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Oh God

ദൈവമേ

നീ കേള്ക്കുന്നുണ്ടോ...?

ചിരിക്കാതെ പറയൂ ദൈവമേ

നീയെന്നെ കാണുന്നുണ്ടോ..?

അല്ലേ...യ് നീ എന്താ ഒന്നും മിണ്ടാത്തെ

പാവങ്ങളെന്തെങ്കിലും ചോദിച്ചാപ്പിന്നെ

നിനക്ക് പണ്ടേ ചെവിയും, വായും, മൂക്കുമൊന്നുമില്ലല്ലോ

( ചുമ്മാതല്ല കമ്മ്യൂണിസ്റ്റുകളുണ്ടാകുന്നത്)

എനിക്കു നിന്നോട് ചിലത് ചോദിക്കാനുണ്ട്

നീയെന്തിനാ ഡോണിനെപ്പോലെ മുടിവളർത്തുന്നെ...?

സജിയെപ്പോലെ ആലോചിച്ചോണ്ടിരിക്കുന്നെ...?

ക്രിസ്സിനെപ്പോലെ പേരുമാറ്റിക്കളിക്കുന്നെ...?

അനീഷിനെപ്പോലെ മീശവയ്ക്കാത്തെ...?

അനിലയെപ്പോലെ കവിതയെഴുതുന്നെ..?

കാ‍ർത്തിക്കിനെപ്പോലെ കണ്ണട വയ്ക്കുന്നെ..?

ദീനുവിനെപ്പോലെ തമാശപറയുന്നെ..?

ശരത്തിനെപ്പോലെ ഭക്ഷണം കഴിക്കുന്നെ...

അനൂപിനെപ്പോലെ ശ്വാസം പിടിക്കുന്നെ....?

രതീഷ് മോനെപ്പോലെ മലയാളം പറയുന്നെ..?

അർച്ചനെയെപ്പോലെ വാർത്ത വായിക്കുന്നെ...?

ആശയെപ്പോലെ അത്ഭുതപ്പെടുന്നെ...?

ദിവ്യയെപ്പോലെ ദിവാസ്വപ്നം കാണുന്നെ...?

ദീപൂനെപ്പോലെ തർക്കിക്കുന്നെ...?

അന്ഞുവിനെപ്പോലെ വരാതിരിക്കുന്നെ...?

റോബിനെപ്പോലെ ഫോട്ടോയെടുക്കുന്നെ....?

പറ.... പറ..... പറ.....

അതുശരി അവരൊക്കെ പത്രക്കാരായതുകൊണ്ടെന്നോ..

അവരെപ്പോലെ നടന്നാലെ മാറ്ക്കറ്റുള്ളൂന്നോ

പിന്നെന്താ പ്രസ്സ് ക്ലബിലോട്ട് വരാത്തെ

ങേ... ആ ചെകുത്താന് ഹരീഷിനെ പേടിച്ചിട്ടെന്നോ...?

ഒന്നു പോയെന്ടെ ദൈവമേ..

പരീക്ഷയടുത്തപ്പോ‍ള് അവന് മുട്ടിപ്പായി പ്രാറ്ത്ഥിക്കുന്നത്

ഞങ്ങള്കേട്ടല്ലോ....?

ithanu mone degree,nine kondoke pattumo?

Equality before security

Uproar has been created in the country over the issue of our dear former President APJ Abdul Kalam being frisked by the security staff of a foreign airline company at Delhi. At first my blood boiled too thinking of the arrogance of these stupid foreigners who don’t know how to behave to Indian people, disrespecting our leaders. Our dear Kalamji did not make any fuss at all as expected, being the good man he is, and refused to involve in any controversies.

But, on second thought, is there any wrong done here?

The government has issued a circular to airline companies stating who should be exempted from security checks. The list includes the President and former presidents along with the vice-presidents, the Prime Minister and all ministers and ministers of state; governors, chief ministers and deputy chief ministers of all states and union territories; Supreme Court justices and high court chief justices; cabinet secretary and chiefs of staff of the armed forces; and all members of the Sonia Gandhi family.

The Sonia Gandhi family?

Priyanka Gandhi – I can understand. She is our future Prime Minister, no doubt. And a very beautiful lady. But her husband Robert Vadhera too? I like Priyanka very much. She is very beautiful, almost just like her grandmother. As a patriotic Indian I wouldn’t let a foreigner security guard lay one hand on her. (By the way, did I mention how beautiful she is?) But her husband? I don’t know if he should be in the list.

