കേഴുക ഭാരതമേ

മനുഷ്യനെ മറ്റു ജീവികളിൽ നിന്നും വിഭിന്നമാക്കുന്നത് മനസാക്ഷി, വിവേകം, വിവേചന ബുദ്ധി എന്നിവയൊക്കെയാണെന്നാണല്ലോ പൊതുവെയുള്ള വിശ്വാസം. പക്ഷെ ഈ വിശ്വാസം അപ്പാടെ തെറ്റാണെന്നാണ് ഭാരതത്തിൽ ഇപ്പോൾ നടന്നുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കുന്ന സംഭവങ്ങൾ അടിവരയിട്ടു പറയുന്നത്. സാംസ്കാരികമായ അധ:പതനത്തിന്റെ ഉത്തുംഗ ശൃംഗത്തിൽ മനുഷ്യൻ എത്തിച്ചേർന്നിരിക്കുന്നു. ദൃഷ്‌ടാന്തങ്ങൾ എണ്ണമറ്റവയായതു കൊണ്ട് ഇവിടെ അവ നിരത്തുന്നത് അതിസാഹസമായിരിക്കും.

നിഷ്കളങ്കതയുടെ പര്യായമായ ഒരു കൊച്ചുകുട്ടിക്കു ജമ്മു കാശ്മീരിൽ നേരിട്ട അനുഭവം ഭാരതത്തിനെന്നല്ല ലോകത്തിനാകെ അപമാനമാണ്.  ഇതൊന്നും അത്ര കാര്യമാക്കേണ്ടതില്ല, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഇവയൊന്നും  അസാധാരണമായ കാര്യങ്ങളല്ല  എന്ന നിലപാടെടുക്കുന്നവർ കൂടി വരുന്നത് ഭയാനകമായ ഒരു കാര്യമാണ്. ഈ സമീപനം   ഇതിനൊക്കെ മൗനാനുവാദം നൽകുന്നതിന് തുല്യവും തികച്ചും ആപൽക്കരവുമാണ്. 

മനസാക്ഷി ലവലേശമില്ലാത്ത, അതിരുകളില്ലാത്ത, കണ്ണിൽ ചോരയില്ലാത്ത, മൃഗങ്ങളെപ്പോലും കരയിപ്പിക്കുന്ന ക്രൂരതയുടെയും, ചതിയുടെയും വഞ്ചനയുടെയും  ദയാരാഹിത്യത്തിന്റെയും പര്യായമായി മനുഷ്യത്വം എന്ന പദം  മാറിയോ അതോ മനുഷ്യത്വം എന്നത് നിരർത്ഥകമായ ഒരു പദമായി മാറിയോ എന്നു മാത്രമേ സംശയമുള്ളൂ.

ഇതിന്റെയെല്ലാം ഉത്തരവാദിത്വം രാഷ്ട്രീയത്തിന്റെയും മതത്തിന്റെയും തലയിൽ കെട്ടിവച്ചിട്ടു മാറിനിന്നു ചിരിക്കുന്ന കശ്മലന്മാരെ നിലയ്ക്കുനിർത്താൻ കെല്പില്ലാതെ നിയമവ്യവസ്ഥ കേഴുന്നു. ഈശ്വരസന്നിധിയിൽ വച്ചു പോലും ക്രൂര കൃത്യങ്ങൾ  നടത്തുന്ന നരാധമന്മാർ രക്ഷപ്പെടുന്നു. അവരെ സംരക്ഷിക്കാൻ നിരവധി കശ്മലന്മാരൊത്തുകൂടുന്നു.

എല്ലാത്തിനും ഉപരിയായി നാം കരുതിയിരുന്ന മനസാക്ഷി മനുഷ്യകുലത്തോട് വിടപറഞ്ഞു കഴിഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നു. മനുഷ്യൻ എന്ന ജീവി പരിണാമത്തിലൂടെ മറ്റൊരു ജീവിയായി മാറിക്കൊണ്ടിരിക്കുകയാണോ എന്ന സംശയവും ബാക്കി നിൽക്കുന്നു. ഡാർവിന്റെ പരിണാമസിദ്ധാന്തം അങ്ങനെയൊരു സാധ്യത  നിഷേധിക്കുന്നില്ലല്ലോ.  കേഴുക ഭാരതമേ.

An Enormous Task

Humanity is at the cross roads. The way ahead is rather confusing and confronting. Giant leaps in technology, upsurge in material comforts, distortion in priorities, erosion of values, perverted ethics, deteriorations in human relations and supremacy of money power over everything else are just a few of the contributory factors.

Degeneration of human character is at the core of the issue. Here, character encompasses many things. It is the sum total of one’s outlook, orientation, priorities, approach, values, level of tolerance, equanimity, treatment of fellow beings, beliefs and the like. The only source of solace and hope for humanity is people with character, people with a kind heart and tolerance, people who hold on to ethics and values, who do not consider money power to be everything else. Though this may perhaps sound to be an anachronistic viewpoint to some, it is an indisputable and plain fact.

Talking about India, the solution to the problem lies in nothing but our education system. Unless education starts giving a strong impetus on inculcating values among the youth, in equipping them to understand things in the correct perspective, the nation has little to hope. A total revamping of the education system is what the country needs. The curricula of studies should be drastically re-structured.  Ethics and values should get the same place and importance in the curriculum as science, technology, economics, history or political science from the elementary school level itself. Ethics and values should become a paramount criterion in assessing an individual’s personality as well as suitability for any vocation.

The constitution of a nine-member panel headed by the renowned space scientist K Kasturirangan with experts and educationists from wide-ranging backgrounds as the panel members, by the HRD Ministry, Government of India a few months back to frame a new National Education Policy (NEP), is a step in the right direction. Without any bias, it can be said that this is one of the most important initiatives taken by the present Government at the centre, which however has not received the required media highlighting. Needless to mention that the task of this committee is enormous and phenomenal, given the gravity and complexity of the matter and inasmuch as it is expected to trigger a cultural transformation and is a question of rebuilding the character of the future Indians, of the future India. That says it.

