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Monday, February 28, 2011

The bliss that was Munnar



Sulochana Nalapat recounts the history of the tea plantations in the hill district and also focuses on the experiences of her life

Photos: Sulochana Nalapat; the cover of the book

By Shevlin Sebastian

One night, many years ago, after dinner with friends at a bungalow in a tea estate in Munnar, author Sulochana Nalapat and her husband Unni Krishnan Nair drove out with the fog lights on. “The mist lay heavy on the tea bushes and the road ahead,” she says, “All that could be seen was the yellow cone of the headlights in front of us.”

Suddenly, an elephant materialised in the darkness. The animal stood 10 feet away and was trying to assess whether the couple in the car was a threat or not. “I was terrified,” says Sulochana. “I closed my eyes and prayed to Lord Ganapathy.” The quick-thinking Unni quickly reversed the car and sped back to the bungalow.

This incident was recounted in the coffee-table book, ‘The Story of Munnar’, published by DC Books recently. It is a 144 page book which describes the history of the tea plantations in the last 130 years and it is also a personal memoir, where Sulochana relives her life as the wife of a plantation manager for 27 years in various estates in and around Munnar.

The trigger for the book was the razing of resorts and the destruction of tea bushes in May, 2007 by the state government, over charges of encroachment of land. It pained Sulochana when she read in the newspaper that Tata Tea, for whom she has worked for over a decade, had encroached on 50,000 acres.

“I cannot imagine that Tata Tea would do something like that,” she says. “It was a baseless charge.” And so Sulochana, the sister of author Kamala Das, decided to write about all that she knew about Munnar.

To get details about the history she was helped by diaries left behind by Britishers who had come to the Idukki district in the late 1880s. One was by a woman called Violet Martin, who arrived in Munnar in 1890, and described, on a daily basis, the transformation of the Kanan Devan hills.

Then there were the reminiscences of old Vadivu Muththassy who lived in Sevenmallay Estate. “Whenever I asked her age, she would say she is 100 years old,” says Sulochana, with a laugh. But Vadivu remembers being perched on her father’s shoulders when she was three years old, as the family trudged 80 kilometres from Udumalpet in Tamil Nadu, and finally settling down in Munnar.

Asked to describe the Munnar of those times, Sulochana says, “It was heaven. There was so much of greenery. Nature was so pure. But we were quite isolated. The nearest estate was four kilometers away.”

The weather was always cool and pleasant. “There were no fans in the bungalows,” says Sulochana. “When we went home to Calicut during the holidays my children would go around switching on the fans. It was such a novelty for them.”

Of course, thanks to global warming, there are fans in the bungalows now. “Munnar has become too commercialised,” she says. “It has become dirty and crowded. The life as I knew it is gone forever.”

But Sulochana is busy with the welfare activities in the area conducted by Tata Tea. “They have a unique concept called the welfare audit,” she says. “My job is to assess the welfare or the quality of life of the workers and their families.”

Out of 100 points, 55 points are given for measurable indices like birth and death rates, and the number of infant deaths. For the remaining 45 marks, Sulochana has to physically go and inspect hospitals and water sources.

“I have to see whether the water is being chlorinated properly, and whether the certificate of purity has been obtained from a lab in Kakkanad,” she says.

Interestingly, the annual bonuses of managers depend on whether they have met all the welfare parameters, apart from the usual performance review. “As a result, managers are always on their toes,” she says. “Tata Tea is the only company which has implemented this.”

Overall, this is a must-read book for lovers of the hill station. As publisher Ravi Deecee puts it, “Journal entries and historical facts are nimbly woven together with Sulochana’s memories and sharp observations. This curious yet charming blend remains etched in the reader’s mind.”

(The New Indian Express, Kochi)





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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

On the fast lane


Accidents continue to happen in the newly renovated four-lane section of National Highway 47, from Vytilla to Aroor

By Shevlin Sebastian

Every morning, Dr. George Jacob sets out on National Highway 47, travelling from Vennalla to Nettoor, where the Lakeshore Hospital is located. He is the doctor-in-charge of the surgical Intensive Care Unit. “Unfortunately, nearly every day, there is an accident victim who is brought in,” he says.

Recently, a young man, in his early twenties, had a collision with another two-wheeler on the highway, and sustained head and abdominal injuries. “Major surgeries had to be done,” says George. The family went through emotional and financial stress because their son had to stay for a month in the hospital.

More than 80 per cent of the accident victims are two-wheeler riders, and they are all youngsters. “I blame them for the accidents,” says George. “They ride down the middle of the highway at high speed. The cars and the tipper lorries have to work their way around them.”