Anyway the fact is both India and the US are facing severe terrorist threats. The US has succeeded in preventing further attacks after 9/11. But we in India have repeatedly failed in it. We had Kandahar, then again the Parliament attack, and then again still the more terrifying Bombay attack.

Are we giving undue respect to top politicians and bureaucrats? I think the answer is YES. President or Prime minister, Judge or army commander – if the common man has to suffer something, then they have to suffer it too. Whether it be security checks or standing in queues or waiting for the traffic signal.

Yes, I understand the security threat and Z category protection and all. But it is upto the leaders of this country to realize that the laws that they make and use to rule have to apply to everyone equally, including themselves.

If it is a matter of security to the nation – then there has to be no exceptions

Annie Mascrene 'n Me, birds of a feather :-)

Disclaimer: All info written below has been on the light of what was seen on the Internet - so any wrong info if found, err is the responsibility of the world wide web! Not mine!

A classroom.

Teacher: So you are around Vazhuthacaud?

Me: yes Sir

Teacher: Have you seen Annie Mascrene square

Me: Beg your pardon Sir?

Teacher: Annie Mascrene. Don't you know her?

Me: Err

Teacher: When you go home today look for this board and tell me if you saw it

Sure enough, I saw it. I may add here, I walk across it many times a day.

Next day.

Teacher: You saw it?

Me: Sir yes Sir (gleaming)

Teacher: So who is she?

Me: Sir?

Teacher: Who is Annie Mascrene?

Me: Err

Teacher: Find out

My teacher wasnt sure if I'd find reliable info on the internet. So I dont know if what I read is true. But let me try to write about this lady whose picture has been hanging around in my neighbourhood for a while.

She was born way back in 1902. It is always important to know what time one lived in.

She was unmarried – it is not insignificant! It is always important to establish a personal connection.

Now these 2 factors probably wouldnt let her have a square in her name.

So -

She was a freedom fighter. Well actually so am I – I fight for mine, she fought for India.

She was a rebel – dont you love these personal connections – so am I!

Well she fought Sir CP and his ruling – she n her pals wanted a responsible govt on place. I am fighting parental ruling – I want an irresponsible govt on my house!

She has been arrested a number of times for her speeches against govt. Am yet to have this happen to me – and when I do, err I dont think it will have anything to do with speeches.

She was a fighter not a lover. So am I!

She studied lots – MA in History and Economics, Law later – heck she was a lawyer! And her women prison mates called her Vakeelamma (err lawyer-mom?). Mmm my pals call me, err, they call me Ma too (suffixed by an 'ndi').

This lady has been crucial when Mr Pattom Thanu Pillai formed the Travancore state congress (story behind the formation is, some bloody ban on the constitutional reforms or something dissolved the state wing of Indian National Congress – so the new party. No questions.)

And Mr CP was not happy about this new party you see. They wanted him to end his Dewan rule and give it up for a responsible govt. “No way” he decided and went out of his way to get the party snubbed at bud.

Anyway it didnt get snubbed so Annie and the others went on and on. Till one day somebody decided enough of CP and tried to kill him. CP didnt die but he was hurt and decided enough is enough. So he quit and left Travancore.

But that was nothing compared to what Annie went through. She had herself arrested numero infinite, she had everything in her house stolen, her siblings transferred, insulted, and ridiculed in jail and the story goes on.

But this lady was one tough lady – another personal connection here again!! So am I! Ok maybe I dont look it. But its all in the mind. We tough ladies are that way, we dont show off our toughness, right Annie? Yea.

Anyway coming back to Annie. She was elected to the state legislative assembly, she has been a health minister with the state govt (Travancore-Cochin I think) once. And in 1950, she split ways with Congress but still managed to beat all her fellow contestants and go to LS. Smart girl, aint she? (So am I again! This is unbelievable! We should have been twins!)

But gradually Annie slowed down – bad health you see. And the poor dear left this world in 1963. Aged 61 – that is young! But that is the price we toughies may have to pay.

Anyway I dont know if teacher wanted this kind of info, but hey I was finding myself a kindred soul here, how can I not ponder over it. I like her. I should know more.

But for now, hail Annie Mascrene, I salute you Ma'am!

Why don’t people hear me?

Scene of creation: A classroom (again!). Dated: 8 July '09

Why don’t people hear me?

Is it because I talk too soft
Or do they not understand me?

Is it because I am insignificant
That my words don’t seem to matter?

