LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Well done Boys!
Kudos to Indian Junior Hockey Team which won the World Cup at Hobart, Australia recently. On the way to final they dethroned formidable Holland and hot favourites Germany. It is after a long gap of more than a quarter century that India is winning a world title in hockey after their senior team won the world cup way back in 1975. Though India won the Olympic Hockey Gold Medal at 1980 Moscow Olympics, it is worth only 12 carat gold, because several Hockey stalwarts like Germany, Pakistan, Australia, Holland etc did not participate in that Olympics. The victory is sweeter as in the last edition of the junior world cup Hockey at Milton Keynes, India lost the final by a whisker losing to Australia by a slender 3-2 margin. This is a victory of the continental style of Hockey.
It is heartening to note that India won by a decisive margin of 6-1. Rarely had a team won the final of a world championship with such a convincing margin. This is also a welcome departure from our common weakness of crumbling at crucial moments. The victory has proved beyond doubt that Hockey is still in our blood and there is abundance of talent in the country. Though Hockey is our national game, it is a neglected sport in India. If the authorities and media give little more consideration, facility and rewards to the Hockey players, there is not an iota of doubt that the India’s golden days in Hockey will emerge again. Our primary task now should be to regain the Hockey Gold in the 2004 Olympics.
However, the country’s national television-Doordarshan played a spoilsport by completely ignoring this prestigious championship, thereby depriving millions of Hockey fans to have a glimpse of the glorious moments. Inspite of the fact that the country’s national team is playing in the final, Doordarshan did not felt it expedient to show the match live. These things will not happen in any other country other than India. Earlier in 1997 also Doordarshan did not show live telecast of the final. This is also an indication of our lack of national pride. Indian Hockey Federation cannot also wash their hands from this fiasco as they should have made advance arrangements with Doordarshan. The fact that many lesser known tournaments and other tournaments where India has no stake at all, are telecast live adds insults to injury. Doordarshan’s policy (If at all there is a policy) of telecasting sports programmes is not understood.
(E..M.ADITHYAN)
October 26, 2001
Elangalloor Mana
Edapal-679 576
Kerala
Friday, June 19, 2009
Guidelines for Civilian Awards
LETTER TO EDITOR
Guidelines for Civilian Awards
Politicians have opened a Pandora's Box by recommending the names of their leaders for the highest civilian award of the country ie; Bharat Ratna. This has created a controversy by many people jumping into the bandwagon and recommending various names for the awards. The authorities have conveniently taken a shortcut by dispensing with the Bharat Ratna award this year. This is an escapist policy and not a panacea for the problem. We Indians have the uncanny knack of treating the symptom and not the disease. It is ironical that there have been no clear cut criteria or guidelines for selecting the awardees. Consequently the ruling party used to give this award for their henchmen and favourites. We Indians especially politicians and bureaucrats are consistently following a bad precedent of showing loyalty to the boss. It is high time we should make a change in this attitude and try to achieve organisational/Company/National objectives rather than appeasing their bosses
I suggest the following guidelines for Bharat Ratna and other Padma awards
Politicians and people who are directly involved in politics should be excluded from the purview of this award.
Sycophants, flatterers, leg pullers, back baiters, liars and people with crab mentality, ego etc should be automatically disqualified from consideration of award
Achieving personal glory should not be a consideration for the award unless it is matched with improving the country's image in the outside world
Canvassing or lobbying for the award by the candidate or his near/dear ones should be treated as a disqualification
Award should be given to living legends and should not be given posthumously
The jury of the Award should consist eminent personalities drawn from various fields like Art, Literature, Culture, Sports, Public Service, Science & Technology etc headed by an eminent serving or retired Supreme Court judge
People who have given outstanding contribution in any field can be considered for the award
In addition to outstanding achievements the candidates being considered for the award should have impeccable human virtues like honesty, integrity, patriotism, morality, sacrifice, selfless service etc
The candidate being considered for higher awards should be a true nationalist and should feel free from the clutches of caste, region, religion etc
The award winner should be a role model for others to emulate
Candidates being considered for the award should have pride as an Indian National and should be proud of Indian Culture, Civilization and traditions
People who have raised the image of the country by their outstanding deeds should be considered
Unsung heroes and those who got very less returns in material terms should get preference
Persons who have been honoured by International Institutions and Foreign countries should get due weightage
The awards should help to inspire others to follow the great deeds of the awardees
Award should be accompanied by a citation so that the common man understand and appreciate the reason and justification for giving award to the person
While minor deviations/dilutions can be done in some factors considering the weightage of other factors, no compromise in the criteria should be made for the highest award. It is better not to give award rather than giving award to an undeserving candidate.
