BETUL TWINS - SYMBOL OF RISING INDIA

Betul was a nondescript town in Madhya Pradesh in India while I had been a student at the University of Saugor, Sagar during 1970-72. The state was one of the largest in India. Rich in resources, it remained backward in all respects. Betul had nothing of significance and showed a disinclination for any kind of development.

Newspaper reports from Betul on 21^st June 2012 places the town on a higher plateau.

“Conjoined twins Stuti and Aradhana were successfully separated after a 12-hour complex surgery conducted by a team of 34 medical experts, including 23 doctors, drawn from India and abroad. The complicated surgical procedure was carried out at Missionary hospital in Padhar, Betul. “

The sisters were born on May 2, 2011 to Maya Yadav, a resident of Chudiya village under Chicholi block of Betul district. Since the woman and her husband, a poor farmer, were unable to bear the huge expenses required for the delicate surgery, they had donated them to the hospital. The hospital management readily accepted them and decided to go for surgery to separate the conjoined twins who were joined at heart and liver. 

In a four phase operation, the twins were first given anaesthesia.  After nearly two hours, a team of surgeons separated their heart that was again transplanted into them in two pieces.

The surgeons separated their livers through a critical surgery during the third phase. In the last phase their other body parts were separated and sealed as required under such surgeries.  Stuti was finally separated from Aradhana and was kept in the ICU while Aradhana remained inside the operation theatre. The twins are kept on ventilators and will be under close medical observation for 48 hours.

We have to be proud of the team of doctors who had strived for twelve hours to achieve the impossible. We can take pride in the fact that this has happened in one of the most backward regions in India. Betul is undoubtedly the symbol of rising India. 

(Based on report in The Hindu of   June 21, 2012 published from Thiruvananthapuram)

KERALA UNIVERSITY - DISCRIMINATION IN MODERATION

Much before the IT boom happened parents in Kerala were a harried lot. They had struggled hard to find a job despite the fact they were well educated. Kerala had the highest literacy rate in India. Though they had tried their best to join an engineering college or medical college, warped and restrictive policies of successive governments had kept the number of admissions and number of engineering colleges and medical colleges in the state very low.  It was demand far outstripping availability all the time. Harsh reality forced them join Arts and Science courses and come out as graduates or post graduates. The jobs on offer were predominantly clerical either in the government sector or in the banking sector. The swelling number of educated unemployed ensured a policy of selection by elimination. It was the dream of all parents in Kerala – it still is -  to see that  their children somehow become an engineer or a doctor. While the society looked down on a clerk or a teacher, doctors and engineers were viewed with reverence as they made money much more than the average Keralite.

When our son grew up and passed SSLC examination in 1994 with distinction we encouraged him take up Biology, Physics and Chemistry group for his Pre Degree Course. As we wanted him to have a go at both medical and engineering admissions – medical seats available were limited - he was encouraged to take up Mathematics as an additional subject. The hitch was that while he was allowed to take it up as an additional subject he was not allowed to attend classes in the college for the subject. The general perception those days was that while one had to attend the classes in the college for ensuring attendance that permitted him to write the university examination, special coaching at the residence of reputed teachers alone made him get through the entrance examination that opened the doors of prosperity in the form of admission to engineering or medical colleges. The poor boy had to wake up at 3.00 AM to start attending coaching classes from 4.00AM. The morning session would be over by 8.30 AM. He would rush to the college often forgoing breakfast to attend classes there.

There was no let up in the evening. As soon as the sessions were over at the college he had to rush to the coaching classes that began at 5.00 PM and lasted till 9.00PM. We found him reaching home at around 10.00PM. The punishing schedule made him go to sleep the moment he reached home. The two years of Pre- degree was sheer hell for the boy.  To be fair our son was studious. We observed that he was making a sincere effort to secure a high rank in the entrance examination to ensure his entry to a medical or an engineering college. However the results belied our hopes and dreams. His rank in the medical stream was very low. He had a good rank in the engineering stream. However he could secure 46% only for Mathematics in the Pre degree examination of 1996.  The rules of admission those days were that unless one had 50% marks for Mathematics in the Pre degree examination he would not be admitted to an engineering college in Kerala even if he had secured a good rank in the entrance examination.