Rays of Hope

In a democracy like India, the citizens pin much hopes on the country’s legal system, because when power corrupts the leaders, it is only the legal system and the judiciary which can assume the saviour’s role. For the legal system and judiciary to command respect, it should be able to send strong signals that it is capable of safeguarding the interests of the people, when democratic system is abused by leaders. The efficiency of the legal system and judiciary is judged more on this capability than on any other factor. It is widely accepted that delivery of justice along with a strong message that justice has actually been delivered is one of the core elements of jurisprudence.

The maxims enshrined in the Constitution of India that all are equal before law and that no one should be discriminated against on any grounds are undoubtedly among the most important doctrines and perhaps the basic spirit of the nation’s paramount statute book. The series of verdicts of the Special CBI Court, Ranchi in connection with the fodder scam cases are to be seen from this perspective. The verdicts serve to reinforce the faith and trust of the people of India in the country’s legal system and judiciary.

Financial Discipline

The banks in India, particularly many of the nationalized banks are hit by a multitude of ailments like ever mounting bad debts (known as NPAs), bottlenecks in fresh capital infusion, tardy credit growth, fast declining profitability bordering on or already wriggling in losses. The main causative factor for the mess is nothing but bad debts. It is common knowledge that the lion’s share of bad debts is the contribution of big corporate houses, resultant of willful defaults, and frauds committed by the borrowers with the connivance of some intermediate beneficiaries.

The large scale default of big loans by business houses and so called high profile persons and ‘tycoons’ (an aberration which can be called ‘tycoonism’) and the limitations or the inability of the legal system in recovering the amount from the defaulters have sent a wave of delinquency across the banking and financial sector prompting even earlier regularly repaying borrowers to default on their repayments, thereby aggravating the situation on the bad debts front. This tendency has to be arrested at all cost for the survival of banks. For this, the Government should act in such a manner as to send strong messages that loan defaulters will not be left scot free and that no borrower would get a preferential treatment on account of any consideration, whatsoever.

The basic element of financial discipline is repayment disciple. This applies equally to individuals and firms. Once repayment discipline of a community / nation is lost, the resultant perils would be disastrous. Let this does not happen in India. Let us hope the State would take pro-active steps.

Electoral Prudence

We have been hearing a few stock rhetorics from our political parties every time when a general election to the parliament is round the corner. With 2019 general elections not far from us, we have started to hear the same thing again now. The magniloquence which has started catching up includes the usual stock words or phrases like ‘Grand Alliance’, ‘Third Front’ (no pun intended), ‘common minimum programme’, ‘like-minded parties’, ‘reinstatement of democracy’, and so on and so forth. A hotchpotch of about two dozen political outfits with conflicting and mutually antagonistic interests (not ideologies) is now thinking of coming together and fighting the elections.

We have a few previous instances where we have already seen that after somehow managing to manoeuvre a majority through an alliance of convenience, such groups of political outfits including some misfits are not able to run a government even for a little more than half of its full term. No naive person would ever believe that such a group will be able to provide a stable government with a concrete plan and consensus policies. Every right thinking citizen in the country would earnestly believe and hope that only a party or alliance which can provide a stable government lasting its full term would be suitable for India. By handing over power to a hotchpotch alliance, the electorate is only knowingly becoming party to the premature death of a government and inviting an uncalled for mid-term election which is a highly expensive proposition. This is a matter which the electorate should seriously ponder.

As responsible voters we should not miss out on the larger picture - the politics of nation building. Coming together is good; but ideas and ideologies have to converge to a common ground, i.e. building a great nation, a super power that is India. Nation building should be kept above everything else. The electorate has a great responsibility in building up the nation. They are not gaining anything out of petty politics. They should learn from their past mistakes.

The electorate should definitely ponder over this ignoring all political considerations. There begins the building up of a nation which brings pride for all Indians irrespective of politics.

Before Long

Banks are the place where the country’s scarce economic resources which include the hard earned, honestly earned money of common man are parked on the strength of the perceived safety and security of the banking edifice. What has been happening in the country for the last two decades is that a small group of individuals, who are dignified looters, robbers and thieves in the guise of business tycoons are eating away the scarce economic resources parked in banks by availing colossal amounts of loans, taking to a flamboyant life, building up an empire, willfully defaulting the loan repayment and then playing the disappearing game. About 80% of the bad loans of Indian banks are the contribution of this small minority who are only a few thousands in number. And this is all being done with the connivance of certain other greedy, ruthless sections of the society, who, again, are only a minority. About the looting of national wealth by the political community, the less said, the better.

Thus what we have been witnessing for a quite long period is nothing but a massive exploitation of the country’s wealth by a minority through the above modus operandi. This is the basic reason for the social and economic imbalances witnessed.  And, the hazards faced by the economy by the cold-blooded acts of the above minority are made good by the State by passing on the burden to the common man through higher taxation and consistently pushing up the cost of living, without any worthwhile increase in income.

This gross distortion in the economy is one of the most important things to be set right for setting up an egalitarian and truly democratic society. This has to happen before long. It is bound to happen before long.

The Fugitive Businessmen

The Rs.12600 crore PNB scam allegedly committed by the fugitive billionaire jeweler Nirav and his associates with the alleged connivance of bank officials, auditors etc. is being subjected to a multi agency investigation with SFIO, ED and CBI engrossed in the investigation. In the case of the elusive business ‘tycoon’ Vijay Mallya, the British courts, ED and CBI are occupied with his financial crimes. In all probability, bringing the real culprits to justice would take a very long time, going by the complexity of the financial frauds and the ‘profile’ and connections of the accused.

In this context, one is reminded of the case of Harshad Mehta and his associates who siphoned off whopping funds from inter-bank transactions and bought shares heavily at a premium across many segments, triggering an astronomical rise in the BSE Sensex in 1992. When the scheme was exposed, banks started demanding their money back, causing the collapse. He was later charged with 72 criminal offences, and more than 600 civil action suits were filed against him. Unlike Vijay Mallya and Nirav,  Harshad Mehta did not take to fleeing the country. Still the litigation took about one decade before the Supreme Court confirmed Bombay High Court’s judgement convicting Mehta and sentencing him to five years rigorous imprisonment. However, by that time Mehta had attained ‘salvation’ in 2001, though his death happened while in criminal custody.

എന്താണ് ആധുനികത?