Let us make these awards an instrument of national pride and not a cake for the petty politicians to fight. Let us also herald the beginning of a new era of the revival of the great Indian civilization and make this rich country of rich and abundant resources a true "Mahabharata" in letter and spirit.
The suggestions given are only indicative and not exhaustive. Government can consider formulating comprehensive policy so that in future awards are given to deserving candidates and not to the henchmen or yes-men of the party in power. This is essential to preserve the credibility and sanctity of the award and not to make a mockery of the awards.
E M Adithyan
31st January 2008
Elangalloor Mana
P.O. Edapal-679 576
Kerala
Guidelines for Civilian Awards
Politicians have opened a Pandora's Box by recommending the names of their leaders for the highest civilian award of the country ie; Bharat Ratna. This has created a controversy by many people jumping into the bandwagon and recommending various names for the awards. The authorities have conveniently taken a shortcut by dispensing with the Bharat Ratna award this year. This is an escapist policy and not a panacea for the problem. We Indians have the uncanny knack of treating the symptom and not the disease. It is ironical that there have been no clear cut criteria or guidelines for selecting the awardees. Consequently the ruling party used to give this award for their henchmen and favourites. We Indians especially politicians and bureaucrats are consistently following a bad precedent of showing loyalty to the boss. It is high time we should make a change in this attitude and try to achieve organisational/Company/National objectives rather than appeasing their bosses
I suggest the following guidelines for Bharat Ratna and other Padma awards
Politicians and people who are directly involved in politics should be excluded from the purview of this award.
Sycophants, flatterers, leg pullers, back baiters, liars and people with crab mentality, ego etc should be automatically disqualified from consideration of award
Achieving personal glory should not be a consideration for the award unless it is matched with improving the country's image in the outside world
Canvassing or lobbying for the award by the candidate or his near/dear ones should be treated as a disqualification
Award should be given to living legends and should not be given posthumously
The jury of the Award should consist eminent personalities drawn from various fields like Art, Literature, Culture, Sports, Public Service, Science & Technology etc headed by an eminent serving or retired Supreme Court judge
People who have given outstanding contribution in any field can be considered for the award
In addition to outstanding achievements the candidates being considered for the award should have impeccable human virtues like honesty, integrity, patriotism, morality, sacrifice, selfless service etc
The candidate being considered for higher awards should be a true nationalist and should feel free from the clutches of caste, region, religion etc
The award winner should be a role model for others to emulate
Candidates being considered for the award should have pride as an Indian National and should be proud of Indian Culture, Civilization and traditions
People who have raised the image of the country by their outstanding deeds should be considered
Unsung heroes and those who got very less returns in material terms should get preference
Persons who have been honoured by International Institutions and Foreign countries should get due weightage
The awards should help to inspire others to follow the great deeds of the awardees
Award should be accompanied by a citation so that the common man understand and appreciate the reason and justification for giving award to the person
While minor deviations/dilutions can be done in some factors considering the weightage of other factors, no compromise in the criteria should be made for the highest award. It is better not to give award rather than giving award to an undeserving candidate.
Let us make these awards an instrument of national pride and not a cake for the petty politicians to fight. Let us also herald the beginning of a new era of the revival of the great Indian civilization and make this rich country of rich and abundant resources a true "Mahabharata" in letter and spirit.
