Kerala   

Give voice to the public’s frustration

A precipitate anarchy appears to prevail in Kerala. It is intriguing how Kerala, the most literate State in the country, falls a victim to obscurantism, intolerance, fanaticism and superstitions.

Education purports to enkindle an interest in the students to pursue the truth on their own. As elders, we tend to mislead and confuse them by raising baseless controversies.

Ours is a representative democracy. Issues facing it are to be sorted out in the Legislative House and not on the streets or in front of the Secretariat gate.

There seems to be certain vested interests behind the scene, misguiding the youth in Kerala. There should be an organized effort to thwart the undesirable designs of this disgruntled lot. In fact, they should be charged for culpable homicide that is tantamount to murder.

N. Sadasivan Pillai

By e-mail

The organisations that are leading the present violent agitations are taking law into their own hands. They should understand that there are other lawful means and procedures which can be adopted to redress their grievances. Moreover, academic matters are to be sorted out by academicians and not by politicians and student and youth organisations.

It has become a practice for such organisations to conduct violent agitations resulting in loss of property and forcing the authorities to take unlawful decisions. One organisation publicises through the media that they will give protection to the cluster meetings of the teachers while another organisation says that they will not allow the textbook to be taught unless it is changed. They have no authority to do as above when there is a government machinery to maintain law and order in the state.

It is high time that the political parties kept away from supporting this kind of violent agitations, whatever be the cause. Supporting such activities will only end in pandemonium. Public opinion has to be generated against the same, regardless of political differences.

Binu Mangal

Thiruvananthapuram

The bipartisan support for welfare politics shared by the two political groupings in the State has been replaced by bitterness and confrontationist posturing. The youth organisations which form the vanguard of political action have been infiltrated by antisocial elements. The creeping criminalisation of politics and politicisation of crime constitute a deadly cocktail for subversion of the rule of law. Human life is no longer considered sacred in the politics of vendetta.

Public resentment on frequent disruption of normal life is mounting across the State. Heightened political activism, while helping to create public awareness and improve governance, has also killed the growth of apolitical organisations which could act as effective checks on political excesses. Therefore, the silent majority can only wring their hands in despair and vent their feelings by writing letters to the editor. There are only two choices before the general public – either acquiesce in the undemocratic behaviour of the mobs or risk violent retaliation. Even approaching courts has become a futile exercise as court orders on holding public demonstrations are seldom obeyed or enforced. Given the track record of the political formations, one cannot even hope that the police will be allowed to function impartially. The defining public mood is one of pessimism.

In Kerala, only political solutions seem to work. The common man can expect a respite from the disruptive politics only if the dominant parties behave responsibly. Let us appeal to the good sense of the political class to spare the State from further bloodshed and disruptions. Theoretically, in a democracy the citizens can teach the politicians a lesson or two during elections. But, unfortunately, the voter has a limited choice here – it is between Tweedledum and Tweddledee.

V.N. Mukundarajan

Thiruvananthapuram

To hog the limelight and stay alive in the media is one of the main reasons behind these psuedo-political agitations. These agitations enhance the self-importance of the protestors. It places the police force at the receiving end. There is a growing intolerance and neglect of democratic practices in public life. Such agitations always try to prove that violence is the right and a way out to address political conflicts. We should dissent all such agitations. Right political education would help a lot in this direction.

K. Rajasekharan

Mulagunnathukavu

Students and youth wing of political parties resort to violence and destroy public and private properties at the behest of their political masters. Both the LDF and the UDF are responsible for abetting such violence in the State. The youth wing of both fronts is competing with one another, holding the people at ransom. Cultural leaders and eminent people must get together to launch a movement against all types of violence and hartals.

Ninan P.G.

Mavelikara

Political parties are exploiting youths for their own interests. The end result youth get a false feeling of protection. Once youths get involved in such violent acts, it becomes difficult for them to return to normal life. Parents, teachers and people around them should discourage youth from involving themselves in violent acts.

R. Rajagopalan

Punkunnu

The politically motivated tricks that the students’ unions play are a bane to the State. The Opposition parties want to make an issue out of everything they get, and for this use the youths. There is nothing wrong in the class seven textbooks. The students are free choose, to go strike or study well. Sadly, their future is in the hands of Education Minister M.A. Baby and other political parties.