ഇന്ന് ചുറ്റും നടക്കുന്ന പല സംഭവങ്ങളും കാണുമ്പോൾ ആർക്കും സ്വാഭാവികമായി തോന്നാവുന്ന ഒരു കാര്യമുണ്ട് - പുരാതന മനുഷ്യനും ആധുനിക മനുഷ്യനും തമ്മിൽ എന്താണ് വ്യത്യാസം?

ആധുനിക മനുഷ്യൻ വിദ്യാഭ്യാസപരമായും സാംസ്കാരികമായും  വളരെ മുന്നിലാണെന്ന് സ്വയം അവകാശപ്പെടുന്നുണ്ട്. പക്ഷെ കൊല്ലും കൊലയും നടത്തുന്ന കാര്യത്തിൽ, ക്രൂരതയുടെ കാര്യത്തിൽ, മനുഷ്യത്വമില്ലായ്മയുടെ കാര്യത്തിൽ പുരാതന മനുഷ്യനേക്കാൾ എത്രയോ മുന്നിലെത്തി നിൽക്കുന്നു ഇന്നത്തെ ആധുനിക മനുഷ്യൻ. അതെ സമയം  ധാർമികയുടെ കാര്യത്തിൽ, സഹജീവി സ്നേഹത്തിന്റെ കാര്യത്തിൽ, ദീനാനുകമ്പയുടെ കാര്യത്തിൽ, സഹിഷ്ണുതയുടെ കാര്യത്തിൽ , സമഭാവനയുടെ കാര്യത്തിൽ  ആധുനിക മനുഷ്യൻ എത്ര മാത്രം പിന്നിലേക്കു പോയിരിക്കുന്നു.

അങ്ങനെ വരുമ്പോൾ, സാംസ്കാരികമായി പുരാതനമനുഷ്യൻ എത്രയോ മുമ്പിലായിരുന്നു എന്ന് കാണാം. അപ്പോൾ എന്താണ് ആധുനിക മനുഷ്യന്റെ ഈ സ്വയം വിലയിരുത്തലിന്റെ മാനദണ്ഡം? വിദ്യാഭ്യാസം കൊണ്ട് ആധുനിക മനുഷ്യൻ എന്ത് നേടി?

The Intermediary Beneficiaries

The whole nation is discussing the unending reports coming out day in and day out on the spine-chilling financial frauds perpetrated by a band of so-called ‘business magnates’. There is absolutely no doubt that the ultimate beneficiaries of all these frauds are a few heinous racketeers in the guise of business tycoons. But no one is so naive as to believe that these ruthless criminals have committed all the irregularities on their own without the support or involvement or connivance or knowledge or silent consent of some other unsocial elements. Strong are the possibilities of the involvement of unholy middlemen in the guise of political bigwigs, brokers etc. apart from the already established role of bank officials of various cadres and professionals like auditors.

The nation has a legitimate right to know who the intermediary beneficiaries of the multi-crore scams are, as it is the tax payers’ money which is swindled by the law-breakers and it is again the tax-payers’ money which will be used also to clear up the consequent financial mess through several discreet and uncanny strategies. The full details of all the intermediary beneficiaries quantifying the amounts of gratification should be published irrespective of how ‘big’ or powerful or influential they are. This might be possible only after an exhaustive investigation using all arms of the country’s legal machinery. But there will be no justification for prolonging the investigation, which should be completed in a time bound manner.

For a Prosperous India

This is in the light of the Oxfam survey report which was released very recently. The liberalization policies India has been following for the last about two-and-a-half decades have certainly increased the wealth generation in the country. However, as India’s economy grew rapidly, the inequality between the richest and the poorest rose. There is no doubt that lives of people have changed for better because of liberalisation but the promise of poverty eradication still remains to be fulfilled. The gains have thrown new concerns of exclusion which needs to be addressed. The rise and rise of a small pool of India’s super rich population has worsened this divide, the ultra-wealthy alone, comprising 1% of the country’s population. In the last few decades, the rich in India have been getting richer and the poor have been getting poorer. According to Oxfam survey report, the richest 1% cornered 73% of wealth generated in India in 2017 and the rich-poor divide is widening. It is a pity that 67 crore Indians comprising the population’s poorest half saw their wealth rise by just 1% in the last year.

The Oxfam report underlines the imperative necessity of the Government revisiting the liberalization philosophy by re-orienting the focus towards more equitable distribution of wealth in the society, having prosperity for all in place of prosperity for only a fortunate few, encouragement of labour-intensive sectors that will create more jobs, more social welfare and protection measures, rationalization and streamlining of various of pension schemes, extending pension benefits to the deprived sections,  investing in agriculture, bringing more discipline in the financial sector, mercilessly dealing with cornering of wealth through illegal and unlawful means, incentivising honest sections of tax payers etc.

Cultural Transformation

The only source of solace and hope for humanity is people with kindness and tolerance, people who hold on to ethics and values. Sadly their tribe is on the way to extinction due to the predominance of lopsided values and perverted ethics.

Unless education starts giving a strong impetus on inculcating values among the youth, humanity has little to hope. Ethics and values should get the same place and importance in the curriculum as science, technology, economics, history etc. from the elementary school level itself. Ethics and values should become a paramount criterion in assessing an individual’s personality as well as suitability for any vocation.  The country should have a National Education Policy revamping the existing obnoxious education pattern. This will trigger a cultural transformation and results would start manifesting in a span of about twenty years.

നിശ്ചയം

കലികാലമേ എന്നു നീ പോയ് മറയും
കഥയിതെന്നൊന്നു മാറിവരും
ഇനിയേതു കാലം വന്നണയും
ഇവിടത്തെ ഇരുളെന്നു മാഞ്ഞു പോകും

മൂല്യങ്ങൾക്കൊന്നും മൂല്യമില്ലാതായി
മുഖംമൂടിയണിഞ്ഞവരേറെയായി
ബുദ്ധിതന്നളവുകോൽ കൗശലമായി
ബന്ധങ്ങൾ മുഴുവനും നിർബ്ബലമായി

സത്യവും ധർമവും സ്നേഹവുമെല്ലാം
അർത്ഥമില്ലാത്ത പദങ്ങളായ് മാറി
അർത്ഥമതൊന്നിനേ  അർത്ഥമുള്ളൂ
അല്ലാത്തതെല്ലാം മിഥ്യയായ് മാറി

എന്തെന്തു ഹീനമാം മാർഗ്ഗത്തിലൂടെയും
എന്തും നേടണമതൊന്നെ നിൻ ലക്‌ഷ്യം
എന്താണു നീയിതറിയാതെ പോകുന്നു
എന്താണു ലോകനീതിതൻ പൊരുളെന്ന്‌

കൗശലക്കാരേ കൊടും വഞ്ചകന്മാരേ
മാപ്പില്ല മാപ്പില്ല നിങ്ങൾക്കൊരിക്കലും
നരകത്തേക്കാളുമധമാം ദുർഘടം 
നിങ്ങൾക്കു കാലമൊരുക്കിടും നിശ്ചയം

(എൻ.വി.ജി.)

