THE MEMOIRS OF THE SKY: A Short Story

PART I

I am an orphan. The Almighty might had just a feasible intention when he created me, a house to the stars, the moon and the sun. But later he had given me a responsibility or a conscientiousness that gave me the privilege of being a domicile to his creations. Now I decide even their destiny. When I feel its enough with the sun’s ordeal, I shoo him away. I move the clouds to him, I ask them to rain. I sketch the path of the moon. I give the wind the command to bluster .I like to see the creatures down on the earth, another of the almighty’s pernickety creations that always look up on to me at times with folded hands too. Thus the entire circle is dictated by me. I always felt proud of my splendor when I notice my reflection in the sea below. I viewed the joy and excitation of the creatures as they welcome the rains with penury of emotions and sometimes I wonder why they never are happy when I bestow them with even bigger showers. But I always felt lonely. In fact loneliness had crippled me or rather deprived me of the senses to cheer up even being an impediment in my relation with the Moon, my lonesome companion. He was the only one who used to be merriment for me unlike the rest who had more interest in counseling me on my significance and on my writhing practices especially when I amuse others with the clouds. I linger heedlessly to his advice which really falls on my deaf ears. I am really a spoiled braggart. All these stars, who gossip and giggle throughout until they wear out, the sun, who was the most conceited affiliate of the almighty’s creations, and of course my dearest friend, the moon , the only one who took regular intervals to inquire me of my well being , remained my world, my countenance until the most auspicious moment I fell in love.

It was as usual. The sun had just left after his pompous performance and the moon was in his most jovial mood, exemplifying his entire smile. He was singing some old folk songs too exasperating for me. Human beings, birds animals, plants were all enjoying a sound sleep. I perceived them all on the planet. A tree that stood on a remote field had caught my attention. There was a nest on the tree. I saw the female feed its chicks. All of a sudden, the female bird had started to shriek and was alerting about something to its male counterpart .A snake had crawled on to the tree. The he-bird was now swiveling around the tree and had tried to attack the snake on its head but in vain. The she-bird had moved closer to her chicks and covered them all beneath her feather. The snake was ascending up. The He bird made some taunting attempts to shield its dear ones. The snake had kept its jaws wide open and was countering the he-bird’s trivial assault. But when the He bird found that the nest now remained in close proximity to the prowler it had made a cavernous aggression. But it met with little success. The prowler grasped the bird on its neck and had gulped it instantaneously. The he bird was dead. By then, the she bird had recognized the colossal task to protect her dear ones from the intruder lied solely on her; she made a scurrying attack on the reptile. But the reptile was too good for her. The reptile had then moved its head into the nest while the she bird was screaming and attacking on its rear. One by one it had begun regaling the chicks while the female bird moved around, vulnerably. This was nature’s law. The fittest of the fittest survives. The reptile who had been feasting on the chicks, now turned towards the she bird. One last attempt to impair the reptile had landed her into its jaws. The she bird’s endeavor to protect her dear ones had failed. She too became a prey for the giant reptile. After a hearty meal and the most triumphant sensation, the snake slowly and steadily descended the tree. It then went to its hole. I did not notice the snake’s alleyway because my mind had suddenly raised certain serious concerns to the almighty on his creations. Why were the stronger ones always victorious? If so would not that bring an end to the weaker ones? There would be a time when the brawny duels the brawnier ones. What would be the aftermath of that? The nature had a set governing aspects that distributes and formulates into various forms of life, the most important being the food chain; a definition to the subsistence of the living beings on Earth. The technique of production of the living beings on Earth is based on a pyramid that was devised from the food chain concept. Will this existing mechanism ever spin out of control? I looked at the tree. I had noticed something moving beneath the tree among the bushes. Another snake might be prowling around in the night desperate to quench its hunger. But it was something diminutive. It was a small chick. Oh my god, yes it was the very one among the set devoured by the reptile. But how did it manage to escape this healthy? I did not know what the almighty had in store for him.

It might have been aroused from self respect or a pity on that creatures destiny to survive when all of its siblings and its parents had met such an ill fated end or a mutual affiliation, a synonymous feeling towards ones own kind (the bird too is an orphan), a specific interest grew in me for him. I asked the moon to leave and was waiting for the sun, seeing the helpless situation he had to endure; I made arrangements in accordance with his stipulation. I made sure not a single leaf moved. I calmed the winds down and had ensured warmth for him to survive until the arrival of the sun. That remained the only ray of hope for his survival. I decided to recite one of my all time favorite that would add a gratification to the tenderness.

"The sky would give you the due
That you always held for cue
The sky would be there for you
In your heart always for no rue"

The sun had come .I looked at my bird. He was safe and sound. He was in his slumber .I glanced around his vicinity. To my dismay, I saw a cat that was heading towards him. On the other side I saw a human being. He was carrying a big black sort of stick with feathers directed towards the sun, as a sort of shield for protection. Human beings or as such man, according to me was the Almighty’s most vivacious creations. The concept of free will symbolizing radicalism and the ambiguity in the thoughts contemporizing the endowment, God had bestowed man with. Compassion and brutality both are the perpendicular aspects of man which was in connivance to the hypothesis that materializes the survival of God’s creations. I wondered what feeling would stimulate in the man once I was able to dictate him to the bird. On the other end, the cat was approaching closer. I decided to make my move. I blew. The stick lost control from the man’s hand. It fell near my bird. The man ran back of it. The cat which was drawing nearer to my bird stood still at the sight of man .It then diverted its path. The man regained his stick. All of a sudden he stood still. Now there was the prevaricating situation engulfed by the virtue of human notion. Will he be kind enough to take my bird? He did not keep me guessing. Rather after a brief pause, went closer to my bird. He had picked it up in his hand and walked by. He kept the black stick like thing over his head. I moved the clouds around the sun.

PART II

He looked sullen and gloomy in the cage; the only moments of contentment was when the man used to feed him. When the sun was up he used to remain morose. Moon always brought him siesta sort of attitude. Sometimes he used to stare at his look-alikes who were having a wonderful time outside. He might also have the longing and interest to fly around, sing aloud like them and rummage around for his near and dear ones. Loneliness according to me was not a feeling but a curse, or a blatant numbness sort of attitude that recklessly slaughters your personality and attitude. It always would play with your inner sense succumbed to malevolence. Probably, Loneliness remained the most ferocious of all the abhorrent emotions that had been cultivated in the Almighty’s creations. I really could grasp the mentality of him, the horrendous situation he was engulfed in. I watched him as the sun and the moon came and went. He was growing big. He was learning fast the modes of survival too. He now knew the songs like his mates. He was all set to scavenge the wilderness. I decided to give him his freedom, his prerogative for existence.

The sun was going down. The moon was already on his way. I moved the clouds and I moved the wind. The cage which was adjoined to the man’s house started shaking. The cage busted away. It was caught in between two trees that stood in front of the house. Now I had to tear apart the trees. With all my might I blew the wind. The trees swept away; the force that was developed by the trees broke the cage and had split it apart. The bird was free. The trees went and hit the house sturdily and had demolished a part of it. I never cared; neither did I care about its dwellers for I saw my bird had already started flying in the direction of the wind. I slowed the winds .This made his flight more comfortable. The scent of fresh air and the spirit of freedom had preoccupied him and he scurried into the wilderness.

The sun and moon came and went, I never bothered. I forgot to shoo the winds at times, for my mind was transfixed on him. He was lovely and flew with paramount confidence. His songs enlightened all and sundry around him and at certain times I had felt myself being carried away by his songs.

"It’s a beautiful world, the sun and the moon
The presence of them makes me goon
I like to fly around with all the might
So that I don’t want to be like him to miss the sight

These are my dreams, these are my hope
For I find this wonderland at the top
This is the world I wanna shower my love
As I wish to keep my hum always on the move"

His songs had gripped me. It reverberated in my heart. His songs breathed a new life in me. They were not just songs for me, but my dreams, my aspirations. His songs occupied the cornerstone of my heart and had started to juggle my emotions. I made the winds lighter for him, covered the sun unnecessarily. I made the sun stay longer for him to fly around. I followed him as he flew from one tree to another. By that time I had realized that I loved him more than any other Almighty’s creations.

I wished to be the tree on which he used to sit and sing verses with the intention of brightening others and dusting off the prevailing tedium. I wished to be the flower from which he used to quench his hunger incessantly. I wished to be the wind so that I could feel and experience the warmth of his wings. I wished to be a bird for accompanying him throughout his life. I loved him very much. But there was the much conceited seed of doubt in me. Did he reciprocate that feeling? He had the answer for me.