S.N. Thiruvazhiode

Poonithura

Student unrest in the State is due to the influence of political parties who at their convenience use students as their pawn to create troubles. All these are done by mainly three political parties—the Congress, the CPI(M) and the BJP. If the leaders of these political parties can control students’ wing, I am sure there will not be any violence. The standard of education will also rise.

V.Venkitasubramanian

Thammanam

The recent news about the death of a headmaster was appalling. It is being said that some protestors manhandled him and he died on the way to a hospital in Kozhikode. When this incident occurred, we were stranded at Edapal junction while returning from Kozhikode in a car. We saw many police jeeps and a heavy crowd on the footpath. Some of them from the crowd advised us to leave the place.

There seems to some sort of feeling among the youth it pays to be rough and violent in nature. Violent acts like destroying public property and manhandling police and the masses are the only way for them to protest. The youth should be ready to sit across the table, discuss and chalk out ways to solve their problems.

Youths must understand that they have a right to protest but they have no right to withhold my right not to protest.

R.K. Kuzhikatt

Oorakam

Time and again the courts directed the school and college authorities to ban union works in educational institutions. Many a time, police entered the campuses due to union rivalries. Still the students continue to strike thanks to the motivation given to them by political parties.

The present issue of the class seven textbook is a no-issue. Writers, political leaders, parents and the public in common should react to these actions and try their best to avoid politics and unionism in the educational institutions.

Sreelakshmi Sankar

Poonithura

The ongoing widespread agitation by youth and students trivial causes is beyond reasoning and deserves condemnation. Politicians cannot sustain without power and therefore they will go to any extent to achieve their ends. The present day agitations are aided and abetted by these politicians. The society should stand up and raise their voice against such destructive actions.

The agitators should realise that they achieve nothing by destroying public property. They should, therefore, devote their energy and time towards useful purposes and help build a peaceful and prosperous nation. Last but not the least the erring agitators should be made liable to pay compensation for the losses they inflicted.

Ambalath Aboobakar

Pavaratty

A new round of agitations by students in Kerala has led to widespread destruction of property. Political interests drive these violent acts. Students and youth should not be mere puppets in the hands of politicians. Let the senior politicians come to the front and fight for the cause. Spare the youths; they are the future of a nation.

Archana Chandran

Changanassery

This academic year has been one of the worst as far as the education in Kerala is concerned. In five weeks there has been six hartals, forcing the educational institutions to close down. How many more are to follow?

Every one seems to be aware of this and yet there seem to be no remedy.

The government is unconcerned about this issue. Certain positive measures are to be enforced to vitalise the sickening educational system, failing which the future generation will have to undergo irrevocable sufferings.

Capt. O.B. Nair

Poonithura

No doubt, it is due to the excess of politics in campus. Nowadays students are mere puppets in the hands of politicians.

Politicians know that the young blood is the most powerful weapon. In a sudden fit of anger our youngsters make a chain of destruction. Actually parents are helpless and they are diminished to a mute spectator. If we ban politics in campus, we can create a peaceful atmosphere to a great extent.

Suba Basheer

Kayamkulam

I think the media can play a vital role to play in this issue. The political organisations also have a great responsibility for directing the youth in the right direction. In any way we should save the energy of the youth, which will be vital for nation building.

Sreenath S.K.

Kulathoor-Prayar

In a democratic set up conflict, mainly ideological, is inevitable. But, conflict should be contained in debate and should not unfold into violence leading to destruction of property and defiance of personal freedom. Visuals of masculine power going berserk on rampage are beamed to our drawing rooms almost daily. But it is yet to arouse the conscience of society.

It is high time to confront this madness by organised opposition and alienate the perpetrators. The intellectuals and apolitical members of society should wake up and give a lead in building up passive resistance. Since the guardians of law and the keepers of law have consistently failed to restrain and control the menace, the citizens need not hesitate to rise up and act. Introducing a lesson on this in the textbook for the growing-ups will indeed be a real service to humanity.

Robert S. Sreenivasan

Kozhikode

Most of the students do not know what they are doing, why they are doing it and for whom they are doing it. Youths, on the other hand, participate only to flush out the dejection over their unfulfilled dreams and for some recognition in society, which they think that such activities may give. Politics capitalises on the aforesaid facts and make use of these innocent scapegoats to present an act of money and muscle power. As long as society is divided by internal and external politics, the above atrocities cannot be controlled.

R. Parameswaran

Palakkad

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