Credibility of Indian Banks

The fact that though the genesis of the PNB fraud dates back to 2011, it surfaced only after a long span of eight years, is a strong indicator of the ineffectiveness of the plethora of surveillance and due diligence mechanisms prevalent in the bank. During this period, the bank was subjected to several audits including those conducted by external agencies, statutory auditors, bank’s in-house inspection officials and RBI. Further, the accredited rating agency CRISL had allotted AAA and AA ratings on PNB’s debt instruments. All these processes are supposed to or meant to objectively assess the financial health of a bank and are very costly exercises. Still they did not serve the purpose for which they are instituted. All these things cast serious suspicions in the minds of people. When a scam of such a magnitude remains under the carpet for such a long time, it takes a heavy toll on the bank. Massive loan write-offs and provisioning for NPAs have compounded the situation.

The PNB scam has dragged a few other banks also into its whirlpool. The terms ’system failure’ and ‘software deficiency’ are used only as a veil to cover the facts and human negligence and connivance. The greed of all those who are involved in the fiasco motivated them to siphon off public funds, as can be seen from the admission of the booked bank officials that they have accepted bribes to flout rules. The blame has to be put not on the systems or on the software but squarely on the people. It is rightly said that the main ingredient in operational risk is the human risk, which also includes connivance of staff in perpetrating frauds.

The facts behind the PNB scam so far unearthed also indicate that scams of different magnitudes could have occurred in more banks as things stand. If every scam has a ‘gestation period’ like the PNB scam, the banking industry will have to pay a heavy price before long.

It is only in the interests of the country, the economy and the people that all banks are subjected to a rigorous, high level, exhaustive special audit / inspection covering a fairly long period, conducted jointly by RBI and strong audit houses. The modus operandi of the PNB scam could facilitate framing of rigorous guidelines and checklists for such an audit/inspection. This is imperative for reinforcing the credibility of Indian banks. The banking industry should be safeguarded at all costs.

സാഷ്ടാംഗ പ്രണാമം

ആഴിയുടെ അഗാധതയും
ആകാശത്തിന്റെ അപാരതയും
സൗരയൂഥത്തിന്റെ വൈവിധ്യവും
കാട്ടരുവിയുടെ തെളിമയും
പിച്ചിപ്പൂവിന്റെ നൈർമല്യവും
മുല്ലപ്പൂവിന്റെ സുഗന്ധവും
തുമ്പപ്പൂവിന്റെ എളിമയും
മഞ്ഞിന്റെ കുളിർമയും
മധുവിന്റെ മാധുര്യവും
ഇളനീരിന്റെ രുചിയും
ഇളംകാറ്റിന്റെ തഴുകലും
എല്ലാം ഒത്തുചേർന്ന
ഒന്ന് മാത്രമേയുള്ളൂ,
അതാണെന്റെ മലയാള ഭാഷ.
നമിക്കുന്നു സാഷ്ടാംഗം ഞാനീ
സർവാഭരണ വിഭൂഷിതയെ.

Bad Loans

It is learnt that the word ‘technical write-off’ which has been accepted by Indian banking is not used anywhere in the world. We don’t consider ‘technical write-off’ as write-off. Though technical write-off of bad loans is resorted to with the objective of cleansing the balance sheet and not with the objective of altogether giving up the recovery measures, it is a highly non-transparent system and without any uniform policy as admitted even by RBI officials. There’s plenty of room for wrong-doing in the guise of technical write-off. Another aspect is that technical write-off is resorted to more in the case of high ticket loans and very less in the case of small loans and small borrowers are more

There is another side of the picture. As known to all, huge provisioning for NPAs and write-offs have been eating into the vitals of  banks, seriously impacting their profitability, reserves, NOF, CAR etc. And all these are periodically ‘made good’ by the Government through ‘infusion of fresh capital’. Wherefrom does the money come for all this? The answer is : by consistently and irrationally increasing the charges for various banking services, by bringing more and more services under the fees network, by increasing various taxes, by introducing new taxes etc. And who will bear brunt? The answer is : the hapless common man. As of now, every activity inside banks (except breathing by the customers) is charged. And on the other side, many sections of willful defaulters of loan are left scot free. These are all hard core facts.

There should primarily be a fool proof system to subject the technically written off assets to scrutiny jointly by RBI officials and established audit firms. Further, it is high time that RBI started periodically publishing bank-wise data of NPAs along with technically written off NPAs, recovered portion of technically written-off NPAs and also the list of top NPAs.  And, there should be no laxity in resorting to all possible recovery measures against willful defaulters irrespective of their money power or political clout or any factor for that matter.

We find the NPA problem every five or ten years. When the economy is doing well, it will be under the surface and when the economy is not doing well, it will come up. It was there in mid-80s and then it came in 2000s and again in 2008-09 and then in 2016-17, thanks to Mallyas and the like and more and more banks nose-diving into loss. Nevertheless, NPA remains to be a subject more talked about and debated upon rather than acted upon and tackled.

Paradise on Earth

Shy flowers of all hues

Shining with dew drops;

Cool breeze caressing

The leaves to delight;

Birds chirping melodies

That are truly ecstatic;

Oh Munnar, God's abode,

Are you paradise on earth?

PNB Scam

With PNB detecting a whopping Rs.11,400 crore scam through the issue of fraudulent letters of undertaking (LOUs), India has witnessed a massive financial scam after a gap. Coming as it is in a time when Indian banking is riding on the wings of advanced technology and when robust systems are believed to have been put in place in the banking system, the scam has a potential danger inasmuch as it is posing serious questions on the safety of banks. History has taught us that cracks on the credibility of banking system have the potential to strike at the roots of the economy. The country has the right to know how such a scam has been perpetrated and PNB should bring to book the real culprits. There should be no laxity in fixing the staff involvement and staff lapse, if any, in this massive financial fraud.

