Is FASTag taking a toll? Kochi might say yes

KOCHI: Are you in the habit of checking your FASTag balance routinely? If not, how would you know if youve not been remitting toll charges for travel not done? A car owner in Kochi was surprised when he realised that toll charge had been deducted from his FASTag account, though he hadnt passed through the toll gate at Kumbalam. The incident occurred last Sunday. Bijoy Chandran, a marketing executive, said he and his family were in the city the entire day and never ventured out towards Kumbalam side. I was checking the messages on my phone in the evening and was taken aback to find Rs 45 deducted at Kumbalam toll plaza at 11.32am. I logged into the application and found the amount had indeed been debited from my account. I had not travelled in that direction that day, he said. A complaint was registered and CCTV footage at the plaza was examined. This confirmed that it was another car that had passed through the plaza at the exact time when the charge was deducted. It was a technical glitch. The scanner misread the RFID number. The FASTag account of the vehicle that passed was ......3A0 and the charge was deducted from the account ....3E0, said a toll plaza employee. How can machines get it wrong? If I hadnt checked my SMS I would have never known about it, Bijoy said. The employee admits that such instances are not a one-off. There have been instances when FASTag recharges via online or through mobile apps have been credited to other accounts. And its only when drivers pass through toll plazas that they realise their accounts lack sufficient balance, he said. For whom the alarm bells toll 1) In the event of an erroneous payment record, call and register a complaint with customer care: the number is displayed on the back of the tag 2) Provide vehicle number and time of deduction of toll charge to demand chargeback 3) If you receive no reply or there has been no refund in 15 days, contact the toll plaza. (Contact number of Kumbalam toll plaza: 7025277806)

Sweet summer success: Kerala farmers see surge in snap melon

KOCHI: The paddy fields that line the banks of the Periyar and the Chalakudy rivers are laden with golden-hued fruits. A notably warm and extended summer with sporadic rains has brought forth a splendid blossoming season for cultivators of snap melon, a fruit that grows well in humid conditions. This year has been particularly rewarding for snap melons, says Sebastian K M alias Lalu, a 54-year-old farmer from Karumalloor near North Paravoor, whos been cultivating the fruit for over a decade. The fruit is locally referred to as pottu vellari, meaning cracked cucumber in Malayalam, due to the distinctive cracks that adorn its skin. As the season starts in January, prices soar to as high as Rs 75 per fruit, gradually tapering to Rs 45 by May end. The succulent pulp of the local variety is the primary reason for its popularity, cherished for its gentle sweetness and distinct flavour. Roadside stalls and bakery owners attest that they sell like hotcakes. Historically, snap melons (cucumis melo momordica) are believed to have originated in Kodungallur, Thrissur. In ancient times, the fruit was frequently served during the renowned Meena Bharani festival at the historic Kodungallur Devi Temple. The sowing timetable for snap melons varies depending on rainfall, typically spanning from the first to the last week of January. Cultivation practices prioritise organic fertilisers such as cow dung and poultry waste. A notable advantage of cultivating snap melons is their minimal irrigation requirements. Farmers primarily rely on drip irrigation during the plants growth phase. However, once fruiting begins, the plants draw moisture from the soil. Sebastian emphasises the criticality of careful irrigation, highlighting the risk of potential crop loss within days if mishandled. Additionally, he underscores the vulnerability of snap melon cultivation to unseasonal rains, which can lead to substantial crop damage, making it a particularly risky venture. Once snap melons reach ripeness, they begin to crack rapidly, posing a challenge for transportation. To mitigate this, farmers often place the fruits onto areca nut leaves for safe transport to markets. With an exceptionally short shelf life, the fruits skin starts to crack within just six hours of ripening, earning it the Malayalam moniker pottu vellari. These fruits primarily find their way to open markets through numerous makeshift stalls that line National Highway 17 from Chavakkad to Ernakulam during the summer season. These stalls specialise in selling snap melon juice, prepared by simply mashing the fruit with a spoon and mixing it with a dash of jaggery powder or sugar. This refreshing beverage can be concocted instantly. Moreover, innovative variations of the drink, incorporating ingredients like milk, have also emerged, adding further appeal to this beloved summer refreshment. The fruit has an extremely short shelf-life, wilting within hours of cracking. Interestingly, theres a discernible difference in taste between fruits just before and after cracking. Knowledgeable consumers often prefer cracked fruits; some even venture directly to the fields to select the perfect ones, explains Suraj, a snap melon vendor in North Paravoor. Dr Shinoj Subramanian, Head of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) under the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi, has been actively involved in raising awareness about the fruits nutritional value and advocating for its consumption and juices among the public. The initiative aims to support fruit farmers and promote precision farming of snap melons. Many people are still unaware of the nutritional benefits and effectiveness of snap melons, especially during the summer season, he remarks. This fruit is an excellent source of beta-carotene, folic acid, potassium, and vitamin C, Dr Sinoj adds, highlighting its nutritional richness. As part of its awareness-cum-promotional campaign, KVK organised a mega harvest festival of snap melons cultivated in various parts of Alangad Grama Panchayat in February last year. The event, which showcased different fruit juice varieties prepared using various recipes, received an overwhelming response from the public, recalls Subramanian. Experts stress the importance of incorporating pulpy summer fruits into ones diet, highlighting their abundant microfiber content, surpassing even that of watermelons, and their role in regulating body temperature. According to Dr Narayanan Kutty, former head of the Horticulture Wing of Kerala Agricultural University in Thrissur, these fruits are exceptional thirst-quenchers, boasting 90 per cent water content and offering instant cooling effects. Notably, they are fat and carbohydrate-free, with their seeds boasting excellent digestive properties. So one can consume as much amount of the fruit they want without any fear of gaining weight or other health concerns, Dr Narayanan says. In addition to Kerala, these fruits are also grown in select regions of Tamil Nadu and other North Indian districts. Mala village, situated on the southern outskirts of Thrissur district, is renowned as the epicentre of snap melon cultivation. As summer approaches, farmers from across the state converge on the Mala-Ashtamichira region, employing precision open farming techniques to cultivate the fruit in various cycles until the arrival of the monsoon. Over the past decade, the fruits popularity has surged, inspiring young farmers to grow snap melons every two weeks to maintain a steady supply. Remarkably, the plant yields fruit within just 45 days, he says. The fruits popularity has soared in recent years due to rising summer temperatures. Despite its shorter shelf life compared to watermelons, an increasing number of farmers are venturing into its cultivation annually. The majority of the fruit grown is shipped to Kochi and its surrounding areas, such as North Paravoor. The fruit is currently facing shortage as the main cultivation season has ended. The fourth harvest is currently underway, and the supply is restricted to those farmers who planted their seeds later, emphasises Sebastian. Snap Melon smoothie Ingredients Snap Melon: 500gm (without seeds and skin) Sugar: To taste Coconut milk: 300ml Sugar (Jaggery): 80gm Method: Mix all the ingredients. Put them in a mixer jar and blend it until a thick consistency forms. Serve it chilled. Other Smoothies 1 Small banana: 2 Jackfruit ice cream: 120gm Yoghurt: 150 ml Sugar: To taste 2 Caramel ice cream: 120gm Fresh milk: 200 ml Sugar: To taste Snap melon salad Ingredients Sliced snap melon : 50gm Feta cheese : 15gm Snap peas : 25gm Pumpkin seeds: 10gm Basil leaves: 5gm Pomegranate molasses: 10ml Sliced green Apple: 25gm Olive oil: 10ml Salt to taste White pepper powder: 5gm Method: Arrange all the ingredients on a plate and season with salt and pepper. Garnish with some pomegranate molasses for that extra crunch. Pottu vellari juice Ingredients Snap melon: 1 Sugar: As per need Water: As per need Method: Peel the skin off the melon and remove the seeds. Cut the fruit into small pieces. Add water and sugar as required. Serve with chunky melon pieces.

Kochi: Drop in voter turnout does not hinder claim game

KOCHI: Although voter turnout in Ernakulam constituency declined from the previous election, several booths witnessed brisk polling. According to preliminary figures, 67.91% of voters exercised their franchise, but officials emphasise that this is not the final figure. In 2019, the polling percentage was 77.63%. The highest turnout of 72.09% was recorded in North Paravur assembly constituency, from where LDF candidate K J Shine hails. Vypin constituency came second with 70.86%, while Kalamassery stood third with 70.27%. Ernakulam and Kochi recorded the lowest turnout of 62.22% and 65.87% respectively. Long queues of voters formed at many booths in Kochi as polling began at 7am on Friday. Voter turnout crossed 6% by 8:30am. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan joined other leaders, including candidates, in arriving at the booths early in the morning. However, a low turnout was witnessed in some booths in the city, which was attributed to scorching temperatures. Polling in the constituency reached 24.50% by 11am and around 40% by noon. By 3pm, the turnout was 47.20%. UDF candidate Hibi Eden cast his vote at Mamangalam SNDP Hall at 7am. He offered prayers at the cemetery of his father, George Eden, at Pottakuzhi Little Flower Church, before proceeding to cast his vote with his wife Anna Eden. LDFs Shine cast her vote at Kumara Vilasam LP School in Vedimara, North Paravur. NDA candidate K S Radhakrishnan cast his vote in Cheranelloor. He later visited many booths. Twin sisters and first-time voters Devika and Gopika pose after exercising their franchise on Friday. Case against 4 for circulating misinformation about EVMs The police on Friday registered a case against four persons who posted misleading messages on the credibility of electronic voting machines (EVMs) on Facebook. The Ernakulam Rural Cyber Police registered cases against Facebook account holders Anil G George, Sanu Haneef, C V A Kutty and Shihab Ali. The accused alleged that the EVMs record votes only for the BJP even if a voter presses the buttons of other candidates. The messages posted by the accused discourage others from casting votes. The accused also circulated messages that said tampered EVMs are used in Manipur. They posted abusive messages against the BJP. Based on the report of Kerala Police Cyberdome, the case was registered under IPC Section 153 for provoking riots, the police said. Cyberdome is carrying out cyber patrolling to prevent the circulation of misinformation on social media. Last week, five persons who spread fake messages about EVMs were booked. AS THINGS STAND 67.91 Polling percentage in Ernakulam Lok Sabha constituency Turnout in assembly segments: Kalamassery 70.27% N Paravur 72.09% Kochi 65.87% Tripunithura 67.14% Ernakulam 62.22% Thrikkakara 66.24% Vypin 70.86% * All preliminary figures Syro-Malabar Church Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil and Cardinal Mar George Alencherry after casting their votes at Government High School, Thengode, Kakkanad.

A taste of Asia: Cafe De Bangkok

KOCHI: Inspired by their culinary travels in Southeast Asia, S Sujesh and Santhosh Baby decided to introduce the mesmerising flavours of Thailand to Kochi. The duo partnered up and started a franchise of the renowned restaurant Cafe De Bangkok, a multi-cuisine restaurant two years ago. Before we started the franchise, Thai cuisine wasnt prominent in the city. A few restaurants served the cuisine back then but the places lacked authenticity. Thats when we bumped into Thai chef Ratchadaporn Puthong who runs the Cafe De Bangkok in Chennai. After that there has been noturning back, we brought the business to Kochi, says Sujesh. Now, the restaurant is raising the bar with a pan-Asian food fest, Oishi. This addition to the restaurants repertoire, created in collaboration with Malaysian celebrity chef Kuan Lai, showcases a blend of flavours, especially from Japan, Malaysia, and China. And it is for tasting the Oishi offerings, that I entered the restaurant on a fine Monday evening. Chef Lai greeted me with a warm smile and pointed to the Japanese dishes on the special menu. There has been a surge in all things Japanese lately. From what Ive learned so far, Kochi is no different. The city has many restaurants that serve Japanese cuisine. However, knowing the soul of the food is important. Be it a bowl of Ramen, or Sushi, at the end of the day, Japanese food is an art, he says. Nyonya coconut veg curry The tasting began with the popular Salmon Maki. Unlike other sushi in Kochi, it features two types of salmon. Fresh salmon is placed on top and smoked one is wrapped in sticky rice, crispy seaweed and cheese. Instead of using just a sliver of wasabi with a touch of soy sauce, the chef showed me the proper way to prepare the dip mix a small amount of wasabi with soy sauce on a plate, then dip the sushi into the mixture. A single bite delivered an instant burst of smokey flavour, and the dual layers of salmon added a rich texture. The next on the list was the chefs signature Malaysian cuisine a brief pause from the Japanese dishes. He brought the exclusive Nyonya food to the table. The Nyonya cuisine is known for its mix of Chinese and Malay. It came into being after the descendants of Chinese immigrants started marrying native Malaysians. The cultural fusion is reflected not just in the cooking style, but also in the clothing of the people, explains the chef. The Nyonya coconut veg curry with rice is exquisite. The curry has tofu puffs, cabbage, eggplant, and a lot more veggies cooked primarily in coconut milk. The mix highlights the Malaysian flavour whereas the glass noodles in the curry hint at the Chinese influence. The curry is the standout dish. When served with rice, it is a complete meal, bursting with flavours that leave no need for any other accompaniments. Then came the beef rendang curry served with roasted bamboo jasmine rice cakes. This dish is an occasional one. It takes too long to cook and requires tremendous effort in the making. People are sure to pay a price for it, adds the chef. The beef is cooked in coconut milk and the tender pieces are easy to pull apart. The semi-gravy dish reminds one of Kerala beef, the only difference is that its less spicy. The roasted rice is wrapped in banana leaf and it can be mixed with beef and a special Nyonya achar. Its now time for the much-awaited steaming bowl of Hokkaido miso broth katsu chicken ramen. The broth is what makes the ramen special, it is cooked for almost 10 hours. The noodles are imported from Japan, adds the chef. The rich creamy miso broth with soybeans, mushrooms, sake, mirin and dried fish powder tastes refreshingly mild. Its the texture of the noodle that makes all the difference, it is smooth and slurpy. The noodle is topped with crispy sesame katsu chicken. After a hearty meal, the chef comes out with Mochi. This is a guilt-free indulgence. The dessert wont shoot up your calories. We curated this specifically keeping the concept of wellness in mind, the chef explains. I decided to wind up the session with the soft and chewy mochi. The item is coated in cocoa powder, and once cut in half, you can see the gooey centre of the banana, chocolate filling and lychee fruit. When you take a bite, the bitter taste of cocoa powder dominates for a few seconds, and then the flavour of fruits comes rushing in like a sweet melody.

Glimpses of polling day in Kochi

KOCHI: After the crescendo of campaigning that most had gotten accustomed to these past weeks, the silence that accompanied the morning of April 26, when Kerala went to polls, had an air of collectedness to it. From the early hours of polling day, thousands were seen making a beeline to the nearest booth.The groups were diverse, comprising the young and old, families, friends and colleagues. They moved together; some went solo. But all of them had a vote to cast, and, hence, a reason to celebrate. This was their right and duty. In exercising their franchise, they knew they had a say in the affairs of the country and its future. So it was no surprise that voters turned up in droves, braving the heat. The queues were seen well after sunset. Finally, the day came to an end. The votes were cast. Now starts the long wait for the result.

Treasures from yesteryear elections to find a common roof

KOCHI: Jithinam Radhakrishnans antique collection is quite Freudian. Sigmund Freud was also a great collector of antiques rings, neolithic tools, Sumerian seals, precious stones, Pompeiian amulets and pagan idols. The collection was smuggled into London away from the Nazi hands when they came to get Freud. It now rests undisturbed at a London museum space, as a testimony to what Freud himself said: I love reading about archaeology more than psychoanalysis. Radhakrishnan too wants such a space to show the 48 years of his work, travelling from place to place, meeting people and collecting whatever had a hint of the past. He was a banker, and that gave him some time to get around after work hours. The frequent transfers that are part of this job were an excuse for him to get to places and find history asleep. I love travelling. And the job gave me that chance. So, I visited old illams, which are storehouses of antiquity. And libraries, where information lies stacked. I also had a good network of people who collected similar items, Radhakrishnan, now retired and 66, says. A lot was collected from his surroundings too; his family being traders who worked with weights. The weights of those days were different. I have a collection of the different kinds of weights used for weighing objects as well as liquids. These used to vary from places, indicating the diversity of daily life. In this midst, a place of pride goes to the objects that are throwbacks to the election periods in the states history. The different pamphlets that form election literature were collected by him over decades, throwing a glimpse into how propaganda was done before. Voter slips were unheard of and instead were letters that bore the symbol of the candidate and a plea to the voters. Announcements were made through a megaphone, which is a conical-shaped metal sheet that doubles up as a loudspeaker. I got the piece from a scrap dealer in Malappuram. It seems a veteran, with many years of election-time announcement as its claim to fame, Radhakrishnan says. There was also a model ballot, which had an array of symbols under which the elections were fought. Most of them are not to be seen now like a farmer with a yoke, wheel, coconut tree, ladder, two leaves, weighing machine, etc. Everything was printed and displayed in black and white; there was no colour. Yet the variety and the art were striking. Now, we have popular symbols that have evolved after several churns within the party or the Front now in the fray, he says. Voting too has seen a sea of change, not just with ballot papers being replaced by EVMs. Each of the candidates had their own ballot boxes unlike now. I have a set of seals with which the ballot paper had to be sealed, Radhakrishnan says. The former banker, now settled in Kozhikode, is forging deeper friendships with fellow collectors and forming antique clubs where the members would get together from time to time to exchange collectables as well as to team up for activities. Now with the 2024 elections too over, he has added more to his collection, all of which will form the history that he plans to hand over to posterity. Now, all the objects I have collected are kept in 13 different homes of relatives. I plan to make a museum space where I can display all these, Radhakrishnan says.