The Kerala University was very magnanimous that year. The University found that quite a large number of students with a good rank in the entrance examination would be unable to join the engineering colleges in Kerala  for the simple reason that their marks in the Pre degree examination was below the mandatory 50%. The University issued an order granting a moderation of 4% for Mathematics for the regular students of Pre degree that year. It meant that if a student who had taken up the Mathematics, Physics and chemistry group for Pre degree in the regular batch had succeeded in obtaining 46% marks only for the Pre degree examination that year he would be granted an additional 4% to raise his marks to 50% to secure admission to an engineering college. Our son was a regular student in the Biology batch.Though he had secured 46% in Mathematics he was denied the magnanimous moderation  because he had taken up Mathematics as an additional subject.

Finding the discrimination unjust we had submitted a request to the Vice Chancellor of the university to extend the moderation to all the students who had appeared in the examination no matter whether they were regular or otherwise. The Vice Chancellor promptly forwarded the request to the Controller of Examinations of the University. We learned later that the exalted official while declining the request took a firm view that those who did not know how to get 50% marks in the Pre degree examination for Mathematics could not be allowed to join an engineering college in Kerala conveniently forgetting that he had authorized granting of moderation to regular students who had obtained 46% marks for Mathematics.

We had presented the issue to almost all the newspapers in the state. None of them were prepared to publish the matter and antagonize the University. However one kind soul advised us to file a suit at the High Court where he was certain justice would not be denied. We did not file a suit because we did not have the resources to file a suit and fight the University that had enormous resources at its command. 

BHOGLES /THE WINNING WAY / ANITA BHOGLE & HARSHA BHOGLE

I came across the book a couple of months ago. I was mesmerized by the simple techniques advocated by the authors to forge ahead. I admire them for unveiling values that are ignored most of the time. They are presented  with due respect to the wonderful authors who have transformed my vision of life.

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1. Success often breeds many failures.
2. Attitude needs to be cultivated long-term and good teams are quick to encourage and reward good attitude while nipping errant behavior in the bud.
3. When people move on to a new job or a new place they need to be very sure they will fit into a set-up, into a fresh ethic, wherever they go.
4. The aura around winners is unmistakable. But winners need to be in the right company as well.
5. When the times are good stretch them. But when the times are bad, stick to the basics and be honest with yourself.
6. If you reach a situation where you have no chance of success or winning, there is no point in worrying about it. Good teams and good players think about what they can do, about how they can get better at what they do, about things that are in their control.
7. Look ahead and forget about what happened before or think of what might have been.
8. You feel motivated when you learn from the stars but remember they don’t always make the best teachers because, among other reasons, they seem to have the ability to execute even the trickiest of plans. They don’t always seem to understand why others cannot.
9. When goals overwhelm a good sales executive knows what to do. When he is given a stiff target for the next year, he can easily throw in the towel. But he knows if he breaks it down into quarterly, monthly or even weekly targets it doesn’t seem very daunting. He can keep patting himself on the back for small goals achieved and stay positive about hitting the larger, more distant one. In effect, he ends up making the larger goal a by-product of executing precisely defined small goals very well. The larger goal happens!
10. It is the manner in which a seemingly impossible target was reframed that makes it seem surmountable.
11. Effort is the only thing in your control. Those unwilling to put that in gain nothing.
12. Even the best bowler needs the best field placement. Listen to the person on the ground and help him with the right resources.
13. A star can perform only if he is properly supported by the team and that is why setting up a goal is as important as setting up one. If each one tries to score by himself, the team will cease to even function as a team, let alone do well.
14. In creating the ’WE’, integrating all the diverse groups is critical. Diversity enriches teams by bringing in varied cultures and ways of approaching issues.
15. In a heterogeneous society the role of the leader is critical. The job of the leader is to ensure that there is free mingling of individuals to enhance knowledge and team spirit. If the members of the society are aloof, or worse disrespectful, it can create discord and dissent.
16. The leader needs to personalize his approach to suit each member of his team.
17. Team management is an effort. It’s far easier to convince one person (your boss) than all your colleagues. You spend more time in the beginning but far less in execution. If everyone buys into a plan the results can be thrilling.
18. All experiments come with risk attached. If all the players pause from time to time to consider the risk you can never achieve anything.