Time

With no start or end flows a stream

That’s the enigma knows as time.

Many say ‘I don’t have time’

When they are sailing on time.

None knows where it’s coming from;

And where it’s heading to;

And what it will unfold;

And what gifts it has for us;

And what miseries it has for us;

And when it will hurt;

And when it will heal;

And when it will bring joy;

And when it will bring sorrow;

And where it will take us to.

Some think it’s an illusion,

None knows its intention.

And incessantly flows that stream

That’s the enigma known as time.

So is the world

There is no single political leader in India who is showing the minimum required maturity of not making personal verbal attacks on adversaries and even past leaders. It is felt that when issues are weak or when the defence is weak, person oriented attacks gain supremacy. Then follows a war of words. But this is not something unique to India but happening across countries. Hillary Clinton vs Donald Trump war of words stooping to cheap personal verbal attacks during the 2017 presidential election and the latter's early days of presidency is not an old thing to have faded into oblivion. Maybe, hoping to have political leaders who shows maturity in public speech is too much in the contemporary world.

Menace of Bad Debts

Every one knows that the biggest problem which the Indian economy faces now is the ever rising Non Performing Assets or bad debts of banks. According to official data, about 80% of the bad debts is the contribution of the big corporates in the country. While no effective measures are instituted for recovery of the corporate sector NPAs, all the  governments at the centre till now have been following the unpardonable strategy of passing on the financial burden created by bad debts to the common man in various forms. No government at the centre till now is an exception to this shabby strategy. No government has so far shown the guts to publicise the names of the big corporates which have been eating away the vitals of the country by generating bad loans incessantly.

The Union Budget 2018 has belied the expectations of the people on the NPA front, even though it has attempted to strike a balance between the farm and non farm sectors and has not resorted to undue populism normally expected in pre-election budgets

വിളക്ക്

കനിവിന്നുറവ വറ്റുന്ന ലോകമേ 

നന്മയാം വിളക്കു തൻ തിരികളെല്ലാം

ഊതിക്കെടുത്തി നീയെന്തെല്ലാം നേടിടും  

ഊഴിയിലന്ധകാരമോ നിനക്ക് പഥ്യം 

നിന്നുടെ പ്രയാണത്തിന്നൂർജമേകേണ്ട-

തെന്നെന്നും കാരുണ്യകിരണങ്ങളല്ലേ

കാരുണ്യക്കുളിർകാറ്റുയരേണ്ടതെന്നും

മാനവഹൃത്തിൽ നിന്നാണെന്നതോർക്കുക

സഹജീവി സ്നേഹത്തിന്നഭാവമെന്നും

അഹമെന്നഭാവത്തിൻ മറുവശമല്ലോ

തെല്ലൊന്നു നിനച്ചു നീ മുന്നോട്ടു പോകൂ

അല്ലെങ്കിലിതന്ത്യത്തിനാരംഭമായിടും

രഞ്ജിനി വിഷ്ണുപ്രിയമാരേ നോക്കിടൂ

അജ്ഞാത ശക്തിയെ കാണുകയവരിൽ

അവരെ മാതൃകയാക്കിയാൽ ജ്വലിക്കും

ആയിരം വർഷങ്ങൾ നന്മതൻ ദീപം

(എൻ.വി.ജി.)

അനധികൃതമായും കയ്യേറ്റം നടത്തിയും അഴിമതിനടത്തിയും കള്ളക്കണക്കുകൾ കാണിച്ചും ജുഗുപ്സാവഹമായ ഇടപാടുകൾ വഴിയും നികുതി വെട്ടിച്ചും സ്വത്തു സമ്പാദിച്ചവർ ആരായാലും അതെല്ലാം തിരികെ പിടിച്ച് പൊതുഖജനാവിലേക്കു മുതൽകൂട്ടാനുതകുന്ന നിയമവ്യവസ്ഥ  കൊണ്ട് മാത്രമേ എന്തെങ്കിലും നേട്ടം രാജ്യത്തിനുണ്ടാകുകയുള്ളു. അത് വരെ ഇതെല്ലാം ഇങ്ങനെ തന്നെ തുടരുക തന്നെ ചെയ്യും. അതേ സമയം പരിശ്രമത്തിലൂടെയും സത്യസന്ധതയിലൂടെയുമുണ്ടാക്കുന്ന നേട്ടങ്ങളെയും അതുണ്ടാക്കുന്നവരെയും  അകമഴിഞ്ഞ് പ്രോത്സാഹിപ്പിക്കുകയും വേണം.

Fuel Prices and Cost of Living

The inflation figures periodically released by the Central Statistical Office under the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation are so distant from the real situation prevailing on the price front that they do not deserve any serious debate. It is a fact that the inflation data conceal more than what they reveal.

Triggered by the consistent hike in fuel prices, the prices of almost every commodity are consistently on the increase, making life itself an economically unviable proposition for the vast majority. There is an alarming mismatch between the increase in the cost of living and the income levels of the vast majority of people. All sections except those who get high salaries and perks or hefty pension or have some other regular sources of high income, or a thriving business or professional practice, are feeling the brunt of the skyrocketing prices and cost of living. The sections whose only source of income is interest on their investments, particularly bank deposits, has been drastically affected with the interest rates continuing to nosedive.

Nevertheless, there is no state intervention to ease the situation on the price front. The movement of fuel prices in India is not at all in tandem with the global crude oil prices. The fuel prices are moving upwards with a feverish pace to hit the stars and affecting the price of almost all commodities. Deregulated fuel pricing has only aggravated the situation.

It is high time that the central government initiated some meaningful steps to take the reins of the price rise in general and fuel price rise in particular for making common man’s life less miserable.