Once when the sun was up, I saw him sitting on a tree top singing quite emotionally. After a few nodes, suddenly there was another humming. A bird of his same statuette came and sat alongside him. She had started singing too but with a romantic comportment.

"Love is all that I can feel
When you come beside me and kneel.
Deep in my heart I give you a place
From where you can set it in pace

Never say my love is for hire
For that will pull me into the fire
Wherever you go I will follow
Even if u grip my hand into the jungles of hollow"

This was not foreordained. It was indeed the most customary episode of life. I knew that they were in love. Their eyes refused to take leave even for a moment. Their songs were divine and their frequencies matched gorgeously. They began to roam around and bore a big resemblance to the birds that had attained their much awaited sovereignty. Their intimacy grew on a meticulous scale and when it had reached a point of no return they decided to get married. Although I had a thumping in my heart, I felt very happy. At least he was not lonely anymore.

The tree stood tall in the scorching sun and had inscribed the insignia of love and bliss on it. All the birds nearby, far and away had gathered there. Everyone was chirping, singing and laughing with such contentment and glee that it had spread an aroma of peace and happiness throughout the premises. I took a quick look at all of them and had spotted him amidst thousands who had assembled on the tree to be a part of the most significant event of his life. He along with his fiancé had garnered accolades as the most perfect host for the guests as they sang throughout with a few occasional breaks to accommodate everyone’s’ laughter. I was happy too for I had acquaintance with loneliness much more than anyone could even imagine about.

I looked at the tree. Suddenly, in the most casual manner, I caught hold of a lightning I flashed it into the tree. It did set ablaze the tree instantly. With all my might I blew the winds. I did not look at the sun. I had caught hold of another lightning and then one by one by I hurled it at the tree. The chirping had stopped and the shrieks filled the air that sounded more musical to me. The fire extended to the surrounding regions vigorously. I covered the sun with the clouds. I did not want to see him for I was waiting for the moon .I had a lot to tell him this time.



Shereen Vijayan Kottikkal

Indian Budget 2007

1. INDIAN BUDGET 2007
   
   Some points suggested by our finance minister during the budget presentation in February
   
   Tax rate of foreign companies may be lower in order to bring them on par with India Inc. (15.02.07)
   
   The import duty on cut and polished diamonds (CPDs) and gemstones may be abolished. (13.02.07)
   
   Corporate tax may come down in this budget by 3% either through abolition of 10% surcharge or by reduction of corporate tax from the existing level of 30%.
   
   Finance Minister may scrap 120 central sector schemes in the 11th Five Year Plan
   
   Some Valuable suggestions in the budget
   
   Custom duty on machinery imports for the sectors such as leather, footwear, textiles & clothing and sports goods will be reduced
   
   • Short-term capital gains tax on stocks may go up to 15%.Finance Minister has also put additional burden on taxpayers investing in stock markets by raising dividend distribution tax from 12.5 per cent to 15 per cent( he ought to have introduced the securities tax so as to avoid the sudden ups and downs of the stock market)
   
   Chidambaram added that additional irrigation potential of 24 lakh hectares to be implemented, including nine lakh hectares under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme
   
   • There is a possibility of the minimum alternate tax (MAT) to come in for some structural change in the Budget. This is to expand the scope of tax that is currently applicable on certain zero-tax companies( mainly IT). It will cover units taking benefits of the STPI( special tax exemption scheme) scheme in order to bring big IT companies into the tax net. Although NASCOMM has recommended chidambaram to give another 10 yrs for the IT comps (not in SEZ) to move around without tax concerns as they pointed out the rising power of China in this industry, FM was adamant that there should be a halt to this.
   
   
   
   Features
   
   No proposal for strengthening the public distribution system. As the price rises continue to go up, chidambaram says all these recent developments indirectly leads to price rise which is running away from the basic facets of economics.
   
   In spite of the petrol and diesel price coming down on the world market, but India market is unable to absorb the global scenario as there are no provisions for steadying the price of petrol and diesel. The government should also take steps to control these sudden fluctuations in the world market by proposing a price system that would last for these fuels throughout the year.
   
   There is no mention about the food corporation of India (FCI) which should be strengthened to meet the demands of the population. The food grains are being imported at cheaper prices, leaving the farmers in penury and the produced food grains are accumulating in the hands of corporates leading t high prices of these essential commodities.
   
   The rules and regulations related to special economic zones are to be modified. The occupants of the region set aside for the special economic zones should be either guaranteed an employment in that zone or they should be a share holder of the particular zone along with the government suggestion of an alternative habitat. Moreover the companies will come under the tax rules in 5 years and not 10 years as suggested by the government for being tax free.
   
   The prevaricating minds of the investors as sudden withdrawal and investment of the national bonds can be dealt seriously by the government by issuing a specific security tax for these stock market bonds.
   
   Corporate tax should be raised and this should be converted to grama and panchayat developmental projects.
   
   The government should give room to alternate loan facilitators especially certain banks associated with countries like Canada or latin American oil rich countries willing to invest in India. ADB, Japan bank and others should not be the only solution for infrastructure or sewage projects.
   
   The price stabilisation of certain basic crops should be a matter of concern for the government as subsidies should not only be awarded to cash crops and the farmers belong to crash crop cultivation community should not alone be promoted.
   
   The finance minister should have firmly taken a stance against the NASCOMM proposal for the IT companies remain zero tax companies for another 10 yrs rather than the introduction of a minimum alternate tax proposal suggested by him.
   
   The proposal and the drawbacks of the employment guarantee scheme is to be submitted so as to include modifications for a full scale effective launching of the scheme.

Surfing Love

Jen: Hi it’s me…How r u?
Sam: I am fine….Where were u all this HOURS?
Jen: Had something to do…
Sam: I wish to say u something..
Jen: What!!
Sam: I wish to be with u throughout.. would like to always be with uuuuuu..
Jen: Why???
Sam: Bcoz I lov u..
Jen: me too..when do we meet??

The romance behind the screen, the proposal through the pixels. The 21st century is ravishing with a hallucination of vivacious ideas the most prominent among it is the pixel romance. A few love notes( shakespeares or Austen’s) a few nodes is more than enough to eclipse one’s heart with this emotion that has an origin even before the very concept of civilization had its subsistence..Love.
Philosophers have often quoted love as the subject that pursues the highest capacity of mans thinking. Rationalism, idealism all had its derivation in love. Love is above all the gift of oneself. Love has it patience and kindness, simplicity and authenticity but never pride and prejudice. The words that pour out from your heart when you express your love carries with it a subjugation and later a liberation of the very soul that has pampered this emotion right when the cry for your recognition is delivered from the cradle. This era has rewritten the entire concept of love or are we becoming blind with a string of illusions to lead the way through the darkness makes us feel is more than sufficient??
Words do convey, smiles do perpetuate, Talks do resonate but the credibility of that emotion its sanctity and divinity lies solely in ones eyes. Scientifically we see a lightning before the sound of the thunder. Well as philosophy puts it lets take it the other way round. Before our ears or our mouth reacts to the thunder our eyes would have already responded. The concept of vision or predominance of eyes can be quiet useful even to detect the last moments of your life. The conformity of ones death would be announced only after ones eyes comes to rest. Thus naturally a doubt arises ; Without reading ones eyes , without acknowledging ones gaze how does our brain instigate or open the doors of Love.
With cams revolutionizing internet, the pixel romance has also transfigured from mere words through pixels to expressing advertently with actions. But does it really inspires or immunizes your inner self to tally love without catching his/her sparkling gaze that really sends you tingles as one said might be love or might be confined to chicken pox for you cannot hide your eyes in search of the truth that you wish to decipher. Eyes definitely lies but only after presenting the certainty. Your eyes will point out your devotion, your anger, your admiration, your friendliness, your happiness and most conspicuously your Love for love stands completely odd and should not be compared in par with the rest of emotions.
The next time you are in a party or a crowd, keep moving your eyes when definitely you will strike a gaze which will have an impact you might have dreamed of, or which might have a force to pull you or which might have a feeling in that all these years you were waiting for this moment of your life …Believe me then you are love at first sight……..