The suggestions given are only indicative and not exhaustive. Government can consider formulating comprehensive policy so that in future awards are given to deserving candidates and not to the henchmen or yes-men of the party in power. This is essential to preserve the credibility and sanctity of the award and not to make a mockery of the awards.
E M Adithyan
31st January 2008
Elangalloor Mana
P.O. Edapal-679 576
Kerala
Greener pastures
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Sub: Greener pastures
According to a report by the US based Institute of International Education, India has become the second largest exporter of students to US, second only to China. This year 54664 students headed to the US from India, just 5275 behind China. Enrolment from India was up by 29 percent, from China by 10 percent while that from Japan has slipped. It is a pity that even so long after independence, number of pupils who want higher education abroad is on the rise. This signals that India is unable to provide quality education of international standards.
It is almost certain that most of the students who go abroad for higher education will not return home after their studies. This is in addition to large-scale migration of highly qualified scientists and engineers. The statistics as to what percentage of our IIT Engineers will be going abroad will be alarming.
Thus, while US and other developed countries reap the fruits of our technical and scientific skill, India remains way behind the advanced countries inspite of having abundant talent in the country. We have miserably failed to tap these huge reservoirs of resources and talent and channelise them for the nation building. Consequently India continues to crawl trying to catch up with the big and end up with mediocrity. But who cares?
E.M.ADITHYAN
December 3, 2001
Elangalloor Mana
Edapal-679 576
Kerala
Sub: Greener pastures
According to a report by the US based Institute of International Education, India has become the second largest exporter of students to US, second only to China. This year 54664 students headed to the US from India, just 5275 behind China. Enrolment from India was up by 29 percent, from China by 10 percent while that from Japan has slipped. It is a pity that even so long after independence, number of pupils who want higher education abroad is on the rise. This signals that India is unable to provide quality education of international standards.
It is almost certain that most of the students who go abroad for higher education will not return home after their studies. This is in addition to large-scale migration of highly qualified scientists and engineers. The statistics as to what percentage of our IIT Engineers will be going abroad will be alarming.
Thus, while US and other developed countries reap the fruits of our technical and scientific skill, India remains way behind the advanced countries inspite of having abundant talent in the country. We have miserably failed to tap these huge reservoirs of resources and talent and channelise them for the nation building. Consequently India continues to crawl trying to catch up with the big and end up with mediocrity. But who cares?
E.M.ADITHYAN
December 3, 2001
Elangalloor Mana
Edapal-679 576
Kerala
Free and (Un) fair Election
Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill has advocated that Chief Minister of four states should resign before the states have Assembly elections in November 1998 to enable a neutral administration to conduct free and fair election. The suggestion merits serious consideration.
It is a widespread belief that one of the biggest impediment for conducting free and fair election is that elections are held under the aegis of the political party in power which is also a party to the election. It will be naive to believe that Government lead by any political party will conduct impartial election where it’s future is also at stake. Even the efforts of the Election Commission in the past to maintain semblance of discipline in sensitive areas by deputing more central and para military forces were foiled by some State governments by not deploying the additional forces as deployment of forces is the prerogative of the State government. It is an open secret that many poll related violence are not sporadic or spontaneous but stage managed and self sponsored. Under these circumstances CEC’s suggestion that elected government should voluntarily resign once the election schedule is announced is the only pragmatic solution for a free and fair election, at least better than under a party rule.
Unfortunately, the suggestion did not get any favorable reasons from major political parties. The problem with our political parties is that while they welcome suggestions when they are in opposition, such suggestion does not find favour when they are in power. Our politician’s inborn instinct to serve the people will not be satiated if they sacrifice power even for a day. Moreover, they firmly believe that they can serve the people only when they are in power or position. While most of our politicians quote the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi day in and day out his principles and ideals are only for preaching and not for practicing.
