PROHIBITION IN KERALA

                    DISCUSSIONS ON BAR LICENCE

Dialogues on the issue of bar license to hotels were continuously going on for the past few weeks. But so far no decision could be taken by the Government due to different approaches of the political leaders. This was mainly lingering on the acceptable standard of the BARS that can be permitted to sell liquor. What are the standard specifications for sale of liquor was the query raised by the honorable court.  IsThe quality of liquor and its degree of Intoxication, the criteria for standard alcoholic drinks? What I could see on the bottle is only the remarks “Alcohol is injurious to health” and also the % of alcohol in the content for the guidance of the people who go to the liquor shop or to the BAR for a drink!

Presently we have umpteen problems in daily life in respect of safety in TRAVEL/BAD ROADS WITH POT HOLES & PITS throughout the state and also Price rise in all commodities both edible and non edible.. Instead of attending to these severe social evils, we are trying to fix up standards for bar hotels to serve liquor! The officials must fix up the PRIORITY for mitigating the hazards of daily life of the common man and take prompt action instead of “BEATING ABOUT THE Bush”. We hear, almost daily on fatal accidents on the ROADS/Railways/AIRPLANES/ and also deaths due to SUICIDES/COLD BLOODED MURDER/ and diseases causing loss of human life more than the damages due to drinking from Bar hotels..

On a careful study of the human nature prevailing in the society, it can be seen that “SOBER” people are causing dangerous situations by plotting and scheming against their rivals and planning to eliminate them.  But those who are given to drinking will not be causing direct injury to others unless provoked..

 

 Such people are called ENEBRITES (who are addicted to drinks). From time immemorial liquor was in use right from the PRIMITIVE MAN to the present generation. Therefore I feel that liquor must be sold in every shop like any other things so that availability may result in psychological reduction in the purchase of drinks costing very high which will affect their purse!

 More than that, continuous COUNSELLING at home/schools and through other media, highlighting the EVIL EFFECTS of alcohol is required to bring in awareness in the minds of those addicted to heavy consumption of liquor. Initially the use of alcoholic drinks in a MODERATE WAY to be introduced and thereafter, in course of time some of the people will definitely come back as  better social beings.  In case the Liquor is banned throughout, then they will resort to SPURIOUS DRINKS which will result in fatal calamities. We have to “play a different tune” with a Psychological approach to arrest the tendency of people from this social menace..

Abraham Mangalath

 

MAHATMA GANDHI OR RASTRAPITHA..

 COMMENTS OF ARUDHATHI ROY ON GANDHIJI

Smt. Arundhathi Roy has taken the role of a person who can comment on the Rastrapitha, in her characteristic style of writing a book. Freedom of speech does not mean that one can say or write whatever comes in one’s mind. Her speech on a public stage about Gandhiji was reported by the visual media recently. She spoke as if she was an eye witness of Mahatma Gandhi’s life in South Africa!!

Presumption mixed with guesswork, followed with own interpretation on Mahatma Gandhi and his life are not for the younger generations of today to comment upon. When I was 14 years old my father told me that he has seen Gandhi in person, and he narrated the life and works, and death of Mahatma Gandhi in January 1948.

“Tongue is mightier than the Sword “, as also “Spoken words “are mightier than Pen..One should not forget the above saying while speaking in public, and should control the tongue as the words spoken cannot be retrieved.. The writings can be erased, but our words will move about in a Sinusoidal wave and remain in air and can be harnessed through the Electronic media by the coming generations..

In this context I can only say with Dr. Johnson. “IGNORANCE MADAM, PURE IGNORANCE”. Dr. Johnson told these words to the Land Lady when he was climbing the locked main gate while the wicket gate was fully opened!

Abraham Mangalath

IN JUDGE,S WORDS

                              WORDS OF HONOURABLE JUDGE A.R.DAVE

“If I was the Autocratic ruler of India, I would have introduced the Holy Scriptures- GEETHA & MAHABHARAT in all the classes from 1^st standard”

The above were the reported words of the honourable Judge A.R.DAVE, seen in the Malayala Manorama KOCHI dated 03.08.2014 .How could such thought come in the mind of a judge, who is believed to be impartial in his judgments?.  I feel that the saying” Sober as a Judge”is not in tune with the words he spoke in the public meeting.

How could anyone forget the Religious Books of all other communities in India who live in harmony from time immemorial and proving Indians, as an outstanding example of Religious Tolerance compared to any other country?

Such words from an esteemed person is really causing anxious moments in the minds of people who always expect impartial and natural justice from any legal authority , while  pronouncing judgment  in cases of people belonging to different religious  denominations..

The intention of such words from a reputed judge may not be clear to many of the readers of this news. As a senior citizen over 80 years of age, I am unhappy.. He would have been trying to prescribe a Social Catalyst to trigger a sense of unity by introducing  Geetha & Mahabharat to the school syllabus for  promoting a better and sober society !

Abraham Mangalath