Shereen Vijayan Kottikkal

Dear Diary

Dear Diary,
It was evening 4:30 pm. As usual my mother had begun her garden hobnobbing and my sis her routine law embalming (being a law student, she had the practice of reading out Indian penal codes and revising it all over again). I decided to go to the temple, a little bit of prayers i believe would yield good result.........I was there .Temple resembled an archaeological monument with it’s astute workmanship, dazzling in the setting sun .The Temple had its virtue embedded in political History. Kerala’s cultural Historians enlighten the tale of a lady who in spite years of her marriage was unable to conceive. On a saints advice she had come to oorakkam (the place where this particular temple stands) from her remote habitation and went fasting here for months, solemnizing Lord Shiva. On due course, karkiddaka masam (a month associated with the monsoons in Kerala) a karim pooyam naal (the 8th star according to the astrological calendars) she gave birth to a baby boy who later was a very predominant king in Kerala’s political anecdote. The awesome, fiery Shaktan Thampuran was thus born (taking a lenient look in Kerala’s History, this particular king was acknowledged as the Father of Thrissur Pooram, a festival marked by the display of 30 elephants in their most resplendent attire and a gala of events preceding it symbolizing a cultural feud between the deities).
I parked my vehicle outside.
Well i checked out the premises to spot out any familiar faces. Well i did find thirumeni (the temple priest) moving around quite fast with a small pot of water, carrying it inside. Prayers and religious rites definitely need a real definition at least a precision on the format they are undergone, according to me. I moved closer to the temple .I stood with my hands folded in devotion my eyes drooping but transfixed on to the roof of the temple and uttered a few religious doggerels .This sacrosanct performance was not propelled out from sheer devotion but it was an obligatory call to the Lord to acknowledge him my presence there ,a practice which i had followed since childhood.
i decided to get inside when a familiar face slowed my pace Being my dads good friend ,i enjoyed a good rapport with Valsan uncle. Either he had completed his religious rituals and came from the temple or i was unaware of his presence there .My consciousness brightened at my concentrating aptitude .Usually my prayers used to be carried away by trivial matters especially about my exams or the people present around but this time a fief of devotion did grip me .i gave him a warm smile. He reciprocated; inquired about my dad and told me to proceed on .I went inside.
I had the usual procedure of a chitchat conversation with thirumeni before i had begun with my normal customary prayers. But he was not inside the inviolable room where the idol depicting lord was kept. I did feel a little uneasy as this had been my usual practice.
Thirumeni was an incomparable, vivacious personality .Not just succumbed to ordinary religious doctrines like the common temple priests,
Thirumeni had his miscellaneous outlook on every day to day (polemical or non) events .A short man with a shrewd smile, his chest bending over every time a smile pops out , camouflaging a sundry and perceptive knowledge base promulgated often to certain signified worshippers, me being one among them . i personally adored him .We used to talk on vivid range of matters which included even politics. Just imagine politics being a bone of contention in the temple premises. It was he enjoyed that conversation too .A uneasiness did grip me, a sort of anomaly.

I looked around for him. Not in sight. Some where inside.. i was looking around when two amiable smiles greeted me..Anju, Valsan uncle’s daughter and her sister Ammu .i knew them from childhood.
I used to come across Ammu often either cuddled up back on her fathers' kinetic or at the bus stop with her school bag which weighs almost as her. I had always remained bewildered by the quantity of books children used to carry which almost resembled hard earning potters...but its been years since i have seen Anju ,the last time during one of my semester vacation ...Time had changed her too .She now
possessed a full fledged smile unlike the past and kept to herself an aroma of the eldest in the family. Her spectacle enveloped eyes refused to sideline itself from her perpetual smile. The way she guided her sister
a clearly personified the leverage and pragmatism proliferated in her during the times . Well i did gracefully acknowledge their smile.

I stood in front of the Lord. I kept my eyes closed but my mind was wandering. Clouds, isn’t the one we see today the one we see tomorrow? or is it different ...that’s why we use the synonym passing clouds....Not a
single cloud would emancipate itself from its allotted natural duration to emboss, relieve the world once its done with it's chore .periodic action .if I am the world and then the clouds are the faces that move in
and out intermittently then the wind of course would be the scales of fate ardent enough to orchestrate the clouds to new a destination thereby tantalizing the world ,a mere spectator to these sequence of events. ......
all these thoughts ran in my mind ..

.i looked at Anju ...she gave me a warm smile again. .i reciprocated.. i prayed .. bowed came outside the temple...i looked up into the sky...
it was a clear sky getting dark...the sun had just set. Far in the dim light, i spotted a solitary cloud ...it had just greeted the world and was waiting for the winds to guide it never to turn back.... ......

Shereen Vijayan Kottikkal

The importance of knowing bacteria

What we see is only what we should believe? Or is there something surreptitious, the existence of which surmounts certain conventional presumptions, human race had always adhered to. My primitive knowledge base alleviates spontaneity to absorb certain sporadic discoveries, a reminiscence and then a bitter comparison or a reality check with would always plunge me more into wilderness rather than understanding the revolutionized concepts ( I term it revolutionized cause certain truths instilled in me are now down in the dumps) . I was running through the morning papers when all of a sudden my eyes stumbled on an article which I found sturdy but too hard to digest. Once again I found myself cornered and soporific as my mind shrugged “Oh No. Here we go again not another one of those distinctive discoveries.”

I never knew about Robert Folk neither did I ever try to. The name neither his activities least could have impressed me until the very day when I had to accommodate his feature in my prevailing database and thereby had to rectify my pampered assumptions nourished since my childhood. Robert Folk ‘s career graph did enunciate an illustrious one including a medal for his contribution in Geological Science. He established the naming systems of Limestones, as well as doing important groundwork in describing sediments and classifying sedimentary rocks. Then in due course of time he developed a penchant for electron microscope and got himself involved in paranormal bustles. Thus a geologist who had mesmerized the geological arena substantially pursued biological science.

I always believed that bacteria did remain the smallest living being and even we always interpret bacterial in liguistics to the smallest thus emphasizing its significance. But now the theory is vandalized. Robert Folk found out extremely small objects in various rocks which resembled fossilized bacteria , but grotesquely a fraction of micron only in size. Indeed a few biologists( Folk was not a biologist rather a geologist ) have found few signs of living bacteria this tiny. Folk named his sighting nanobacteria ( the usage of nano is synonymous to geologists but a derision to biologists) . He began thus a wider research into this thereby metamorphosing his parenthesis with signs of ancient life equating the presence of nannobacteria in the Martian meteorite. This cultivated an ideological feud as his opponents strongly criticized his recent unearthing sarcastically. But Folk did not simmer down. He published journals citing his claim and even made tele appearances as a surrogate to biologists. This propelled an international debate the vitality reflecting in every scientific corners of the world as the biologists around the globe lined up decided to pursue a rancorous approach to Folk as a question percolated in them “ How come a geologist pursue biology or are they tantamount to each other” .

Finally, a research team consisting of World renowned geologist Jurigen Scheiber and equally talented biologist Howard Arnott decided to break the jinx. On their experimentation with fossilized bacteria in the lab they concluded that the alleged nannobacterial structures in sedimentary rocks are probably by-products of bacterial degradation of organic matter and not evidence for minute life forms called nannobacteria. If this conclusion holds up, then Robert folk would find his theory slashed and discarded. But a few renowned geologists has not supported this theory. Thus Robert Folk’s penchant for electron microscope landed him amidst an international scientific debate highlighting the ideological battle between the geologists and the biologists.

Well, so far with the Robert Folk’s Folktale. But believe me neither I got interested in Robert Folk nor his Endeavour to link geology with Biology and thereby a fusion between these sciences. Be the waging war between the biologists and the geologists for this issue followed by the stigmatizing of a valuable discovery did not quite reasonably garner any proclivity to either of the two sciences although I firmly notch up the criteria that I am just a passerby in this scientifically resplendent world of today. But I have a sturdy Question to Robert Folk which I believe is aptly meritorious to all the common people who differentiate geology and Biology as two heads with the same tail. My question is just to Robert Folk not to the scientific warriors prolifically tarnishing their self sustained reputation through what they claim as an authentication of their existence. Mr. Robert Folk ,please explain to me should I use bacterial or nannobacterial to define smallest . This is a significant qualm for me but for others it might be of bacterial/nannobacterial importance.


