned in the forthright language, no matter  who does.   A party that compromises their principles for the sake of instant gain would llose the high esteem people hold on you.

 Not to put too fine a point on it, I think disruption of Assembly procedures by LDF members to turn it ugly, by no standard, is becoming to the party.  Of course, they are within their rights to protest what they think is wrong.  However, the rebellious temperament in which they behaved in the Assembly is rather shameful.  Apparently they seem to have lost all sense of decorum.  It’s politically incorrect for any party to act like rebels particularly in the Assembly session.  In doing so they have transgressed all the bounds of common decency when their differences could have been thrashed out peacefully.  On the contrary they have made trifle a tragedy.  Is this the way how you should discipline the younger generation, I wonder? The need of the hour is to bring in sobriety by both sides to appease the stormy situation.

The recently concluded Sultan Aslan Shah tournament in Malaysia, a dress rehearsal just before Olympics, is anything to go by, our chances to come on top would take a miracle to make it.  With titanic struggle against giants ahead, coach Michael Nobbs has a few loose ends to tie up.  The team lacks consistency on the evidence of several  competitions  earlier where they showed  pronounced weakness.  Interestingly sometimes they fire on all cylinders and at other times can’t even start the engine.  While other teams are able to convert half chances into goal, we miss even open chances.  The forward line has to show more aggressiveness  to score  field goals rather than penalty cormer hits.  It would sharpen their skill in this area which right now leaves much to be desired.   Skill apart, the coach need to put in more science into the game, a vital ingriendient  of today’s sports.  Above all, be sure you are sending players  only those who are mentally and physically in good shape.  Since Sultan Aslan Shah tourmament has given us a fair foretaste of the strenth and weakness of the team,  the coach has to do his own homework and overhaul the team  so that the players would be battle-fit.   Let’s remember he’s a bad workman who blames his tools.

Many accidents are preventable if anticipatory precautions are put in place.  The recent Hampi Express tragedy in which 25 passengers, many of whom women and children, yet another example to sins of omission by railways.  Since there is no fail-safe mechanism 'a couldn't care less' attitude of the relevant authorities on safety aspects is a regrettable failure on their part.  The probing question that they need to receive their attention is what was the driver's state of mind at the time of accident if it's proved to be a human error.  Sad to say, safety precautions in every sector are zero where human lives are concerned. 

In these days of criminal wave, any moratorium on capital punishment may be a disastrous step at a wrong time.  Admittedly, capital punishment is an uncivilized practice, but given the violent crimes and lawlessness, a moratorium on it is probably like rubbing salt into the wounds.  Any punishment that doesn't fit the crime is mockery of justice.  If a person violates the law, he is to be prosecuted to the fullest limits of the law, and there are absolutely no exceptions.  Of course, there are situations that need commonsense consideration.  In my considered opinion a moratorium on capital punishment at this time of criminal tendency among anti-social elements, it could be catastrophic  proposition

Maoist threat.

Enough is enough.  The time has come to take a hard look at the consistent menace the internal security is being threatened with by Maoists.  They have been a thorn in the flesh ever since they started the hate war against us.  With the latest killing of two security guards and abduction of  District Collector, Paul Menon, we seem to be at the receiving end.  It lends credence they have the upper hand over our security.  How long do you take it lying down? It’s a straight question that needs a straight answer.  In certain situations you may have to resort to various expedients to get things under control.  In view of the latest nightmarish experience you can’t let the Maoists to be on dictating terms any longer.  Let’s remember the pain of a thorn can be removed by a thorn only.

Misplaced hysteria

This refers to “Missile poses threat to China, Pakistan (Apr.20)  In the light of the bitter experience in the past with China and Pakistan, we can’t afford another slip up in our defence preparedness.  With the phenomenal success of Agni-V, apart from a slight delay, there was no other hiccup in the DRDO’s timetable, is really great.  Make no mistake, Agni-V is inducted into our arsenal not with any sinister motive against China or Pakistan.  It’s just to preserve our hard-won freedom from any foreign power, be it China, Pakistan or any other country for that matter.  Nobody can gainsay our right to safeguard that freedom.  Time and again India has made its stand clear that we won’t be the first nation to use nuclear weapons, and we still honour it in all divinity.  Then, what is there for China to get into hysterics?  In the event of unforeseen situations, you need to be in full gear to meet the challenge.  You have to be wise before the event, not after, as the saying goes.  I congratulate the whole team of DRDO in their sustained efforts to make Agni-V a milestone in our forward-looking policies to defend the country at all costs. 