സമരത്തെരുവ്

കേരള സെക്രെട്ടറിയേറ്റിന്റെ മുൻപിൽ വിവിധ ആവശ്യങ്ങൾക്കായി പലതരം സമരമുറകളിലേർപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നവരുടെ എണ്ണം രണ്ടക്കത്തിലെത്തി നിൽക്കുന്നു. ഏതാണ്ട് ഏഴു തലസ്ഥാന നഗരങ്ങളിൽ ജോലി നോക്കി ലഭിച്ച അനുഭവം വച്ചു പറയുകയാണെങ്കിൽ, ഇത് പോലെ വേറെ എങ്ങും കണ്ടിട്ടില്ല. മറ്റു സംസ്ഥാനങ്ങളിൽ കാര്യങ്ങൾ എല്ലാം ഭദ്രമാണെന്നും അവിടെ ഒന്നിനെക്കുറിച്ചും ആർക്കും ഒരു പരാതികളും ഇല്ലെന്നാണോ ഇതുകൊണ്ടു മനസ്സിലാക്കേണ്ടത്? കേരളത്തിൽ സാക്ഷരത കൂടിപ്പോയതുകൊണ്ടാവുമോ ഇങ്ങനെ? ആർക്ക് ഉത്തരം പറയാനാവും ഈ ചോദ്യങ്ങൾക്ക്? കോഴിക്കോടുള്ള മിഠായി തെരുവ് പോലെ തിരുവനന്തപുരത്തെ സെക്രെട്ടറിയേറ്റിന്റെ മുൻപിലുള്ള റോഡിനു കാലക്രമേണ 'പ്രൊട്ടസ്റ്റെർസ് & സ്‌ട്രൈക്കേഴ്‌സ് സ്ട്രീറ്റ്'  എന്നോ 'സമരത്തെരുവ്' എന്നോ മറ്റോ പേര് വീഴുമോ?

Facts, Not Comments

Deregulation of petrol and fuel prices which is in vogue in India has been only pinching the hapless citizens of the country as can be seen from the ever rising fuel prices defying any rational explanation in the prevailing crude oil prices scenario. But the other side of the picture is that there are some great beneficiaries also. They are the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).

In India there are 3 big OMCs in the public sector – IOCL, HPCL and BPCL and a host of private sector players.  In addition to pure marketing, these companies also refine and market oil that they buy from upstream oil exploration and production companies including from ONGC, Oil India, Reliance Industries etc. Their purchase price is directly related to international crude price. Thus lower prices are actually positive for oil marketing companies. OMC revenues will improve if oil price continues to fall as this results in reduction in the purchase price of crude oil, improved refining margins and improved marketing margins.

Have a look at the top-heavy structures of the three big 3 public sector OMCs with astronomical numbers of topmost executives.

IOCL has 82 EDs and133 CGMs! It registered a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs.20385 crores in FY 2016-17 with 64% increase over previous FY.

HPCL has 28 EDs and 59 CGMs! It showed a PAT of Rs.6209 crores in FY 2016-17 with 67% over previous fiscal.

BPCL has 27 EDs and 57 CGMs! It registered a PAT of Rs.8039 crores in FY 2016-17 with 14% increase over previous fiscal.

Not surprisingly, the staff cost of all these OMCs is colossal, consuming a sizeable portion of their expenses, since the pay, perquisites and post-retirement benefits of their executives, officers and employees are phenomenally exorbitant and go on increasing.  The fact is that OMCs are reaping huge profits, giving whopping returns to the Government and giving the best financial support, comforts, luxury and security to their employees, all at the cost of the poor citizens.

To say the least, deregulation of fuel prices was a decision which is far from rational. The nation looks forward to its reversal by the Government at the earliest, taking into account the miseries of the common man.

The Power of Black Money and Corruption

Black money and corruption are like twin brothers or twin sisters. And both are always hand in hand. The history of independent India eloquently illustrates that all the initiatives taken by a few of the various Governments at the centre so far to tackle the menace of the twin most dangerous issues, viz; black money and corruption in varying degrees have been thwarted by the concerted efforts of a powerful lobby comprising of various ruthless sections of the society which are all hands in glove. The strategy of this abysmally unholy but unlimitedly powerful lobby in defeating such well-intended measures has been to feign their blessings to those measures outwardly but doing everything possible to sabotage them by stooping to any level.

There is no denying the fact that these lobbies are behind most of the problems faced by the country. Their power is enormous. Their share in the nation’s resources is unimaginable. They are financial power houses. They would see to it that when a Government does something to tackle corruption or black money, a situation is created which prompts the Government to divert its focus from the well-intended measures and change the priorities. The might of the right thinking citizens is trivial compared to this cold blooded lobby. This explains the reason for the lackluster impact of many of the well intended reforms to cleanse the economy of the above mentioned twin devils.

പ്രതീക്ഷ

നീതി വൈകലിനും നീതി നിഷേധത്തിനും എതിരെ സമാധാനപരമായി പ്രതികരിക്കുകയും നീതി ഉറപ്പാക്കുന്ന കോടതി വിധികളെയും  തീരുമാനങ്ങളെയും സന്തോഷപൂർവം സ്വാഗതം ചെയ്യുകയും ചെയ്യുന്ന പുതിയ തലമുറ ഒരു നല്ല സൂചനയായി തോന്നുന്നു. പല സമകാലിക സംഭവങ്ങളും (ചിലതെല്ലാം ഒഴിച്ച്) ഇതിനുപോല്ബലകമായി  ചൂണ്ടിക്കാണിക്കാനുണ്ട്.തക്കസമയത്തുള്ള പ്രതികരണത്തിന്റെ അഭാവം സമൂഹത്തെ എങ്ങനെയെല്ലാം ബാധിച്ചു കഴിഞ്ഞു എന്ന തിരിച്ചറിവ് ഈ പുതിയ പ്രവണതയ്ക്ക് പിന്നിലുണ്ട്. 

പക്ഷെ ഇവിടെ ശ്രദ്ധിക്കേണ്ട രണ്ടു കാര്യങ്ങളുണ്ട്. ആദ്യത്തേത്, പ്രതികരണം സൗഹാർദപരവും കോലാഹലങ്ങളില്ലാത്തതും ആയിരിക്കണം എന്നതാണ്. രണ്ടാമത്തേത് രാഷ്ട്രീയമോ മതമോ തുടങ്ങി ഒരു വിഭാഗത്തിന്റെയും പിണിയാളുകളാവില്ല എന്ന ഉറച്ച സമീപനമാണ്. ഈ രണ്ടു കാര്യങ്ങളിലും പുതിയ തലമുറ ശ്രദ്ധിക്കുന്നുണ്ട് എന്ന് കാണുന്നത് ശുഭോദാർക്കമാണ്‌. നീതിയ്ക്കു വേണ്ടി നിൽക്കുന്ന യുവത്വം നമ്മുടെ സമൂഹത്തിനു പ്രതീക്ഷ  നൽകുന്നു.