Abu Dhabi Airports records 6.9 million passengers in Q1 2024

Abu Dhabi Airports records 6.9 million passengers in Q1 2024 Abu Dhabi [UAE], April 26 (ANI/WAM): Abu Dhabi Airports, the operator of the Emirate's five airports, has released its exceptional passenger traffic results for the first quarter of 2024. The travels of more than 6.9 million passengers were facilitated through the Abu Dhabi Airports' network from January to March 2024, marking a robust surge of 35.6 per cent compared to the same period in 2023, when figures reached 5.1 million. Buoyed by strong global demand for passenger and commercial services, the first quarter of 2024 witnessed a positive upswing in flight movements, with 61,737 movements recorded, representing an 11.4 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023. During this period, Zayed International Airport alone welcomed over 6.8 million passengers, who experienced the outstanding facilities and services offered at the newly launched terminal. This further cements its position as a leading hub, evidenced by significant jumps of 26.6 per cent in movements and 36.0 per cent in passenger traffic. Notably, in Q1 2024, Zayed International Airport expanded its airline database with the return of Turkmenistan Airlines and the launch of Hainan Airlines operating to Haikou, China, bringing the total number of regular scheduled operators to 29 airlines. London maintained its status as the top destination city with nearly 290,000 passengers travelling to and from the English capital, whilst the top five destinations also included Mumbai, Kochi, Delhi, and Doha. Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports, said, These figures demonstrate the continued success of our airports, which are increasingly attracting a growing number of airlines and passengers from around the world. Abu Dhabi Airport remains committed to investing in its facilities and services to enhance the passenger experience and wider value proposition to satisfy our existing airline partners and our common customers and attract new ones. With these strong Q1 results, the airport group is well-positioned for further growth and success in the future. In addition to passenger growth, cargo traffic also registered significant expansion in Q1 2024, with 162,000 tonnes of air freight handled across all airports. This marks a notable increase of 25.6 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2023 when the figure stood at 129,000 tonnes. This performance accentuates the Emirate's role in facilitating global trade and commerce, driven by increased shipments of general cargo and specialised products including express deliveries, temperature-controlled, and pharmaceuticals. (ANI/WAM)

Brisk polling at pink booth in Kochi

Kalaripayattu to Raja Ravi Varma... this Kochi clothing brand makes wearable art inspired by facets of Kerala

The Kochi-based clothing brand taps into Kerala for inspiration, from detailed kalaripayattu scenes to contemporary vivid flowers

Kheema biryani, shahi tukda, lal murgh... Take your pick from the Nizami spread at Port Muziris, Kochi

Autism Awareness Month: Ausome Bites, a baking venture in Kochi, empowers those with autism and fosters independence

Ausome Bites, a bakery initiative supported by Kochis Autism Club Ernakulam, aims to empower and provide vocational skills to people with autism, with some help from their mothers

This store in Kochi stocks 35 varieties of rice

Organic and natural farmed produce store, Natural Edibles in Kochi, stocks 30-odd varieties of rice

When flamenco meets Kalari

KOCHI: Vyloppilli Samskrithi Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram was witness to a one-of-a-kind performance on Saturday. Under a canopy of soft lights and soothing music, Spanish dancer Bettina Castano moved elegantly to the fiery rhythm of flamenco. It was poetry in motion. With each step, new stanzas unfolded, inviting the audience to lean back and soak in the splendour of the occasion. However, this changed when a new figure emerged on the stage. With a flourish of lights in various hues of the rainbow, audiences were pulled back on the edge of their seat as Bengaluru-based kalari artist Raam Kumar Rs almost fluid-like and dynamic movements presented a stark contrast to the earlier dance. This fusion of flamenco and kalari, made profound by the rich, resonant tones of mizhavu music playing in the backdrop, made up the Bhoomiputri performance. Directed by Latha Kurien Rajeev, it is based on poems by Meera Nair and portrays the evolving journey of women. I wrote the poems nearly a decade ago. It was Latha who suggested adapting the work for the stage some years ago. Now, it has come to fruition. Im very happy with the outline. As the quote says, Poetry does not belong to those who write it, but to those who need it. I believe this art form allows it to reach a broader audience than the written form alone, Meera says. Rajarajeshwari E of Nireeksha Womens Theatre crafted the script using lines from the poetry collection that touched her the most. Latha then interpreted the script in her unique style and transformed it into a one-hour performance. Everything happened serendipitously. I never expected to fuse these two art forms. But it turned out to be a beautiful performance. Almost all of my directors explore the theme of a woman her strength and sacrifice. Its present in this performance too, says Latha, the director. Bhoomiputri explores a womans journey from the innocence of her youth to her finding inner strength after the experiences she faces in life. I believe these experiences are almost the same with every woman. Only a few manage to break free from the bondage. In the play, theres a moment where the woman takes back her power and breaks all that tries to shackle her and change her soul. Its quite poignant, says Latha. Latha explains that she is not a feminist, nonetheless, she stands against violence against women. I firmly believe that love is the ultimate cure for everything. And the first step towards it is the love and understanding of oneself. The narrative points out that every man must awaken the Goddess in him. Within each person, there exists a balance of opposing natures, symbolised by Yin and Yang. This concept is also like the Shiva Shakti concept, represented in Indian culture as Ardhnarishwar. How you perceive, receive, and accept these forces have the power to transform you, Latha says. What melds the two performances together is, no doubt, the music. Kalamandalam artist Rahul Aravind was exceptional on the mizhavu. The lighting and sound design teams too needed to be commended for bringing the space alive. The stage setting was intentionally made minimalistic. And Latha wanted Raam and Battina to have the stage entirely to themselves, allowing their performance to speak volumes without distractions. The sound and light nudge the audience towards the performers, enhancing each emotion and each flutter made by the duo. Speaking about the future of Bhoomiputri, Latha elaborates, I would like to present Bhoomiputri at various cultural and artistic institutions and art centres across the country and around the world. Theres much to be learned from the daughter of the earth. Did you know The roots of Flamenco is said to lie in the Roma migration from Rajasthan to Spain between 9th and 14th centuries. The essence of the dance form lies in its songs. Between 1780 and 1845, singing was the main aspect of Flamenco, dance and musical accompaniment were secondary. The songs sdeal with themes like anguish, despair, love, humour, etc.

SVEEP partners with Katha to encourage voter participation

KOCHI: TheSystematicVotersEducation and Electoral Participation Programme (SVEEP) under the Election Commission of India has joinedhandswith Katha Ads to create voter-awareness campaigns in Kerala. There is a narrative that casting a votecantmake any difference to society. We are trying to counter that narrative,says Ishan M,CEOof Katha. The platform intends to share short videos of people with their friends and family, emphasising the importance of voting through Katha. Thiswill complementSVEEPsoffline initiatives, enhancing the impact and reach of voter education efforts.One of the highlights is theI Will Voteselfie campaign, encouraging voters to share these on social media,he says. Katha Ads was founded in2021by Ishan and Harsh V S, alumnae of Birla Institute of Technology And Science (BITS), Pilani.The goal of the firm was to humanise and intimately represent advertising.The platform has an audience of over2crore in Kerala, reaching over 75 per cent of the smartphone users in the state. We figuredthat digitalword-of-mouth has immense potential to complement traditional advertising tools.When a friend or colleague talks about a product or service,there is a high probability of customers trustingtheir words.Through Katha, we aim to bring potential customers from the awareness stage to the consideration stage,Ishan says. According to the founders, in the past year, Katha has generated over 30 lakh organic engagements and recorded over 20 crore ad impressions.

This one-of-a-kind school band weaves quite a melody

KOCHI: It was sheer passion for music that led to the birth of G Band by the students, their parents, teachers and non-teaching staff of St Goretti Higher Secondary School at Punalur in Kollam district. The idea took shape following the Kerala School Youth Festival where the school bagged honours in four music categories. We had always wanted to perform songs as a group, says Sreehari M, a class X student of the school and coordinator of the band. The desire grew after the youth festival, he adds. Our journey started from failure. We had formed a team to compete in the nadanpattu cateogry during the district youth festival. However, we were not selected, says Sreehari. This prompted the lad to approach Sumith Samuel, a teacher at the school for help. He agreed after initial reluctance, adds Sreehari. The first performance of the G Band was by a team comprising teachers and it was during the school anniversary. However, the band had its actual formation in January 2024, says Sumith, the social studies teacher of the school. We have three teams in the band. Students make up two while the teachers, non-teaching staff, students and parents form the third. Each team sings a different genre, says Sumith. Another interesting fact about the band is that all the performances are devoid of musical instruments. But that has not made their performance lack perfection. Instead, we have been getting rave reviews on our social media pages. We will add instruments starting next year, says Sumith. Though live performances are too few and far between, the bands mainstay is the videos uploaded on social media handles of the school. It should be noted that the G Band doesnt have any permanent members. The aim behind the formation of the band is to give students with musical talent a chance to showcase their skill, says Anet Sara Joseph, a class VIII student and a member of the nadanpattu team. For Fida Sajeer, another student, G Band gave her a space to unleash the singer in her. Everything about the band is professional. To become a member, one has to make through an audition, says Fida. According to Sumith, G Band will not be confined to just the students. After seeing our performances, when the autorickshaw drivers at the auto stand near the school expressed their wish to perform in a music video, we decided to dedicate one episode to them, he says. Sreehari expects the G Band to become a professional group very soon. We are getting calls from a lot of people already.

EP Jayarajan, son held talks with me on joining BJP, alleges Sobha Surendran

ALAPPUZHA: Dropping a bombshell on the eve of elections, BJPs Alappuzha Lok Sabha candidate Sobha Surendran claimed LDF convenor E P Jayarajan had approached her about joining the BJP. Sobha named Jayarajan at a presser in Alappuzha after controversial middleman T G Nandakumar raised allegations against her in Delhi. A decision on [EP] joining BJP was almost reached. However, he feared CPM retaliation. Jayarajans son was also involved in the talks and sent me WhatsApp messages. I met him at a hotel in Kochi, she said. The development came after Sobhas assertion on Tuesday that a senior CPM leader was ready to join the BJP, only to withdraw later owing to threats from his party. Sobha said she met Jayarajan and his son at Renai Cochin for talks. I have all the WhatsApp messages relating to the meeting she said at the press meet, while displaying the messages.

Kerala: CBI files preliminary chargesheet against 20 accused for Sidharthan's murder

KOCHI: The CBI probing the death of Sidharthan J S , a student of College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Pookode, Wayanad, filed a preliminary chargesheet against 20 accused persons at Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on Thursday. The chargesheet was filed to prevent the accused from be eligible for statutory bail provision, in case the probe agency fails to file a chargesheet within 60 days of arrest. CBI officials said the accused will become eligible for bail if the agency fails to file the chargesheet before April 27. Currently, the CBI is yet to invoke murder charges against the accused persons and they are accused of abetting the death of Sidharthan and hatching a conspiracy. CBI would continue with further investigation and a supplementary chargesheet will be filed later. Also, the CBI is yet to invoke murder charges against the accused persons after taking over the probe on April 6. It was on February 27 that the Kerala police made the first arrest in the case. As many as seven arrested persons have already approached Kerala High Court seeking bail. Sidharthan was found hanging in the hostel room of Pookode college on February 18. A preliminary probe by Kerala police found he was assaulted by his seniors and classmates prompting him to end his life. HC upholds guvs order suspending KVASU VC The HC has upheld the chancellors order suspending M R Saseendranath, VC of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), on the charges of oversight and dereliction of duty that allegedly resulted in the torture, public trial, social shaming, and subsequent death by suicide of J S Sidharthan. The HC also observed that the students death was a serious incident.

6k police personnel on poll duty in Ernakulam on April 26

KOCHI: Over 6,000 police personnel, including from the paramilitary force, have been deployed across Ernakulam district to ensure peaceful voting on Friday. There are 185 sensitive booths, all of them in the Ernakulam rural police limits, which cover parts of Ernakulam, Kottayam, Chalakudy and Idukki Lok Sabha constituencies. Hence, a major chunk of the personnel around 4,500 will be posted in the rural limits and tasked with manning all 1,538 polling booths here as well as maintaining law and order. As many as 14 DySP-rank officers will supervise security arrangements in the rural police limits. As many as 44 inspectors, 400 SIs and 2,200 civil police officers, along with 1,510 special police officers will also be deployed on poll duty in the rural limits. Forty-one Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel have reached Aluva for security work. The police have also selected 102 officials from other departments to handle security during the elections. Ernakulam Rural police chief Vaibhav Saxena has formed 102 group patrolling teams and 64 law and order patrolling units for security on voting day. There are also Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) formed in each police station for swift intervention in case there is any violence. EVMs from Kochi and Ernakulam Rural will be moved to strongrooms in Cusat, where armed policemen will be deployed until June 4. The Ernakulam City police limits has 756 polling booths, none of them sensitive. The Ernakulam and Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituencies fall under the city police limits. A lone poll booth at Kurankotta Island has been classified as inaccessible, but police have made arrangements for voters transportation. Over 1,500 police personnel, 45 QRTs, 45 group patrol teams, and 27 law and order patrolling teams will keep watch over the city limits on poll day. Get, set, vote 2,294 - Total polling stations in district Webcasting facility available in 1,735 booths 11,028 - Total officials deployed for polling duty 26,34,783 - Total number of voters in the district Women: 13,52,692 (51.34 %) Men: 12,82,060 (48.66 %) Third Gender: 13 New voters: 38,637 Extra facilities at polling stations Wheelchair facility for the physically disabled and other needy Creches for children accompanying those who come to vote Drinking water facility Shaded area to provide shelter from sunlight ID for casting votes Voter ID card with a photo is the main document. However, those who cannot produce the same can also use the following documents Aadhaar card MGNREGA card ID card with photo, provided by bank / post office Driving licence PAN card Smart card provided by Registrar General of India under the NPR (National Population Registrar) Indian passport Pension document (with photo affixed) Service identification cards are provided to employees of central/state/public sector/ public limited companies Official identification card being provided to MP/MLA/MLC UDID card for people with disabilities

After 2 years, NHAI takes up repair of hazardous pothole in Kochi

KOCHI: For nearly two years, a hazardous pothole adjoining Tripunithura mini bypass junction, along NH 966, has been causing traffic snarls during peak hours, besides accidents. Now locals and motorists can heave a sigh of relief as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken up the task of plugging the gap. The pit was formed after a portion of a narrow canal, built nearly 60 years ago as part of the temporary road laid by Cochin Refinery, caved in. It gradually widened and rendered a portion of the road unusable. Two-wheeler riders unaware of the deformity are prone to land in it while negotiating the turn. Several accidents of this nature have been reported, said A B Sabu, GCDA executive engineer and former chairman of the standing committee of Kochi corporation. Despite protests, nothing happened until Sabu brought the issue to the notice of Public Works Minister P A Mohamed Riyas last November. The minister forwarded the matter to NHAI. Denied permission to block traffic, NHAI is laying precast concrete-box culverts to repair the pothole. The police denied us permission to carry out work during daytime due to traffic along the stretch, a senior NHAI official said. The precast concrete-box culverts have been brought to the site. Its now just a matter of putting them in place. The work will be completed in the coming days, the official added.

Cases filed for defaming Pinarayi Vijayan on social media

KOCHI: Two cases have been registered against purported defamatory posts on social media platforms targeting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The cases were filed by Ernakulam Rural cyber police following a report by Police Cyberdome. One of the cases was registered against the Facebook page named Troll. Kammi and the Facebook account of Shiju Kr for allegedly posting and sharing cartoons and memes of the CM. Pictures of the chief minister were found to have been edited and circulated in an attempt to spread fake messages. The content is defamatory, an officer said. The second case was registered against the X account Binger (Modi Ji Ka Parivar) for posting a message on April 15. The content militates against religious harmony in the state by claiming the CM was involved in minority appeasement politics, the officer said. Ever since the general election was announced, cyberdome has been actively scanning for defamatory and fake content spread through social media. As many as six cases have been registered by Ernakulam Rural cyber police and three by Kochi City cyber police in the district. Police are now trying to trace these accounts and summon the people behind them for interrogation.

To improve weather forecast, new radars likely in Ramanathapuram, Yercaud

CHENNAI: In a significant development, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Tamil Nadu government have decided to set up additional Doppler X-band radars in two or three new locations in southern and interior districts of the state to improve the accuracy of weather forecasting. IMD will also soon replace the old S-band radars in Chennai and Sriharikota for which tenders have already been issued. M Ravichandran, secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, and Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology, IMD, said this during a press conference in Chennai while replying to a query from TNIE. Site studies in Ramanathapuram and Yercaud are currently on. S Balachandran, head, Regional Meteorological Centre, said, We are checking for locations that dont have electromagnetic interference. Tamil Nadu has been witnessing a series of extreme weather events during monsoon seasons, and forecast has become a challenge because of lack of good radar coverage across the state. Also, there were instances in the past, especially during 2022 rains, when Chennais S-band radar went defunct, X-band radar in National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) was not fully calibrated, and Sriharikota radar was stretched to its full capacity making it difficult for the meteorologists to pick up rain bands that hit Chennai by surprise. The city had received a record rainfall of 21cm in 24 hours from November 6 to November 7, 2022. TN govt sets rainfall stations in more than 1,000 places Later, Chief Minister M K Stalin took a decision to augment the weather forecasting system by setting up additional radars across the state. IMD chief Mohapatra said the state government is also installing ground observatories (rainfall stations) in more than 1,000 places whose data will also be used for forecast modelling. Currently, six radars --- two in Chennai, and one each in Karaikal, Sriharikota, Trivandrum, and Kochi --- are providing coverage for Tamil Nadu. Within a year, C-band radar will be installed in Bengaluru which will cover some parts of the state. With the help of these radars, we can go for panchayat-level weather forecasting, he said. To a query, Ravichandran said tenders for replacing the aging radars in Chennai and Sriharikota have been issued. Totally, four new S-band radars will be installed on the east coast. In another four to five months, IMD will be augmenting 20 petaflops computers from current four petaflops, which will improve the resolution from 10 km to 6km and will enable the Met office to predict more localised weather events, he said Mohapatra said IMD has extended the heat action plan to Tamil Nadu and introduced terminology like hot and humid weather as the water holding capacity of air is increasing with rising temperature. S K Prabhakar, Additional Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Revenue Administration, also requested the meteorologists to use the data from the states 1,400 rain stations that are being installed for giving more localised (firka-level) forecast which will help disaster managers in handling the situation better.

Kerala: Candidates tweaked schedule to beat the heat in exhausting poll campaign

KOCHI: With heatwave-like conditions prevailing in the state, the month-long election campaign turned out to be a gruelling task for candidates. Campaigning in open vehicles was exhausting with candidates being exposed to the sun and a hot wind. Most candidates scheduled their campaigns in open vehicles during the morning and evening hours and focused on visits to institutions and houses in the afternoon. With heat and humidity causing health issues, to avoid dehydration, the candidates preferred light and vegetarian food, drinking plenty of water. The southern districts have received isolated showers, which helped bring down the temperature. But the situation in north Kerala, especially Palakkad, Malappuram and Kannur, remains tough, said Cusat Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research director S Abhilash. Campaigning in an open jeep was a tough task as hot air was blowing on our faces for hours together, the open-jeep campaigning extended from early morning to 3pm, for the past three weeks. The extreme heat caused rashes because of which I couldnt sleep properly at night, said Alathur LDF candidate K Radhakrishnan. Campaigning was strenuous in Palakkad where the mercury has been hovering above 41 degrees Celsius for the past couple of weeks. The green canopy in the villages provided much relief, said LDF candidate A Vijayaraghavan. We rested under banyan trees and held small corner meetings, said UDFs V K Sreekandan. As a Palakkad native, the hot climate has not been a challenge. For the past 28 days, I have been travelling in an open jeep throughout the day, he added. It has been exhausting, but I didnt have any health issue, said BJP candidate C Krishnakumar. I consumed plenty of butter milk and curd to keep the body cool. UDF candidate for Thrissur, K Muraleedharan too said the campaign was tiring. It has been energy-sapping. The diet has been normal, but I drank a lot of water, he said. The candidates fear the hot conditions may force some voters to stay indoors, leading to a drop in polling percentage.