Kudos!

As a hockey fanatic I feel ten feet tall to see Indian hockey up-and-up again.  I congratulate the team who played their heart and soul in the Olympic qualifier.Indeed Michael Nobbs has done full justice to his job as a coach.  He has metamorphosed the team to a bunch of real warriors, to say the least.  A white hope of the team Sandeep Singh has been the crucial pivot of the team whose foolproof drag flick each time made a facile victory in the end.  However, in view of the Olympics ahead where you have to meet giants, it would be suicidal if the team should rest on the laurels.  The players played like a well-oiled machine till the last whistle which reflects on their mental and physical fitness.In my opinion this team has all the makings of a force to be reckoned with if they keep the same momentum.  I am sure we can regain the past glory under a coach like Michael Nobbs. Bravo boys! Well-played!

Each time a bomb blast occurs our intelligence is baffled as if they need to call in Sherlock Holmes to investigate.  Despite a series of bomb blasts and loss of innocent lives, I am sorry to say, we are none the wiser.  You have a lesson or two to learn from the US where the so-called terrorists have turned tail after the 9/11 attack on WTC.  What’s the loud message it sends out?  The honey-moon period is over and time to get cracking.  You have a lot more to be done in terms of a foolproof security system which leaves much to be desired.  Remember, to undo a knot you have to undo a string. 

Madness at its height.

I couldn’t disguise my pain as I read a teacher was stabbed to death by her own student in Chennai in a fit of violent anger. (Refers to Student stabbed teacher to death in Chennai school” (Feb. 10).  It’s the rarest of the rare in my living memory.  Is it not the duty of a teacher to reprimand students who fare badly in their studies?  Who should be blamed for the beastly character of the killer boy?  These are pertinent questions that need to be answered by all parents who wish to have a bright future to their children.  The parents are to be held responsible for their children’s upbringing on a strict religious basis.  Sad to say, this is often given scant regard because of the fast-paced life.  As a result we pay dearly for the mistake that could otherwise have been avoided.  It’s important that we inculcate the virtues of life into their minds in early childhood.  The children need to be taught the right from wrong by their parents, however impracticable it is.  They are duty-bound to do their parental duty.  We have lost a most devotional teacher in a rarest of the rare cruelty that even a mindless butcher would ever do.  I take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family/

 As a hockey fanatic I fully concur  with the chief coach Michael Nobbs’ preferemce to infuse more young blood of promise into the oncoming Olympic qualifier team.  He has shown utmost discrimination in his choice of players that he did after carefull evaluation.  The senior and seasoned players  have to accept his decision in good grace as a good sign that augurs well  for the future of hockey .  Let’s leave the final selection to the coach who is in a better position to choose players of calibre to hold the fort.  It’s important we reach a broad consensus of opinion and  iron out all differences for the good of sports  in the country in general besides being good for the team’s morale.

Preventing of corruption.

The Committee constituted by the Government of Kerala with a view to eradicate corruption augurs well.  I am loud in praise of their noble intention of taking all conceivable measures to root it out.  Corruption is a cancer and it has reached a crescendo to be of a national shame.  Left, right and centre of the country it stinks of utter shame. 

How to eradicate corruption is actually a sixty-four thousand dollar question.  Greed  to get rich quick has become almost a way of life among the people who have no scruples in life.  What is needed to be non-corrupt  is a question of mind over matter.  It’s the wish power that matters most than the will power to stop a force of a habit.  You must realize that money comes through back door isn’t worth the sacrifice of your moral principles. 