M.K. Murali, Sub-Inspector (Traffic), based at Tripunithara, says that most young people do rash driving. “They have these two-stroke bikes which have a tremendous acceleration,” he says. “Many of them drink and drive. As a result, they endanger their lives.”

Another problem with young riders is that they tend to overtake from the left, which increases the chance of an accident. George suggests a separate lane for two-wheelers. “Maybe, on one side of the road,” he says.

Of course, one reason for the over-speeding is because this particular section of the highway, 10 kms long, was recently repaired and converted into a four-lane road by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at a cost of Rs 177 crore. At some sections, there are six lanes. “To ensure a smooth ride, there are five major bridges, four underpasses, and nine bus bays,” says C.T. Abraham, project director of NHAI. So, to drive fast comes easy.

But it can be dangerous at night. There are no street lights in many sections. “When it becomes dark, many motorists cannot see the pedestrians who run across the highway in a random and haphazard manner,” says Murali. “They are hit by speeding drivers. But this is much more on the Edapally-Vytilla stretch.”

Residents, who live by the side of the highway, have complained that the service roads are badly maintained. “The entrances to the highway have been done in an unscientific manner,” says Murali.

For example, when you try to enter the service road to go to Lakeshore Hospital, a bus stop has been placed there. “Many accidents have taken place because of the unsuitable location of the stop,” says George.

Meanwhile, Murali suggests some safety steps that youngsters should undertake, before they set out on the highway.

“They should obey the traffic rules,” he says. “Many times they do not use the signal indicators, when they are turning left or right. They should wear helmets at all times. Parents should instill discipline and caution among their children, because one mistake can destroy a young person’s life forever.”

(The New Indian Express, Kochi)






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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The Bishop and the Actress


By Shevlin Sebastian

Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysosthum, one of the senior-most bishops of the Mar Thoma church and veteran Malayalam actress Aranmula Ponnamma studied together in the Maramon High School. “We were classmates from kindergarten to Class 3 and became friends,” he says.

Once, a boy cheated in an exam. The principal was about to penalise him when the teacher said, “Please punish me, since I did not spot the cheating.” So, the Principal hit the teacher. All the students cried when they saw this. “I remember the tears streaming down Ponnamma’s face,” says Mar Chrysosthum. “This incident brought the teachers and the students closer.”

Later, Ponnamma got married and Mar Chrysosthum went on for further studies. “We went our different ways,” he says. More than 20 years later, Mar Chrysosthum met up with Ponnamma once again. By then she had made her name as an actress. “She is an excellent performer,” says Mar Chrysosthum. “In fact, she became the character in the roles that she played. I have seen several films of hers, but now, owing to my age -- I am 93 now -- I cannot recall the names.”

Once Mar Chrysosthum told Ponnamma, “Cinema is not true. It is all make-believe. But you have a bigger impact than me. When I tell the truth, people go to sleep. But when you talk, the people remain wide awake.”

Ponnamma laughed out aloud.

The Bishop and the actress met on and off. A couple of years ago they had lunch, along with Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan at Ponnamma’s home in Thiruvananthapuram.

“There will never be another actress like Ponnamma,” says Mar Chrysosthum. The actress died on February 21, at the age of 96.

(The New Indian Express, Kerala)





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The cataclysmic event in our history


C.P. Surendran talks about the impact of the 1947 Partition of India in his latest novel, 'Lost and Found'

By Shevlin Sebastian

Ten years ago, on August 15, at 1 a.m., a girl was raped on the last suburban train from Churchgate to Virar, at Mumbai. “There were three witnesses,” says novelist C.P. Surendran. “They did not do anything. They just watched silently. One of them, a journalist wrote about it on Page 1 of the Times of India. But the question I would ask him is, 'Why did you not stop it?'”

This incident triggered off the novel, 'Lost and Found', in which the main character, Lakshmi, a 35-year-old online porn writer, gets drunk at a Bollywood party and kidnaps the wrong person, a journalist called Placid Hari.

“Lakshmi suspects that Hari is the man who raped her 16 years ago on a train in Mumbai,” says Surendran. “What happens to these two people in the next 24 hours, against the backdrop of a terrorist siege of a city, is the story.”

The main motifs of the novel are the Shiva Sena, the cow-dominated Indian roads, media, and Bollywood. “In Hindi movies, especially the films by Raj Kapoor, there is a strong element of 'lost and found,'” says Surendran. “You have children separated at birth, fathers and mothers are physically separated, and then they come back together, by singing a song, like in the film, 'Yaadon Ki Bharat'. In no country or civilisation will you come across so many 'lost and found' themes.”