20 lakh commuters travelled in Kochi Water Metro in a year

Kochi Water Metro Limited floats tender for 15 more ferries

Delivery of ferries expected to begin within a year of the tender being awarded

Kochi city police beef up security for peaceful polling

Enterprise Tech Startup FlexiCloud Internet Gets Strategic Investment From Ramoji Group

Ramoji Groups food manufacturing arm Ushodaya Enterprises has announced an undisclosed strategic investment in Kochi-based cloud hosting solutions provider FlexiCloud

CPI(M) leader E.P. Jayarajan was ready to join BJP, says Shobha Surendran

She says she had held discussions with Jayarajans son at a hotel in Kochi on January 18, 2023

Celebrating Diversity and Creativity: Queen of the Arabian Sea Art National Workshop at Kochi

Shantamani Kala Kendra is envisaged as the fulcrum for liberal education in the University offering educational programmes in Fine Arts and Performing Arts, besides promoting and amalgamating various traditional and modern art forms. From time immemorial, these forms have been referred to as Lalit Kala. Shantamani Kala Kendra derives its name and inspiration from the former Chief Mentor of the JAIN Group of Institutions, the late Professor Shantamani, who was instrumental in developing and instituting the Ph.D. and post-graduate programmes in Performing Arts. In addition, Dr. Shantamani designed a unique course relating to Mind Management and Human Values, which is today being offered to all undergraduate students of the University.

Provident Housing Secures INR 1,150 Crores Investment from HDFC Capital, with a Potential GDV of INR 17,100 Crores

Business Wire India Provident Housing Limited , a wholly owned subsidiary of Puravankara Limited - one of Indias most trusted and admired real estate companies, announces a significant deal with HDFC Capital. The INR 1,150 crore investment marks a milestone in the companys journey of growth and expansion. This strategic collaboration will add an additional 6.2 million square feet of new residential projects to the ongoing 14.8 million square feet with a combined GDV of INR 17,100 crores, which will be delivered over the next five to six years. Provident, a large-scale community developer, has so far completed 15.1 million square feet of projects across the country with a presence in nine cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Goa, Kochi, Mumbai, and Pune. This partnership with HDFC Capital will help strengthen Provident Housing Limited's commitment to leveraging alliances to capitalise on emerging opportunities in the real estate sector. With this investment, the company is poised for expansion, focusing on innovation, quality, customer-centricity, and sustainable project development. Commenting on this investment, Ashish Puravankara, Managing Director, Puravankara Limited , said, We are delighted to partner with HDFC Capital - an entity with a longstanding history of excellence. This deal reinforces the confidence of our institutional investors in the companys corporate governance and the way we conduct our business. We stay committed to developing international quality homes, delivered on time with trust and transparency. Vipul Roongta, Managing Director & CEO, HDFC Capital , said, HDFC Capital is committed to long-term partnerships with marquee real estate leaders like Puravankara with an excellent track record of development and delivery. Through our partnership with Puravankara, we will focus on meeting the increasing demand for high-quality homes for mid-income households in India. Mallanna Sasalu, CEO, Provident Housing Limited, said , This strategic alliance with HDFC Capital marks a pivotal moment in Provident's journey towards growth and acquiring larger market share. With HDFC Capital's support, we are well-positioned to accelerate the development of new residential projects across India while delivering exceptional value to our customers and driving long-term shareholder value. Kunal Wadhwani, Principal Investments, HDFC Capital, said, Our collaboration with Puravankara, a leading pan-India developer, helps address the significant demand for high-quality homes at affordable prices and is in line with HDFC Capitals strategy of catering to the largely unmet demand in the mid-income residential segment. Neeraj Gautam, Group President of Finance, highlighted the importance of this investment, stating, This marks a significant evolution in our investment strategy, signalling the beginning of larger partnerships and transactions that align with the overarching vision for the Group.

Preserving poll traditions

KOCHI: Campaigning strategies have gone through a phenomenal transformation over the years. From Instagram reels, ads on Spotify to TV and radio and parody songs, there are umpteen ways to attract voters nowadays. Rap, too, has come into the foray. However, even now, some preserve the tried and tested methods that has stood the test of time. One example is street plays. Street plays are a powerful medium to bring to the laymans attention issues that otherwise go unnoticed. Its no wonder then that they are a major part of elections in India. While these plays are a norm in rural settings, in cities, where much of the campaigning work is done by way of digital tools, street plays offer a novelty factor and thus help attract eyeballs. Organisations like the All India Democratic Youth Organisation (AIDYO), the youth wing of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI), have been employing street plays to much effect during the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls. Each performance throws light on issues like unemployment, religious bigotry and more. The team comprises artists E V Prakash, Saranya Raj, P V Prabhash, Nandagopan Vellathadi, Meera P K, Sarath Shan, Suryasen B, C Honey and Anirudh G. They are responsible for developing the story and enacting it on the street. Ive been performing since 2017. Ive seen first-hand how street plays engage people. After each performance, we are thronged by people eager to discuss politics and more. Plays are indeed more powerful than lengthy speeches, says Nandagopan Vellathadi, whose passion for politics also saw him become an artist. I believe its my duty as an artist to reflect the publics concerns, he adds. Unlike professional groups, the performers are all young volunteers, each driven by a passion for social change. Today, political parties are keen to associate with youngsters to organise street plays, as the latter is more adept at this form than others, says Satheesh G Nair, an artist and teacher at Jawahar Bala Bhavan. This link-up is also helping preserve this art form.

Kerala: The invisible voters

KOCHI: In the bustling streets of our cities exists a silent yet resilient community the homeless. Each day, they endure the unforgiving elements, from scorching heat to relentless downpours and blinding dust. Yet, during the daily struggles for survival, they have aspirations, hopes and dreams, even in the realm of politics. As the upcoming elections loom on the horizon, the homeless seek representation and recognition from those in power. Their expectations are simple yet profound assurance of the bare minimum like shelter and sustenance and policies that address their plight. TNIE delves into the narratives of those sidelined from society about their expectations, their choices, and whether they plan to participate in the voting process. Ravindran Nair, 76, TPuram I was a headload worker. Now, old, hence jobless and homeless. We get food delivered here every afternoon by some charities. When I get sick, I go to the local dispensary for medicines and come back to the street again. I still do not get my pension. I have asked several times and knockedon manydoors, but I was shooed away. My family member is a party worker, yet there is no help. No one has come to help, and no candidate has come asking about us. I have never defaultedon voting so far. But this time, I will not vote. Because no good is going to come to us no matter who gets power. Kunjumon, 51, Kochi Im originally from Kochi, I have a home there. Butsince my siblings and I dont get along, I am forced to live on the streets. Its hard to be here, the city is full of sound and dust. Its too hot. But what else can I do? But Ill be voting this time and its only because I dont want to waste my vote. Since I already have my name registered, Im just going to do it for the sake of it. There are several homeless people in Kochi city. Have the MPs and MLAs taken any steps to help them? We are seeing zero efforts from their side. None of the party members have approached us and asked about our concerns. I expected that at least during the campaign some would directly address our concerns. Arent we a part of society? Pic| B P Deepu Vijay 40, Tamil Nadu I consider myself a responsible citizen. So I travelled home to cast my vote. Many people like us sleep beneath the metro pillars in Kochi. This is what saves us from the heat and rain. I cant afford a place here because the advance amount itself would be quite hefty and it is difficult especially when we get work for barely three days a week. Our earnings arent enough to even satisfy our hunger. If the government helps us with the Aadhar card issue, then hopefully we can find a place to rest our heads. Rajashekaran 42, Tamil Nadu Im a daily wage labourer and do any job that could help me push through the day. I live on the streets mainly because it is difficult to get rooms here without an Aadhaar card. I hope the new representatives will bring some solution to this issue. Whoever wins should make sure that homeless people like us at least have an Aadhar card or at least provide us with shelter of some sort. I was planning to visit my village in Tamil Nadu to castmy vote. But I couldnt as my bag with all the IDS was stolen. Also, I dont have enough money to travel back home to apply for the documents. So I have dropped the plan. Raja, 80, Andhra Pradesh My wife Shubamma and I moved to Kerala because the situation back home was not favourable. We both beg for sustenance. Yes, we have a home and land back in our village, but it is difficult to make money there. We are too old to work on our land. In Kerala, even if we get Rs 10, we can live with it. Im planning to vote and the election in my constituency is next month. Since there are many in our place who do not even own a piece of land, my vote will go to those who can assure land to the poor people. Munni, 30s, Jharkhand My husband and I came to Kerala in search of work. Though he travelled home to vote in the previous elections, this time, it wont be possible. My child is sick and our priority is to take care of her. Thats all we are thinking about and we need money for it. Lachmi Devamma, 70s,Andhra Pradesh Im unwell and cannot travel home. I wasnt planning to vote since I dont even remember if I have an ID card or not. I sleep under the metro pillar every night. Its been four or five years since I came to Kochi and my life has been the same. The only way to earn a living in my old age is to beg. Im struggling here and the election wont change that. Nankusa, 60, Bihar Im from Bihar. Ive been in Kerala for at least 20 years. However, I dont think Ill be voting. Whats the point anyway? My expectations arent beyond one can fathom. Its just a basic right of every citizen a decent place to live. It would be good if the representatives consider us in their slew of promises. I dream of getting out of the street one day. Chandran Nair, 67, TPuram Voting is our right and I will surely exercise my franchise. I havea voter ID card too. A change is required to bring about a lot of opportunities for people and solace for senior citizens like us. No one even asks about us. We are denied whatever is our due. Now, many like me are on the streets. I am hoping for a changed politicalset-up, a new beginning. And for that reason, I will vote. I have researched a bit about the candidates. One ofthem shows some promise in my eyes. Vinod A P, 53, TPuram I am feeling hopeful this election. Maybe my vote can make a difference. I hope that the new government help me, my family and many like us. So far, there have been no changes in our living situation. We were just given vain promises and frameworksof projects that never happened. Especially in the past five years, nothing has happened. I am all set for April 26. Ram K, 40, Munnar I have been seeing many election campaigns around the city. Since I go to my hometown only occasionally, Im not aware of the election fervour back home. Here, one of the main attractions is the parody songs remixing film songs into election songs is fun to listen to.However, Im not keenon politics. At the end of the day, the objective is to find a safe space to sleep and have at least one meal. In the rush to akeendsmeet, theres no time for politics. Basheer, 78, Kakkanad I am a cobbler and travel to Kaloorevery dayas it is comparatively easier to run the business there. This has been my life for the past 55 years. My main concerns are finding a shelter and the rising prices. Everything, including basic grocery items, is unaffordable. Many MPs have come and gone, but none has ever tried to bring out a plan to construct a shelter or housing plan to accommodate people like us. Though the authorities are inconsiderate towards people like us, I would still vote in the coming elections. I believe that if there is a change in the Union government, then there will be a change in Kerala too. Compiled by Swathy Lekshmi Vikram, Niranjana K P, Aparna Nair & Mahima Anna Jacob

Kathaamaamens stories educate kids about elections

KOCHI: It was during the long months of Covid lockdown and isolation that Harish R Namboothiripad first nursed the idea of starting a storytelling group. The idea then was to give children an avenue for entertainment that was not confined to the six-inch screens of a mobile phone. By way of a WhatsApp group, Katha Parayam, Kelku, Harish, who is also a childrens author, started telling stories as audio notes. It was a big hit, with Malayali listeners tuning in from all corners of the world. Now, in the run to the election, Kathaamaamen, as Harish is now fondly called, is back with a new spell of stories which help dissect the intricacies of voting. Animals are used as characters to make these intricacies seem interesting for children. Its election time in the forest! Youngsters today are not interested in casting their vote. I hope to make a dent in this trend by getting children, the next to vote, excited to exercise their franchise. And what better way to do this than by the help of stories, says Harish, whos presently engaged in election duty in Kalamassery. The school teacher from Ramamangalam has told over 1,000 stories so far on his WhatsApp group. My son Abhinav and his friends too are getting ready to cast their first vote. To encourage them, I have prepared motivational songs as well, says Harish, who has written over 52 books for children. His next work, titled Kattile Voting, will compile all the election-related audio stories done so far. Harish has been writing and telling stories every day without fail for the past three and a half years. His efforts have won him recognition from many quarters and even awards, including the Bhashabhimana award and the Chintamani award.

Producers of 'Manjummel Boys' booked in cheating case

KOCHI : Maradu police have registered a cheating case against the producers of the recent blockbuster 'Manjummel Boys' based on a complaint filed by an investor stating that they failed to honour the promise made to him regarding the profit share of the movie. We lodged a case on Tuesday against the producers based on the Ernakulam First Class Magistrate Courts direction, said Saju George, station house officer. Court orders to freeze bank account of 'Manjummel Boys' producer Earlier, Aroor native Siraj Valiyathara accused producers Parava Films and partner Shawn Antony of not honouring a promise to extend a 40% share of profits post the films release. The court had also ordered to freeze the bank accounts of the producers. According to the complainant, he invested Rs 7 crore in the company after the active partners of M/s Parava Films LLP entered into an agreement with him on November 30, 2022. However, following the films resounding success, the producers went back on their word and are yet to provide him any money, including the investment. 'Manjummel Boys', starring Soubin Shahir and Sreenath Bhasi, was a huge hit and reportedly earned Rs 250 crore.

Kerala: Church wants forest minister to step down

KOCHI : Stressing the need for serious intervention from the part of the government to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, Syro Malabar Church, Thalassery, archdiocese pastoral coordinator Fr Philip Kaviyil said Forest minister A K Saseendran should step down if he is having serious health issues. Human-wildlife conflict is a serious issue, and the government needs to address it with priority. Around 100 people have died in wild animal attacks in a year, and most of them belong to the Christian community. Irrespective of religion, such incidents are unfortunate, and we stand with the farmers who are living in fear. It is said that the minister has some serious health issues. If true, he should hand over the mantle to someone else. The party has another MLA, and the government should consider a change of guard in the interest of the people, he said. Fr Philip said the Church will not favour any political party or candidate. However, he urged the faithful to cast their vote judiciously. We should elect those concerned about our problems and who assures to raise them in the Parliament, he said.

Water metro logs over 19.72L users in a year

KOCHI : Over 19.72 lakh passengers took to the Kochi Water Metro in its first year of operation, according to officials. Indias first water metro, launched with nine boats on two distinct routes: High Court to Vypeen and Vyttila to Kakkanad, was inaugurated on April 25 last year. The High Court-Fort Kochi route was launched last Sunday. In the field of sustainable water transportation, Kochi Water Metro has been able to establish itself as a model. In its first year of operation, more tourists visited Kochi to explore the service, owing to its innovative and distinctive concept. However, Kochi Water Metros main goal is to convince islanders to use it for their everyday transportation, said Loknath Behera, managing director of Kochi Metro. While its tickets are priced from Rs 20 to Rs 40, regular passengers can travel for Rs 10 with the travel pass. While it costs Rs 18 to reach High Court by bus from South Chittoor, the public can travel the same distance for just Rs 10 using the Kochi Water Metro travel pass. Also, development of the terminals at Mattancherry, Paliyamthuruth, Willingdon Island, Kadamakkudy, and Kumbalam is progressing. Operations on these routes are set to begin in September or October. Cochin Shipyard has promised to deliver five more boats by September, said Behera, adding that efforts are being made to improve first- and last-mile connectivity.

Kerala: 40 families of Manjalloor panchayat to boycott polls

KOCHI : As Kerala prepares for polls on Friday, residents of Kadalikkad West ward of Manjalloor panchayat and Kosseri Lane in Edappally are planning to boycott the elections due to delays in the restoration of roads leading to their residences. Forty families in Kadalikkad West, Manjalloor, reported that the Nellikunnel Thaazham-Kadalikkad Road leading to their area was demolished for the Vadakod water supply project under the Jal Jeevan Mission, but it was never restored. The local self-governing authorities have been turning blind eye to the issue for the past two-and-a-half years. Residents expressed frustration at authorities who had promised that the road would be restored promptly after the installation of pipes but failed to follow it up. V J Vincent, a resident of Kadalikkad West, said, We approached the panchayat officials multiple times to raise our concerns about transportation. Each time, they repeated the same assurance that construction would start soon. As the problem worsened, including increased vehicle maintenance costs, we were forced to take matters into our own hands, he said. The potential poll boycott led to a deputy superintendent-level inquiry by the Election Special Squad, although no political parties have yet addressed the residents concerns. Ancy Jose, the president of Manjalloor grama panchayat, clarified that the project lagged due to certain procedures, and it was not a retaliatory action. Meanwhile, fifty families, are planning to not exercise their voting rights demanding the restoration of Kosseri Lane Road.

Visionary Nambisans voting device was a decade too early

KOCHI : In this election season, the electronic voting machine has been posing many questions. But for T V K Nambisan, in the 1970s, it was the answer to many of the problems plaguing the electoral system. His dreamt up his version in his late twenties, when technology was at a different level and the concept had not been conceived. Now 78, Nambisan remembers how he came up with the idea and how his device had the then Kerala Chief Minister C Achutha Menon in awe. It was 1972, and I was living in Palakkad with some friends. We had partnered to set up an electronics repair firm. During a discussion over tea, someone remarked how good it would be if there was a system to do away with paper ballots, something involving a machine that would enable declaration of results in a short time, Nambisan remembers. That got him thinking. It was as if a bulb went off in my head. And I decided to design such a machine. I thought of relying on the electro-mechanical method. In those days, electronics had advanced only to the level of transistors, he told TNIE . Nambisan thought up a blueprint in his mind and then set out to buy the necessary components. My design comprised of a mater unit and the counting unit along with other equipment. The components were sourced from the seconds market in Coimbatore, says Nambisan, who had dropped out of engineering college. And the cost incurred? Around Rs 300, I think. It was a long time ago and I do not recollect the exact amount. Nothing was easy, he says. I had to travel a lot for the components. Once the machine was made, it took even longer to bring it to the attention of authorities, adds Nambisan, who resorted to using his Thrissur connection to approach Achutha Menon. I sent him a letter. He invited me for a demonstration at Cliff House. This was followed by one before officials at the Secretariat, says Nambisan. After witnessing the machine at work, the CM issued a citation. Nambisan even received a promise from Minister for Local Administration K Avukader Kutty Naha that the machine could be tried out in the coming panchayat elections. But for its use in elections, we required the approval of the central Election Commission. So, I sent a letter to the commissioner with all the documents. But I didnt receive any response. Finally, after repeated missives, I received a cryptic message that said it is practically impossible to use the machine in elections, he adds. The only solace was an article in a magazine published by the National Research Development Corporation. I shelved my machine. Ten years later, in 1982, the EVM made its official entry onto the election scene, says Nambisan. Apart from some technological advancements the device was more or less similar to his invention. In rejecting my device, the election commission pointed to the possibility of losers raising objections and the lack of physical evidence, in case of legal proceedings, he said.