Shereen Vijayan Kottikkal

Global warming and the Revenge of Gaia

Global Warming and “The Revenge of Gaia”




We may truly be in grave danger... few of the present inhabitants of the earth are likely to survive beyond the 21st Century
James Lovelock


The words are not an aberration but quotations from one of the most enlightening, but controversial scientific journal “The Revenge of Gaia” . The Gaia hypothesis developed and proposed by Dr James Lovelock, an independent scientist, author , researcher and environmentalist , changes our view on Earth from a barren rock covered with thin coating of life to a self organizing system that in many ways resembles a single organism . A staunch supporter of nuclear science, Lovelock believes that nuclear energy is the only alternative to fossil fuels that has the capacity to fulfill large scale energy needs of mankind thereby reducing greenhouse gases and halting global warming.
Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earths atmosphere and oceans in recent decades. The prevailing scientific option on climate change is that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities. The increased amount of carbon Di oxide and other greenhouse gases released by the burning of fossil fuels and other related activities lead to an increase in the greenhouse effect thereby being the primary causes of human induced component of warming. An increase in the global temperatures can in turn cause other changes, including a rising sea level and changes in the amount of pattern and precipitation. These changes may increase the frequency and intensify of extreme weather events such as floods, heat waves and hurricanes etc. Other consequences also include glacier retreat, extinction of species, lower agricultural yields and increase in the range of disease vectors. The rise in sea level is also major concern and one of the aftermaths of global warming. According to a survey if the sea level were to rise in excess 14 meters almost every coastal city in the world would be affected, with the potential for major impacts on world trade and economy. An example is the island nation of Tuvalu. Tuvalu, an island located near to New Zealand is a naturally gifted location but it has an average elevation of approximately one meter above sea level. As a result, Tuvalu had already an agreement with New Zealand to allow phased relocation as many inhabitants have already started leaving the island. According to the reports there, it is far from clear that the rising sea levels as a result of global warming are a substantial factor, with the sea level rising 1-2 millimeters per year.
Dr. James Lovelock’s “The Revenge of Gaia” is a wake up call to the entire human race. He mentions on the global warming scenario as real and deadly. He also believes that nuclear power remains the only short term way to provide enough energy without causing climatic harm. The Gaia theory takes its name from the goddess of Earth .or the earth mother according to Greek mythology. The concept formulates that the segment of earth from the bottom of its crust to the top of its atmosphere acts self regulating being , keeping conditions suitable for life .He also cites the chemically unstable composition of the atmosphere maintained by life as evidence that Gaia-the world organism – is self regulating for the benefit of life. His argument that if this atmospheric balance was not maintained life would die out, therefore Gaia must have life’s best interests at heart and work for the benefit and propagation of life. Lovelock also discusses on the history of life on earth and the impact that all living creatures, from micro-organisms to humans had on this ever changing planet, the ability of the Earth to maintain relatively constant conditions in temperature, atmosphere, salinity and pH of the oceans and reduction in pollutants defining the concept of organism. He also draws attention to one aspect of warming threat in particular , which is that the expected temperature rise is currently being held back by artificially by a global aerosol ( a layer of dust in the atmosphere right around the planets northern hemisphere ) which is the product of the world’s industry. This shields us from some of the sun’s radiation in a phenomenon which is global dimming and is thought to be holding the temperature down by several degrees. But with a severe industrial downturn the aerosol could fall out of the atmosphere in a very short time and the global temperature could take a sudden leap upwards.
“The Revenge of Gaia” has been nicknamed by many as the Book of Revelation. Lovelock’s vision of the planet’s revenge does not evaluate a spiteful attack against the homo sapiens as such but comprehensible collapse of the system that have kept earth habitable for billions of years. If Gaia means the interdependence of all organisms on earth, then the system collapse implicates to all the organisms, though he focuses it exclusively as our fault. His linking of forests and oceanic algae to the formation of clouds and thus attaining the capability to counter the earth’s warming from man made carbon dioxide. But he firmly believes that as a result of the relentless creeping of global temperature higher and climatic disasters will proliferate thereby the human race has moved beyond a point of recovery. He believes that at the current rate the global temperature will rise by nearly three degrees in the next 50 years. Then the rainforests begins to die and thereby the content of carbon dioxide increases. Algae fail in the ocean and stop generating cooling clouds and absorbing carbon. This results in glacier melting flooding some of the most commercial and economy propellant cities thereby paving way for human migrations, crop failures and emergence of warlords.
Lovelock also proposes a solution for all these impending dilapidation. He advocates the idea of rapid expansion of nuclear fuel to cut fossil fuel emissions, Giant reflectors in space, the solidification and burying of smoke emissions, availability of synthetic foods to give the planet a chance to recover. He dismisses wind power and bio-fuels as inefficient and has not mentioned much about solar power. He also proposes the utilization of higher levels of technology to reduce humanity’s impact on the environment.
Lovelock’s campaign against human abuse of the environment can be justified but certain presumptions of the Gaia hypothesis lacks credibility. In making such a statement, far gloomier than yet made by any other scientist of such international standing, he has sidelined the orthodox Darwinian concept. He can be acknowledged as the man who conceived the first wholly new way of looking life since Charles Darwin. The idea of a self regulatory planet to keep itself fit for life and being synonymous to an organism cannot be digested which is crystal clear when the research scientists virtually ignored his theory. Orthodox Darwinism did not consider that evolving organisms are part of each other’s environment and that diminishing the habitability reduce their chances of survival thereby Gaia being the sum of mutually dependent network. But his visualization of the imminent danger is a pre emptive admonition to the entire human race.
Lovelock is fierce in his insistence on the need to embrace nuclear energy: “Renewable energy sounds good, but so far it is inefficient and expensive. It has a future, but we have no time now to experiment with visionary energy sources: civilization is in imminent danger and has to use nuclear energy now, or suffer the pain soon to be inflicted by our outraged planet”. But nuclear fuel still remains a major bone of contention in the international arena and how safe will the human race be when there is a scuttle to obtain this energy.


Shereen Vijayan Kottikkal

The Dollar

THE REGIME OF THE DOLLAR

The world economy has become extremely contingent on the Dollar. In fact dollar has not just been able to amass the confidence of its jaded investors but also has attained the significance of donning a new role as the world’s reserve currency. The U.S dollar is the world’s premiere currency, with approximately two thirds of the world’s official Foreign exchange holdings being dollars. Countries are willing to run trade with the U.S in return for additional dollar holdings Why actually are we reluctant enough to exchange valuable resources for these paper IOUs representing a form of tribute to the Dollar?
Before we excavate deep into this topic, a term which needs premonition is balance of payment. It means the summary of the international transactions of a country over a period of time including commodity and service transactions and gold movements. This is a major factor revolving around the economic policies of other countries. The balance of payment considerations constrain other countries to run tight economic policies, thus U.S appears to be free from all the constraints. U.S also gains the special advantage of having surplus trade deficits without apparent market sanctions. This gives Dollar a noteworthy edge over other currencies.
Notching up the status as worlds reserve currency increases the demand for U.S financial assets, thereby driving the prices of stocks and bonds, lowering the interest rates and a fillip to the household wealth of the nation. The U.S government also gets an interest free loan from the hundreds of millions in dollar bills held offshore. Increased demand for its assets makes US manufacturing less competitive internationally because an overvalued dollar makes US exports more expensive and imports cheaper. In order to generate high inflation, certain countries over-issues their own money which encourages foreign citizens to protect themselves by converting and keeping in hand dollars than the domestic currency. U.S owns the world’s largest share of output and trade is tantamount to their assertion on being the world’s military power. This criteria authenticates their big brother attitude thereby a security to protect the global market system also. Thus investor’s tendency to rush to dollars in times of uncertainty buds out of this concept.
Consumption and internal demand also percolates deep into the currency market. Certain countries fail to develop and adequate internal demand or consumption of their produced goods. This forces such countries to rely on the American consumer. The inadequacy in consumption may be due to poor income distribution or bad domestic economic policies. Countries riding high on due to their industrialization generating employment lack adequate internal demand. China is one such example. In order to keep their factories operating they have to depend on their exports which indirectly attracts foreign direct investment and advances development .China has been particularly willing to run trade surpluses with U.S because of its export attributed growth and increase in their foreign direct investment. Thus certain East Asian countries have converted their trade surpluses into dollars, thereby continuing strong demand for dollar and its dominance in official foreign exchange holdings. Industrialization leading to full scale employment has to have the demand. Inadequate internal demand forces such countries to depend on American consumers thereby an overvalued dollar. BMWs and Mercedes Benz manufactured by Germany is supplied in return for paper dollar IOUs as a result of lower internal demand and no noteworthy consumers.
Dollar’s regime can be toppled. When the countries that run trade surpluses with U.S becomes saturated with their dollar holdings, they cease buying. In fact they may even start selling. This will let the currency fall. But this would certainly destroy their countries export market and its associated growth.
The development of consumption markets could also topple the totalitarian regime of the Dollar. The concept of consumption market and a common currency associated with it is a possibility only if a group of countries manage to set aside their economic imbalances and develop their own consumption markets. Countries in the Euro zone are capable of doing this but they are gripped by inefficiency in decision making as a result of the inflation and its associated economic calamities. China’s totalitarian regime fears the presence of Unions and other organizations which are quintessential elements to improve the income distribution. The dearth of such systems inculcates ambiguity in the minds of consumers. The Middle East can be an alternative to this. The oil rich nations can metamorphose the dollars affidavit of security and stability by focusing on oil dominated trade surpluses. Energy deficit nations would flaunt their new trading partners and this would overvalue their currency. As a result, this currency riding on the waves of potential reserves would be a shot in the arm for countries disparaging the apparent market sanctions U.S dollar is betrothed to thereby a situation of endurance for the giant. But the political atmosphere prevailing in this region thwarts a concordance between the nations, which deliberately is an American ploy to destabilize the regions security thereby keeping the dollar consummate and unparallel.
The rest of the world has to develop an alternative to the US consumer. As long as other countries fail to generate sufficient demand in their own markets, they will be compelled to rely on the US market thus an overvalued Dollar. While US workers face stiff competition and job pressures from imports that are advantageous to Dollar, the long term economic prospects of the US economy is open to discussion. The rest of the world, in order to stabilize the world economy, should take up this opportunity encourage more consumption in the European or east Asian markets, improve the wages of the developing economies and thereby resurrect the global financial imbalances widened due to overdependence on the US Dollar.