Surendran says that this is the impact of the Partition of India in 1947. At that time, 15 lakh people were displaced. “When the British casually drew a line through one's bedroom, the impact on people's lives was devastating,” he says. But, strangely, there is a tendency in India not to confront this event.

“We talk all the time about the persecution of the Jews, especially during World War II, but we don't speak about this great cataclysmic event in our own history – the Partition,” says Surendran.

One reason for this could be that Indians are escapists, by nature. “In Delhi, you can come across some ruins, and nobody knows what it is,” says Surendran. “A ruin is proof that history was made here, but we ignore it. We neglect history and revere myths, like the Ramayana and the Mahabaratha. We prefer fantasy to reality. All those elements are explored in the novel.”

Writing runs in Surendran’s family. He is the son of the late Pavanan (P.V. Narayanan Nair), the founder of literary criticism in Kerala. On a brief visit to Kochi, Surendran comes across as intense and serious. A senior journalist with The Times of India, in Delhi, he has written two novels and four collections of poems. “I have stopped writing poetry,” he says. “I discovered that nobody reads it. As a communication form, poetry is dead. People don't have the time for it.”

Surendran is also a well-known columnist. So how does he manage the roles of novelist, columnist and journalist? “There is no water-tight compartmentalisation,” he says. “They reflect various aspects of my creativity. I feel that at one level, good journalism is very close to good fiction and vice-versa.”

(The New Indian Express, Kochi)






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It’s all in the family



Family businesses have been a success both in India and abroad. A look at the reasons why

Photos: Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries; Dr. Najeeb Zackeria, the managing director of Abad Builders


By Shevlin Sebastian

Author Gurucharan Das recounts an incident in his book, 'India Unbound'. Mukesh Ambani, of Reliance Industries, had just completed his MBA exams from Stanford Graduate School of Business. “Following the exam, he is asked to come back,” writes Das. “Mukesh lands at Mumbai and is driven home. After his evening tea, his mother tells him that his father, Dhirubhai, is waiting in the office. He is immediately taken there. After a brief conversation, Dhirubhai says, ‘Tomorrow, you are going to the Nagothane plant (Raigad district, Maharashtra).’”

Mukesh says, “Can't I take a small vacation?”

Dhirubhai replies, “Nagothane is your vacation.”

For family-run businesses there is no time for rest or relaxation. “They are focused and committed,” says Dr. Francis Cherunilam, Professor, School of Management Studies, at the Cochin University of Science and Technology. He had presented a paper on the success of family businesses at a seminar organised by the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Vidya Bharathi Centre for Entrepreneurship Development at Kochi last week.

“In fact, Reliance Industries always worked very fast,” he says. “They might have secured their technology from abroad, but the speed with which they have executed their various projects, including the huge petrochemicals plant at Jamnagar, is remarkable. It reveals the mind-set of the Ambani family: focused, ambitious, hard-working, determined, and with a vision for the future.”

Family businesses are a global phenomenon. “If you look at the Fortune 500 list, you will see that most of the companies had their beginnings as family businesses,” says Francis. In a recent list, there are eight Indian companies, out of which two are private sector companies. “One is Reliance, which is a family business, while the other is Tata Industries, which began as a family enterprise,” he says.

Some of the large family businesses in India include the industries run by the Birlas, Singhanias, Jindals, Mittals, the Murugappa, and the TVS group. “Name any large company in India and it is usually family-owned,” says Francis.

Asked for the reasons behind their success, Francis says, “There is a commitment to the business, because the owners realise that if the company fails, the fortune of the family will be finished. They are always trying to expand their business and seize the emerging opportunities in the global economy.”

Francis cites the $29 billion Aditya Birla group. “Over 60 per cent of the company's income is from its overseas operations,” says Francis. The group has a presence in 27 countries, and has interests in cement, fertilisers, mobile telephones, textiles, life insurance, and retail.

In Kerala, some of the successful businesses are owned by families. The V-Guard, Eastern, Muthoot, Mannapuram Finance and Abad Group are family enterprises. “The Abad group is remarkable because the fourth generation is involved in running the company,” says Francis.

Dr. Najeeb Zackeria, the managing director of Abad Builders, says that there is a clear understanding about the role of each member of the family. “We also have a tolerance for divergent views, and imbibe the spirit of brotherhood,” he says.

The Abad Group is an exception. Usually, by the third generation, because of conflicting visions and aims, family members are unable to work together. “When this happens it is always better to split up,” says Francis. “In the long run a break-up is good. It increases efficiency, competitiveness, and the chances of growth. And you can avoid bitter battles with your relatives for control.”