In Ernakulam, its advantage UDF, but LDF is not yielding

KOCHI : In Ernakulam, the states commercial hub, incumbent Hibi Eden is seeking a second consecutive term, while the CPM-led LDF will look to break the Congress dominance with its surprise candidate K J Shine. The BJP-led NDA, on the other hand, has fielded K S Radhakrishnan, the former vice chancellor of Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit and chairman of PSC, hoping to improve its performance in the constituency, a Congress citadel. The Congress started its preparations in the constituency even before Hibis candidacy was officially announced. And the party and Hibi maintained the momentum throughout the campaign, giving them an edge over their rivals. In 2019, Hibis victory over CPMs P Rajeeve by 1.69 lakh votes was noteworthy. His father George Eden represented the seat from 1998 to 2003. Hibi was Ernakulam MLA when he was fielded in 2019, replacing sitting MP and former Union minister K V Thomas. His active involvement in constituency affairs and developmental initiatives have made him accessible to voters, giving him an advantage. Since 1952, Congress candidates have won from Ernakulam 13 times, while the LDF has been victorious seven times. The LDFs first victory was in 1967 when CPMs V Viswanatha Menon was fielded. Later, LDF-backed independents, Xavier Arakkal and Sebastian Paul, were fielded to counter the Congress influence. However, the LDF has not won the constituency in the last two decades. The Latin Catholic community has a strong voter base in the constituency, especially along the coastal belt. BJP candidate Radhakrishnan with party workers taking part in the Kottikalasam at Madhava Pharmacy Junction on Wednesday | A Sanesh Shine, a state committee member of the Kerala State Teachers Association, has also campaigned effectively. In the 2021 assembly election, the LDF won the Kalamassery, Vypeen, and Kochi constituencies, which is giving the Left camp confidence. Despite piggybacking on Prime Minister Narendra Modis clout, Radhakrishnans campaign seems to have failed to make an impact. LDF candidate K J Shine greeting party workers at Palarivattom on Wednesday

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Spices Board takes action in response to recall of Indian Spice Brands for Further Checking

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Kerala: SIO stages protest against PM Modis anti-Muslim remarks

The Students Islamic Organisation activists (SIO) in Kerala on Wednesday, April 24, took out a protest rally against Prime Minister Narendra Modis purported hate speech against Muslims during Lok Sabha election campaign in Rajasthan recently. The protest march was held in Kochi with students raising slogans and demanding action against the Prime Minister. During the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Corona India certifies sunsets for hotels

With the unveiling of the worlds inaugural sunset view rating system for luxury hotel accommodations, Corona India ensures that you receive the sunset experience you anticipate. This innovative initiative is currently undergoing trials at select luxury hotels such as CGH Brunton Boatyard, Niraamaya Surya Samudra, and Brij Laxman Sagar, situated in Kochi, Kovalam, and... The post Corona India certifies sunsets for hotels first appeared on India's Top Travel News Source: TravelBiz Monitor .

On election eve, Delhi L-G Saxena meets Syro-Malabar Church head; requests audience with other church heads

KOCHI: As Kerala heads to the polls on Friday, Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena arrived on a two-day visit to meet the heads of various Christian churches. The Lt Governor had requested an audience with the heads of the Syro Malabar Church, Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and others. Fr Antony Vadakekkara, public relations officer (PRO) of the Syro Malabar Church, said the Delhi Lt Governor met with Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil at Mount St Thomas at Kakkanad in Kochi. The meeting was not a political one. It was a courtesy call during which both of them discussed non-political topics, said Fr Vadakekkara. He pointed out that the church had already affirmed its stand. Syro Malabar Church does not go as per the wishes of any political party. We have our own choices and decisions. Just because Saxena came and met with us doesn't mean that we will support BJP, he added. Though Saxena sought a meeting with the Latin Catholic Church, sources said the church refused to grant an audience. Early this week, the Kerala Latin Catholic Association (KLCA) questioned the delay in lifting the freeze on the bank account of the Thiruvananthapuram archdiocese of the Latin Catholic Church. The Latin Archdiocese alleged that the central government freezed its bank account as a punitive step against their participation in the Vizhinjam protest. Similarly, the Devalokam, Kottayam-based Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church head Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews III did not meet Saxena as he was away in Kunnamkulam in Thrissur. Fr Mohan Joseph, PRO of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, said, No meeting happened between the Delhi Lt Governor and the Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews III. The Catholicos is presently in Kunnamkulam and won't be back soon. The meeting with Catholicos Baselios Thomas I, the head of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church at Puthencruz in Ernakulam, also did not materialise since he was hospitalized. Kuriakose Mar Theophilose, chairman Media Commission of the church, said there has also been no meeting with the Malankara Metropolitan Joseph Mar Gregorious, the second in-charge of the Church. Recently, Mar Gregorious made the church's stand by clearly hinting at support for LDF. Prof K V Thomas, Kerala's special representative in Delhi, said the meeting of Delhi Lt Governor Saxena with the Church on the eve of the election is intimidation tactics. This is a threat to democracy, it's also a threat to the minority community, Prof Thomas said.

Mohanlal grooves to Jawan's song, SRK thanks him

It looks like Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was blown away by a recent video of Malayalam cinema legend Mohanlal grooving to his song Zinda Banda from his last film Jawan. The energetic dance performance by Mohanlal at a Kochi award show quickly went viral, catching the eye of Khan himself. Taking to his social media platform (X, formerly Twitter), Khan expressed his appreciation for Mohanlals performance in a heartwarming message. Thank you Mohanlal Sir for making this song the most special for me now, Khan wrote. Wish I had done it half as good as you. Love you Sir and waiting for dinner at home as and when. You are the OG Zinda Banda! (OG stands for Original Gangster, often used playfully to denote someone as the true master of something). Mohanlal, known for his charismatic screen presence and impressive dance moves, didnt disappoint. The video showcased his energetic performance, leaving fans and Khan himself thoroughly impressed. Khans playful request for a dinner invitation along with the exchange of compliments has won hearts online, creating a wholesome moment between the two superstars of Indian cinema. Mohan Lal was seen in Telugu movies like 'Janatha Garage' and 'Manamantha' and showcased traces of his acting brilliance to Telugu audiences as well.

After Pitrodas remarks, Congress completely exposed: Amit Shah tears into Congress on inheritance tax suggestion

KOCHI: Taking a jibe at the Congress, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that after the comments of the Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress Sam Pitroda advocating an inheritance tax like law, the party has been completely exposed. Speaking to ANI, Amit Shah said After Sam Pitrodas remark, Congress party is completely exposed. []

Indian Navy's female duo completes historic transoceanic sortie ahead of solo circumnavigation

KOCHI: Lieutenant commanders Dilna K and Roopa Alagirisamy, the two women officers handpicked as potential candidates for the upcoming Sagar Parikrama IV, the Navys most ambitious voyage yet, have successfully completed their final examination on the seas. The so-called test entailed undertaking a transoceanic sortie aboard INSV Tarini from Goa to Port Louis in Mauritius, and back. This nearly 5,000 nautical mile journey in double-handed mode was the first-of-its-kind by Indian women, thus marking a significant milestone for the Navy. The women duo recorded full marks when Tarini was flagged in by the whos who of INS Mandovi at the boat pool in Goa on Sunday. It concluded a two-month expedition that began on February 28 and also involved a series of events to strengthen bilateral ties during the stopover in Mauritius. The expedition was particularly challenging as each leg of the journey was a continuous voyage of about 2,700 nautical miles without breaks. Besides demanding to settle into a rhythm at sea, the journey also threw various weather conditions, says Cdr Abhilash Tomy (retd), the officers mentor and only Indian to circumnavigate the world twice. Each leg of the journey took nearly three weeks and saw the two women officers battle heavy winds and rough seas. The two officers are used to being on the water by now. They have been training for nearly three years, undertaking regular sorties, a Navy source tells TNIE. Indeed, both Lt Cdr Dilna and Lt Cdr Roopa have over 25,000 nautical miles to their names. According to Cdr Abhilash, the two are quite well prepared. In November 2023, the two officers had sailed from Goa to Port Blair and back nearly the same distance as from Goa to Mauritius. Though that voyage too was in double-handed mode, they were still sailing on Indian waters. This time, they crossed into the ocean, the source elaborates. Lieutenant commanders Dilna K and Roopa A welcomed by Capt Prasant C Menon and navy personnel from INS Mandovi Even crossing oceans isnt new. This time last year, they embarked on an expedition to Rio De Janeiro and back on the same vessel with a six-member crew. However, the upcoming Sagar Parikrama mission will be unlike the voyages theyve been on. It will see a woman officer sail around the world, solo and unassisted. Of the two officers, only one will make this journey. This transoceanic voyage was their final test. We will now evaluate and decide who will undertake the circumnavigation mission, the source says. According to him, both of them have a good chance of qualifying. Though India has eight circumnavigators, only two have done it solo Captain Dilip Donde (retd) and Cdr Abhilash. Their voyages, in 2010 and 2013, respectively, were the first two iterations of the Sagar Parikrama series. Interestingly, the two are also the first Indian male pair to undertake a transoceanic sortie (in 2009). The third Sagar Parikrama mission in 2017 saw Lt Cdr Joshi Vartika lead a six-member crew across the worlds oceans. To see an Indian woman sail around the world solo and unassisted was the longtime dream of the late VAdm M P Awati, considered the father of Indian circumnavigation missions. Now, only months remain for this dream to be fulfilled. Sagar Parikrama IV is set to commence in September. Lt Cdr Dilna K Hails from Kozhikode, Kerala Joined the Navy as a logistics officer in 2014 Is a renowned shooter; have won several medals in national competitions Big enthusiast of cricket; have represented the Kerala state team Won YAIs Admiral Ramdas Trophy last year Lt Cdr Roopa A Hails from Puducherry Joined the Navy into the naval armament inspection cadre in 2017 Is an aeronautical engineering graduate; had a stint with National Aerospace Laboratories Her father, Alagirisamy G P, is a former Indian Air Force pilot Won YAIs Admiral Ramdas Trophy last year yearAdmiral Ramdas Trophy,

Kochi City police file chargesheet in 2023 Kalamassery blast case

KOCHI: The police on Tuesday filed a chargesheet at Ernakulam District Principal Sessions Court in the Kalamassery blast incident which claimed the lives of eight people and injured several others during the convention of Jehovahs Witnesses on October 29, 2023. The police finding is that Palarivattom native Dominic Martin planned and executed the blast alone because of his strong resentment towards the Jehovahs Witnesses Church. There are 284 witnesses in the case. Over 150 material objects and documents were submitted before the court, along with the chargesheet of over 3,500 pages. We had investigated whether Martin received any support from others. However, no such evidence was found. It was revealed that Martin maintained a strong resentment towards the Jehovahs Witnesses faction. He procured explosives, made the Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and carried out the blast, said K S Sudarshan, deputy commissioner, Kochi City police, who investigated the case. The police have charged sections of the IPC, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Explosives Act against Martin. Earlier, the home department had given its nod to prosecute Martin under the UAPA. Though the chargesheet has been filed, further investigation will continue. Now, the court will conduct the trial based on the chargesheet, Sudarshan said. The police checked Martins mobile phone which revealed that he had garnered information about the making of IEDs from the internet. Later, he procured gunpowder from high-intensity crackers. He had made two IEDs and planted them in handbags and placed them at the convention centre. Martin used fuses and remote controls to trigger the blast. The police also checked his connections abroad while working in the Gulf countries. Martin had surrendered to police after posting a video on his social media account claiming responsibility for the bomb attack. He claimed that the Christian group repeatedly ignored his requests to go for course correction. Martin is currently in jail and he has not approached the court seeking bail until now. Case details Eight people died and several others were injured in the blast which took place during the onvention of Jehovahs Witnesses on October 29, 2023. Over 150 material objects and documents were submitted before the court, along with the chargesheet of over 3,500 pages There are 284 witnesses in case

Kerala woman dies after falling off moving train

KOCHI: The police on Tuesday recovered the body of a woman who is suspected to have fallen off a moving train at Neduvannoor in Chengamanad. The Nedumbassery police have registered a case and initiated a probe to ascertain the identity of the deceased person and reason behind the incident. The residents spotted the body around 6am. The police reached the spot and shifted the body to a nearby hospital. The estimated age of the woman is around 30. The body will be preserved at the morgue.

Imposter posing as customs official dupes Kochi man of Rs 7 lakhs

KOCHI: The Kadavanthra police have launched an investigation after a man posing as a customs officer duped a Pathanamthitta native working in Kochi of over Rs 7 lakh, promising a job in the central government agency. The police have registered a cheating case in connection with the incident. The victim has been a receptionist at a hotel in Kathrikadavu for the past one year. The accused, claiming to be an officer of the customs department, regularly stayed at the hotel. The man told the hotel employees that he is from Aluva and has to stay back in Kochi as part of his work. He befriended the victim, who had made all the arrangements for his stay at the hotel, a police officer said. In February, the accused approached the victim promising a job at the customs department. He claimed that he has a strong influence in the department and made the victim believe that he can arrange a job if he pays the money. The accused swindled Rs 7.28 lakh from the victim this way. On one occasion, the victim had to buy a mobile phone worth Rs 21,000 for the accused, said the officer. As he did not receive an offer and the money he paid, the victim lodged a complaint on April 20. We are trying to trace the accused. Our first priority is to confirm the identity of the person. We are also collecting information from the customs department. No person with that identity has been found working in the department. The probe is in its preliminary stage, the officer said.

'It is a fight to save constitutional values,' says LDF candidate Raveendranath

KOCHI: As the campaign vehicle of LDF candidate C Raveendranath reached Parappuram, near Angamaly, Ameya Krishna, a fourth-standard student, ran into the vehicle. All he needed was to greet Maash with a rose and wish him the best. Raveendranath, the Maash for the people of Chalakudy, hugged the young fan with love. He thanked the crowd for their support and reception and said, This is a fight to revive the constitutional values of our country - secularism, federalism and equality. The secularism of our nation is now under threat. That is the topic of discussion in this election. The best thing we can offer our children and the coming generation is the secular nature of our country. They will peacefully live here, he reminded a gathering of around 200-odd people. There is financial inequality as well. The rich are becoming richer and the poor are becoming poorer. The aim is to restore equality, the 68-year-old former state education minister said. As the vehicle left for the next destination, the song reverberated Veendedukkanam Namukku Gandhi Thanna Indiaye, Mathetharathvam Marichidathe Kaakkanam. Samayamayi Samayamayi Unarnnezhunelka Sodhara... The campaign tour reached Puliyanam Junction near Elavanur 40 minutes late. However, the crowd was patient and was sure that they would leave only after meeting their candidate. Wearing red hats, and sporting red balloons, flags, and flowers they waited for their Maash. Some people gifted him fruits and a bunch of bananas, which the candidate himself distributed among his supporters. The response of voters is positive, he said. I have travelled to these areas of the constituency twice now. People approach me and welcome me when I arrive at every place with flowers, shawls and most importantly with a smile. I am delighted by their response, and I am gaining more confidence every day, he said when asked about the experience after the campaign tours.

Demographic shift: Kerala sees increase in number of elderly voters

KOCHI: This time, Kerala has seen an extraordinary increase in the number of voters above 85 years, casting their votes from homes. This is not surprising as the age profile of the state changes to make it what experts call an old-age home in the future. As per the latest voters list, there is an increase of 12,37,393 voters above 60 years compared to 2019. Currently, there are 63,03,506 voters in this age category while it was 50,66,113 in 2019. The 60+ voters comprise 22.7 per cent of the total electorate numbering 2,77,49,159. In the 60-69 category, there is an increase of 6 lakh people, and in 70-79 age category there is an increase of nearly 4 lakh voters. Besides, the number of voters above 80 has seen a rise with more than 2 lakh compared to 2019. The 2024 electorate saw an increase of 15,97,625 voters compared to the 2019 electorate comprising 2,61,51,534 voters. Of these, there is an increase of around 12 lakh voters in the above 60 years category. Interestingly, women voters top in all age categories above 60. S Irudaya Rajan, chairman, International Institute of Migration and Development and former professor at the Centre for Development Studies (CDS), said Kerala is becoming a land of old-age people and naturally it is evident in the voters list too. In some districts, one out of five voters is a senior citizen. In Southern districts like Pathanamthitta this would go up to four out of five. Compared to north Kerala the elderly population is increasing in southern districts, he said. More people are inching towards the senior citizen bracket in Kerala compared to the rest of the country, and going by the current demographic transition, the number of senior citizens is expected to see a rise of 23 per cent by 2036, said a study conducted in April last year by migration expert Irudaya Rajan. According to the statistics, every fifth individual is expected to be a senior citizen, 60 years of age and above. According to the 2011 Census data, in Kerala, one in eight persons is above 60 years. As per various studies, in the past 60 years, the percentage of people aged 60 and above in Kerala has shot up from 5.1 per cent to 16.5 per cent the highest proportion in any Indian state. Political observer N M Pearson, meanwhile, opined that the increase of voters above 60 will not make any impact on voting. They will not become a deciding factor. They follow the way they cast votes from earlier times, he added. As per studies, in the past 60 years, the percentage of people aged 60 & above in Kerala has shot up from 5.1% to 16.5% highest in any Indian state

Kerala HC junks plea against Rajeev, tells Congress leader to file election petition

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Avani Bansal and another person from Bengaluru seeking a directive to the district electoral officer to pass a reasoned order on their complaint alleging that Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the NDA candidate in Thiruvananthapuram, has filed a false affidavit about his assets and income along with his nomination papers. A division bench comprising Justices V G Arun and Justice S Manu observed, The question as to whether the returning officer should have passed a reasoned order cannot be decided at this point of time and no direction can be issued to the returning officer to communicate reasons for the decision on the complaint. The remedy of the petitioners if aggrieved by the acceptance of the affidavit filed by one of the candidates, is to challenge the same in an election petition, the court added. Avani Bansal argued that the deliberate delay on the part of the returning officer and the district election officer has caused substantial prejudice to her. Therefore, the officers should be called upon to state the reason as to why no decision was taken on the complaint. The court responded that its hands were tied as the election process has already commenced. The counsel for the Election Commission informed that the district election officer has forwarded the complaint of the petitioners to the Deputy Director of Income-tax (Investigation), Thiruvananthapuram for necessary action.