Is it just that I’m invisible-
An illusion that did not exist?

Am I just another piece of creation
That my mind cooked up?

Maybe I am just that
An imagined piece of reality
Conjured up by a thoughtless mind
That was never really there

Glad to see everyone is toeing the line

I read the posts in this blog regarding CPI(M) issues and Lavalin. And glad to see everything is as expected.

Journalists, veteran or novices, are expected to portray Vijayan (PinarayiVijayan ) as corrupted because that is the norm. As far as i have heard more than the reports that have come in the papers or channels, our teachers including, say that Vijayan is actually innocent. But the fashion is to say that he is corrupted.

Otherwise it means that we are part of a communist conspiracy. Half the people doesn't even know the facts of the real case. But it is fashionable to say that this man is corrupted. So everyone - toe the line - tries to be fashionable by saying that Pinarayi is corrupted; but stay way from real debates because then you may not have anything true to say.

So if you are a 'true' journalist read Mathrubhumi and Manorama and believe them. For me. i will take a risk and not believe them. Even if 99% of the media people say so, i don't care. I will make my own inferences after finding out the facts. I am not a dog. And i don't need to believe the false truths.

So all the trainee journalists who read Manorama and watch India Vision and think that is the real world, i don't argue. But just please keep your eyes open.

One evening in press club

The time is 5:30 pm. I am walking towards Press Club. I see PKR Sir coming. He says: “How is it going? How come you are breaking practice?”
“Sir?”
“You have come on time for class”
“Oh hehe”

I walk into the building wondering how bad I must have been smelling with all that sweat. I enter the library. I see classmates, friends. I give them some cutlets I got on the way. We share it, laugh at something. Then someone says it is Saraswathy Madam’s class today. Oh-oh where are the papers I ask aloud. I grab one and start reading. Someone has written that Prakash Karat would treat a patient with cancer by giving a band-aid. I start to laugh aloud, realize my classmates are not there anymore. Oh-oh late again?

I dash up the stairs: that was indeed practice unbroken: a privilege only the latecomers get to enjoy. The classroom. Whew, the teacher is not there yet. We start talking. The usual topics come up: unimportant everyday affairs, nonsensical ideas, really bad jokes, and more really bad jokes. I get out for water. The tap misbehaves – starts pouring out water after I close it. I give out a scream seeing the water hit the floor. It went ‘Uhhh ehhhh uhhh ehhh’ – the scream not the water. The teacher comes exactly at that point. She smiles. I smile. I enter the class. I try frantically to find the ceiling fan regulator (now there maybe some who say I am obsessed with electric switches, but I deny it!). It is unfortunately behind the door. And exactly when I find it, the teacher opens the door. “Bam” (or do you say boom? What’s the crashing sound these days?)

Class starts. Feature writing. Teacher is quoting an example: about the different kind of fevers these days. Chicken flu, pig flu, tomato flu (she says in Malayalam: koli pani, panni pani, thakaali pani). Each time I hear her say “thakaali pani” (tomato flu) I laugh aloud. I believe she uses it to rhyme with the others and there is in fact no such fever. It had to be a joke and I look at her face appreciatively: what a sense of humour. Why is no one else laughing though? By the fifth time I start wondering. My friend explains: “Tomato fever is real. It is when you get red bumps on your body.”

Class is over. We walk out. It is only 7 yet. For a few minutes we hang around the entrance steps talking aloud cause we seem to believe that those steps were created with only one purpose: to stand on and shout.
Waving goodbyes, friend and I decide to walk. We walk one full lap to come back to press club – the familiar roads, shops that call out to you “You don’t want an unniyappam today?”, the fading twilight, the glowing streetlights, the night that gets ready to barge into the day, the familiar breeze that hits you – all the rest of it that you have taken for granted over time. It is part of your life now, this is how evenings were spent for a year now.

Not for long. This is the last month of classes. And then we have exams. After next month, it would all stop: a walk in that street, a gathering in the entrance, an idle chat with the teachers, a chair in the class to sit with people you knew so well, and a casual rush up the stairs like it was your very own place…
Do memories work as good as living the moment? Maybe it will. Lets hope so.

ഹോട്ട് ഡോഗ് അഥവാ ചൂടു പട്ടി !