(The New Indian Express, Kochi)





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Sunday, February 20, 2011

Rejuvenation on a river bed



The Maramon Convention, which has been held for 116 years, on the sand bed of the River Pampa, is one of the most important spiritual meetings for Christians in Kerala

Photos: The Maramon Convention; the author with Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysosthum, 93, one of the senior-most bishops of the Mar Thoma church. Photo by Rajeev Prasad

By Shevlin Sebastian

Anglican Archbishop Roger Herft from Perth, Australia has an astonished look on his face. “This must be the only convention in the world where lakhs of people are willing to set aside one week for spiritual rejuvenation,” he says. “I am amazed that they are so patient and attentive. They are so focused on a renewal of their faith and their ties with family and friends.”

The Maramon Convention, where Archbishop Herft is one of the featured speakers, is one of the great annual events for Christians in Kerala (see box). Conducted by the Mar Thoma Evengelistic Association, the event was held from February 13-20.

The most unusual aspect of the convention is that it is held on the dry sand-strewn bed of the River Pampa in Pathanamthitta district.

“A few weeks ago, the entire area was under water, thanks to an abundant monsoon,” says P.P. Achankunju, a member of the organizing committee. “It is difficult to believe, since the waters have receded now.” But the river flows with considerable speed at one side. On the other side, there is the large canopy of a forest.

The meeting hall, spread over a large area, is set in the middle of the sand bed. It has a thatched roof which is just 10 feet high. If you jump, you can touch the ceiling. Through gaps in the leaves, the sunlight falls, in coin-like designs on the bodies of the faithful sitting on the ground. There is a breath-taking beauty about it. Thanks to an ample circulation of air, and a cool breeze from the river, it is wondrously cool. “All the coconut branches, to make the roof, have been provided by parishioners who live in adjoining areas,” says Achankunju.

Among the audience is HR consultant Jacob Mathews from Ahmedabad. “I want to gain some insights about the contemporary world,” he says. Jacob was happy with the talk he had just heard, by Rev. Dr. Isaac Mar Philoxenos Episcopa. “Mar Philoxenos told us not to keep wealth for oneself, but to use it for the betterment of society,” says Jacob.

Walking across the sandy bank is Thomas Mathew, a manager in a stock-broking firm. “When I was younger, I never used to come,” he says. “But I am in my forties now and as life gets more complicated, there is a desire for a spiritual awakening within me. So I am happy to be here.”

But not everybody is a happy participant. Abraham George (name changed), a former Army officer, lives in Pittsburgh, USA. “My wife and I look after our grandchildren,” he says. “We are glorified nannies. My son and daughter-in-law lead very busy lives.” He gives a rueful smile, and says, “It is not right for me to complain while I am at Maramon.”

It is clear that many people with emotional aches and pains have come to the convention to get some spiritual balm. And perhaps that is the reason for its abiding popularity.

“The crowds are increasing every year,” says Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysosthum, 93, one of the senior-most bishops of the Mar Thoma church, and a revered leader. “This convention educates people on how to be a religious person. Our aim is also to help them meet the problems of life.”

Meanwhile, on the perimeter are numerous stalls, again made of thatched coconut leaves, selling books and CDs on the Christian faith. There are other stalls set up by various organizations looking for donations.

Young Aimy Johns, who is standing in a stall belonging to the St. Thomas Mission Hospital at Kattanam, says, with a winning smile, “If you donate Rs 1000, you will be able to fund surgeries for poor people.” Others looking for donations include the School for the Deaf in Kasargod and the Hoskote Medical Mission and Medical Centre, near Bangalore.

Near the centre of the sand bed is a church-like structure. This is the Mar Thoma Museum. There are photos of eminent Bishops and a hand-written copy of a Bible. “This is 150 years old,” says guide Thomas George, a theology student. “There are Bishop’s orders written on the bark of trees and rosary beads worn by Bishops.” There is a photo of Benjamin Bailey who published the first Bible in Malayalam in 1829.

In the afternoon, it is the turn of the tall, charismatic Swedish preacher Dr. Ulf Ekman to speak. Standing beside him is Rev. T. Sam Koshy, who will translate the speech into Malayalam. Ekman says, “We come from different backgrounds, but have the same faith. We believe in Jesus Christ. Turn to Him for help. He will always be there for you.”

Ekman says that his wife, Brigitta, was born in India. “So when I married her, I promised to love her as well as India,” he says. He pauses and then says, “I am happy to say that I have fulfilled both my promises.”