Shereen Vijayan Kottikkal

Technology

Nanotechnology and the MRAM

Technology is now synonymous with evolution. The rapid pace attained by the technological innovations definitely has pulverized the luxurious aspirations of mankind. The spontaneity of innovations has placed the human race always on the track pursuing a rapacious advancement to cuddle the ammunitions man is subdued to, that beyond doubt has rather a mesmerizing effect on those who are entirely unsullied in this advancing world. With the advent of nanotechnology, the conundrum of intrusive investigation has divulged a new-fangled technique propelled by the ferocity of desires and sumptuous motivation that galvanizes with necessities and the primitive recquirements of common man.
Nanotechnology has set the pace of technological conquest on a rigorous scale. It actually characterizes a methodical design, production, application of structures, controllers, devices the size adjudged at the nanoscale. The term is not confined to any particular field as it finds its applications relatively in any scientific field associated with manufacturing and production alongside physics, biology etc. dealing with nanostructures’. The reduction to nanoscale will reflect even an entire digression of the properties of the material that they reflect on macroscale. One example is gold. Gold like all other metals are good conductors of heat and electricity and are almost solid at room temperature with high malleability and ductility. The melting point of gold is at 1060 degree centigrade. But the nanoscale property of gold figures a diversified state. When reduced to nanoscale, the solid form of gold turns into liquid at room temperature. This is called the quantum size effect according to which quantization of energy for the electrons in solid becomes relevant after the size barrier is kaput. The atomic force microscope and Scanning tunneling microscope are the two versions of scanning probes that launched nanotechnology. Ever since, a future manufacturing technology based on molecular machine systems came into picture.
The information and communication field had also its distinctive maturity with the influx of nanotechnology. The critical length scale of the integrated circuits is already at the nanoscale also considering the gate length of transistors in CPU and DRAM devices. But one of the most significant memory inventions of the decade is the development of magnetoresistive random access memory or Mram set to displace hard discs and flash memory in the near future.
On dissembling a desktop computer, the most significant component that the computer needs that justifies its performance and enhances its versatility is the Random access memory (RAM). It is a type of computer memory that can be accessed randomly that is any byte of the memory can be accessed without touching the preceding bytes (1 byte is 8 bits) .It is in fact an equipment that stores data to be accessed in any order-at random .Computers or processors use RAM to hold the program code and data .Thus increasing RAM is improving performance. There are two types of RAM, dynamic( DRAM) and static ( SRAM) of which the former is the most common one inspite of the requirement to refresh it thousands of times in a second and the latter being very expensive as it eliminates the above drawback. But RAM is in fact a short term memory. Reading and writing data to RAM can be done extremely quickly. But it is volatile, which means it needs constant power to save the data and any obstruction in the supply would cause great harm. In spite of maintaining data indefinitely by some RAM chips when there is a power failure, it is typically erased when there is a computer shutdown. Flash memory found its application henceforth.
Flash memory is non-volatile as it does not need power to maintain the information stored in it. It is electrically erasable and can be reprogrammed. It is quite predominant in cases when a significant amount of non volatile solid storage is needed as in portable devices like mp3 players and cameras. Although flash memory offers random access read and programming operations, it cannot offer random access rewrite or erase operations. Compared to hard disk drives, the option to erase and rewrite in the flash memory is limited due to which utmost consideration should be taken when the entire hard-drive based applications or operating systems as such is moved into flash memory based devices. It means Flash can only be written to some fixed number of times before it must be replaced. It is also quite slow to write into and can wear out after a definite period.
Nanotechnology unleashed an innovative elucidation on these subsisting predicaments of volatility and slow writing of data. The solution was MRAM or magnetoresistive Random access memory. Mram stores data magnetically, the same way a hard drive does. It is a non volatile memory technology that protects data in the event of power loss and does not require periodic refreshing. It is much faster and suffers no degradation over time in comparison to Flash memory. With smaller components packed onto a single chip, more can be produced from a single silicon wafer (integrated circuit memory) thereby directly affecting the cost. It allows single memory solution to replace multiple memory options within one chip, thus a more cost effective solution. The access time in Mram devices as demonstrated by the scientists is in the order of 2 nano seconds, somewhat better than the new advanced DRAM built with the latest technology. An Mram chip does not posses a battery unlike its predecessor. In fact the existing structure of Mram does not allow it to work until it comes in a radio frequency field thereby energizing it and have to work rapidly before the chip goes out of the field. Within this short span, there got be a wireless propulsion followed by external contacts and protocols to move through and read and write data. Mram combines the high speed of SRAM and the high component density of DRAM to store great amounts of data thus enabling it to access faster and more durability.
The concept of a fully automatic and digital 21st century house is now not a distant dream as already the major corporations like Microsoft , APPLE have entered this fray. With the entry of MRAM into the technological arena, the possibility has further flourished. Nanotechnology substantially will play a major role to assimilate the prerogatives the present century requires thus a further revolution and innovation in this industry cannot be ruled out. With holographic disks, that has the capacity to store terabytes of data and a speed of Megabytes, in combination with MRAM and is further innovations the digital world will further rumble, thus an elucidation on the concept of quantum computers, using quantum algorithms and low layered nanosytem, there by developing a super fusion heated computer at the core of the planet at 1.1 million degrees would become a distant reality. But as Karl Marx quotes “The production of too many useful things results in too many useless people”. What about all those things that find no significance to the common man at all?