Uttarakhand thieves who robbed two houses in Aluva taken for evidence collection

KOCHI: Police on Tuesday carried out evidence collection after getting the custody of two Uttarakhand natives who stole gold ornaments and money from two houses in Aluva in February this year. Danish, 23, and Sahjad, 33, of Rampur, had fired shots at a police team from Aluva when they reached Ajmer to nab the duo. Both were taken to the houses from where they stole gold and money. During interrogation, Danish admitted that he came to Kerala in search of a job in 2018. Then he realised that people used to keep gold ornaments in their houses. After returning to his native, Danish met Sahjad, an autorickshaw driver, and made plans to conduct robberies in Kerala. As part of the plan, they bought two pistols from Bihar for `22,000. They reached Aluva from New Delhi on February 8 and stayed in a lodge. They first stole a motorcycle from Perumbavoor and carried out a robbery at two houses in Aluva.

Plea in High Court alleging police excesses during Thrissur Pooram

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday asked the state government to provide its view on a plea alleging that police used excessive force and imposed illegal restrictions during Thrissur Pooram. The petition was filed by P Sudhakaran of Thrissur, who claims that the police obstructed the spiritual procession, and disrupted rituals and customs that have been followed for a long time. He alleged that the police manhandled people who were holding the kuthuvilakku in front of the procession. The police is expected to cooperate with devaswom officials and priests to ensure the smooth conduct of religious ceremonies by regulating the crowd. However, the police acted like authoritarian dictators and interfered with traditional practices, the petitioner said. He has also requested that the government create appropriate guidelines to govern the conduct of police authorities during religious festivals and temple ceremonies.

Kochi City police file chargesheet filed in Kalamassery blast case

Kerala BJP files police complaint against Rahul Gandhi

KOCHI: The BJP Ernakulam district committee filed a police complaint against Congress leader and UDF Wayanad Lok Sabha candidate Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, alleging that he has made a malicious statement misquoting the Prime Minister to cause disharmony in society. In the complaint filed at the Ernakulam Central Police Station, BJP Legal Cell district convener Sinu G Nath said that Rahul Gandhi made a public speech in Kottayam accused the Prime Minister of campaigning for One Nation, One Language and One Religion. Quoting from Rahul's speech, he said, If a daughter graduates from a university her parents congratulate her in Malayalam. I get surprised when I hear the PM giving speeches where he says One Nation, One Language and One Religion. How can you tell the people of Tamil Nadu to not speak Tamil, People of Kerala to not speak Malayalam? Every single Indian language is as important as any other language. BJP does this with language, place, caste and religion. Whenever they get an opportunity, they divide the country. Sinu said the video is available on YouTube. Cadres prefer Rahul Gandhi to lead country, says Randeep Singh Surjewala The statement has been made to cause disharmony among the Indian society based on language and religion. The Prime Minister has never made any such statement. The intention of the accused is to create enmity between different groups of people on the grounds of place of birth, residence and language. The statement is likely to cause disharmony and enmity between people speaking vernacular languages. The statement has been made intentionally with ulterior motive, Sinu added. UDF ahead in Wayanad even as Rahul factor loses charm

Plea in Kerala HC against use of temple premises for RSS drills

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday admitted a plea by devotees of the Sree Rakthakanda Swamy Temple at Omallur in Pathanamthitta district alleging the RSS is using the temple premises for their activities. The petition said that with the annual temple festivities underway, the use of the temple premises by the RSS is creating Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Whos OG Zinda Banda? Superstars Shah Rukh Khan, Mohanlal Banter Over Dance, Meals In Viral Posts

It all started when Malayalam superstar Mohanlal wowed everyone at an award show in Kochi with his energetic dance to songs by Shah Rukh Khan.

Shah Rukh Khan calls Mohanlal OG Zinda Banda as Malayalam actor dances to Jawan song

Mumbai: Shah Rukh Khan on Tuesday reshared a video of Mohanlal dancing to the formers Jawan song Zinda Banda at an awards show in Kochi, thanking the Malayalam star for making the song more special. Re-posting the video, originally shared by a fan account, Shah Rukh wrote, Wish I had done it half as [] The post Shah Rukh Khan calls Mohanlal OG Zinda Banda as Malayalam actor dances to Jawan song appeared first on Pragativadi | Odisha News, Breaking News Odisha, Latest Odisha News .

Mohanlal Says He Wants To Groove To Shah Rukh Khan's Zinda Banda Over Brekkie At Mannat: 'Just Dinner?'

Malayalam superstar Mohanlal wowed everyone at an award show in Kochi with his energetic dance to songs by Shah Rukh Khan and Rajinikanth.

Ola Electric expands network with 500th service centre launch in Kochi

Ola Electric recently ventured into the sub-Rs 80,000 scooter segment, introducing new pricing for its S1 X portfolio. All details inside.

Shah Rukh Khan REACTS To Mohanlal Dancing On Zinda Banda, Says Wish I Had Done It Half...

Superstar Mohanlal set the stage on fire with his dance performance to Zinda Banda at an award show in Kochi. The video has gone viral

Mohanlals dance to SRKs Zinda Banda song from Jawan

Mumbai: Superstar Mohanlal set the stage on fire with his dance performance to Shah Rukh Khans Zinda Banda song from Jawan at an award show in Kochi. The videos of Mohanlal, 63, grooving to SRK and Rajinikanths song are going viral on social media. In one of the videos shared by Mohanlals fan page on Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Watch: In Which Mohanlal Dances To Shah Rukh Khan And Rajinikanth's Songs

Mohanlal performed at an award show in Kochi

Theres no room for heartache in cinema, only next project, says actor Gokulan M S

KOCHI: If perseverance, passion and a penchant for staying organised saw Kochi-based Gokulan M S carve a space for himself in the highly-competitive film industry, what keeps him there are two things: his natural acting style, honed to perfection after years of performing theatre; and his humility and willingness to see from the shoes of the other. Here, TNIE catches up with the actor for a candid chat that covers his early years in cinema, upcoming projects and more. How did this desire to become a film actor blossom? How did you get your first break? I was very interested in theatre from a young age. My father was a theatre artist. He used to take me to see performances. Naturally, this interest rubbed off on me as well. When I moved to Cusat for my studies PG and MPhil in economics, the already-vibrant theatre ecosystem here afforded me more acting opportunities and thus, more visibility. My first break in cinema came by way of this. My instructors, Manoj Kumar and Vinod Kumar, were associates under filmmaker Lohithadas. Their friend, Meera Kathiravan, offered me a small role in his debut Tamil movie, Aval Peyar Tamilarasi. I played the heros sidekick. I wasnt pursuing a career in cinema very diligently then. I was content with theatre and the occasional music album work that came my way. But alongside these, I was able to slowly build a portfolio in cinema. My first Malayalam film was Kudumbashree Travels. The movies director, Kiran, was impressed by one of my theatre performances. This was in 2009. The years that followed saw me land more opportunities. Though the roles I was initially given were all small, each piqued my desire. Soon, I was convinced that my path was in cinema and started to approach it more seriously. Ive gotten this far. We hear this often, that one needs a grandfather figure in the film industry to thrive My own experience has taught me that with perseverance, nothing is impossible. I had a method. I actively sought out roles. I still do. I call up directors whose works Ive enjoyed to see if they have anything for me in upcoming films. If they do, great. I will give the role my 100%. I will focus on nothing else. If they dont, I will thank them for their time, wish them the best and move to the next task. Theres no room for heartache in this industry, only the next project. Also, when someone asks me to call them after six months, I diligently note the date down in my diary and promptly follow up. I was determined to not be let down and stayed organised. Today, Im reaping the benefits. I think over 90% of people in the industry today are like me. They got there because of hard work and passion. How did you stay motivated during the breaks between films? Have you considered taking up other aspects of filmmaking? I like listening to songs. When theres no work, I usually remain at home and listen to music. I have a small space set up on the terrace. I sit here and allow myself to be lost in thoughts and melody. We all need such a space to unwind. About other aspects not really. Im not very well-versed in all that. I will stick to acting. Its what I enjoy most. What are your next projects? Ive just wrapped up a project with the Kerala State Film Development Corporation. Ive also finished a film with director Thaha (Ee Parakkum Thalika fame). Currently, Im working on a project with Shanu Samad, a new director. We are to begin shooting for Tovinos next soon. Your thoughts about the Malayalam film industry? Mollywood puts out the best content. We have been witnessing that for years. Now, the entire country acknowledges this fact. They say in unison that our stories are very vibrant. One need only look at movies released in 2024 alone. Mollywood today has become an industry that does all kinds of genres. Personally, Im very proud to work in this industry.

Raja of ragas: Swathi Thirunal's legacy reverberates

KOCHI: There is music even otherwise on the history-laden streets of East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram. But there will be an added lilt in the air for five days from April 24 when the Swathi Sangeethotsavam begins, organised by the Swati Sangeeta Sabha to commemorate the 211th birth anniversary of the celebrated poet-monarch. Just yards away from the Karthika Thirunal Auditorium where the event would be held, the Levy Hall would also hold the Swathi Aradhana. The venues would stage some versatile musicians whose renditions of the works of Swathi Thirunal would fill the classical alleyways around the Padmanabhaswamy temple, where centuries ago the poet-monarch sang thus to the deity he worshipped: Oh, the one with lovely tresses, What do I do now? The one with lotus eyes, Sreepadmanabha is yet to come... The ode was born some 200 years ago on the premises of Kuthiramalika from a man whose birth, life and death were melodious and momentous, musical and magical, and muddled and mysterious much in that order. Here, he was the feminine soul reaching out to Lord Padmanabha with the impatience of a woman in love. The poem, set to Raga Kurunji with a mystically passionate swing about it withstood the test of time and found presence in several later media of art. Its enchantment continues as could be found from the umpteen covers of the poem and its dance versions posted online. Through such compositions, Swathi Thirunal remains undoubtedly popular among artists and art lovers in Kerala. His hallmark lyrical poetry, rich in passion and set to enigmatic scales that render the compositions a meditative yet sensuous texture, is finding new ground with not only the younger breed of musicians but even amateurs. Swathi Thirunal, who founded the first observatory along with astronomer John Caldecott. The onset of social media has vastly changed the trajectory of an artist, where one need not wait for stages to showcase ones talent. This also gives the flexibility for artists to perform what they like and find, and Swathi Thirunals compositions are among the most explored in that sense. From rare krtis of the legend uploaded by veterans such as Aswathy Thirunal Rama Varma to dance and music covers by amateur dancers and musicians, YouTube and Instagram flood with compositions of Swathi Thirunal as reels and videos. Notable among the posts are those based on some of the 65 Sringara padams he wrote, which have views as well in thousands if not lakhs. Thanks to YouTube and Instagram, Swathi Thirunal has become a household name, says Vaisakh R, a fresh graduate from the Univesity of Kerala who plans to launch his own YouTube music channel. But till about a few years ago, Swathi Thirunals compositions saw light among the common folk as mellifluous film numbers like Gopalaka Pahimam Anisham and Alasara Parithapam. Beyond that, he was Travancores king who was immersed in music making. Not all was known of him as a ruler who brought modernity in both art and administration that too under the crushing gaze of the British. His inclusivity streak got him not only to patronise artists from far and wide but also to set up schools and health centres. With his name now on the internet trends, the other facets of him are also seeing popular light, says Vaisakh. He was a human, unlike his contemporaries who wore divine auras. He wrote for the masses. We can see this in the utsava prabandhams he wrote for occasions, the navaratri kritis he wrote for the navaratri festival, his joint work with the Tanjore Quartet (Chinnayya, Ponnayya, Vadivelu and Sadasivam), the navavidha bhakti group of songs, the musical operas on Ajamilaupakhyanam and kuchelaupakhayanam, the Sringara padams reflecting the fluidity of moods, you name it and its there. He wrote in Manipravalam, Malayalam, Sanskrit, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi, Hindi... and embraced the entry of western musical instruments such as violin. A similar treatment was given to dance and other forms of art. And all this within the 33 years he was alive. To me, he is more than a Thyagaraja, says Vaisakh, hinting at his plans to study Swathi Thirunal deeper. To aid such studies, the University of Kerala is including a whole paper on Swathi Thirunal in its revised syllabus for music, says Dr R Sreedev, faculty at Sri Swati Thirunal College of Music and member of the syllabus revision committee. Eminent Carnatic vocalist Sreevalsan J Menon, whose body of work includes attempts at rare compositions of Swathi Thirunal, feels the evergreen interest in Swathi kritis could be because of the language and emotional connection his works can forge with people. Alasara parithapam and Aliveni are the most popular of his works that have turned into mostly dance reels. There are many who send me YouTube links of dance versions of many Swathi kritis I have sung, he says. Swathi kritis getting popular over the years have several reasons, says acclaimed singer Aswathi Thirunal Rama Varma. The pandemic in general brought down several walls. Swathi kritis have a versatility about them. The same person who composed the devotional Jaya Jagadeesha Nanda Kishora in Ragam Yamunakalyani has also made the philosophical Karanam Vinakaryam in Ragam Kambhoji. Another huge reason is his work towards bringing together all forms of Indian classical music. Some 30-odd Hindustani bandishas are there to his credit. Then, he was a complete artist whose passion for art touched all the aspects geetam, vadyam nrittam (dance, instruments, music). He reached out to people with simpler versions of tough Sanskrit songs. It was sad he was trapped in the robes of a Maharaja, he says. Rama Varma has tried to incorporate that inclusiveness as he tries to include all singers in the festivals he organises. Internet age is also the reason why Swathi kritis are getting more popular in the West. My disciple Amrita Venkiteshs tiny students from the US send me videos of the kritis they learn and sing. The AIR has begun uploading the full version of the navaratri concert on their YouTube channel for connoisseurs of the West and the Middle East. So its a combination of different factors why Swathi is the first choice of young artists, especially dancers, he adds. Sreevalsan feels Swathi Thirunal has always got his due at least from the organisers and singers. There have been government awards in his name. Then there are publications, books and research at the macro and micro level. A reason for his acceptance among the singers could be that his compositions are very concert-worthy. But there are some whose phonetics are tricky, which makes it non so popular among musicians outside Kerala, he says. While Swathi might have got traditional reverence from practitioners of the art in Kerala, he was a mystery that many in the Carnatic circle did not wish to indulge in. There were also controversies that marred his acceptance for long among the Carnatic elite and the sabha goers of Chennai and other citadels of the classical system. Achuthsankar S Nair, head of the department of computational biology and bioinformatics, University of Kerala, who also holds PhD in music and wrote a book Swathi: Born to a mother, remembers the article in the Illustrated Weekly some 40 years ago where he found Veena vidwan Balanchander making a few observations on the veracity of the composers works. I felt his observations to be contradictory. On the one hand, the gentleman was speaking of how he felt Swathis works were not his but of people who were under his patronage like the Tanjore Quartet and on the other, he was claiming Swathi Thirunal was a non-entity. My research into the king spanning decades began there, Achuthsankar says. As part of his thesis, the scientist went on to dissect the works of the ruler screening the texts for identity markers. The method spots the writing pattern unique to an individual. He found Swathi Thirunals marker in about 250 of his compositions, including those that were under contention. There may have been others who chipped in but I considered those compositions which were being touted as doubtful, he says, adding a work of the monarch has been written down in Western notation and preserved in Cambridge Universitys music department and the first book on Carnatic music in history in 1853 had 86 compositions of Swati Thirunal brought out by an ordinary citizen. He stood out in his diversity, variety and inclusivity to adapt even Western composers like Mozart and Beethoven in his works. A man with a great love for knowledge who died at a young age, depriving him the advantage of time that his contemporaries got. Swathis anniversary is now celebrated by even individuals and art groups is a marker of his popularity. The Lalithambika Sangeeta Natya Koodam in Thiruvananthapuram was one such institution that held concerts and recitals to commemorate the anniversary. In Thrissur, a Monihiyattam performance on Swathi kritis was staged by Kalamandalam dancers and in Kochi, too a similar event was organised. The Swathi fervour has found ground in the US too with Swathi Sangeeta Sabha in Charlotte. The India Cultural Centre and Temple, Memphis, is installing a life-size statue of the composer alongside other greats such as Annamacharya and Purandaradasa. Swathi Thirunal, with his famous trait of inclusivity, will be Keralas contribution, says Vaisakh.

Masoom Minawala chronicles her rise to social media stardom in debut book

KOCHI: Striking it big as an influencer may seem like its money for old rope; social media offers instant fame that some equate to a mere stroke of luck. But it is only after the camera lenses shutter down, the ring lights are hung back on the walls, and the PR packages returned, that a different picture emerges of what it takes to be an influencer. And it takes a lot. Masoom Minawala, 30, who currently lives in Dubai, is a social media star who broke new grounds in content creation over a decade ago. Known for changing the lives of smaller Indian brands with her endorsement, her journey from a curious teen to being a global influencer and entrepreneur has been inspiring for many. Now, in her first book, Shell Never Make It, she chronicles her journey to the top. All through my life Ive felt like Im not good enough, that my job is not good enough, people dont respect what I do. So the loudest voice in my head has asked what have you done to deserve writing a book. But the reason I wanted to write is because I have made unconventional choices, personally and professionally. And I felt like everyone whos on the brink of making such choices would like to know my story, she says. The first step Minawala donned the hat of an influencer long before the birth of Instagram. During her college days, she interned at a fashion company and was tasked to research bloggers. This led her on to discover fashion blogging. She spent one entire night looking up what was being done worldwide and created a fashion blog of her own, a phenomenon that was almost unheard of in India back then. The camera and tripod gifted by her grandfather was put to good use for the blog. She took her own photos. Such was the traction of her blog that she was immediately pulled into the world. It was love at first sight. It was an infatuation, like your first crush in school who you cannot stop thinking about. Blogging has taught me so much, she says. The obstacles Minawala managed to create a consumer base that trusted her. If she suggested her followers buy something in her blog, they would buy it. She leveraged her popularity during Covid when smaller fashion businesses were on the brink of collapse; she promoted them on her Instagram page to her 1.3 million followers. A silver lining for these smaller ventures, they experienced The Masoom Magic. Their sales boomed. Minawala, however, struggled when she started her own fashion e-commerce business. She did not lack a rock-solid pitch or strong brand collaborations. But the fact of being a woman, and a woman talking about finances, proved at the time to be a challenge. I felt I was not dealt the best cards because I was a woman. Big investors would ask if any male member of the family would handle my finances. It made me feel I didnt have what men were assumed to have. I felt like I had to go out of my way to adopt those skills, she says. Moving forward also meant more questions if she was going to work only until she gets married or stop once she becomes a mother. Theres something I talk about in the book, and its one of my favourite lines. Your gender is your strength. Believe it. I think the mind shift needs to begin with us, she says. Highs and lows From amassing a global following to walking the Paris Fashion Week the first Indian influencer to walk PFW in 2021 and promoting Indian designers, Minawala says success did not happen overnight. It was actually a long journey. I would say I made a series of bad decisions but I also trusted my instincts that probably got me where I needed to be, she says. Chronicling her journey for the book, the social media star says she was able to look back at her life from a macro perspective. Writing this book required me to actually dig into memories that were conveniently blocked away. It was painful but it made me reflect and learn from all those memories, Minawala says. Having said that, if something hadnt gone a certain way, maybe I wouldnt be here now. And Im quite happy about where I am today.