PERILOUS RIDE

News papers report that 4000 deaths occur in Kerala every year due to accidents on the roads. Two wheelers are involved in a major chunk of the unfortunate deaths. It is an alarming situation. The addition of 4000 families to rudderless destitution each year is a man made disaster due to callous indifference on the part of the authorities and at times of the victims themselves.

It was in the year 1978  Rev P V John of the CSI Church at Kattanam had set off on his brand new scooter from his residence on an evening to visit a member of his parish. The life of a priest is full of sacrifices. The priests struggled for existence in that era. While those who practiced celibacy had only themselves to look after those who had married and had families had a torrid time. Rev P V John did have a family. Sosamma, his wife was a teacher in a school. They had five children, three boys and two girls. It was a happy family where they laughed together always despite the severity of shortages they were in most of the time. They had entrusted themselves to the Lord and the good Lord always had ensured that they were never left in the lurch.

P V John who had dedicated himself to become a priest and serve the Lord was a catechist at the time of his marriage with Sosamma who had been a teacher. When it was time to anoint P V John as a Priest,
Bishop M M John had set the condition that priesthood would be granted to P V John if only Sosamma had resigned from her job. Sosamma was in a dilemma. She went and sought opinion from her father C I Abraham who had been a Head Master of a Lower Primary School. The saintly man gave a sane advice. As her husband had dedicated himself to become a priest and serve the Lord, her job should not come in the way of  her husband’s ideals.   She had to support him and not block him.  Sosamma gave up her job.
P V John became Rev. P V John.

Ten years passed. Rev P V John and Sosamma had a happy family life. Sosamma was busy with her role as the wife of the Priest at Parishes where Rev P V John was posted. She was content to raise the children who had arrived intermittently. Bishop M M John who had visited the family on a visit to the Parish where
Rev.P V John was posted was appalled by the living conditions of the family. The Bishop regretted his insistence that Sosamma gave up her job to anoint priesthood on P V John. He initiated steps to reappoint Sosamma as a teacher. With Sosamma back at her job, the struggle for survival had eased up.

Rev P V John could not reach his destination. Though he owned the brand new chetak that he had purchased a few months earlier after several years in the waiting list, he was still learning the nuances of riding a scooter.  He tried to overtake a hand cart carrying palm leaves as he rode on. Unfortunately the rope that had secured the palm leaves to the hand cart was jutting out. The rear view mirror of the scooter was entangled with the rope. There were marks of the wheels on the road when Rev PV John had applied the brakes. He could not stop the vehicle. He was thrown off the scooter with the head banging on the road. It was a grievous head injury. He was bleeding profusely. Though he was rushed to the adjacent Hospital at Kattanam the doctors advised immediate transfer to the Medical  College Hospital at Trivandrum as they were not equipped to deal with the emergency.

Dr. Sambasivan at the Medical College Hospital attended on the patient. The famous neuro surgeon could not do much as the fight for survival was a lost cause from the very beginning. There were complications.
Rev P V John succumbed to the injuries after a few days in the ICU.

Dr. Sambasivan enquired why Rev P V John was not wearing a Helmet when he rode the scooter. Helmets were optional at that time. He showed us a broken Helmet. He said that it was worn by a medical student when he had fallen off  his scooter. Though the Helmet was broken , the medical student survived the accident with no major injuries. He advised us to start a campaign encouraging people to wear helmets when they ride two wheelers. His parting advice was that Helmets saved precious lives.

A few days after the death of Rev PV John, the parcel that contained a Helmet was delivered at his house. It was a gift from a relative working abroad. He had sent the gift on learning that Rev P V John had purchased a scooter. Rev P V John did not buy another Helmet  as he knew that it was on its way.