Corruption is a two-way trade, a giver and a taker being involved.  Both are promoters of corruption, to say the least.  They are both guilty too  to be punished,of course, with commonsense consideration in certain cases.  The anti-corruption  agency has a major role to play to rid the country of corruption.  They must keep a watchful eye, not to mention the whistleblowers’ part .  They should move around incognito keeping strict vigil where they smell the odour of corruption hangs about.   The punishment must be so drastic to strike a fear among the offenders.  All asssets in his/her possession must be freezed immediately after a case is proved, if not confiscated.  Sometimes you have to seek desperate remedies to desperate diseases. 

Suffocating bureaucracy has been yet another bane  in our system of management.  The sooner it’s a thing of the past is better because it gives rise to corruption  either directly or indirectly.  It’s a sad state of affairs if you have to grease one’s palm to get things moving.

The law must be given more teeth to curb crime.

We have superabundant laws but none to help reduce crime.  A law that cannot be strictly enforced does not serve its purpose, and  is considered as an utter flop.  This is exactly what happens today where the law and order of our country is concerned.  What is the use of a gun without bullets to shoot?  It’s in the strict enforcement of the law that counts for the desired result.  Sad to say, it’s not so as you look at the alarming rate of crimes in the country.  To make matters worse hardly a day goes without an untoward incident such as strikes, hartal, protest marches, bomb blasts, you name it, we have it to disrupt otherwise a peaceful and calm atmosphere.  I am not questioning their rights anyway, but is causing a great deal of inconvenience to the public.  Does democracy preach indiscipline?  To cut the long story short it’s all because of the emasculated laws that we have today.  As I said earlier all protests , be it genuine or otherwise,  must be peaceful to reflect respect to law and order.  Disorderly conduct blackens the image of a civilized country like ours.  The law enforcement agencies must wake up to reality and act according to the need of the hour.   A blind approach to blindness prevention does more harm than good/ 

Let’s have a look at the other misdeeds that are plagued by the country.  Corruption running riot has put us into stinking shame.  I sometimes wonder where the country is coming to.  Suffocating bureaucracy to some extent is one of the reasons to low-level corruption.  The sooner we get things moved fast the better to do away with low-level corruption. 

In this context it’s pertinent to quote an experience I had with a young Japanese guy whom I met him casually.  He was coming back very late in the evening after his day’s work from duty.  I asked him why he works so late and how your employer rewards you for it.  He said “I am working six hours for my country and two hours for my daily bread.  Anything extra is my contribution to my beloved nation to which I expect nothing.”  I was really taken aback by his spirit of patriotism.  The Koreans are also no different either. What a contrast in the attitudes of ours and theirs, I thought, myself.  Yet again where is our law to stop riding without crash helmets and vehicle seat belts.  Many obey as many as not.  Hard-core criminals sentenced to death are kept in showcases indefinitely for no obvious reason.  Hard as I cudgeled my brains I cannot find an answer.  Any ;aw that can only bark but cannot bite, for all practical purposes, is an insult to law and order. 

Game that two can play.

This refers to “Vigilance files FIR in land case, VS among accused” (Jan.14).  Once a leading figure in the (CPI-M) and presently Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan has been going through a bad patch with alleged land deal bypassing normal procedures.  Put two and two together the opposition Leader has a hand in it either directly or otherwise.  Why must he volunteer himself to resign if he has a genuine case to prove his innocence?  Does he think someone has trapped him into it out of malice?  If so, he is within his rights to seek justice that no sane person would deny rather than taking a hasty step to resign.  In fact he has played a game that two can play.

In this context what Pinarayi Vijayan has said that some of the members in the State Cabinet were facing similar cases has no logical connection between the two.  Two blacks do not make a white.

It’s indeed a piece of good news that we are on the highway to eradicate polio completely.  Once numerically high on record, no new cases for a year gives a feeling of optimism to the future generation.  Despite having slews of problems now being faced, the Ministry of health has done a magnificent job that  once thought to be a wild dream.  The deserve rich praise to their untiring efforts to save humanity from the crippling desease.  Their devotion to duty is exemplarary.  Congrats!

So, near and, yet so far.

Yet another big let-down to Saina Nehwal in the Korea Super Series badminton in Seoul.  As a star of great talent and ambition she has stamped her mark in badminton.  Her improved performance each time she reaches the final augurs well.  It gives credit to her coach, Gopi Chand.  However, she often fails to reach  the top rung of the badminton ladder is something that the coach needs to cudgel  his brain.  Would it be a jinx that fails her to win  the title. I wonder?