Fatty liver disease is not a drinkers problem alone

KOCHI: If you are thinking only heavy drinkers can get liver disease, then think again. Fatty liver can be caused by obesity and high blood pressure. The second-largest organ in the human body, the liver performs over 500 vital body functions, including filtering out blood toxins and processing food nutrients. Too much fat accumulation in the liver impairs its functions and can pave the way for many problems. Two types There are two types of fatty liver diseases: non-alcoholic and alcoholic. Non-alcoholic disease is the most common type. While the simple fatty disease is without any inflammation or complications, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis may progress to cirrhosis, which causes permanent scarring and hardening of the liver. Alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common type and is caused by excessive alcohol intake. Abstaining from alcohol can help the liver heal, allowing the individual to return to a normal life. Symptoms Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease can happen without noticeable symptoms. However, in some cases, it can lead to tiredness or pain in the upper right side of the belly, where the liver is; sudden weight loss, and more. In the case of alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis can cause a swelling of the liver resulting in fever, nausea, fatigue and weight loss. Jaundice too is a symptom. However, consulting a doctor is crucial. Diagnosis Health history and tests are needed to diagnose them: Liver tests to detect and monitor liver damage, tests to analyse blood fats such as cholesterol and triglycerides, and fibrosis assessment tests to estimate the level of liver scarring. Treatment It can be controlled by adapting a healthy lifestyle: Following a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while limiting processed foods, saturated fats, and added sugars; and regular exercises. While it is treatable in early stages, abstaining from alcohol and nutritional support can aid in the case of alcoholic fatty liver disease. In the most severe cases, a liver transplant is the only cure. Mind and Body Got health concerns you want to share with a doctor? Are you looking for credible answers regarding symptoms, medicines or lifestyle disorders? Write to us on cityexpresskoc@newindianexpress.com, and we will get healthcare professionals to answer them. (The writer is a consultant with Aster Medcity, Kochi)

'Mammoth Miracle' called the Indian elections

KOCHI: My memory of elections is deeply associated with Prannoy Roy, Indias foremost and finest psephologist. The first televised coverage of an election result in India was produced by NDTV for the 1989 general election. Roy, who began his career as a television journalist, by covering it for Doordarshan and then as a news presenter in the international news show The World This Week became a household name. Thirty-five years since that coverage, we enter yet another election season, and the question we need to ask is: Is India an electoral autocracy? That we hold an election on time, and that in every state and general election, the losing side and the party have unquestioningly accepted the result is a clear indication of our continuing faith in the electoral process. The same cannot be said even of the US elections. In India, no party has ever received more than 50% of the vote share, so we have always had an Opposition, though it has weakened considerably. The electoral process in India does have its challenges issues such as voter fraud, corruption, and the influence of money in politics pose significant hurdles to free and fair elections. Moreover, Indias vast geographical expanse and diverse population present logistical challenges in ensuring equitable access to the electoral process, particularly in remote and marginalised regions. However, we do go to great lengths to ensure franchise. In Navin Chawlas book, Every Vote Counts, he shares the story of a polling station that was set up in the village of Banej in Junagadh district in Gujarat for the 2009 election. Located in the heart of Indias only lion sanctuary, it was set up for a single voter Pujari Bharatdas Dashandas. A presiding officer and two other officials travelled through almost 40km of dense jungle, accompanied by a couple of policemen presumably to keep the lions at bay. Where it all began The roots of elections hark back to ancient Greece but it was in the Roman Republic that the concept of representative government and periodic elections emerged. The Roman model of electing officials to represent the interests of the people laid the foundation for modern democratic practices. When the greatest Roman orator Marcus Cicero ran for the highest office in the Roman Republic in 64BCE, his younger brother Quintus Tullius decided to give him some practical advice in the form of a campaign guide. This was published by Princeton University Press as How to Win an Election: An Ancient Guide for Modern Politicians. Promise everything to everyone. Give people hope, at least until the election then inevitably you will let them down. Would you believe such nuggets date back over 2,000 years? Medieval Europe saw the emergence of feudalism but the Magna Carta in 1215 marked a pivotal moment in the struggle for democratic principles. Over time, this led to the establishment of parliamentary systems and the gradual expansion of suffrage. The Enlightenment further fuelled the ideals of democracy and individual rights, inspiring the American and French Revolutions. The 19th century witnessed the expansion of suffrage and the democratisation of electoral systems in many countries. Movements for womens suffrage, workers rights, and civil rights challenged entrenched power structures and fought for equal participation in governance. Fast forward to the 20th century, one can see significant advancements in electoral practices and technology, transforming the nature of elections. The advent of mass media, political parties, and campaign strategies reshaped electoral campaigns, enabling candidates to reach wider audiences and mobilise support. However, the century also saw challenges to democratic norms, including the rise of authoritarian regimes and the manipulation of elections for political gain. Polls today Today, elections face new challenges including disinformation, voter suppression, and the influence of money. Technological advancements have transformed the way elections are conducted, raising concerns about cybersecurity and the integrity of electoral systems. Indias first general elections were held between 25 October 1951 and 27 March 1952 (of a population of 34.8 crore, 17.3 crore voted). Schoolteacher Shyam Saran Negi was the first to cast a vote for independent India. The Election Commission of India, an autonomous body, was established on 25 January 1950, so the adult franchise was effective from the very day India became a republic. Unlike in the West, democratic institutions in India are not well studied (e.g. the last book about the PMs office The Indian Prime Minister: Office and Powers was written in 1976 by L N Sharma although the PMO was created in 1960). Of the few good books on elections, one of my favourites is Rajdeep Sardesais 2014: The Election that Changed India. This election has been regarded as the most important in Indian history since 1977. It saw the decimation of the ruling Congress party, a spectacular victory for the BJP and a new style of campaigning that broke every rule in the political game. A page-turner, this is political storytelling at its best. The Verdict: Decoding Indias Elections by Prannoy Roy and Dorab R Sopariwala, offers a detailed analysis, drawing on data, anecdotes, and interviews to unravel the complexities of electoral politics in the worlds largest democracy. Both these books are worth revisiting, especially before an election season! An Undocumented Wonder: The Making of the Great Indian Election by S Y Quraishi delves into the behind-the-scenes workings of the Election Commission of India, offering insights into the planning, execution, and challenges of conducting our elections. As India readies itself for a mammoth exercise in democracy about 969 million are eligible to cast their vote in the upcoming election more than the populations of North America and the European Union combined Prime Minister Narendra Modi is standing for a rare third consecutive term in power, something that has happened for the first time since Nehru. Being the biggest democracy is not good enough; we should aspire to be the greatest too, the best example of democracy in the world. Meanwhile, let us remember that it is the voter, not the politician, who is at the core of democracy. And the voter has been known to surprise us even when the outcome of an election seems a foregone conclusion. As former President Pranab Mukherjee once said, You can only understand an election after it is over. (The views expressed are personal)

'DNA test on adopted child may violate right to privacy,' says Kerala HC

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has held that DNA examination of children born to rape victims who are given in adoption may cause emotional imbalance and violate their right to privacy. Justice K Babu ordered that Pocso and other subordinate courts should not entertain applications seeking DNA examination of children given in adoption. The court also directed child welfare committees to ensure that the DNA samples of adopted children are taken before the completion of the adoption process. The order was issued while disposing of a suo motu case registered based on the report of the Project Co-ordinator, Victims Rights Centre, and the Kerala State Legal Services Authority regarding the violation of the privacy of adopted children by issuing orders for collecting their DNA. The report stated that the various courts in Kerala issued orders on the applications preferred by the prosecution to collect DNA of children born to rape victims. Advocate Parvathi Menon, the amicus curiae, said that collecting DNA samples may harm the person and encroach upon his/her privacy and personal autonomy. The exercise of collecting DNA samples is done to strengthen the prosecution case of rape which can be successfully proved by evidence that the accused had sexual intercourse with the lady without her consent and the proof of paternity would not help the court in deciding the issue of whether the accused raped her. There were instances where blood samples for DNA tests were ordered to be collected from adopted children who had attained an age of reasonable comprehension. In some cases, adopted parents would not have even divulged the fact of adoption to the child. The child would have blended so well with the family that a sudden revelation that he/she is adopted, and that too from a rape victim, can imbalance his/her emotional status and can result in them exhibiting behavioural disorders and aberrations, submitted the amicus curiae. The court said that rape as defined in Section 375 of the IPC and penetrative sexual assault as defined in the Pocso Act did not demand that the paternity of the child born to rape victims should be proved to establish the offence. When there is a conflict between the right to privacy of a person not to submit himself forcefully to medical examination and the duty of the court to reach out to the truth, the court must exercise its discretion only after balancing the interest of the parties and on due consideration whether, for a just decision in the matter, DNA test is essentially needed. The court also directed that all the agencies or authorities involved in the adoption process shall ensure that the confidentiality of adoption records is maintained except as permitted under any other law for the time being in force.

Amicus curiae finds serious lapses in inspection of tuskers before Thrissur pooram

KOCHI: The amicus curiae appointed by the Kerala High Court to oversee the verification process and issuance of fitness certificates for elephants paraded for Thrissur Pooram reported that the tuskers were brought without necessary documentation such as work register, movement register, and food register which should have been reviewed by forest officials before issuing fitness certificates. The report highlighted that the forest department can verify the details of an elephants travel only if the movement register is provided during inspection. Similarly, officials from the animal husbandry department must record the details of the first and second mahouts, including their ages, in the register for inspection. The amicus curiae recommended that the forest department should provide an inspection register to elephant owners, including medical certificates and other relevant documents. The register would allow the department to verify any past medical treatments and ensure that the movement of the elephant, its food pattern and parades are updated during the elephants transportation. The amicus curiae also recommended that the forest department should conduct regular inspection of captive elephants records, at least once every two weeks during the festival season. T C Suresh Menon, the amicus curiae, and Advocate Sandhesh Raja K were present on-site as per the High Courts order. They observed that the inspection of elephants on the Paramekkavu temple premises began around 4 pm. The list of elephants to be paraded by the devaswoms changed three times, with 40 elephants inspected from Paramekkavu Devaswom and 44 from Thiruvambady Devaswom. During the inspection, they found that Pambady Sundaran had a serious wound on its right rear side with blood oozing out and an opaque left eye, yet it was cleared for the parade. Tusker Vyloor Parameswaran had a mal-united left forearm, causing difficulty in walking, but it was also cleared. Tusker Ezhuthurakka Gangaprasad had wounds on his hind legs, yet it was also cleared for the parade. The report stated that more than 28 elephants were tethered in a confined space with little room for movement. While inspecting three elephants in the eastern corner of the ground, mahouts of other elephants withdrew from the area. The absence of the animal husbandry department doctor and the forest departments advice that it was unsafe to stay there prompted the officials to escort the amicus curiae team out of the area. Paramekkavu Devaswom refused to cooperate, says amicus curiae The amicus curiae has criticised the Paramekkavu Devaswom in a report amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the management of Thrissur Pooram. The report stated that Rajesh, the secretary of Paramekkavu Devaswom, harshly criticised the High Court during a meeting, accusing it of interfering in the conduct of Thrissur Pooram and the inspection and parading of elephants. Rajesh said that the devaswom would not assist authorities in implementing distance rules for parading elephants, taking a stance contrary to the position submitted by Paramekkavu Devaswoms counsel. According to amicus curiae, Rajeshs behavior and statements during the meeting were described as threatening, as he declared that the High Court could pass any orders it wanted, but he would not comply with them.

Malayali love for gold too hard to resist for burglars

KOCHI: The lustre has been attracting the attention of the illustrious -- though of a criminal persuasion! As high prices and the ceaseless demand of Malayalis combine to give the yellow metal added sheen, its inter-state burglars who are looking to benefit from the interplay. And Kochi the commercial capital of Kerala is emerging as a favoured destination for those looking for a piece of this toxic action. According to police, some of the burglars arrive on flights for a quick operation. On April 20, dreaded burglar Mohammed Irfan, from Bihar, broke into the house of film-maker Joshiy, a day after another group from Maharashtra targeted jewellery shops in Kochi and Kalamassery. The group, comprising a man and three women, was arrested on Sunday while attempting to force their way into a jewellery shop in Thrissur. The gang had arrived by flight from Mumbai and was based out of Angamaly. The increase in the price of gold could be attracting inter-state gangs to the state, says Kochi commissioner S Syamsundar. They know about the Malayalis penchant for gold. Even though most people keep their ornaments in bank lockers, there are some who hold on to it for use during social events. Added to this is the fact that the price of gold has skyrocketed in recent months, Syamsundar pointed out. We plan to revamp patrolling activity after the election, he said. During the election period, security is already on high alert. After the vote, patrolling will take on a new dimension. We will look to cover each and every locality in the city in coordination with the public, Syamsundar said, adding that theft and burglary cases in the city rarely go unsolved. In February, an Ernakulam Rural police team on the hunt for two burglars from Uttarakhand was fired upon by the duo in Ajmer. They were fleeing after stealing gold ornaments from two houses in Aluva. Officers arrested Danish, 23 and Sahjad, 33, who had decamped with 38 sovereigns of gold and `33,000 in cash. A few years back, three persons from Delhi burgled 20 sovereigns of gold from six houses in Kadavanthra and Palarivattom. The trio had also arrived in the city by flight. A top police officer said Ernakulam district attracts criminal minds as it is easily accessible by road, rail and air. Unlike other places, thieves can vanish immediately after committing a crime here. Thats why we have cases in which gangs arrive by train or plane for their criminal activity and leave in a jiffy, he said. Recent Cases April 19 - Four-member gang steals gold ornaments from two jewellery shops in Edappally and Kalamassery after arriving by flight from Maharashtra. All four members arrested from Thrissur. April 20, 2024- Diamond and gold jewellery worth over D1.2 crore stolen from the house of film-maker Joshiy in Panampilly Nagar. Bihar native Mohammed Irfan held. April 2022 - A three-member gang from Delhi carried out six thefts between April 21 and 24. The members also reached Kochi by flight. They were caught from a lodge in Kochi. February 15 - Tamil Nadu man posing as a KWA official burgles laptops and electronic equipment from several houses in Palarivattom. The accused landed in Kochi by flight and roamed the city on a stolen motorcycle. Feb 9 & 10 - Two Uttarakhand natives break into two houses in Aluva and steal gold jewellery.

Kerala 8-year-old dies as tree falls on him

KOCHI: An eight-year-old boy, Mohammad Irfan, died after a tree and an electricity pole fell on him at Aluva on Monday. The child was playing with his friends on a ground near his residence in Purayur near Aluva when the incident happened. A group of children were playing on the ground. Irfan was riding a bicycle when a decayed tree standing on the ground fell on him around 5.30 in the evening. The decayed tree fell on the electricity pole nearby. In the impact, the broken pole and the tree fell on the child, who was cycling in the area, a local resident said. Irfan is the son of Noushad. The body was shifted to the mortuary after inquest procedures, the source said.

Kerala cops sore over notice against sleeping in AC rooms of SHOs

KOCHI: The Ernakulam Central assistant commissioner of police (ACP) on Monday issued a note to all station house officers (SHOs) under him regarding use of airconditioners by cops on night duty at various police stations in Kochi. The note was issued by ACP Raju V K after coming to know that policemen on night duty were sleeping inside the air conditioned rooms of SHOs. Police personnel engaged in guard duty and handling of general diary at night are found to be sleeping inside the AC rooms of SHOs. SHOs should be alert against the practice and if required action should be taken against erring officials, stated the circular. The circular has led to discontent among cops and they are planning to take up the matter with the Kerala Police Association.In a majority of police stations, ACs are available only in the rooms of SHOs. The rules state that ACs should be provided only for officers at the level of SPs or above. However, now SHOs are also installing ACs as computer systems and servers are kept in SHOs room.

Murder bid: Four held in Kerala

KOCHI: The police on Monday arrested four people in an attempt to murder case. The arrested are Adarsh, 25, of Kuzhupilly, Ashwin, 20, of Edavanakkad, Nizar, 23, of Edavanakkad and Ananthu, 19, of Ayyampilly. The incident occurred on April 18. The accused were engaged in a verbal dual with another group of youngsters at Valap. Following the argument, they attacked the victims with an iron road and machete. Three people suffered injuries and were hospitalised.

'Freeze on bank a/c following Vizhinjam port stir hurting': Kerala Church body

KOCHI: The Kerala Latin Catholic Association (KLCA) has questioned the delay in lifting the freeze on the bank account of the Thiruvananthapuram archdiocese of the Latin Catholic Church. The association said the central governments move had forced the archdiocese to seek donations from the laity to meet expenses incurred for the care of retired clergy and the educational needs of seminarians. Following amendments to the FCRA Act, funds can only be received through bank accounts opened in Delhi, said Sherry J Thomas, president of the KLCA. When such a restriction is mandated in a country where religious observances and rituals constitute fundamental rights, it impacts mission activities. Even though this was a point of discussion in some forums, it did not lead to any changes. Section 12(4) of the FCRA Act points out the stages in which restrictions can be imposed on such accounts, Sherry said. Such action also poses hurdles for individuals or institutions who are joint holders of the accounts. Hundreds of cases were registered after the Vizhinjam agitation. Specifically, cases where the archbishop was named an accused led to the freezing of the account. But the cases were later proved to have been fabricated, he added. Vizhinjam was an ideological struggle: a reaction to failures in addressing the concerns of a group of people. The protests were led by people living in substandard conditions. Cases against bishops and others cannot be justified. It is ridiculous that even those who led the Vizhinjam solidarity rally were booked. The cases against those who took part in the strike or helped or participated in it were part of tactics employed to suppress the protests, he said.