ന്യൂയോര്‍ക്കില്‍ നടന്ന മത്സരത്തില്‍ ഒരാള്‍ 68 പട്ടികളെ തിന്നു ലോക റെക്കോര്‍ഡ്‌ ഇട്ടത്രേ. ദേശാഭിമാനി വാര്‍ത്താ. അതും ഒന്നാം പേജില്‍ . ഉപ്പുമാവിനു സാള്‍ട്ട് മാംഗോ ട്രീ എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞ ശ്രീനിവാസന്‍ കഥാപാത്രം പോലെ ഹോട്ട് ഡോഗിന്റെ മലയാളം ചൂടുള്ള പട്ടി എന്ന് മാറ്റുന്ന പത്ര പ്രവര്‍ത്തകര്‍ ഇപ്പോഴും ഉണ്ടോ. ഈ വാര്ത്താപത്രത്തിന്റെ ചീഫ് എഡിറ്റര്‍ ഉം എഡിറ്റര്‍ ഉം കണ്ടില്ലേ? ലാവലിനും പിണറായിയും അച്യുതാനന്ന്ദനും കഴിഞ്ഞട്ടല്ലേ അവര്‍ക്ക്‌ ഇതിനൊക്കെ സമയം കാണൂ. അതോ അവര്‍ കൂടി അറിഞ്ഞിട്ട്ടു അമേരിക്കക്ക് എതിരെയുള്ള ഒരു വാര്‍ത്ത ആയി ഇട്ടതാണോ?

കൂട്ടക്കൊലയാളി അവതരിപ്പിക്കുന്ന ജനപ്രിയബജറ്റ്.

ആസൂത്രണ കമ്മീഷന്‍ ഡെപ്യൂട്ടി ചെയര്‍മാന്‍ മോണ്ടെക് സിങ് അലുവാലിയയ്ക്കു പകരം മനോരമ പ്രസിദ്ധീകരിച്ചതു് കൂട്ടക്കൊലയാളിയായമൊഹീന്ദർ സിങ് പാന്ധറിന്റെ പടം!

The photo in the attached file is of Moninder Singh Pandher (the criminal behind the Noida serial murder) & not Montec Singh Aluwaliya, the Deputy Planning commission Chairman) A lot of errors can be traced in all newspapers, if you are really want to do it.

mistakes may happen everywhere. But the willingness to correct it is the most important thing.

v.s fell on agroof,a blinking doll hereafter

After a marathon discussions ,the cpi(m) polit bureau decided to demote com: v.s.achuthanandan to central committee.however he will continue as the head of the cabinet.The chief minister's stand on snc lavalin issue opened the door for his expulsion from polit bureau.

As a precautionary measure the party has given strict instructions preventing any type of protest.public took out protest,shouting slogans in various parts of thrissur and palakkad districts against the PB's decision. mr .oomen chandy leader of opposition said that the cpim is protecting the corrupted leaders.The state administration has come to a stand still as most of the ministers engrossed in the activities at the party state secretariat seem to have forgotten their duty to the public and the state,he added.

"The marxist party has lost its integrity as far as the anti-corruption outlook is concerned" said union overseas minister vayalar ravi. Former cpm leader K.R.Gouri opined that the party will leave no stones unturn once they have decided to destroy someone. M.V.Raghavan ,the former minister of co-operation expressed his pity as the degradation of qualities in the CPI(M).

വര്‍ഗവന്ജകരെ നിങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് ഇത് താക്കീത്‌ ,

"സി.പി.എമ്മിനെ അറിയുന്നവക്ക് എന്താവും തീരുമാനം എന്നതില്‍ മാധ്യമങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് ഉണ്ടായതുപോലെ ഒരു ഉത്കണ്ടയും ഇല്ലായിരുന്നു". കാരണം കെ.ആര്‍.ഗൗരിയും,എം.വി.രാഘവനും,അപ്പുക്കുട്ടന്‍ വള്ളികുന്നും, അബ്ദുള്ള കുട്ടിയും , സോമനാഥ് ചട്ടെര്‍ജിയും എല്ലാം അവര്‍ക്ക് പരിചിതരാണ്.