Saina needs to re-double her mental and physical strength to be well-matched  against the Chinese and Koreans  who  are always seen ruthlessly determined to  win , no matter how strong their opponent  is.  After all, they are not invincible, Prakash having been an  example.  The coach under whom Sainal being trained  is quite experienced to find out what is Saina’s Achilles’ heel and where.   In view of the next Olympics  around the corner,  her coach has a tough job in hand.  It’s 99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration that make a person successful in life. 

The outright opinion on the tragic death of afour-year-old  Mahi  in Haryana State in an unprotected borewell  should serve you as an eye-opener.  Itreflects how slack you are  where safetyaspects  of human lives matter.  Despite the Supreme Court’s  order in the year 2009 to place safety precautionsin the “To Do List” of priorities, the authorities seem to have got it in oneear only to be out the other.  Accidentsdo happen most of which are preventable if a few fundamentals are strictlyfollowed.  Given the number of accidentaldeaths in the recent past elsewhere, the cost of dying seems cheaper than costof living.  Who do you point your fingerat to this state of affairs?  The answeris sins of omission, to say the least. 

Never in all my born days have I heard such a disgraceful corruption scandal as the one that the country is presently being experienced.  The ongoing tirade by social activist Anna Hazarae against corruption is not without reason.  He has put up a well-reasoned case before the government.  There seems to be a lot of bad blood between him and the government on this account.  If what has been revealed about corruption, both high and low level, is anything to go by, you should agree with the substance of what Anna Hazare says.  Corruption is spreading like epidemic without restraint. Anna Hazare’s crusade against it is therefore is timely.  However, his stubbornly refuse to find an amicable solution with the government is rather disappointing.  Instead he is consistently holding a pistol to the head to bring the government to his knees.  He must realize in certain situations flexibility works like magic. 

In the first place it takes your character and scrupulous honesty that makes one non-corrupt.  In my considered opinion it’s the suffocating bureaucracy that exists today in all departments has been one of our banes in wiping out corruption.  The sooner you do away with it the better.  Practically a hassle-free business is within the rights of every citizen.  Sad to say, things go otherwise.  To get things done quickly you have to short-circuit the normal procedures often lubricating the palms, the first breeding ground of corruption.  Free from corruption is a question of your character and a mind over matter.  Strange as this may sound, it’s a fact.  What is needed is a complete transformation of your attitude towards corruption.  It sounds fine in theory, but will it work?  It may just be your figment of imagination that Lok Pal bill would be a sure remedy in itself to rid the country of corruption. 

No doubt corruption is reached epidemic proportions notably high level reaching at its crescendo.  The crusade against it by Anna Hazare is therefore fully justifiable.  However his rashness to expedite the Lokpal Bill passed amounts to sign a form without reading the contents.  Let not his feelings get the upperhand.  The Prime Minister is answerable to the nation.  He needs time to do all the homework before the Bill is being passed.  Corruption can’t be eradicated overnight as it’s one’s character that makes a person clean.  The Lokpal bill may end the war against corruption, but not the battle.  It’s question of mind over matter.

 The killer instinct to score field goals is pathetically absent  as open chances  are often go to waste.  Trailing behind till the dying seconds how Belgium bounced back reflects what determination could help in a hopeless situation.  Admittedly, Belgians are physically and mentally more resilient as they have  amply displayed it.  The never say die spirit with which they won the trophy, sad to say, we lack.

The fire that caught the inpatients and other members of staff unawares of AMRI hospitals in Kolkata is probably the worst in recent memory.  This refers to “89 die in Kolkata hospital fire” (Dec.10).  The saying that “fire is a good servant, but an evil master” couldn’t have come to mind at a better time than this.  I was completely numbed by the shocking news that the people trapped in finally surrendered to the cruel fate.  If you have tears, this is the time to shed it.

While the cause of fire is still unclear, it’s nothing less than gross negligence to take precautionary measures against possible accidents.  Most accidents are avoidable if caution is not thrown to the winds.  Why should anyone be a victim to someone’s sins of omission?  They deserve punishment that fits the crime, no matter what.