Rev P V John was a very good man. He was always prepared to help those in need. He never revealed to others even when he was in dire straits. His untimely death was a jolt to the family. The children lost their guide. Though Sosamma was employed she found it very difficult to balance the family budget. The family came through the thorny phase with their steadfast faith in the Lord. Though the children are all doing well at the moment, it is obvious that they would have all done still better if Rev P V John had been alive.

There was stiff opposition when Helmet was made mandatory in Kerala. Though people have now relented in their objections we  find a large number of people riding two wheelers without Helmets across Kerala. They do not mind paying fines for not wearing Helmets. I have often wondered whether they do not value their lives or whether they do not think at all what would happen to their families in case something unfortunate happened to them. It happened to Rev. P V John. His family suffered. It has happened to many. Who knows who is in the firing line next?   

PASSPORT SEVA KENDRA (PASSPORT SERVICE CENTER)

The Passport Seva Kendra, Vazhuthacaud, Trivandrum, Kerala, India on 21.02.2012 at 2.15 PM presented a very pleasant experience. When the passport was due for renewal I had been bracing myself up to undergo yet again the rigors I went through a decade earlier. However  I was surprised to learn that the procedure had been thoroughly revamped. The application could be submitted online. Surprises galore.  I had been offered the choice to select the time I preferred on the available date.   I was advised to report at the office on 21.02.2012 at 2.15 PM.

The security officials gathered all who had appointments for the slot to queue up for the security check. It was over  fast.  We were led to a line for scrutiny of the documents. The swiftness surprised us. The officials  brimmed with courtesy.  There was another line for issue of the token. We relaxed in an air conditioned lounge awaiting the display of the number on the screen. When it came up I was directed to a counter where the online application was scrutinized by a  well-mannered official.  Amendments could be proposed on the  data . The official modified it. I was requested to go through the application again to ensure that it had my approval. It was time to remit the required fee. Fingerprints and photo were captured. The official inquired whether the photo was alright. Upon issue of a receipt,   I was advised to wait for inspection of data by officials of the Government.  The official  scrutinized the data with a smile and returned the passport on its cancellation. The finale  was the meeting  with the Passport Officer .  It was over within minutes.  At 2.55 PM the official indicated the processing was over and that I would have the new Passport in twenty days.   It took  five more minutes to complete the feedback. I just could not believe it when I had stepped out of the office at 3.00 PM. It was outrageous to expect such quick disposals in the good old days.  I was very happy to be a part of the changing facet of our country.

We do not relish the prospect of walking into a Government Office in India for services that are essential. We know that those who work there consider us unwelcome intruders. They interpret laws in such a way that our needs are never satisfied. They are subjective to the core. They derive pleasure in driving us around in circles. Serpentine queues and indifferent officials make us sweat it out for days together even for the submission of an application. Endemic is the delay in processing.

Passport Seva Kendra is a mark of resolute Indians who are out to make a difference in the lives of fellow citizens.   It is an authentic statement on the benefits of PPP (Public Private Participation - (MOE) Ministry of External Affairs and (TCS) Tata Consultancy Services). Together they made the impossible possible.

CHILD IS PRECIOUS

We have been blessed with a grandson at 9.05 PM on 4^th February 2012. We are grateful to the Lord for enabling our daughter in law deliver a healthy baby. It happened after a long wait of seven years and one month. Both the mother and the child are fine. We are happy our prayers have been heard. God has made us understand that He looks after us and acts in His own moment.  

Ever since I went online as ‘childisprecious’ I had been quizzed by friends the reason for adoption of the name. The response had been, “It comes from the heart.”

Yes, the child certainly is precious. It is devastating when you long for a child and discover that the child eludes you no matter what you do. For most the arrival of a child is natural.  Some feel that they can have a child at their own sweet will and pleasure. It is a flawed notion.  Conception is the most beautiful yet mysterious process in the world. Though human intervention is an absolute necessity, the partakers are powerless to determine the conclusion. The creator is supreme. 

King David in Psalm 139 aptly describes it. “Where can I go from Your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. For You formed my inward parts. You covered me in my mother’s womb. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.”