എൻ.വി.ജി.

Erosion                                                                 

One can see a consistent erosion in the quality and stature of people manning key positions or at the helm of affairs in almost all walks of life, no area excluded. Character and integrity which were considered as high values in life once upon a time have more or less become worthless things and in their place certain other traits have got firmly established in the present times. There are several reasons behind this social and cultural deterioration, the supremacy of money power being only one among them.

The Return of Melody                                       

The year 2017 saw the refreshing return of the long eluding melody to malayalam film music, spearheaded by highly promising, gifted composers like Bijibal, Gopi Sundar etc. We got a good number of songs of this genre in 2017. Here is a sample. Singers : Hari Charan & Shwetha Mohan. Composer: Bijibal. Lyrics: Rafeeq Ahamed. Film : Oru Cinemaakkaran.  Incidentally, we have also seen lyrics taking a back seat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkonTrDF8E8

അത്യന്താപേക്ഷിതം

"നിങ്ങൾ എത്ര  വലിയവനാണെങ്കിലും നിയമം അതിനേക്കാൾ വളരെ വളരെ മുകളിലാണ്" - ഈ സന്ദേശം വിളിച്ചോതുന്ന കോടതി വിധികൾ ഇടയ്‌ക്കെങ്കിലുമൊക്കെ ഉണ്ടാവുന്നത് ഇന്നത്തെ ജനാധിപത്യ വ്യവസ്ഥിതിയിൽ വളരെ ആശ്വാസം തരുന്ന ഒരു കാര്യമാണ്. രാഷ്ട്രീയമായും ഔദ്യോഗികമായും ഉള്ള അധികാരങ്ങൾ സ്വത്തു സമ്പാദിക്കാനും സുഖസൗകര്യങ്ങൾ വർധിപ്പിക്കാനും ദുർവിനിയോഗം ചെയ്യുന്ന മാന്യന്മാർക്കു തിരിച്ചടി നൽകാൻ നീതിന്യായ വ്യവസ്ഥക്ക് മാത്രമേ കഴിയുകയുള്ളൂ, മറ്റൊന്നിലും ജനങ്ങൾക്ക് വിശ്വാസവുമുണ്ടെന്ന്  തോന്നുന്നില്ല. അഴിമതിക്കാരെ വച്ചുപൊറുപ്പിക്കാത്ത സമീപനം സർവ രംഗങ്ങളിലും കടന്നുവരേണ്ടത് അത്യന്താപേക്ഷിതമായിരിക്കുന്നു.

Food and diseases

World Health Organisation’s (WHO) reports supported by several advanced research studies have clearly established the direct relation between non-vegetarian food and incidence of cancer. According to WHO reports, excessive consumption of meat of any nature is the sure cause of a large number of diseases including cancer, heart diseases, nervous disorders, kidney failure, gall bladder problems, arterial wounds, arterial blocks, paralysis, arthritis, hysteria, weakening of bones, dementia etc.

It has been also found that moderate consumption of fish would not have any adverse impact on health. Further, people who consume only moderate quantity of food have been found to have relatively better health and higher longevity.

A study by the Regional Cancer Centre, Trivandrum has established the alarming incidence of cancer among sections of people who consume predominantly meat. A Japanese scientist on the basis of prolonged research has proved that non-vegetarian food plays a major role in raising anger, anxiety, restlessness and criminal mentality among people.

Incidentally, many recent studies also clearly establish that frequent consumption of food from hotels and restaurants is a strong reason for the increasing incidence of cancer.

No doubt, food is the indIividual choice of individuals. But there is no harm in heeding to the findings of research studies and benefiting from them.

The messages emanating from the above report are:-

(1) Minimise, if not avoid, the consumption of meat. Let meat consumption become the bare minimum.

(2) Substitute plant protein for animal protein by replacing meat with pulses, green peas, beans, different kinds of nuts, oats etc.

(3) Moderately consume fish, if non-vegetarian food cannot be totally avoided.

(4) Minimise, or, if possible, avoid consumption of food from hotels and restaurants.

(5) Consume only moderate amount of food. More food only endangers your health and reduces longevity.

The Pillar

Judiciary is one of the main pillars of India, the largest democracy in the world. A strong and independent judiciary is indispensable for upholding the democratic values and keeping a vigilant eye on the administration of justice. The institution of judiciary  is meant to act as a brake on the tendency of those in power to act in a manner detrimental to the interests of the citizens. The credibility of the judiciary is of paramount importance in our democratic set up.  

The developments on January 12th, 2018 are very unfortunate. It should not have happened. All those responsible should have taken pains to prevent such a situation. The solution has to come from within the four walls of the country's apex court. Or else, the nation would look forward to the dissent getting tackled and resolved by the constitutional authority, i. e. the President acting, taking the Parliament into confidence, in an amicable manner.

അത്യാവശ്യം

വൃത്തിഹീനവും അനാരോഗ്യകരവുമായ രീതിയിലും സാഹചര്യങ്ങളിലും നടത്തുന്ന ചില ഹോട്ടലുകളും റെസ്റ്റോറന്റുകളും  ഭക്ഷ്യ സുരക്ഷാ ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥർ പരിശോധന നടത്തി അടച്ചുപൂട്ടിയെന്നൊക്കെ കൂടെക്കൂടെ പത്രവാർത്തകൾ കാണാറുണ്ട്. ലൈസൻസ് 'മരവിപ്പിച്ചു' അല്ലെങ്കിൽ 'റദ്ദാക്കി' എന്നും വായിക്കാറുണ്ട് (?!).  പക്ഷെ ഒന്നോ രണ്ടോ ദിവസങ്ങൾക്കു ശേഷം ഇവയൊക്കെ വീണ്ടും പൂർവാധികം ശക്തിയായ രീതിയിൽ തുറന്നു പ്രവർത്തിക്കുന്നതാണ് സാധാരണ കാണാറുള്ളത്. ഇതിനു പ്രധാന കാരണം ശിക്ഷ വെറും പിഴയിൽ ഒതുക്കുന്നു എന്നതും പിന്നെ കുറച്ചു കൂടുതൽ പണം വാരിയെറിയുന്നു എന്നതുമാണ്. എത്ര തുക കൊടുക്കാനും ഇവരൊക്കെ തയാറാണ്. അതുകൊണ്ട്  ഈ സാമൂഹ്യ വിപത്ത് തടയിടാനാവശ്യം കർശനമായ ശിക്ഷാ നടപടപടികളാണ്. പൊതുജനാരോഗ്യം വിറ്റു നേട്ടമുണ്ടാക്കുന്ന ഇക്കൂട്ടർക്ക് കുറഞ്ഞത് രണ്ടുവർഷമെങ്കിലും കഠിനതടവ് ലഭിക്കത്തക്കവിധത്തിൽ നിയമഭേദഗതി കൊണ്ടുവരേണ്ടത് അത്യാവശ്യമാണ്. അങ്ങനെവന്നാൽ കുറച്ചു മാറ്റങ്ങൾ പ്രതീക്ഷിക്കാം.