The audience is delighted. And, indeed, it was a delightful time for me also to spend a day at the unforgettable Maramon convention. It was spiritual rejuvenation of the most inspiring kind.

116 years old and going strong

In 1877, there were two factions in the Malankara church. One was known as the Methran Kakshi, while the other was Bava Kakshi. On September 5, 12 members of the Methran Kakshi faction formed the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association and started small prayer sessions among the faithful.

However, the first convention, which lasted 10 days, took place from March 8-17, 1895, at the present location: the sand-bed of the Pampa River at Maramon. The people of the local parishes made a large pandal and that practice continues to this day. Even in those days, there was an average attendance of 15,000. Because of poor roads, people travelled by boat and stayed in houses nearby.

And for 116 years, this convention has been going on, year in and year out. It is the oldest such event in India.

(The New Indian Express, Chennai)






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Saturday, February 19, 2011

The benefits of a carbon fast


'Lenten Thoughts – Reduce Carbon Footprints, Practice Carbon Fasting'

By Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostum and Roy P. Thomas

Published by Christava Sahitya Samithi.

Pages 112. Price Rs 90

By Shevlin Sebastian

In 2009, Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostum, one of the senior-most bishops of the 10 lakh-strong Mar Thoma Church, came up with the idea of carbon fasting during the Lenten period -- the 40 days of prayer and fasting for Christians before Easter. He advised churchgoers on ways to cut down on carbon emissions. They included simple things like: Unplug your mobile charger. Only run your washing machine when you have a full load. Turn down the air conditioner when you go to bed or leave the house. Avoid plastic bags. Switch off lights. Have an ‘embrace-the-silence’ Sunday. Turn off everything: no TV, radio, or ring-tones. Stop using cars.

On January 22, a 112-page book was released by the Tiruvalla-based Christava Sahitya Samithi. Called 'Lenten Thoughts' – Reduce Carbon Footprints, Practice Carbon Fasting', it has been co-authored by Mar Chrysostum and Roy P. Thomas. The Kannur-based Thomas is a Deputy Conservator of Forests, who has co-authored the 'Manual of Forest Laws in Kerala'.

“This idea of carbon fasting was already prevalent in the West,” says Roy. “Following discussions with Mar Chrysostum, we decided to introduce this concept in India.”

In the book, on one page there are suggestions for the carbon fast, while on the next page is a quotation from the Bible, along with a commentary. “The tragedy is that those with the power to do something about carbon emissions are least affected, while those who are most affected are powerless to bring about change,” says Roy. “There is a moral imperative on our part to rein in our consumption.”

After reading the book, your attitude towards carbon consumption and global warming is changed forever.

(The New Indian Express, Kerala)





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Incoming and outgoing


P.I. Sheik Pareeth takes over as the District Collector of Ernakulam, while M. Beena leaves to become the Director of the Fisheries Department

Photo: P.I. Sheik Pareeth (extreme left)

By Shevlin Sebastian

At a brief function at the Collectorate, P.I. Sheik Pareeth takes charge as the 28th District Collector of Ernakulam. The earlier Collector, M. Beena, signs a few forms, which is counter-signed by Pareeth. Then she hands over the official mobile phone, and says, “I wish you all the best. Ernakulam is a very challenging district.”

Later, Beena introduces her aides to Pareeth, and says, “I am sorry to say this, but the entire team has been transferred. You would need to build a new one.” Pareeth nods and gives a smile.

He is a soft-spoken man, but looks eager to take on the responsibility. “Just like the Smart City, I want to make Kochi a smart city,” he says. “I will be concentrating on developing the infrastructure, solving the traffic snarls and water shortage, especially in the Vypeen Islands. There is also a need to develop a satellite city.”

Asked whether he feels nervous, Pareeth shakes his head. “I feel comfortable, because I have more than ten years of experience as an administrator,” he says.

Some of the earlier posts Pareeth held included the directorship of the Fisheries Department, as well as the chief engineer of the Harbour Engineering Department. He helped in the design and construction of the Munambam, Vihinjam, Neendakara, and Thankasseri ports.

Fifteen minutes before Pareeth arrives, Beena enters the Collector's office for the last time. She is wearing a golden-brown saree, and has an easy smile on her face.

“I am happy with all that I have achieved,” she says. Beena had been a Collector for a shade less than three years. Asked whether the tenure was short, she says, “We work at the pleasure of the government. When it is a short tenure, you feel you need more time. When it is a long tenure, you feel it should have been a little short.”

But the best thing about her new job, as Director of the Fisheries Department, is that she will have more time to spend with her children, daughter, Vishnupriya, and son, Kannan. “During my stint as Collector, on some days, I was so busy that I did not have the time to look at my children's study books,” she says. Incidentally, Beena continues to be the managing director of the Vytilla Mobility Hub project.