Shereen Vijayan Kottikkal

soccer: A short story

The hall was empty. A few seats were occupied. I went inside took a seat in the third row from the screen. It was a huge screen with speakers placed on its side. The crowd had not started pouring in yet. In a few minutes the giant screen would be delivering the world cup encounter between Argentina and Holland, the two stalwarts of classic soccer, the very mention of the match would plunge any soccer loving people into enthusiasm and excitation. I was quiet happy that I had occupied a very comfortable position. I turned around to see the soccer savvy public. A few youngsters were seated a few rows back. They had already begun their routine acrimonies, howling and generating an unpleasant commotion by banging the chairs, a real bizarre style of enjoying soccer or was I weird? Well, for me easiness and relaxation remained the prime facets in enjoying a game, be it soccer or tennis. I was quite happy that they were seated a few rows back .The match was about to begin and all of sudden, the crowd had started scuttling in. My eyes were already glued to the screen as both teams had lined up for the anthem recitation. I confirmed the presence of each player and was happy to see my desired teams on the screen. How I wished I was at the stadium alongside my all time favorite Diego Maradona , who was inspiring his national side with a frivolous thumping on a drum, as a mere spectator in the gallery , much to the admiration of the world cup organizers.
I am a diehard Diego Maradona aficionado, the soccer genius who garnered both accolades and impertinence in his much controversial less resplendent football career. The white and blue stripes (represented by the Argentina) materialized an impingement on the mesmerizing skills Maradona had profoundly delivered to the soccer world and the ecstasy he brought to the millions of his admirers around the globe. Post Maradona era for Argentina was beyond doubt too appalling. In fact, Argentina had never been able to recover from that infliction, loss of this stalwart, who charioted Argentina to two consecutive finals, including the World cup in 1986. Thus viewing an Argentinean match for me was rather a profanity to all the progenitors of the World Soccer Governing body that led the conspiracy (at least I believed) to marginalize this icon who had already procured an iconoclastic status in their view. I was in a reverie when I was disturbed by a nauseating smell from my left. My yearning for a comfy analysis and viewing of the match now was tattered. The seat adjacent to mine was occupied.
The occupant looked a middle aged man, his hair graying on the sides revealing his age .His thick eyebrows even reaching his eyes, which was barely discernible, showed signs of attentiveness and astute concern in his activities. His short stature but broad chest and his monolithic posture on the seat exposed a monomaniac in him who would stride through the desert in order to accomplish his task. His unkempt hair, loosely tied shoelaces, clearly indicated his eagerness and fervor to be a part of this match right from the beginning. He kept his neck low, pulled his head to the shoulders and kept his eyes, which would not have faced the broad daylight thanks to his bushy eyebrows, firm on the screen resembled archers and sharp shooters, who had all these preparatory procedures before their onset. But his presence annoyed me. Being a middle aged man, he would have the natural tendency to brag about the previous soccer matches thereby a act a sort of fracas with numerous expressions which would include howling when there is a shot by a player to the target and untamed phrases at the players and the football rules as such, which were all a intimidation on my proclivity for calmness and a despicable tactics to attract others attention. These thoughts were spiraling in me but had lost its momentum as soon as I heard the whistle from the referee. The match had begun.
There was a warm applause from all the spectators present, viewing the match live from this part of the globe. The Argentineans looked seemingly vivacious and delightful too in their navy blue attire (they were not in their traditional blue-white stripped attire much to my dismay and apprehension). The Dutch in their traditional orange were less convincing compared to their opponents. Within a few minutes of the game, Argentina made their first attempt, a long range shot from their centre forward, who missed the goal post by inches. I could not control my excitation as I punched my fists into the air amid the applause from the spectators present. In a short span another attempt by Argentina was thwarted by the Dutch goal keeper. But this time I noticed something unusual rather extraordinary. All this time, the occupant made not even the slightest noise neither a stimulatory movement that arises out from sheer excitation. He remained in a sort of perplexity with his eyes firmly fixed on the screen and his position impervious and unaltered as at the commencing of the match.
Now I was thoroughly distracted. I could not read what his mind was filled with. No excitement , no words enwreathing , not the slightest hesitation neither a curiosity. His eyes, in spite of being hidden in his eyebrows, refused to take leave from the screen not even for a second. What was he ? A soccer connoisseur, or some sort of extra terrestrial genius, who could predict the outcome of the match cropping up from all this years of experience. Or he would have been blessed with the most fortunate boon allocated to the prophets in disguise, to control temper and emotions. He was something special. He must have a very perceptive knowledge on soccer and it’s history due to which these slender endeavors do not matter. He should possess an immaculate skill to arbitrate a situation when the ball reaches the opponents goal line or when there is a scamper towards the goal region. He did not illustrate any affinity towards a particular side neither was he interested in the instant replays,(aired when there is a foul committed or an attempt to score a goal) as though he had predicted the outcome lot before the analysts had .I really wished now to talk with him, a sort of rapacious affection to share his valuable knowledge to aggregate mine. It was a few minutes before half time that I noticed my neighbor (I felt myself humiliated in addressing an intellect by such derogatory terms) counting his fingers but with his eyes glued on the screen. The stringent action must have been a sort of cerebral calculation on the moments left for half time. I decided to break this silence. The referee’s whistle came as music to my ears and a conclusion to my enigma. It was half time.
I looked on to my neighbor. He was interested now in the audience, who were moving out to relax but still that perplexed look of his was not disbanded. He must have been wondering how the viewers were moving out amid speculation rather be glued to the seat like him. He turned around to me, his eyes piercing through the bushy eyebrows that almost resembled a chick coming out from the egg by cracking the covers. I decided to make my move. But I felt my throat go dry all of a sudden. Usually I had the slightest hesitation when it comes to approaching a stranger but on this occasion I faltered. The reason for this percolation of trepidation might have been due to his intellectuality, that any words foolishly spilled would demean my individuality or because I had humiliated a genius by considering him too low to my standards. I smiled on to him .He nodded his head, a complimentary move to heed my invitation.
“Its extra-time” words trickled out from my mouth.
He gazed at me and in the most sarcastic manner with downright genuineness looked into his wrist watch “Its 10:30 “. I giggled.
Only a most authentic knowledge foundation can materialize such sporadic humor. Such was his autocratic style of performance that I decided to engage in a healthier conversation with him. “Tight match .isn’t it?”. I gave him the onus to explain me the synopsis of the just completed first half.
“Yes, it was” his reply was stern and quite optimistic too.” I had just started enjoying the match when it got over”. “Over” my mind murmured.
“Even, I had started counting the number of players running around in the field with the whistle man ,i could not get how many were present there. Anyway it’s crazy that all these people are running behind one ball. But I don’t understand one thing. Why does that man who keeps whistling in the field not even given a chance to at least touch the ball?”
I looked on the screen. The play would resume in a few minutes. People had started occupying their seats. I was feeling very hungry.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANISATION: A VIEW


Shanghai, widely regarded as the citadel of Chinese economy, is now fuelling an acrimony by hosting a summit of a group of Energy rich Nations, the repercussions reverberating even in the closed corridors of the White House. China although has declared the unison a combined effort to confront the three global threats terrorism , extremism , separatism , but the unanimity has much more to say . The presence of Ahamedinejad , the Iran president as an external observer with the invitation from the Chinese authorities ,amidst all the international controversies existing in the present scenario, has in fact stirred a hornets nest. Or citing it otherwise, U.S and its militaristic allies are not at all happy at his presence in the SCO.
The Shanghai 5 Grouping was originally created in 1996 with signing of the ‘Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border regions ‘in Shanghai by the heads of states of Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China , Kyrgyzstan , Russia and Tajikistan. In 2001, the annual summit in Shanghai first admitted Uzbekistan in the Shanghai five mechanism (thus transforming it into Shanghai six). Then all six heads of state signed the Declaration of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, praising the role played thus far by the Shanghai Five mechanism and aiming to transform it to a higher level of cooperation. Later in 2005 ,Russia and China conducted their first ever joint military exercise called Peace Mission 2005 the next one planned in 2007 near the Ural Mountains and close to Central Asia ,thereby piling up grave concerns for the NATO .At the Moscow summit in 2005 , the Secretary General of the Organization said that the SCO will prioritize joint energy projects and the establishment of a Free Trade area. Along with Iran , Pakistan and India too received the observer status at the 2005 Summit in Kazakhstan. This is History.
In June 2005, the SCO issued a statement calling for a deadline to be set for the withdrawal of US military base from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The U.S was taken by surprise at this statement and thus began to focus attention on the sanctity and the real purpose of the SCO. China repeatedly denied the media hypes that the SCO was intentionally targeting the U.S with China’s Foreign Affairs Office publicly announcing that SCO never intended to get into a confrontation with any country. But Political Analysts have played down the idea that the SCO could emerge as a regional rival to the US or a concept of an Asian NATO’s emergence. But the idea whether the recently conducted joint military exercises might turn into full scale military alliance cannot be ruled out. Are we going back into a cold war era?
It seems an economic expansion is now on the cards at the moment for China rather than a militaristic expansion. The growing relations with oil rich latin American countries , once acknowledged the backyard of the United States , reflects it’s burgeoning demand for energy sustainability , the joint venture of China’s Sinopec with the Brazilian government owned oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro only legitimizes the prevailing situation there. Although SCO is primarily centered around the security related concerns of its member nations as claimed by China and Russia, the ulterior motives of the former on spearheading an Asian unity, inauspicious by the absence of India as its full term member, remains precarious.



Shereen Vijayan Kottikkal

Socrates : The Drama

SOCRATES: The wise philosopher of athene
ANYTUS: The most wealthiest man of Greece who was the predominantal figure in the indictment of Socrates.
GORIAS : A sophorist intellectual who imparts knowledge to the Athenians for a fee.
PLATO: The most faithful student of Socrates.
CRITO: The most faithful friend of Socrates
KING ARCHON: The judicial authority of Athene.
ARISTOTLES: The student of Plato
JAILOR

Scene 1

There was a huge crowd in the court. Antylus and Gorgias was standing adjacent to the chair of the King.They Looked quite disturbed.