Of late, our political parties appear to have adopted a new slogan ‘Winning to serve and serving to win". Indians are fortunate that at least during election period there are more people to serve them than the number of people to be served. With the present fluid political situation in the country, common man is assured of VIP treatment not once in five years but more frequently.
Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill has advocated that Chief Minister of four states should resign before the states have Assembly elections in November 1998 to enable a neutral administration to conduct free and fair election. The suggestion merits serious consideration.
It is a widespread belief that one of the biggest impediment for conducting free and fair election is that elections are held under the aegis of the political party in power which is also a party to the election. It will be naive to believe that Government lead by any political party will conduct impartial election where it’s future is also at stake. Even the efforts of the Election Commission in the past to maintain semblance of discipline in sensitive areas by deputing more central and para military forces were foiled by some State governments by not deploying the additional forces as deployment of forces is the prerogative of the State government. It is an open secret that many poll related violence are not sporadic or spontaneous but stage managed and self sponsored. Under these circumstances CEC’s suggestion that elected government should voluntarily resign once the election schedule is announced is the only pragmatic solution for a free and fair election, at least better than under a party rule.
Unfortunately, the suggestion did not get any favorable reasons from major political parties. The problem with our political parties is that while they welcome suggestions when they are in opposition, such suggestion does not find favour when they are in power. Our politician’s inborn instinct to serve the people will not be satiated if they sacrifice power even for a day. Moreover, they firmly believe that they can serve the people only when they are in power or position. While most of our politicians quote the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi day in and day out his principles and ideals are only for preaching and not for practicing.
Of late, our political parties appear to have adopted a new slogan ‘Winning to serve and serving to win". Indians are fortunate that at least during election period there are more people to serve them than the number of people to be served. With the present fluid political situation in the country, common man is assured of VIP treatment not once in five years but more frequently.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Sub: Fence eating the crop
Every time when the mighty politicians and self styled VVIPs break the law with almost total impunity, the apex court of the country has to step in to stem the rot in the system. In this connection, Supreme Court’s observation on the illegal occupation of Government Bungalows by several politicians belonging to all major parties and other VIPs is heartening. No wonder, not a single member raised such blatant violation of rules in the Parliament. Indian politicians are having an enviable record of joining hands forgetting their ideological differences on matters of mutual interest and issues of national importance. It is a tragedy that in the largest democracy of the world, the lawmakers are the biggest law breakers.
Government should initiate action for charging market rent for the period of overstay and evict them immediately. Election Commission can think of suggesting suitable amendment in the rules so that any politicians having dues to the Government should be debarred from contesting election/holding a position of profit. Public interest litigation and court interference now and then is not a permanent solution to the problem.
E..M.ADITHYAN
25th October 2005
Elangalloor Mana
Edapal-679 576
Kerala
Sub: Fence eating the crop
Every time when the mighty politicians and self styled VVIPs break the law with almost total impunity, the apex court of the country has to step in to stem the rot in the system. In this connection, Supreme Court’s observation on the illegal occupation of Government Bungalows by several politicians belonging to all major parties and other VIPs is heartening. No wonder, not a single member raised such blatant violation of rules in the Parliament. Indian politicians are having an enviable record of joining hands forgetting their ideological differences on matters of mutual interest and issues of national importance. It is a tragedy that in the largest democracy of the world, the lawmakers are the biggest law breakers.
Government should initiate action for charging market rent for the period of overstay and evict them immediately. Election Commission can think of suggesting suitable amendment in the rules so that any politicians having dues to the Government should be debarred from contesting election/holding a position of profit. Public interest litigation and court interference now and then is not a permanent solution to the problem.
E..M.ADITHYAN
25th October 2005
Elangalloor Mana
Edapal-679 576
Kerala
Programme for the Month of February 2008
1.02.2008 Seminar on Prohibition
Keynote address by Hon’ble Kashi Rum Liquor baron and insensitive industrialist.
Chief Guest. Mr. Sadachara Moorthy who has won first prize in liquor drinking competition for five times in a row.