As she talks, a visitor comes in, and asks whether she could be the chief guest at a function that evening. “After 11 a.m., I am no longer the Collector,” she says. But the woman insists, and Beena says, “It would not be correct when there is a new collector.” After a short discussion, Beena comes up with a solution: Pareeth would preside at the function, while Beena would also be present.

As people in the administration assumed new posts and responsibilities, life on the road outside the Collectorate went on as usual.

(The New Indian Express, Kochi)





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Thursday, February 17, 2011

A welcome transformation


The General Hospital in Kochi has won the coveted certificate for quality care from the National Accreditation Board For Hospital and Healthcare Providers. Now, there is a remarkable improvement in the quality of service provided by doctors and staff

Photo: New garbage bins at the General Hospital

By Shevlin Sebastian

On a recent Saturday morning, Dr. M.I. Junaid Rahman has a tired, but happy look on his face. On the previous night, the superintendent of the General Hospital at Kochi had flown in from Delhi. There, Rahman received the highly-prized certificate from the National Accreditation Board For Hospital and Healthcare Providers (NABH) for providing quality care and patient safety in the hospital.

“The announcer said, 'This is a miracle,'” says Rahman. “This is the first time in India that a large government hospital (783 beds) is getting the certificate.” It was not easy to get this certificate. Says Dr Girdhar J. Gyani, the CEO of NABH: “There were 64 parameters which the hospital had to achieve.”

Two years ago, when the Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy asked the hospital to try for the NABH accreditation, Rahman took it as a challenge.

On an initial inspection the NABH officials found that the wards were overcrowded. Rahman immediately took action. Thanks to a government grant of Rs 2 crore a second floor was built and 25,000 sq. ft. of additional space was secured.

Immediately, the wards became spacious. On the second floor, there is a male and female surgery ward, apart from an orthopaedics section, employee sick rooms, a conference room and a store room.

But the main task for the hospital authorities was to change the mind-set of the employees. “Initially, only a few people showed interest,” says Dr. V.P. Leena, Senior Consultant in the Paediatrics department. “Most felt that the hurdles were too high to surmount.”

But Rahman did not give up. Regular training sessions were conducted. Slowly, the attitudes began to change. The relationship between the doctor and the patient, which had been casual earlier, deepened, when doctors had to write a detailed summary for the first time. “As a result, doctors became more responsible,” says Rahman. “If there was a wrong diagnosis, it could be held against them.”

Other changes included fixed visiting hours and only one bystander per patient. “This reduced the crowd at the hospital,” says Rahman. But what was most impressive was the waste disposal system. In the surgery wards, there are coloured buckets for waste disposal. A green bucket is for waste products like plates and bottles. In a red bucket, catheters, urine and blood bags are collected, while in a yellow bucket, organs and placenta are stored.

The bio-medical waste is taken daily by Indian Medical Association Goes Eco-Friendly (IMAGE). “The waste food is recycled, through a bio-gas plant in the campus, as well as treatment in special garbage bins with chemicals,” says K. Marykutty, housekeeping supervisor, as she pointed out the bins. The 12 bins have been sponsored by the Cochin Shipyard at a cost of Rs 8 lakh.

All this has had an impact on patients. Businessman T.M. Gopi, 47, who had an operation to remove his piles, says, “There is a sea-change in attitude on the part of doctors and nurses. The service is excellent. This is my third stay at the hospital. I am very happy.”

The hospital authorities are also happy. The number of out-patients has gone up from 1100 to 1500 per day. Says P.K. Nafisa, Head Nurse, in charge of casualty: “We have a lot of positive energy now. But the challenge will be to maintain the high standards.”

(The New Indian Express, Kochi)





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Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Riding on a Bullet


A European couple is travelling through Kochi and South India on a motorbike

By Shevlin Sebastian

On Convent Road, Kochi, one evening, a couple, on a Bullet Enfield motorbike, stopped under the awning of a deserted building. Then they opened a Lonely Planet guide book, searching for cheap hotels. Martin Coumans is from Belgium, while his companion, Lola Moliere, is from France.

In November, when Martin was in Panaji, Goa, he came across a European who wanted to get rid of his Bullet Enfield. “So I bought it for Rs 35,000,” he says. Since, on a previous trip, he had travelled all over North India, Martin embarked on a tour of South India.

“I went to Hampi, Mysore, Coonoor, and Ooty,” he says. There, he met Lola, who is a stone cutter by profession, and, casually, they became co-passengers. From Ooty the duo went to Coimbatore, on to Munnar and Kochi.