Dr. Santhamma Mathew and Dr. Santha Devi of Credence Hospital, Ulloor, Trivandrum had been the instruments in the hands of the Lord to work a miracle in the lives of our children. They toiled tirelessly. They encouraged our children when they were hit by failure after failure.  They maintained all along that miracles do happen if they had faith and believed in the Lord. The sisters at the Hospital were a great support.

Our son and daughter in law had to undergo an arduous phase the past three years. There were frequent visits to the hospital often at odd hours.  They had their highly demanding jobs.  When the Doctors mandated total rest it was very difficult to strike a balance and retain a semblance of normalcy. Desperation saw her quit  the well paid job. The good Lord facilitated them undergo the ordeal with fortitude.

God commanded the Israelites “Know that I am your God.”   The birth of our grandson is indeed a miracle and is a gift from our merciful Lord. 

AKATHUMURI MESMERIZES THE WEARY

Akathumuri is at once remote geographically and historically. Nothing significant has ever taken place there. It is well connected by roads. It has a Railway Station where leisurely passenger trains halt for a minute or two. Travellers in the Express trains never even know that their train has roared past Akathumuri as they journey from or to Thiruvanathapuram, the capital city of Kerala. Akathumuri had remained forsaken for quite a long time.

The astounding progress Kerala has made over the years has had its impact on Akathumuri as well. Panayil Kadavu bridge ended its isolation from civilization. The momentous decision by Mr. A K Antony to open up professional education to private sector through self financing institutions brought a Dental College to Akathumuri. Progress finally began to extend to remote places in Kerala, a welcome shift from the concentration in urban locales.

Akathumuri derives its name from Akathumuri Kayal. The Kayal (lake) nestles the village of Akathumuri. As we stood on the shores of Akathumuri Kayal we were mesmerized by the scenic beauty. The placid water was unpolluted, something that was unheard of in other places in Kerala. The location reminded me of Corral Island, close to  Pattaya in Thailand. The difference was that tourists abounded at Corral Island whereas we were the lone tourists at Akathumuri.

There are two resorts on the shores of the Kayal. One is adjacent to the Dental College. It has a number of cottages that provide world class facilities. One can relax in the cottages enjoying the natural scenery and the sumptuous food served by the Chef. The view from the cottages is magnificent. Coconut palms extend over the whole tract around the Kayal. There is an island in the Kayal one can access through boats. A temple beckons the worshippers.  Cruise in the Kayal refreshes and rejuvenates the weary traveller. Next resort has a good restaurant, but offers no cottages. It provides a house boat that  takes us around the Kayal for fixed hours. It is like strolling on water savouring the best nature offers.  Food is served on board. The delicacies have a taste of Kerala. It is Kappa (Tapioca) and fish curry for starters. Lunch is a surprise. It is rice with traditional curries like sambar, avial, thoran, rasam along with fried Karimeen (Starfish) fresh from the Kayal and prawn and lobster preparations. The cruise winds up with an offering of fried banana fruit and tea.

The villagers are ordinary folk who carry on their lives like villagers in the rest of the state. Some are fishermen, some are traders, some engage themselves in varied trades and some are labourers. The rich have large houses, but the majority live in ordinary houses. The place is clean and people are friendly. The economy is agrarian.

Akathumuri has unexplored territories. The background is rural. Natural beauty welcomes the weary. It is unpolluted. It is undeveloped. It is not in the tourism map. The sprawling greenery is a treat. One can go for angling, swimming and boating in the Kayal. Akathumuri is relaxation exemplary.

Anjengo or Anju Thengu of historical significance is a close neighbour. The establishment of facilities at Anjengo by the Europeans was the harbinger of colonialism that had subjugated our forefathers to abject slavery. Remnants of occupation are still visible.

Akathumuri is in  Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala State in India. It can be accessed from Thiruvananthapuram by road via Attingal through Vakkom or from Korani in the NH 47 through Chirayinkeezhu. The distance from Thirvananthapuram is approximately 51 KM.

Standing on the shores of Akathumuri Kayal we asked ourselves, “Why did we go to Corral Island when we had magnificence right at our door steps?”