Writings of Kerala Geek

The goonda menace in Kerala has reached such epic proportions that even current ruling party (which was against any such law before) is now implementing Kerala Anti-social Activities (Prevention) Ordinance! But unless there is genuine interest to curb the menace, this ordinance will be of no use.

What powers does the ordinance provide? First of all police can take the goonda on preventive custody upto 21 days without judicial review. It can be further extended with judicial review upto 6 months. Frankly looking at the current serious situation, I think even 6 months is not enough. Also Kerala has a unique problem of human rights activists who are ready to go to any extend to free even the hard core criminal (there was even a long running dharna to free Afzal, one of the prime accused in parliment attack). 

Every day all Kerala newspapers carry fresh news about Goonda attacks. Today is no exception. Only this time I know the place where it happened since I take the route daily. It happened on the aakulam NH 47 bypass which goes to Kovalam (Trivandrum). There is a toll bridge on the way and most of the time there is a queue on both directions. Even if you have a monthly pass you will have to be in the queue. It is all up to the whims of the people at the toll booth.

I think most of them at the toll are rowdies and goondas. I myself had seen a few instances of abuse and goondagiri at the toll. One day a fellow on auto (a gulf malayali I guess) who was going to airport was stopped and verbally abused. Last line I heard from the goondas was - “gulf modayanu kettaa..”! Poor fellow.

So it was waiting to happen. Today Malayala Manorama carries the news - “Toll pirivukar  kudumbathe aakramichu. car thakarthu” (Toll goondas attacked a family and destroyed their car). Is there going to be any action? I doubt it since goondas invariably enjoy political protection…

First thing government should do is to remove that damn toll there. They have been collecting money for too long!

Check out the news clipping below (click on picture to read).

What I cherish most about my childhood is my early school days. It was fun time and there was no pressure to perform. I don’t remember carrying a heavy school bag at any time! There was competition between children but it was at a healthy level.

But things have changed drastically over the years. Now the work load at school is unbelievably high. My daughter is too young to go to school, but I do feel sympathy thinking how hard it is going to be for her.

I see only one group to blame for all these nonsense - parents. It is written infinite times, but I can’t help it. Everyone wants their child to be an engineer or doctor because of the social status it gives to the family. But maybe because she is too young, I don’t have any such expectations for my daughter. I want her to do what she wants (but not sure how I will react if she says she wants to be a model!).

What prompted me to write this was the photo I took last week. I was going to office and at a signal (Pattoor junction) I noticed an auto rickshaw on my left side. I felt really sad for the child sitting behind (look closely - there are 3 children one on top of other!).