കേരളത്തിലെ സംഘടനാ പ്രശ്നങ്ങള്‍ ചര്‍ച്ച ചെയ്യാന്‍ ചേര്‍ന്ന നിര്‍ണായക കേന്ദ്ര കമ്മിറ്റി യോഗം വി.എസ്.അച്യുതാനന്ദനെ പോളിറ്റ്‌ ബ്യൂറോയില്‍ നിന്ന് ഒഴിവാക്കാനും അതെ സമയം മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയായി തുടരാന്‍ അനുവതിച്ചുകൊണ്ടുമുള്ള പി.ബി. നിര്‍ദേശം അംഗീകരിച്ചു .ലാവ്‌ലിന്‍ കേസില്‍ പാര്‍ട്ടി നിലപാടിനെതിരെ സ്വന്തമായി നിലപാടെടുത്ത വി.എസ്. അച്ചടക്ക ലംഘനമാണ് കാട്ടിയതെന്ന് പാര്‍ട്ടി വിലയിരുത്തുന്നു. അച്ചടക്കത്തിന്റെ കാര്യത്തില്‍ ഒരു വിട്ടുവീഴ്ചക്കും തയ്യാറല്ലെന്ന് സി.പി.എം. വീണ്ടും തെളിയിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു.

"ചോദ്യം ചെയ്താല്‍ പടിക്ക് പുറത്ത്‌", ഇത് ഒരു ഓണ്‍ലൈന്‍ മാധ്യമത്തില്‍ വന്ന തലക്കെട്ടാണ്. അവര്‍ ആദ്യം പടിക്കെണ്ടിയിരുന്നത് എന്താണ് സി.പി. എം. എന്നും അതിന്റെ ചരിത്രവുമാണ്.പാര്‍ട്ടിയും ജനങ്ങളും രണ്ടാണ് എന്ന തരത്തിലാണ് പല മാധ്യമങ്ങളും പ്രധാനമായും ചര്‍ച്ച ചെയ്യുന്നത്.ഇത് തെറ്റാണ്‌. പാര്‍ട്ടിയും ജനങ്ങളും രണ്ടല്ല.

ഇതോടെ പാര്‍ട്ടിയിലെ വിഭാഗീയത പൂര്‍ണമായും പരിഹരിക്കാനാകുമോ എന്നതാണ് മറ്റൊരു വിഷയം. ശക്തമായ ഒരു പ്രസ്ഥാനം ആകുബോള്‍ ,സങ്കീര്നമായ വിഷയങ്ങള്‍ ഉരിതിരിയുമ്പോള്‍,അഭിപ്രായ വൈരുധ്യങ്ങള്‍ ഏതൊരു രാഷ്ട്രിയ പാര്‍ട്ടിയിലും ഉണ്ടാവും അത് സ്വാഭാവികം.

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Nedumudi Venu

With children

Believe me - I am just an ordinary guy

I am a guy with long hair. I have been growing it for almost 2 years now. Do you know why I started it? For absolutely no reason! One fine day I just thought I am no longer going to cut it. That’s all.

What followed has been horrible. Jesus! All the accusations I had to bear. All the torturous questions. Comments. Ridiculing. Suspicions.

Mothers of friends no longer let me into their homes. Hell! Even my own mother refuses to let me in.

People classify me according to their own likes – artist, musician, poet, budhijeevi (jada), criminal, drug addict, womanizer and what not.

People! People! I am sorry to disappoint you, but I am just an ordinary guy. An ordinary, boring guy.

Long-haired guys have been too much stereotyped and victimized. So next time you see a long-haired guy, please please, don’t admire, suspect, or turn your back on him right away.

He might just happen to be an ordinary guy like you.

[With all respect to Sasibhusan sir :-)]

Gays and Lesbians Are Human Too!!

“When two men lie together in lust, it is over indulgence. But when two men lie together in purity, they can perform wonders.” – Aristotle

The verdict by the Delhi High Court legalizing gay marriages is late by atleast half a century. Homosexuals have a right to live as any other human beings. That their sexual orientation is not ‘straight’ doesn’t mean they are criminals or sick. Just like any other couple, gay or lesbian couples base their relation not on sex, but on love. And love is never a crime. We have to recognize that this verdict doesn’t legalize child molestation and will not lead an increase in the number of sexual predators or pedophiles.We can also sincerely hope that such verdicts will help to bring the plight of sexual minorities (transsexuals) into the limelight and help them integrate into the mainstream society.

And most importantly this verdict is a slap in the face for the so-called custodians of the ‘great Indian culture’, whose sense of pseudo-morality and hypocrisy leads them to attack anyone who doesn’t conform to their code of behavior. Any man or woman who is of legal age can decide who he/she wants to love or marry. This is a great victory

for everyone who believes in the individual freedom of human beings,

for everyone who believes that our country must not be governed by pre –colonial era laws, and

for everyone who believes in true love, that transcends gender, colour, caste or religion.

This is a great victory for our country.