Place. Beerlal Auditorium
Time: 8.00 p m onwards.
Note: Cocktail party will be served after the Programme
5.01.2008 Seminar on Yellow Journalism
Speech by popular film star and recipient of several abuses Ms. Chameli
8.02.2008 25th Death Anniversary of Rowdy Velappan. Procession and Bandh in protest against his death.
12.02.2008 Open fighting between two groups of KVP (Kerala Vibhajana Party)
followed by hurling of abuses.
Place: Police Maidan
Time: 8.00 P M onwards.
Note: Spectators can also participate
15.02.2008 Seminar on Probity in Public Life
Key note address by veteran political leader against whom several corruption cases are pending. He has already taken permanent visa for Hell
about 4 years ago.
18.02.2008 Statewide meetings, processions and Bandh in protest against Brazil’s
defeat by Uruguay in the world cup qualifying match.
20.2.2008 A team of 500 people lead by Food Minister to visit several countries of Europe to make a comprehensive study about the development and production of Masala Dosa. Team will be back by the end of current financial year.
25.2.2008 Meeting of the southern state ministers to consider giving a joint proposal to the Central Government to exempt politicians from southern states from the biting cold of Delhi
Place: Veerappan’s forest area
Time: 4.00 A M onwards
28.2.2008 An all party team to Visit Delhi to give representation to Central Government to increase the number of days in February from 28 to 30. Provocative Committee Chairman requests all MPs, MLAs, Members of Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Panchayat to join the delegation
Note: Entry for all the programmes will be restricted thro passes. Free passes are available at all leading liquor shops of the state.
Special Offer: Political parties or other organizations can sponsor strike, hartal. Bandh, protest rallies, relay hunger strike etc on days in which there are no other programmes.
E M Adithyan
28th January 2008
Elangalloor Mana
Edapal 679576
Kerala
1.02.2008 Seminar on Prohibition
Keynote address by Hon’ble Kashi Rum Liquor baron and insensitive industrialist.
Chief Guest. Mr. Sadachara Moorthy who has won first prize in liquor drinking competition for five times in a row.
Place. Beerlal Auditorium
Time: 8.00 p m onwards.
Note: Cocktail party will be served after the Programme
5.01.2008 Seminar on Yellow Journalism
Speech by popular film star and recipient of several abuses Ms. Chameli
8.02.2008 25th Death Anniversary of Rowdy Velappan. Procession and Bandh in protest against his death.
12.02.2008 Open fighting between two groups of KVP (Kerala Vibhajana Party)
followed by hurling of abuses.
Place: Police Maidan
Time: 8.00 P M onwards.
Note: Spectators can also participate
15.02.2008 Seminar on Probity in Public Life
Key note address by veteran political leader against whom several corruption cases are pending. He has already taken permanent visa for Hell
about 4 years ago.
18.02.2008 Statewide meetings, processions and Bandh in protest against Brazil’s
defeat by Uruguay in the world cup qualifying match.
20.2.2008 A team of 500 people lead by Food Minister to visit several countries of Europe to make a comprehensive study about the development and production of Masala Dosa. Team will be back by the end of current financial year.
25.2.2008 Meeting of the southern state ministers to consider giving a joint proposal to the Central Government to exempt politicians from southern states from the biting cold of Delhi
Place: Veerappan’s forest area
Time: 4.00 A M onwards
28.2.2008 An all party team to Visit Delhi to give representation to Central Government to increase the number of days in February from 28 to 30. Provocative Committee Chairman requests all MPs, MLAs, Members of Municipal Corporations, Municipalities and Panchayat to join the delegation
Note: Entry for all the programmes will be restricted thro passes. Free passes are available at all leading liquor shops of the state.
Special Offer: Political parties or other organizations can sponsor strike, hartal. Bandh, protest rallies, relay hunger strike etc on days in which there are no other programmes.
E M Adithyan
28th January 2008
Elangalloor Mana
Edapal 679576
Kerala
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