Kochi Water Metro to revive city canals for navigable transport services

KOCHI: As Kochi Water Metro approaches its first anniversary, the first-of-its-kind initiative in the country has ambitious plans for the future. One notable proposal is a service through the citys once-navigable canals. The eagerly awaited canal rejuvenation initiative part of the Integrated Urban Regeneration and Water Transport System managed by Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) aims to ferry passengers through these canals to various destinations. Kochi is known for its network of canals and backwaters. But, many of these waterways are now in disrepair, primarily due to illegal encroachments and waste dumping. KMRL managing director Loknath Behera told TNIE that making Kochis canals navigable is a long-term project and the agency is working on it. The Kochi Water Metro plans to introduce smaller boats in the future that can navigate through the citys canals. Once the canal development and rejuvenation projects are under way, we may proceed with smaller boats that can carry 20-25 passengers. This approach will reduce operational cost and improve city connectivity, said Behera. The water metro launched on April 25, 2023 has not only gained popularity in the city but also attracted international recognition for its 100% sustainable mode of transportation. The canal rejuvenation project will include a water metro component. Over time, water transport in and around Kochi will be managed by the water metro, Behera said. Boats will be more comfortable in future The aim is to unify all transportation modes under a single system and integrate various methods of travel, Behera said. He said the water metro boats will be more comfortable in the future. During a visit to Leningrad, Russia, we observed boats similar to water metro that offered greater comfort and were more passenger-friendly. Although our current boats prioritise passenger comfort, future models will evolve to set new standards, much like the Vande Bharat train, said Behera. As part of the rejuvenation project, six canals in Kochi Edappally canal, Chilavannoor canal, Thevara canal, Perandoor canal, Market canal, and Konthuruthy canal will be made navigable and clean. However, the Rs 1,528-crore project funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) is yet to take off due to multiple various reasons. According to sources, technical studies suggest that the 11.23-km Edappally canal can be made fully navigable. Market Canal (0.664 km) will also be restored to its former glory, aiding the transportation of goods to Ernakulam Market, the source said. The canals will also feature well-planned embankments, lighting, and walkways.

LS polls: Tharoor faces two-pronged challenge from BJP, Left to secure fourth term

LS polls: Tharoor faces two-pronged challenge from BJP, Left to secure fourth term Former UN diplomat and Congress leader will be seeking a fourth straight term from Thiruvananthapuram constituency, as he is up against a two-front contest against Union Minister of State, Rajeev Chandrashekhar and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Panniyan Ravindran. Tharoor, who has held the seat since 2009, is facing a challenge as the BJP has named a strong face of against him. Chandrashekhar has served as the MoS for Electronics, Entrepreneurship and Information Technology. Although CPI-M is part of the INDIA bloc, but it is not in any seat-sharing agreement with the Congress party in the state of Kerala. The CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) has fielded CPI leader Pannyan Raveendran from the constituency, who won the seat in 2005. All 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in Kerala will vote in a single phase on April 26. Counting will be held on June 4. In 2019, the Congress party registered victory on 19 out of the 20 seats while CPI-M could only win one seat. The BJP failed to open its account. Chandrashekhar has put up his vision document for Kerala's capital city and has said that it will speed up the development of the constituency and will cover every segment of society. He also said that Tharoor and former Raveendran have done nothing for Thiruvananthapuram. He has also said the constituency has been deprived of development for the last 15-20 years and people here are craving for jobs and development. Chandrashekhar also said that the Muslim and Christian communities in the state are made fearful of the BJP through a false narrative. Tharoor on the other hand, said that BJP's message is ot well received in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh and the party has very little hope from southern India. We live with people of all religions, all faiths, and all castes side by side. We share life, and we celebrate festivals together. Ours is a very different place from the kind of ethos that the BJP promotes in northern India and therefore their message will not get across here, Tharoor told ANI. He also claimed that BJP would not be able to win 300 seats in the ensuing general elections and lose its majority in the Lok Sabha. I am 100 per cent sure that the BJP is not getting anywhere near 300. They are going to lose their majority. Even if they lose a handful of seats, they are coming down, the Congress leader said. The Congress leader also slammed the Communist Party of India for fielding Pannian Raveendran from Thiruvananthapuram and said that the move by the left party will only help the BJP. In the last two elections, the BJP came second, if they're (CPI) so concerned about opposition unity why are they undercutting my vote by running a candidate whose campaigning has been entirely against me? I have not heard the left speak against the BJP; they're speaking against me all the time and trying to take away for example, minority votes, he told reporters. Meanwhile, the high-profile battle between two veteran leaders took a bitter turn after Chandrashekhar sent a legal notice to Tharoor, wherein, he alleged that the Congress leader, during an interview with a local news channel, made defamatory statements alleging that Rajeev indulged in illegal activities and offered money to voters. He also alleged that Tharoor said that Chandrashekhar is spreading lies among Christian communities. Replying to the MoS' notice, Tharoor said in the notice that he has knowingly or unknowingly not made any false and malicious imputations against Rajeev to defame or harm his deputation without any proof to support or validate the alleged claims. In his reply, Tharoor asked Chandrashekhar to withdraw the statements and tender an apology, adding that if Chandreshekhar ignored the demand of the notice, the Congress leader would be constrained to prosecute him and initiate civil action against him. The MoS also took a jibe at Tharoor over his resignation due to a link with the IPL team. Throughout my 18 years of public life, I have an absolutely stellar record. I did not have to resign from the government due to my IPL interests like some MPs had, Chandrashekhar said. In 2010, Shashi Tharoor had to resign as Minister of State for External Affairs in the wake of the controversy over the IPL Kochi franchise. The matter pertained to reports that Sunanda Pushkar held equity stakes in Rendezvous Sports World (RSW), which headed the consortium owning the Kochi team. Pannyan Raveendran, Left Democratic Front's Lok Sabha candidate from the constituency has said that the BJP is irrelevant in Thiruvananthapuram and the main fight in the constituency is between the LDF and the Congress-led UDF. It is pertinent to note that the contest comes at a time when Congress and CPI (M) -- two allies of the INDIA bloc -- have been taking part in cut-and-throat campaigning while vehemently attacking each other. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan while asking why BJP did not attack him or why the probe agencies didn't act against him despite corruption allegations. Hitting back, Vijayan said it was Rahul Gandhi's grandmother (Indira Gandhi) who jailed leaders during the emergency. He also said that PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi use the same language against Kerala. Notably, the BJP has never won a Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, the party registered a victory in the Thiruvananthapuram district just once, with O Rajagopal winning the Nemom assembly seat in 2016. In the 2019 polls, the BJP's Kummanam Rajasekharan won 31.3 per cent votes in Thiruvananthapuram, the largest vote share achieved by the party in all 20 Lok Sabha constituencies it contested in the state. However, with Chandrasekhar jumping into the fray this year, the battle for Thiruvananthapuram has turned into a three-cornered one and will be one of the most-watched contests in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. (ANI)

Congress attacks PM Modi for alleged hate speech at election rally

KOCHI: Attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his controversial speech at an election rally a day ago, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in charge of the organization, K C Venugopal, accused the PM of spreading lies and attempting to create communal polarization in the country. Modi's hate speech reveals his fear of the current election. He knows that the election tide is turning in favor of the INDI alliance after the first polling phase, Venugopal said on Monday. Modi is spreading falsehoods and trying to create communal division by misrepresenting the Congress manifesto and spreading misinformation about it. During his Sunday speech in Rajasthan, PM Modi claimed that if the opposition won the election, they would redistribute wealth from the public to Muslims. PM's remark against Muslims and Congress atrocious; silence of EC even more so: CPM Talking to reporters, Venugopal further condemned Modi's speech as he most horrible hate speech in history and noted that the Congress party had opposed the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in Parliament, with Rahul Gandhi emphasizing that the CAA would not be implemented based on religion. Despite this, Venugopal accused Modi of continuing to spread false information. The Congress president has requested an appointment with the Prime Minister to present the party's election manifesto. Venugopal stated that Congress leaders and candidates are sending a copy of the manifesto to Modi. The party also plans to file a complaint with the Election Commission regarding Modi's speech. BJP defends Modi's remarks on Congress redistributing money to Muslims

When colourful birds become baby elephants

KOCHI: When it comes to large-size books, nothing beats John James Audubons magnum opus Birds of America. Published as a series in sections between 1827 and 1838, his book of illustrations was published on the biggest paper available: a 39.5-inch by 26.5-inch sheet called the double-elephant folio! It dwarfed even the Gutenberg Bible; its paper size was double folio, with two pages printed on each side and each page measuring 17 inches by 12 inches. Audubon created life-size drawings of every species of bird in North America a total of 435 hand-coloured engravings of 1,065 birds. A complete set likely cost around $1,000 ($22,400 in 2015 dollars). Many subscribers bound the plates into four massive volumes of around 100 illustrations apiece, each standing over 3ft tall and 2ft wide, and weighing around 50 pounds (about 63kg). Opening one of the volumes required at least two people! So, what exactly is a folio? It is a term used in printing that has three distinct but interconnected meanings: a book made by folding the page once; a large-size book; or the approximate size of a book. The actual size of a folio book depends on the size of the full sheet of paper on which it was printed, and in olden times these were not standardised, so the terms meaning is only approximate. Only 120 copies of the original Birds of America are known to have survived 107 in institution collections and 13 in private hands. In March 2000, Sheikh Saud al-Thani of Qatar purchased a copy of the book at a Christies auction for $8.8 million, a record for any book at auction. In December 2010, The Economist magazine estimated that, adjusted for inflation, five of the ten highest prices ever paid for printed books were paid for copies of The Birds of America. If you are a bird lover or collector, or anyone who appreciates the beauty of nature, Folio Societys 1981 exquisite reproduction of Audubons Birds of America is a true masterpiece of art and literature (and relatively affordable at around $250). Edited by naturalist Roger Tory Peterson and Virginia Mary Peterson, the 435-page publication has 917 illustrations, including 482 in full colour. The cover is bound in luxurious leather and the book is affectionately known as the Baby Elephant folio. Another rare large-size book in my collection is The Constitution of India, which is a 20-inch by 15-inch (Royal Folio). This copy belonged to V K Menon who wrote the first draft of the Preamble to the Constitution, and I have not seen any other copy of this book yet. The largest book in my collection is the Elephant Folio Edition of The Illuminated Manuscripts of the Middle Ages. This book by Humphreys and Jones (only in about 100 copies), published in 1849 in England, is considered the most iconic colour plate book of the 19th century. For the first time, the most beautiful miniatures from the 12th to the 16th century was engraved, hand-coloured and gold-illuminated. Up to 14 colour runs were required for each plate to capture the original colours. The illuminated miniatures here have been painstakingly drawn by Humphreys and Jones (both were architects), then engraved on a plate, hand-coloured and gilded. The amazingly faithful facsimiles are accompanied by expert and scholarly commentary by Humphreys, and the text pages are printed on letterpress. Even though the binding of the book (by a bespoke English binder James Wren) is superb, and it is in the original deluxe leather binding, its a huge effort for me to get the book out and turn the pages! All I can say is that, if you have large-size books in your collection, you must be prepared for the inconvenience of finding a suitable place to keep them. (The views are personal)

ACs in short supply as heatwave triggers record sales in Kerala

KOCHI: With the state battling a sweltering heatwave, sales of air conditioners are soaring, so much so that most home appliance stores in major cities are running out of smaller, family-size ACs from popular brands. A good number of prospective buyers are from relatively disadvantaged sections of society who have saved up for months to install an AC in their homes. Even online stores are finding it hard to keep up with the demand, as sales this year have jumped nearly three times from a year ago. We sold 7,300 units in the first half of April, as against 5,400 units sold in the entirety of April last year. Demand, which picked up in February, is refusing to plateau. Were selling 500 to 600 ACs daily. While ACs are available, the problem arises when customers insist on popular brands with star ratings. If we take into account installation as well, there is a delay of four to seven days, said Jerry Mathew, managing director of White Mart, a leading online electronics store in Kerala. According to him, customers visiting stores or booking orders online include the likes of auto rickshaw-taxi drivers and small-scale vendors. Like in Mumbai, demand here is for 1-ton ACs, sufficient to cool a small room. But now, due to the humid conditions, many households are upgrading from 1-ton to 1.5-ton ACs. Most stores, including Lulu Connect, ran out of stock for over two weeks from mid-March. We tried our best to cope with the demand by placing additional orders with manufacturers. But there was no stock at plants too and supplies had to be redirected, said a senior sales executive with Lulu Connect. Another reason for the shortage of family-size AC units was the early onset of heatwaves in other states as well. Like most stores, we also ran out of 1-ton ACs as manufacturers couldnt meet increased demand. This is due to the peculiar consumption pattern in the state, where customers mostly prefer 1-ton ACs unlike in other states where the demand is for 1.5-ton units. This year, the heatwave affected other states, such as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, as early as February. And manufacturers had to cater to the demand from these states for mostly 1.5-ton ACs right from the start of the year and they couldnt meet the sudden increased demand for 1-ton ACs, said Zubair P A, CEO of Nandilath G-Mart. According to him, Kochi leads in demand for AC units, followed by areas in the north like Palakkad. Shortage of AC technicians Installation of AC units is proving to be another headache, with many stores finding it difficult to ensure the quick availability of technicians. I visited a home appliance store in Kaloor. They have run out of stock of brands like Lloyd. Though they have other brands, installation would take three to 15 days. Its contracted service dealers who carry out installation work and due to high sales, they are hard-pressed for one, said Anuja Raj (name changed), who works for a media house. I dont have time for installation work and mostly concentrate on servicing and maintenance. Earlier, stores used to insist on using the services of their technicians, failing which warranties would be considered void. Now with so much sales, the dealers themselves ask customers to employ outsiders for installation work, said Vinoj Kumar, an AC service dealer based in Elamakkara.

Social issues also to blame for rise in theft in Kerala, says criminologist

KOCHI: Two recent murders of elderly women, in Kothamangalam and Adimali, during robbery attempts have raised concerns about the increase in robbery, theft, dacoity and burglary cases in the state. Police data confirm that such cases have been on the rise since 2023. According to official data, as many as 790 cases of theft were registered in the state in January and February of this year alone. Over the same period, 509 cases of burglary, 160 cases of robbery and 22 cases of dacoity were also reported. In 2023, as many as 4,736 theft cases, 2,668 cases of burglary, 915 cases of robbery and 70 cases of dacoity were registered in Kerala. Renowned criminologist James Vadackumchery, who has authored 28 books on crime and policing, believes the increasing number of theft incidents underlines other social issues. It is true that theft is on the rise, especially violent incidents in which people are murdered or assaulted during attempts to steal their jewellery and money. This is an indicator of financial issues in society. People are struggling to survive when prices are skyrocketing. It also signals rising unemployment. Those with no jobs also have aspirations. Some turn to illegal activities such as robbery and smuggling to realise their aspirations of becoming rich and living a luxurious life, he said. James maintains that police patrolling and other enforcement activities have little impact in curtailing heist. He said the soaring price of gold may be a factor in repeated incidents of chain snatching and burglary. I don't think the police can surveil every house and person to prevent theft. It has to be seen as a social issue. There have been cases where youngsters have been involved in chain snatching to buy drugs or expensive items. Such criminal activities will end when we tackle issues like poverty and unemployment, he said. Ernakulam Rural police chief Vaibhav Saxena, who is supervising the investigation into the Kothamangalam murder of 72-year-old Saramma -- who was found hacked to death with her gold ornaments missing on March 25 -- said that theft usually increases during the first few months of the year when religious festivals are held. We keep an eye on people who come out of jail after being convicted of theft. During religious festivals, people emerge from their houses. And this is when thieves and burglars prefer to strike. But we have managed to crack most of these cases, he said. As per the last published Crime in India report, nearly Rs 75.1 crore worth of assets were stolen in Kerala in 2022. Of this, only articles worth Rs 30.2 crore were recovered -- for a recovery rate of 40.2%. In 2021, the value of stolen goods was Rs 68.8 crore, of which Rs 27.5 crore worth were retrieved. The recovery rate stood at 39.9%. A top police officer said the recovery of stolen articles is a daunting task. Even in cases in which cops manage to nab the accused, stolen items prove elusive. Stolen vehicles are taken to other states and turned into scrap. Jewellers buying stolen ornaments immediately melt them. The non-recovery of stolen goods affects cases during the trial stage, he admitted.