Antylus: Gorgias, The name Socrates should not exist in Athene any more.
Gorias: Oh wealthiest of the wealthiest Antylus, only you could do that….Socrates has not only threatened my existence in the society but has blemished all of us who serve the state.
Antylus: That old man, who does he think he is? Misguiding the youth and turning them against us, questioning, free thinking he says….All these are against us . He is manipulating them against us.
Gorias: It is not the state he is after , he is after individuals particularly you Antylus.
Antylus: I wont let this happen..Today he will bear the fruit for the seeds he has sown…

A background yelling followed by arrival of king Archon. Goria moves nearer to Antylus. King Archon enters the court and wishes them and sits down.Gorias gets seated but antylus doesnot…

King Archon: Antylus, u look disturbed? take your seat.
Antylus: No lord, I will not sit, nor rest until I have my justice.
King Archon: Soldier , bring Socrates in.

The soldier brings Socrates with tied hands , unfolds the ties. Socrates turns towards Antylus who looks at him harshly and when he looks at Gorias , gorias slowly stands up.

Socrates: Yes My lord.
King Archon: Socrates, you know why have you been arrested and brought here for a trial?
Socrates: No My Lord, I do not know.
King Archon: Antylus, you can begin.
Antylus: Oh my Lord, This person has been instigating the youth against the state with notorius ideas.
King Archon: Socrates is this true?
Socrates: No my Lord. I have always obeyed and respected the state.I have never misguided the youth. I adviced them to believe in their knowledge. I had always told them a kind of wisdom that each of them lacks is an open awareness of his own ignorance. My aim is not to convey new information but rather to elicit awareness of something that an individual already knows implicitly.
Gorias: My Lord, He has been imparting knowledge by alleviating from our contemporary system. He has been doing this free of charge which is against the law?
King Archon: What do you have to say about this Socrates?
Socrates: My Lord, Knowledge should not have any barriers nor the style we adopt to attain it.is what I believe. So I decided to share my ideas with my students without accepting anything in return.This only would propel them to seek and learn more.
Gorias: What is learning more , My lord? They have started pursuing the idea that the world is no more a square but round in shape( in a saracastic manner) .We all know that there is a point in the world the farther we try to move would trip over and fall off. This knowledge has been passed over through generations by our ancestors and by contradicting it he is trying to degrade our teachings and also belittling our ancestors. Do you call this knowledge , My lord?
King Archon: Socrates, How dare you preach something which is against our tradition and Knowledge?
Socrates: My Lord, How can we ever learn what we do not know. Either we already know what we are looking for, in which case we don't need to look, or we don't know what we're looking for, in which case we wouldn't recognize it even if we found it.Iam inviting you all to the shores of the Aegean Sea from where we could see the ships coming in.
King Archon: How does it prove that?
Socrates: Yes my Lord. Just observe the ships . At first you will see the smoke followed by the pipe and then the body of the ship. Only in a round surface the objects could move around like that.
Antylus: My Lord, The old man Has gone Blind and is totally out of senses.He is imagining things and giving it a different outlook.My Lord, this man,s existence in this society is a shame to all of us. He has also started giving new definitons to judiciary?
King Archon: This is the limit Socrates…
Socrates: No My Lord, Let me ask you Antylus what is Judiciary?
Antylus: Nothing more than telling the truth and repaying ones debts.
Socrates: But in certain cases these simple rules without exception could bring disastrous results.For example Returning a borrowed weapon to an insane friend would be an instance of following the rule but would not seem to be an instance of just action.
Antylus: My Lord, He is redifining our pillars.
Kjing Archon: I cannot tolerate this anymore Socrates. Warden Take him and put him behind the bars till I give a further order on this.
Soldier comes in pushes him down ,ties Socrates. Socrates without saying a word Obeys…..Lights off

Scene 2

[ Socrates was in a deep thought when Plato came to see him}

Plato: Oh my Master…( in a very sad tone)
Socrates: My dearest student Plato..i was waiting for you ….i knew that you would be here before the sunset..
Plato: How can I not? How will I stay happy when my lord is inflicted to such a cruel state? How can I eat …How can I sleep…
Socartes: I am Quite happy here Plato…
Plato: No my master, Do not hide ur tears for that would flood Athene ..do not hide ur emotions for that would deafen the people here..
Socrates: Ur mistaken Plato….my emotions have dried up…I have served the state and I have served the people of athene humbly to my level best which is the final verdict for me…
Plato: How can you say that My Master when your task remains unaccomplished…you taught me that the only opinion that counts is not that of the majority of the people, but rather that of the individual who truly knows. You taught me about human virtues and emotions which still has not reached the masses that you intended to.
Socartes: No Plato ,virtue can never be taught….
Plato: My master, Your work is not over…Athene needs you..the people here wants you moreover I want you…I will not be able to carry your work all alone …don’t desert me in this situation ,my master
Socrates: Loneliness can occur even if you have a partner.There are many people who have many friends but are still lonely inside. So never feel lonely. I am always there with you An unexamined life is not worth living Plato…..
Plato: Master now I have come with a plan..please, do not reject that..
Socrates: What is that?
Plato: An escape from here
Socrates: I don’t understand
Plato: Yes My master, I have crafted a plan for ur escape. U could safely come out of this prison and stay secretly with us .The wealthy Ceyleus , ur follower has pledged his support to us.From there we could pursue the ill effects of this downtrodden society and free the Athenians from the clutches of these conspirators.
Socartes:Plato one never ought to do wrong.And it is always wrong to disobey the state . Hence one never ought to disobey the state. The state is to us as a parent is to a child. and since it is always wrong for a child to disobey a parent, it follows that it is always wrong to disobey the state.So obeying the state is a requirement right up until we die even if they are pushing me into a dungeon of tigers.
Plato: But My master…
Socrates: No plato, it is always wrong to break an agreement .And this is ultimate

Scene 3

[King Archon was seated kept his head low. Antylus and Gorgias stood on his either side.}

King Archon: So what is your opinion , Antylus?
Antylus: Lord, u saw his performance yesterday in the court, He has gone out of his snses and still u remain confused? Do you wish the youth of athene to laugh at us , disrespect us and hatch conspiracies against the state?
Gorgias: Do u want him to rewrite the existing judicial system and thereby even pose a threat to your throne?
King Archon: Gorgias, No Athenian is bigger than the state.
Antylus: Yes that is true but not in the case of Socrates. He is persuading the youth to question and search answers which if left out of control would pose a big threat to our state and the judiciary.
King Archon: So what do u suggest?
Gorias: Cut him down Publicly as we do to the all who defy the state.
King Archon: No, that’s not possible
Antylus: Yes Gorias , we should consider his age. And that would only intensify his symptahsiser’s frustration towards the state.
King Archon: So?
Antylus: Sentence him to die by drinking hemlock, the poisonous plant.
King Archon: But who would do that?
Gorgias: Critus will.
King Archon: Critus, you mean a close aide of Socrates.
Antylus: Yes he should. This should be an order from the state which should weigh more than his friendship with Socrates.
King Archon: Warden
( Warden comes inside)
King Archon: Ask critus to come inside.
Critus: Yes ur Lord.
King Archon: Critus, I hereby sentence Socrates to death by drinking hemlock. U are appointed to give him the poison.
Critus cries in disbelief ..

Critus: No my lord. Please don’t do that. A man of his age and knowledge should not meet such a terrible fate. Please consider this my lord( with tears in his eyes) . That man is respected and honored by thousands of athenians. By doing such an atrocity ur putting into the fire the beliefs and viewpoints of them all.
Gogias: Yes and that is what we want.
Critus: My lord I know him for the past 60 years.a man who has never committed a crime neither a robbery, one has never stood against the state How can the state be so cruel to him?
King Archon: Critus yes I have decided to weigh your opinion.But Socrates has been accused of corrupting the youth, disbelieving the laws and many more. So either he should drink the poison or I present him an opportunity to leave Athens in exile therby he should not be seen anywhere in the Athenian province.

Antylus and Gorgias looks at each other…..

Critus: My Lord there is no Socrates without athene for this is his blood his food , his air. Athene has given him his name , his knowledge.
King Archon: Let him decide his destiny. And I don’t want any further talk on this. You can GO…

Scene 4

Socrates was sleeping when Crito came inside..