ENVEEGEE

Disgusting Sight

The frequent scenes on the electronic media of criminals standing like victors or great accomplishers and their followers surrounding them with awe and respect in the midst of a galaxy of media persons and cameras are intolerable and highly disgusting sights.

The Evidence

The Evidence

One pertinent aspect in our legal system is that whether the real truth behind an alleged offence or crime is revealed or surfaces through the judicial proceedings depends more on the ability of the prosecution to correlate the various evidences and to present them without any missing links and glaring inconsistencies and the ability of the witnesses to corroborate the act of commission of the offence or the crime in the court, than any other factor. This is a general observation made without reference to any specific case.

The Win and the Gain

The most important issues which weighed with the Gujarat electorate in the Assembly elections were the issues taken up on priority by the State’s incumbent ruling alliance’s parent alliance at the centre, viz., corruption and black money, impetus on social and financial reforms, financial inclusion with focus on reduction of the gap between the rich and the poor, the initiatives to boost public health and the re-orientation towards rural India. It is gratifying to note that religious, communal, regional and sectarian factors took a back seat in the hustings. The election results also portend the re-emergence of the Congress party in the home ground of the BJP, which is a matter of consolation for Rahul Gandhi who spearheaded the elections in Gujarat and who has just taken over the mantle of the party. On the whole, the poll results indicate a win for the BJP and a gain or consolidation for the Congress.

ENVEEGEE

Modesty and humility

Two very important traits which people’s representatives and public servants should possess for getting acceptability among whom they represent or serve are modesty and humility. The simple reason for this is that they are all ‘public servants’. But how far today’s public servants possess these traits is a moot question.

Humility is sometimes confused with modesty. Modesty describes the personality trait or behaviour of not flaunting oneself or not talking oneself up. In contrast, humility refers specifically to a person's inner state and feelings. A humble person is willing to accept or respect another's authority, intellect and wisdom, or superiority without trying to challenge it or trying to assert oneself. Practising humility helps us stay down-to-earth and keeps false pride at bay. True humility is inward-looking and concerned only with the self. It is an acknowledgement to the self of our limitations and hence a private matter. Modesty, on the other hand, is outward-looking, and is concerned with others. What’s more, modesty is pretentious. Acting modest is pretending to be less than what we believe we really are.

Modesty and humility are indeed two powerful weapons using which a leader can tackle or win over any problematic or tumultuous or tricky situation. These two traits together also bring in two other refreshing traits, of calmness and equanimity. Many would love to have a few leaders and public figures with these qualities. True, they are rather rare traits.

These thoughts are in the context of the strange behaviour and irrational outbursts of some of our leaders.

നീതി

നീതിയുടെ സ്ഥാനം എല്ലാത്തിനും മുകളിലാണ്; അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ആയിരിക്കണം, പണത്തിന്റെയും അധികാരത്തിന്റെയും ബന്ധങ്ങളുടെയും എല്ലാം മുകളിൽ. പക്ഷെ സത്യത്തെ അസത്യമായും അസത്യത്തെ സത്യമായും അധർമ്മത്തെ ധർമ്മമായും മാറ്റാൻ കഴിവുള്ള പണത്തിന്റെ മുകളിൽ അർഹിക്കുന്ന സ്ഥാനം പലപ്പോഴും നീതിയ്ക്ക് ലഭിക്കാതെ പോകുന്ന കാഴ്ച അങ്ങേയറ്റം വേദനാജനകമാണ്. പണം വാരിയെറിഞ്ഞ് അനീതിയെ നീതിയുടെ വേഷം കെട്ടിച്ച്‌ രംഗത്തിറക്കാൻ കഷ്ടപ്പെടുന്നവർ വർധിച്ചു കൊണ്ടിരിക്കുകയാണ്.

കവി പാടിയത് പോലെ 'സത്യത്തിനെന്നും ശരശയ്യ മാത്രം'.

പരിരക്ഷ

പരിരക്ഷ

ഒരു തുണ്ടു ഭൂമി പോലും സ്വന്തമായി ഇല്ലാത്ത അസംഖ്യം ആളുകളുള്ളപ്പോൾ ഏക്കറുകൾ കണക്കിന് ഭൂമി കയ്യേറി സ്വന്തമാക്കി ഭൂപ്രഭുക്കന്മാരായി വാഴുന്നവർക്കു പല കോണുകളിൽ നിന്നും ലഭിക്കുന്ന ഒത്താശയും സംരക്ഷണവും, ഫലത്തിൽ നിയമ പരിരക്ഷയും അത്ഭുതപ്പെടുത്തുന്നതിലേറെ ആശങ്കപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു. നിയമത്തിന്റെ നിസ്സഹായാവസ്ഥയുടെ മറ്റൊരു മുഖം തന്നെയാണിത്. ഈവ്യവസ്ഥിതിയെ എന്തു പേരാണു് വിളിയ്ക്കേണ്ടതു്?

A tribute to Shashi Kapoor

Shashi Kapoor, the veteran actor who passed away a few days back at the age of 79, was dignified acting, elegance, finesse and histrionics personified. He has left an indelible stamp of his own, which time won't be able to tamper with. His passing away has drawn curtains over a colourful era in Indian cinema. Here's a tribute to the veteran actor.