For Martin, 25, like most foreigners, he finds Indian women beautiful. “They have lovely skin and hair,” he says. “Their hair is clean and shiny and they are so well-dressed.”

But he is a bit disappointed that they are shy. “They rarely look at me,” says Martin. In contrast, in Europe, girls look openly and have no hesitation to seek a chat. But Martin shakes his head and says, “I am tired of European women.” Lola, 22, laughs, and says, “Really?”

Martin is a part-time labourer. He has harvested grapes in Côte d'Or in France, as well as helped a friend who was renovating an old farm in Luxembourg. “I have worked for five months, saved money, and now I am on a holiday in India for three months,” he says.

All this is thanks to the steep exchange rate. One Euro is worth Rs 62. “With the same money we can only travel for a week in Europe,” says Lola. “That is why we have come to India.”

Both are intrigued by the country. “I have not experienced such smells in Europe,” says Lola. “In Munnar, there was the beautiful smell of flowers and burnt wood.”

As for Martin, he has an ambivalent feeling. “When I am here, because of the heat, the noise, the pollution and the crowds I go crazy. I think. 'What am I doing here? Everything is so overwhelming'. When I go back to Europe, I think, 'India is so nice. I must go back.'”

It helps that, as foreigners, they are treated differently. Martin recalls a head-on accident he had with another bike rider in Coonoor. “Nobody was injured,” he says. “The guy with whom I had the accident with, immediately took me to a mechanic, who repaired my bike in one day so that I could continue my journey. This can never happen in Europe, where the people are so busy and selfish.”

Meanwhile, for both, the most unusual aspect of their sojourn in Kerala was to see a profusion of red Communist flags. “Communism is dead in Europe,” says Martin. “But it is alive in China,” counters Lola, with a smile.

(The New Indian Express, Kochi)





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Saturday, February 12, 2011

Place of salvation


The Jan Kalyan society, comprising North Indians, are proud of their privately-run crematorium at Elamakkara

Photo: K.K. Sharma and L.N. Mittal of the Jan Kalyan Society

By Shevlin Sebastian

Ten years ago, when there would be a death in the North Indian community, the members would take the dead body all the way to a crematorium in Fort Kochi, which was run by the Gujarat Mahajan Sangh. “It was very time-consuming,” says K.K. Sharma, the then chairman of the society. “We had to pass two bridges and a railway crossing.”

So the society decided to set up a crematorium in Ernakulam. But it took 16 months of repeated pleas before the then Mayor K.K. Somasundara Panicker provided them with 10 cents of land, beside a crematorium run by the Cochin Corporation at Elamakkara.

With the help of donations from community members, a total of Rs 10 lakhs was collected. And the Moksha Dham (Place of salvation’) crematorium was set up in 1999.

However, S.S. Agarwal, the chairman of the society says that it took a year for it to be inaugurated. “That was because there were no deaths in our community,” he says. “When the first death occurred, the secretary L.N. Mittal called the other office-bearers and said, ‘There is good news. Finally, somebody has died.’”

On a recent sunny afternoon, the marble-tiled floor has been washed clean after a cremation. There is a 400 sq. ft. hall for the mourners to wait. “Since it rains so often in Kerala, we did not want the people to get drenched,” says Agarwal. The burning room has a 60 ft. high chimney. On the floor are four exhaust openings which pull in cold air from outside and enables the smoke to rise up towards the chimney.

“Two years ago, the chimney was renovated at a cost of Rs 2 lakh,” says Mittal. At the back there is a room where the wood and coconut shells are kept. “We replenish it immediately after a cremation,” he says.

Asked why they did not opt for an electric crematorium, Sharma says, “The people preferred the traditional style, of the body being burnt on logs of wood.”

The society is keen to clear a misconception. “The crematorium is open for the use of the public, and is not restricted to north Indians,” says Agarwal. “For poor people, there is no charge at all.”

Frequently, when a body is being cremated at the Corporation crematorium and if people come along with another body, the formalities are immediately done at the Moksha Dham crematorium.

Says a philosophical Sharma, “When we come to the crematorium, we realise that this is what happens to all of us. We end up as ash and bones.”

“However,” Agarwal says, “The moment we leave, we again behave as if there is no such thing as death.”

(The New Indian Express, Kochi)





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Thursday, February 10, 2011

A Malayali in Tahrir Square


Jayalal P. Soman was one, among a handful of Malayalis, who was present when the Egyptian revolution broke out

By Shevlin Sebastian


Jayalal P. Soman, a software consultant, is just back from Cairo. He was able to witness first-hand all the events that unfolded in Tahrir Square for the past several days because he lived nearby. So far, 300 people have died, and most of them were teenagers.