Kerala train commuters decry overcrowding as Railways prioritize premium services

KOCHI: There seems to be no end in sight to the woes of train travellers in the state. People who depend upon trains, not only their daily commute but also long-distance travel, are venting their anger at the railways strategy of introducing more and more premium trains like the Vande Bharat as a money-spinning measure. Reducing the number of general compartments to facilitate more AC and sleeper coaches has left many high and dry. Describing his experience during a recent journey on the Kochuveli-Mysuru Express, Liyons J, secretary of Friends On Rails, which describes itself as a WhatsApp network that aids train commuters, said, The sleeper compartment resembled a refugee camp. Even the aisles were taken over by passengers with general tickets. This is happening because of the cut in the number of general compartments on long-distance trains, he adds. Train travel has become a dangerous affair, points out Dr Meera, a Kozhikode resident who depends on trains for her frequent travels to her hometown in Kollam. People are even forced to travel hanging from doors. There have been many cases of passengers getting seriously injured or losing their lives after falling from running trains. But all this goes unreported, she says. According to Dr Meera, there have been times when she has cancelled trips after arriving at the station to find general compartments jam-packed. I have to ensure the safety of my child, who is part of most of my travels, she stresses. Of course, none of the passengers are against the rail transporters need to increase revenue, says Srijith T J, an officer with Kerala Agro Industries Corp Ltd. But that should not be at the cost of passengers, who are the ones filling its coffers. Srijith points out that when the railways changed old coaches for new LHB ones, it reduced the number of general compartments from two to one and four to two on many express trains. However, they increased the number of AC coaches from three or four to eight while reducing the sleeper coaches from 12 to 8. Now, the situation is such that it is tough to get a reservation even in sleeper coaches, he adds. Passengers also point to another of the railways money-making strategies. Tickets for sleeper coaches are sold right up to the arrival of trains. It should be noted that these tickets do not ensure seats as charts have already been prepared. But once these passengers get on the train they encroach on seats of those who had made reservations months back, says Ramesh Mathew, a frequent traveller. The removal of de-reserved facility has also hit daily commuters hard. According to Ramesh, the most congested long-distance trains are the ones plying the northeastern routes. Regular users have now ditched them. Migrant labourers dont bother with the reserved status of coaches. For them, it is fine to travel in any compartment, he says, adding that there is a dire need for operating more Antyodaya Express trains on the eastern region via Chennai or through Vizag, Berhampur and Howrah. Ease and low cost attracted many passenger to train travel. However, there has been no concurrent increase in the number of trains or coaches. If more MEMU trains are introduced from Ernakulam to Kollam via Kottayam or Alappuzha, KSRTC will fold up in no time, says Ramesh. Ernakulam-Thrissur is the busiest sector in Kerala. But there are not many passenger trains on the route. Malabar passengers complain about the lack of trains between Shoranur and Kannur in the afternoons. Their complaints are genuine. There are fewer afternoons trains for daily and short-distance passengers, he added. However, railway officials say that there is an adequate number of trains for passengers, with special services introduced, whenever necessary. Three new special trains have started service towards the northern parts of the country, an official added. Summer specials Southern Railway will operate 239 trips of special trains on 19 routes to clear the extra rush this summer. These trains will link Tamil Nadu and Kerala to state like Karnataka, Rajasthan, Bihar, New Delhi, West Bengal, Gujarat, etc. The trains are: 06083 & 06084 Kochuveli-SMVT Bengaluru 06043 & 06044 Dr MGR Chennai Central-Kochuveli 06081 & 06082 Kochuveli-Shalimar 06071 & 06072 Kochuveli-Nizamuddin 06085 & 06086 Ernakulam-Patna

Scorching heat and scarce rains threaten coffee production in Kerala

KOCHI: Waking up to the aroma of coffee may not be practical these days, as erratic weather, which is wreaking havoc on output, brews up blow-your senses prices. Wayanad, in particular, is facing challenges due to high daytime temperatures and insufficient rainfall, putting its coffee production at risk. Price of the robusta variety, which accounted for 97% of Keralas output of 70,000 tonnes in 2022-23, has reached historically high levels. The worlds eighth-largest coffee producer, India mostly grows robusta coffee, which is commonly used to produce instant coffee due to its bold and bitter taste profile, while the relatively costly arabica coffee is favoured by high-end cafes for its nuanced flavours. Anand M V, a coffee farmer in Kalpetta, lamented the continued absence of rains since January 5, which has depleted his pond, which was already running thin from meagre precipitation last season. Its a challenging scenario. While coffee prices have been soaring to unprecedented levels, my plants are languishing.Without immediate rainfall, I dread not only for the harvest but also for the survival of my plants, he told TNIE. Anand stressed how successive years of deficient rainfall in Wayanad have resulted in a decline in groundwater levels, impeding irrigation in plantations. I irrigated my eight-acre plantation in February, and ever since, my dependable water source, which has sustained me for over four decades, has dried up. Im unable to provide irrigation, and the plants are wilting under the scorching sun, he bemoaned. The farmgate price of robusta coffees dry cherry has surged to Rs 202/kg, while robusta clean coffee has crossed Rs 350/kg. Ajoy Thipaiah, chairman of the coffee committee at the United Planters Association of Southern India, highlighted the severe shortfall of rainfall in the nations coffee-growing regions this season, coupled with unusually high daytime temperatures.The unprecedented heat in coffee-growing areas is unprecedented and detrimental to coffee plants and their flowers. Robusta, being extremely sensitive to climate, will suffer greatly in the conversion from flower to fruit without the ideal microclimate, he explained. Ajoy noted the erratic climate of the past few years, besides a decrease in stocks in the pipeline. He further mentioned that robusta currently commands a higher price than arabica. A 50kg bag of robusta parchment is now fetching between Rs 15,300 and Rs 15,800, compared with around Rs 8,500 to Rs 9,000 last year. Agro-meteorologist Dr Gopakumar Cholayil emphasised the importance of blossom showers and backing showers for coffee production. Coffee requires 20-40mm of rain in February to initiate blossoming, which fills the plantations with white flowers, and 50-75mm in March-April for fruit setting, known as backing showers. Large plantations resort to irrigation in the absence of rainfall, leaving smallholders with limited options, he elaborated. Gopakumar, formerly with Kerala Agricultural Universitys College of Climate Change and Environmental Science, noted significant changes in Wayanads land-use pattern and highlighted an inverse relationship between temperature and coffee yield.The higher the daytime temperature, the lower the yield. Further research is needed to understand how climate change will impact the quality of coffee beans, he stated. Coffee is grappling with the effects of climate change, he added, with some researchers projecting that the most suitable land for coffee cultivation will decrease by more than half by 2050.

From polls to trolls: How Malayalam meme pages are influencing Kerala's election narrative

KOCHI: We live in such times that many people say it is memes that often lead them to news. These pithy internet posts can also play a subtle role in shaping views. As the election campaigns are rising to a crescendo in Kerala, Malayalam troll pages have launched a blitzkrieg on social media with a heavy barrage of political memes. Besides subjects such as art, entertainment, and sports, troll groups are now zooming in on political issues, controversies, misplaced statements of leaders, funny moments during campaigns, and so on. And the forward brigade across age groups, from teenagers to grandmas diligently make then trend on WhatsApp and social media. Troll Republic, International Chalu Union (ICU), and Troll Malayalam are some of the popular social media handles that regularly churn out political memes. There are also several platforms dedicated to targeting particular political parties. Some of them operate to promote or degrade leaders or candidates. And it is not uncommon to see some provocative or derogatory ones triggering controversy and outrage. With attacks and counterattacks, the poll scenario has turned into a troll scenario on social media. Choice of visuals and wordings are vital in this battle. The payload that creates maximum impact make one chuckle as well as mull over the message goes viral. So much so that, at times, a pesky little meme can deliver a political message more effectively than a politicians hour-long speech. Akhil Vadayar, an admin of the Troll Republic page, says elections are exciting times. Political memes have been getting a greater reach these days.Its peak time, he says He adds that his group discusses politics round the clock, but has a general policy of not disgracing anyone or anything. We dont post sleazy content, or hit people below the belt, adds Akhil, who works in the auto finance sector. Troll Republic has about 75 members, including admins and moderators. As in the case of most troll groups, the members include employed professionals and students. There is a core group and secondary ones for day-to-day functioning of what people call the meme factory, Akhil explains. Members create memes during their leisure time and post them first in our internal groups. As a team, we assess the content relevance, humour quotient, and impact potential. Ones that get the majoritys thumbs up are posted on our social media handles. Arun Das, who makes memes for various handles such as Troll Sangh, Cyber Troll, and Troll Congress, says political content always has a huge audience. Besides presenting a satirical take on current political issues, we also remind people about past incidents that people should bear in mind, he adds. Arun, too, is against malicious cyber attacks on individuals. Cyber bullying is unacceptable. We are vigilant about not crossing the limits, the IT professional adds. Ashik Ayoobkhan, an admin of ICU, reveals that memes have become such effective tools of messaging that party leaders approach prominent troll groups to make posts in their favour. Most of the popular troll groups dont accept unethical requests, he says. Those who do so can be easily identified through the change in the nature of their memes. That will affect credibility. Ashik, who is also an IT professional, says ICU has about six lakh followers. Our memes are fact-checked and filtered at our Page Factory, which has 60 members. Once vetted, they are shared through our official page, he explains. Meme-makers have to be abreast of the latest news and trends. About 95 per cent of us use our smartphones to create memes.

Kerala's voter turnout patterns: Past elections shed light on potential outcomes

KOCHI: With just four days to go for the general polls in Kerala, all three political fronts will be focusing on a critical factor: voter turnout. Although each front claims that a high turnout would favour them, an analysis of Lok Sabha elections in the state shows that high polling percentages hovering around 80 per cent have usually benefited the UDF. In 2019, the state registered a voter turnout of 77.67 per cent, and the Congress-led UDF won 19 of the 20 seats. Kerala saw such high turnouts in the post-Emergency elections of 1977 (79.2 per cent) and 1989 (79.03 per cent), both of which favoured the Congress. In the 1984 elections, held shortly after the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi, the state recorded a voter turnout of 77.13 per cent. The Congress won 17 seats. Interestingly, in 1977, Congress was in alliance with CPI, Kerala Congress, and the Muslim League. The Congress-led front secured 17 seats in the state even as the rest of India punished the party for imposing Emergency. In 2004 Lok Sabha elections, the voter turnout in Kerala was just 71.43 per cent. The CPM-led LDF won 18 seats, leaving the UDF and NDA with one seat each. In 1996, the voter turnout was 71.13 per cent. The LDF won 10 seats, a relatively strong performance. In 1999, the Left won 9 seats with only 70.19 percent turnout. According to political observers, voter turnout goes up when there is heavy anti-incumbency sentiment. Some of them highlighted that a spike in voter tunout was earlier considered beneficial to the UDF because its vote base was fluid, unlike the LDFs rigid cadre-based sure votes. It was assumed that a rise in polling percentage meant a rise in non-Left votes. Thats not always the case, argued P P Dhanuraj, founder-chairman of the Kochi-based think tank Centre for Public Policy Research. This general theory has been disproved in several assembly elections, he said. The 2019 Lok Sabha polls turnout to what was recorded during the 2016 assembly election (77.5 per cent), which the LDF had won in a convincing manner. Nevertheless, there is a possibility that anti-incumbency drives turnout up. According to political observers, the Sabarimala issue and the candidacy of then Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad boosted the high turnout of voters in 2019, up by nearly 4 per cent from the 73.6% in 2014. It was the second highest polling rate in three decades, after 79.03% in 1989. Interestingly, north Kerala districts registered higher turnouts than central and southern regions of the state. The highest polling was recorded in Kannur (83.21%) where Congress leader K Sudhakaran contested against CPM sitting MP P K Sreemathi and won by a margin of 94,559 votes. Wayanad, which was in the spotlight after Rahuls candidature, saw its highest polling ever at 80.31 per cent since the constituency was formed in 2009. Notably, eight of Keralas 20 Lok Sabha constituencies recorded more than 80 per cent polling for the first time in history. The lowest polling in 2019 was recorded in Thiruvananthapuram (73.66 per cent), followed by Pathanamthitta (74.24 per cent), Attingal (74.4 per cent), and Kollam (74.66 per cent). In 2019, there was a feeling that the Congress would return to power at the Centre. Hence, the majority of Muslim votes went to the UDF, said political observer N M Pearson. However, the current political landscape is different. The perceived anti-incumbency sentiment against the state government might not largely affect the Left. Rather, the anti-incumbency votes against the Centre could shift to the CPM. Thus, there might not be an-LDF wave this time. Pearson also noted that Kerala rarely saw intense competitions during Lok Sabha elections. This time, too, one cant say there is a heated contest, he said. Therefore, there is a possibility of a drop in voter turnout when compared with 2019. Only a few constituencies such as Thrissur, Vadakara, and Thiruvananthapuram are witnessing fierce contests.

Bihar man who stole jewellery worth Rs one crore from Malayalam filmmaker Joshiy's house nabbed

KOCHI: Following a swift probe spanning two states, the Kerala Police nabbed the thief who decamped with gold and diamonds worth Rs 1 crore from the house of Malayalam filmmaker Joshiy in Kochis Panampilly Nagar, from Udupi in Karnataka on Sunday, within 24 hours of the theft. Suspect Mohammed Irshad, a native of Bihar, was nabbed with the stolen valuables with the help of the Karnataka Police. The officers are checking for anyone elses involvement. A grainy image of the suspect, captured by a CCTV camera, was all the police had as evidence when they launched the probe on Saturday morning. However, the police got a breakthrough when the visuals revealed that a vehicle registered in Maharashtra was parked near the filmmakers house around 3am on Saturday. Using the latest technology, the police identified Irshad from the grainy image. An officer said Irshad is involved in several other crimes in other states, and is also on the polices wanted list. Initially, despite inspecting the entire house, all we could ascertain was that the robber had entered the house through the kitchen door. There was not enough evidence to identify a suspect, said Sudarsan K S, DCP (Law & Order). The police then started checking whether any unusual activity was reported near the house. We could trace a Maharashtra-registered vehicle near the premises, and obtained a grainy CCTV image of the robber, Sudarsan said.They started tracing the vehicle and the man seen in the visual. We have cameras that automatically detect vehicle numbers. This helped us conclude he was escaping in the same vehicle. The vehicle was seen on camera. We issued an alert to police chiefs of five nearby states. Finally, the suspect was nabbed from Udupi with the Karnataka Polices help, Sudarsan said. The police found that Irshad drove the vehicle from Mumbai to Kochi for the robbery. We need to find out why he planned a heist in Kochi and how he was able to locate the directors house. This will become clear once we interrogate him, Sudarsan said. Two diamond necklaces, 10 diamond rings, eight pairs of diamond earrings, 10 gold chains, 10 gold bangles, and 10 luxury watches were stolen from the room of Joshiys son Abhilash. Irshad executed the daring theft while Joshiy and other family members, except Abhilash, were in the house.

Congress's Benny Behanan stands his ground in Chalakudy

KOCHI: Benny Behanan and the Congress activists looked weary after Saturdays massive election meeting at Peraman ground in Eriyad, a town near Kodungallur. After all, it was a high-profile event featuring star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi, who addressed a large gathering as part of campaigning for the UDF candidate in Chalakudy. The time has come for each one of you to awaken. As the American civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King once said, The time has come to ask yourself what will happen to you if you dont stand up for what is right today, Priyanka told the crowd which included women and children. As Priyanka left for her next stop, Pathanamthitta, party workers and Behenan proceeded to Mambra, a village nearly 30km from Eriyad. Against the backdrop of the parody song, Benny Behanan nethavu, Chalakkudyude jayathaavu, hundreds of UDF supporters braved the scorching sun as the campaign winded its way to Annamanada and Koozhur. Behanan played his part in every reception and meeting. Hundreds of people gathered to receive him with tricolour shawls and political slogans, while many hugged and greeted him. Children, elderly people, and women waited in front of their houses to wave at Benny chettan, who is also their sitting MP. The response of the people gives me confidence. It is not just about party supporters who join my rallies, what makes me more happy are the kids, mothers and people who wait to meet and greet me. The response has been very positive, Behanan told TNIE. He criticised state and central government policies in his speeches. What is happening in the state? There is high inflation. Elderly people are not receiving their social security pensions. Government employees are not getting their salaries. After seven months, the government has started distributing pensions for two months. Your vote should be an answer to the policies of both governments, he said at a reception in West Koratty. The presence of Twenty20 party candidate Charlie Paul has been unsettling. But, Behanan refuses to be unduly worried. Twenty20 is a local party. In a general election, the issues that we discuss and are concerned about are different. We need to look at it from a wider perspective. Voters are also aware of it and will vote accordingly, he stresses. The days campaign ends around midnight. We start again early in the morning. This has become our routine, and neither Benny sir nor the party workers affected by the schedule. We are all enthusiastic, says Shobana, a Congress activist. Behanan and his supporters have been campaigning for than a month. Chalakudy is a UDF stronghold, but they are not taking anything for granted.

Big splash! Water Metro operations to Fort Kochi get off to flying start

KOCHI: Water Metros operations linking High Court to Fort Kochi began on Sunday. The service to one of the most popular destinations in the state attracted many tourists and passengers. According to officials, kilometre-long queues of passengers, mostly joy riders, greeted the new service, which was flagged off at 10am. Travel enthusiast Santhosh George Kulangara and Kochi Metro managing director Loknath Behera were among those who took the first ride. Services on the new route will be run at 20-30 minute intervals, with the journey taking approximately 20 minutes. Tickets are priced at Rs 40 each. The ride offers a picturesque view of the Kochi backwaters. On our way to Fort Kochi, we spotted dolphins. Moreover, it will help tourists avoid the chaotic road traffic and reach Fort Kochi in the comfort of air-conditioned boats, said Shylaja, a tourist from Thiruvananthapuram. Officials organised a soft launch on Sunday, adhering to the election model code of conduct. Fort Kochi has become the 10th terminal on the Water Metro network. Of the total 23 ferries, Cochin Shipyard Ltd has handed over 14 ferries to Kochi Water Metro Ltd (KWML). The remaining boats are expected to be delivered by June. Joy ride The ride offers a picturesque view of the Kochi backwaters. Services on the new route will be run at 20-30 minute intervals, with the journey taking approximately 20 minutes. Tickets are priced at D40 each. Fort Kochi has become the 10th terminal on the Water Metro network.

Kerala Catholic Bishops Council takes up issue of minority persecution in BJP-ruled states

KOCHI: The timing couldnt have been mere happenstance as KCBC Jagratha Commission News, a publication of the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC), takes up the issue of minority persecution, especially of Christians in BJP-ruled states, as the central topic of its April edition. Human-wildlife conflict is among the other topics covered. One of the articles questions the genuineness of the political parties affinity for the Christian community. In the editorial, Fr Michael Pulikkal, secretary of the Jagratha Commission, cautions political parties against taking people for granted. In the context of Kerala, the government has failed to satisfy even basic values of public welfare, as can be seen from the troubles faced by people living in the hills and coastal areas. People are dying in wildlife attacks and farmers are not getting the returns for the hard work they put in, causing the agriculture sector to be affected adversely, writes Fr Pulikkal. He accused both state and Union governments of playing the blame game and trying to wriggle out of their responsibilities. He pointed out that although both governments have set up many committees for minority welfare, Christians do not have even a nominal presence in them. Another article throws light on how anti-conversion laws, in effect in nine Indian states, are becoming a cover for the widespread persecution of Christians. Fabricated cases and mob attacks, following false allegations, are common in various north Indian states, it says. Bishop James Athikalam of Sagar diocese in Madhya Pradesh says that they are very worried when it comes to organising public events. In Madhya Pradesh, those undergoing religious training cannot even travel in groups. Due to constant objections from authorities, all the hostels that were functioning in the diocese for poor students have been closed. A similar situation exists in many other states, Fr Pulikkal told TNIE. One piece vividly presents the horrors of the activities of extremist communal organisations that thrive in the shadow of the ruling political party at the Centre. It was written by a group of people from various professions, including lawyers, he said. An article by Anto Akkara, that highlights the real problems in Manipur, and another one by KCBC deputy secretary Fr Jacob Palakkappilly, titled Manipur: A final blemish on Indian democracy, provide a clear picture of the challenges we face at the national and state levels, he added. The magazine calls on Keralas Catholic community to be vigilant in such matters. It is important that the country, which is in the throes of a general election, expose the moves of radical Hindutva organisations that are stoking xenophobia and paving the way for widespread attacks on Christian institutions, priests and religious persons in an attempt to consolidate Hindu votes, Fr Pulikkal said. Affinity questioned KCBC Jagratha Commission News, a publication of the KCBC, takes up the issue of minority abuse, especially of Christians in BJP-ruled states, as the central topic of its April edition. One of the articles questions the genuineness of the political parties affinity for the Christian community