Socrates: Why have you come at this hour crito? It must be quite early…
Crito: Yes certainly, The dawn is breaking.
Socrates: And u just came now?
Crito: No I came some time ago
Socrates: Then why did u sit and say nothing, instead of awakening me at once.
Crito: I have been wondering at your peaceful slumbers and that was the reason why I did not awaken you.I wanted you to be out of pain. I have always thought you happy but I do not want to see the cheerful way in which you bear this calamity.
Socrates: My dear friend Crito, when a man has reached my age he ought not to be repining at the prospect of death.
Crito: Yet a few older men than you are…misfortunes.
Socrates: That may be. But you have not told me why you come at this early hour.
Crito: I have come to bring you a message which is sad and painful.
Socrates: What! I suppose u have come with the news of my death.
Criot: ( starts weeping) Yes my dear Socrates , This will be the last day of your life.You have to drink the hemlock as ordered by the state.
Socrates: I had a vision, a dream on this Crito.
Crito: What was the nature of the vision?
Socrates: A Fair and scantily clothed woman called to me and said Socrates ur time has come.
Crito looked very sad and confused.
Crito: Tell me Socrates how should I bury you
Socrates: When I have drunk the poison I shall leave you and go to the joys of the blessed I want you to make sure that that I should not remain , go away and depart for the comfort of the judges.
Crito: Let the cup be brought , if the poison is prepared.
The jailor brings the cup..Whwn he places the cup he kneels in front of Socrates.
Jailor: I am sure that you would not be angry with me , for others are the guilty cause. I bid them all to drink poison .You are the noblest and gentlest of all who ever had been to this place.
With tears he walks out…..
Socrates: How charming the man is….Let me ask you my dear friend crito. Didnot the state give me a second chance other than to have this poison?
Crito: Yes , Leave Athens forever.
Socrates: What is ur opinion Crito?
Crito: I never gave you that option.
Crito: (looking outside) The sun is now only on the hill top.
Socrates: I don’t want a delay cause I don’t gain anything by drinking a lil later.
Socrates took the cup. Crito started weeping.
Socrates: Crito should I honour any god before I drink this?
Crito : Socrates….
Holding the cup to his lips quite readily and cheerfully drank the poison.
Crito: Ay last wish
Socrates:You are my good friend who is experienced in these matters .How much will this effect last..
Crito:You have to walk about until your legs are heavy and then to lie down and then the poison will act. Socrates…Socrates….
Socrates fell back and was dead.. Crot comes closer and closes his eyes
Crito: The end of justest , wisest and best of all men who lived in athens…….

Scene 5

Plato is addressing a group of students

Plato: The dramatic picture of a man willing to face death rather than abandoning his committmnet to philosophical inquiry offers up Socrates as a model for all future philosophers. The truth alone deserves to be the basis for decisions about human action, so the only proper apporoach is to engage in the sort of careful moral reasoning by means of which one may hope to reveal it.It was the dream of Socrates for an effective social life. It requires guardian of two external sorts. there must be both soldiers whose function is to defend the state against external enemies and to enforce its laws, and rulers who resolve disagreements among citizens and make decisions about public policy . Arsistotles Tell me what do u call such a society?

Aristotles( gets up): Yes Master we call it Republic.
Plato: Yes a Republic.

Shereen Vijayan Kottikkal

1957 April 5

1957- A REVIEW


April 5 1957, the day goes into history as the beginning of a new era for the millions of people vying for a democratic revolution, for liberating themselves from the clutches of the feudal society, and the most difficult of all for their intensification of class struggle to acquire the much necessitated social transaction. When EMS Namboodiripad took the oath of office as chief minister on April 5, 1957 it set in motion a government progressive and ideologically proficient, a government that had the vision to steer kerala through all the impedances petrifying the working class, a government that had the most pragmatic approach to the despair and desolation of a society reeling in astute financial impoverishment. Although the government had lasted only for a period of 28 months, it was a gleamed ray of hope from the horizon that heralded an innovative beginning for the southernmost state of India.
A schema of a socially just and democratic society, welfare measures for the working class, enhancement of minimum wages, democratisation of the educational society, obliteration of the feudal system, amiability in police policy had been the prime matter of apprehensions for the EMS ministry bestowed to implement communism in a society crippled by disparities in all the spheres of life. EMS had put it in this way “We are not here to implement communism which is practically not possible within the boundaries and frame work of our Indian Constitution. But we are here to accomplish the promises offered by the Congress before independence and we bequeath that responsibility within our ideological stance”.
Kerala during that time remained a farming community with rigid class distinctions. The deep-rooted caste hierarchy yielded many inhuman practices. Untouchability was one of them. Even the shadow of the avarna (low caste) was believed to contaminate the environs. Social reformists such as Sree Narayana Guru and V. T. Bhattatiripad strove to eradicate such practices in the early part of the 20th century. The Janmi, or feudal system became synonymous with exploitation. Caste was a very important factor in the development of the kisan and agricultural labour movement, particularly the agricultural labour movement. It was at the height of this scenario, the EMS ministry was deployed by the people in the most democratic manner. The very first step taken by the ministry thus was an ordinance to stop evictions of tenants which was followed by the agrarian reform bill. Fixation of tenure for tenants, certifying the rights of the tenants, reduction in the rent, reformation of land ownership were some of the highlights of the agrarian reform bill which evoked a callous reception from the landlord-bourgeoisie combination. As EMS quotes “at least in those areas where the kisan organisation was strong, ever since 1957, the peasants were gradually developing into owners. This was our biggest achievement”. Thus a beginning was made.
There was the presence of two disparate sections in the society to facilitate the educational system, one with the most affirmative business intention while the other with a social motive, the former being more powerful and authoritative than the latter. Even years before the EMS ministry came into power, the business faction used to attain grants and providential sums from the government to run their educational institutions. The teachers were neglected and their living conditions were underprivileged as the wealth got accumulated in the hands of these private entrepreneurs. This was a matter of pride for the EMS ministry and their dedication to improve the plights of the teachers was reflected in the education bill. Regulation of appointments and conditions of teachers, salaries to be transferred through the treasury were some of the emphasised attributions of that majestic edict implemented by the EMS ministry. But certain malevolent elements joined by caste and communal organisations that had a vested interest in education declared war on the government much to the anticipation of the majority that stood for progress and development.
The pro-people policy formulated by the EMS ministry had a very significant achievement that made it a role model for the various other states. That was the democratisation of the police policy in the state. During those times, the very name of police had created dreaded fright in the people. Brutality and maliciousness were the synonymies to police and they were used a mere tool to quell the communist movement that was gaining grounds in the region. The EMS ministry declared that the police would not be used as an instrument of oppression of the working people who wage legitimate struggles for their rights and thus renouncing their traditional role of coming to the aid of the capitalists and landlords to suppress the struggles of the working people. EMS had put it in this manner “It is not the job of police to suppress trade union, peasant and other mass activities. It is the job of the police to track down who commit ordinary crimes”. Thus for the first time, there was a clear definition to the chore associated with the police force.
EMS ministry was also substantial in generating industrial employment via the private sector as the possibility of industrialisation through public sector was not very bright in Kerala during that time. The Birla Factory in Mavoor , the Premier tyres factory in Kalammassery were example to begin a stride on a vision of industrial development. In agriculture, a small beginning was made while fostering of green manure through which productivity in agriculture can be increased without the use of or very little use of chemical fertilizers. This gave a considerable enhancement for both sectors thus setting a pace for an industrial and agricultural revival. The Minimum Wages Act for the workers in industries and for agricultural workers was music to the deaf ears for the working class, the act ensuring a substantial increase in their wages. One of the most significant achievements was the strengthening of the public distribution system. There was a food deficit prevailing in the state during that period. The concept of decentralisation was thoroughly sermonised and food committees were set up in villages comprising of the people of that particular region and thereby a systematic involvement of the public in matters concerning their basic amenities. This was the preliminary step for the decentralisation reforms and a basis of study for the advocates of decentralisation around the world.
Caste and communal elements had joined hands with the opposition to unshackle the evolution of a socially, agriculturally and industrially metamorphosed transmutation of a state thereby tarnishing the tranquillity and the secular credentials of its people. This resulted in the much hyped liberation struggle. They were combined of the ferocious face of the class struggle against workers, peasants and the working people who supported the government. As a result of the terror unleashed by these self proclaimed liberationists, the government was toppled and president’s rule was established. The dismissal was a lucid indication that a democratic transformation and a succession of parliamentary victories are not tantamount to each other. The more noteworthy lesson of that dismissal was that the threat to the parliamentary system and democracy does not originate from the working class but from the exploiting classes.
Thus 1957 to 1959 can be acknowledged as the age of reformation or the golden era of social transformation. The policies and the strategies put into practice by the EMS ministry of 1957 endeavoured with diligent planning are indeed phenomenal to the growth of a state and predominant in carving its developmental policies. As BT randive wrote in 1959” The Kerala ministry was a voyage on uncharted seas. This was, perhaps, the first time in the history of the world that the Communist Party had agreed to form a ministry under capitalism – with a bourgeois-landlord government controlling the centre and with effective economic power in the hands of a handful few. How was it possible?”. Yes the kerala masses had that desire and the propulsion for a change. Let that aspiration be always alive.



Shereen Vijayan Kottikkal