But Jayalal is sure the killings were not done by the police. “They were only firing teargas shells and it fell at the far ends of the square where there were no crowds,” he says. “I saw many shells falling into the Nile river.”

The other weapon that was used was a machine gun which was mounted on a jeep. “But, again, the police were firing rubber bullets,” he says. “I collected some of the empty shells and bullets.” The suspicion was that supporters of President Hosni Mubarak caused the deaths.

Jayalal works for a Kozhikode-based firm which had been assigned to update the software of the National Bank of Egypt. In Cairo, he spoke to many demonstrators. “They told me that Egyptians no longer want Mubarak because he rigs elections all the time,” says Jayalal. “They want to choose their own leader. They want leaders to follow public opinion in terms of policies. They want a society where they can discuss their likes and dislikes in the open, without the fear of being arrested.”

The educated people feel ashamed that they are living in a dictatorship. “They feel this keenly when they interact with Westerners, who live in free societies,” says Jayalal. They say that the only way their children can have a bright future is if the regime is changed. “The widespread opinion is that Mubarak is incapable of creating educational facilities and job opportunities for the youth,” he says.

What worries people is the lack of industries. “Egypt imports everything, including food,” says Jayalal. He remembers a friend, Ahmed, telling him that he tried to start a farm, but the taxes were so high that it became unprofitable. “Unbelievably, there is a tax on the use of land for agriculture,” says Jayalal. “Ahmed gave up and took a job.”

Jayalal says that the most wonderful thing about Egypt is not the monuments or the history, but the people. “They are warm, kind, friendly and hospitable,” he says. “If you ask for help they will go out of the way to fulfill your needs.”

He remembers an office staffer who when he saw that Jayalal's adapter did not fit into the electric socket immediately went out and bought another one with his money and gave it to the Indian. “I experienced this large-heartedness everywhere,” he says. “I hope Egypt will get the democracy it deserves.”

(The New Indian Express, Kerala)




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Wednesday, February 09, 2011

The Kochi Assembly of dogs is in session!


COLUMN: FREEWHEELING

By Shevlin Sebastian

News item (Kochi): The Ombudsman for Local Self Government has directed all the local bodies to stop illegal and inhuman killing of stray dogs

There was a mood of jubilation in the Kochi Assembly of dogs. “This is a great victory for dog rights,” shouted Chief Minister Anik Alsatian to other Alsatians, Dobermans, Pomeranians, Cocker Spaniels, Hounds and Daschunds sitting in tiers in front of him. “There will be no more random killing of dogs.”

“Anik Alsatian Zindabad!” shouted the dogs, as they raised their paws.

Anik spoke about how he met the Bombudsdog, who had the power to stop the killings, and pleaded with him. “So many families have lost their bread-winner because of this random slaying of stray dogs by local body workers,” Anik had said. “Why should dogs be killed just because they are walking on the streets? True, they sometimes fart and defecate and make love all over the place. What’s wrong with that?”

Pammi Pomeranian, a women’s representative, said, “We have always tried to be man’s best friend, but they have repeatedly called us strays, or dogs of loose character. To quote our late leader, Labram Lilcoln, ‘We should aspire for a government of the dogs, by the dogs, for the dogs’.”

Another member, said, “Yes, we want to live in a dog’s world.”

It was then that Top Dog, the superstar of dog movies and a MA (Member of the Assembly), threw up his sunglasses. It hit the roof of the Assembly and when it came down it fell perfectly on his nose. After the ensuing applause had died down, he said, “For our protection, I can ensure that members of my fan’s association can be trained to form a bulldog squad.”

A 110-year-old Doberman, wearing thick-lensed spectacles, immediately stood up, his legs and tail trembling, and said, “Every dog should have his day, but we should opt for peaceful means.”

Immediately, the North Indian immigrant, Kala Kutha (a member of the Black Dog Commandos, which protects the Chief Minister), said, “Once a man slapped me on the right cheek. In true non-violent tradition, I showed him my other cheek. Do you know what he did? He shoved a screwdriver up my nose.”

Chief Minister Anik said, “Kala Kutha, please don’t be provocative.”

Superstar Top Dog said, “No, we are being proactive. Otherwise, we will all lie like sleeping dogs. What we need is war, not peace. ”

Unnerved by the tone of the discussions, Anik nodded to the Speaker who quickly said, “This session is going to the dogs. The Assembly is adjourned.”

(The New Indian Express, Kochi)





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