പാവ ഭരണൂടങ്ങള്‍ ആടി ഉലയുന്നു.

ജനകീയ വിപ്ലവത്തിന്റെ കാറ്റ് അറേബ്യന്‍ മരുഭുമിയില്‍ ആഞ്ഞു വീശാന്‍ തുടങ്ങിയിരിക്കുന്നു.            ഏകാധിപതികളുടെ ദുര്‍ ഭരണം അറേബ്യയില്‍  മാറ്റം കൊണ്ടുവരുമോ ? കാര്യങ്ങളുടെ പോക്ക് ആ വഴിക്കാണ്. തുനീഷ്യയില്‍ തുടങ്ങി ഈജിപ്ത് വരെ വ്യാപിച്ച ഭരണത്തിനെതിരെയുള്ള പ്രതിഷേധ പ്രകടനങ്ങള്‍ ഏകാധിപത്യത്തില്‍ നിന്നുല്‍ ജനാധിപത്യത്തിലേക്കുള്ള അറേബ്യന്‍ ലോകത്തിന്റെ വ്യതിയാനം ആണെന്ന് വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നവരാണ് ഏറെയും. ആ രാജ്യങ്ങളില്‍ നിന്നുള്ള വാര്‍ത്ത‍ ഈ വാദത്തെ സാധൂകരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു.

                                                        Photo Courtesy: Al Jazeera

ജനകീയ പ്രതിഷേധം ശക്തമായതിനെ തുടര്‍ന്ന് തുനീഷ്യ ന്‍ ഭരണധികരിക്ക് സൌദി അറേബ്യയിലേക്ക് പാലായനം ചെയ്യേണ്ടി വന്നു. തൊഴിലില്ലായ്മയും അവശ്യ വസ്തുക്കളുടെ വിലക്കയറ്റവും ആണ് അവിടുത്തെ ജനങ്ങളെ തെരുവിലേക്ക്  നയിക്കാന്‍ ഇടയായ  കാരണങ്ങള്‍. ഇതേ  കാരണങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് പുറമേ അധികാര  ദുര്‍വിനിയോകവും സ്വജനപക്ഷപാതവും അധികാരം തന്റെ  ഇളയ മകനെ കൂടി എല്പിക്കാനും കൂടി പ്രസിഡന്റ്‌ ഹുസ്നി മുബാറക് ശ്രമിച്ചപ്പോള്‍ ഈജിപ്തിലും ജനങ്ങള്‍ക് തെരുവിലേക്ക് ഇറങ്ങേണ്ടി വന്നു. തന്റെ മന്ത്രിസഭ പുനസംഗടിപ്പിച് ജനങ്ങളുടെ കണ്ണില്‍ പൊടിയിടാനുള്ള മുബാറകിന്റെ   ശ്രമം ജനങ്ങള്‍ അംഗീകരിച്ച മട്ടില്ല. മുഴുവനായുള്ള ഭരണ മാറ്റമാണ് പ്രക്ഷോഭകാരികള്‍ അവിശ്യപ്പെടുന്നത്. 30 വര്‍ഷമായി ഭരണം കയ്യാളുന്ന ഹുസ്നി മുബാറകിനെ  ജനങ്ങള്‍ എത്ര മാത്രം വെറുത്തു കഴിഞ്ഞു എന്നതിന്റെ തെളിവാണ്  കയ്റോ നഗരത്തിലും പരിസര നഗരങ്ങളിലും നടക്കുന്ന ജനകീയ പ്രക്ഷോഭം.

ലോകത്ത് ജനാധിപത്യം കാത്തുസൂക്ഷിക്കാന്‍ 'കൊട്ടേഷന്‍'   എടുത്തിട്ടുള്ള  ഒരു രാജ്യം എന്ത് കൊണ്ട് ഈ ഏകാധിപത്യ ഭരണത്തിനെതിരെ ചെറു വിരല്‍ അനക്കിയില്ല? അവിടെയാണ് ഇവര്‍ ആരുടെ താല്പര്യം ആണ് കാത്തു സൂക്ഷിക്കുന്നത് എന്ന് മനസിലാക്കേണ്ടത്. അതാത് രാഷ്ട്രങ്ങളിലെ ജനഹിതം തങ്ങള്‍ക് എതിരാണെങ്കില്‍, അവിടെ സ്വന്തം സില്‍ബന്ധികളെ ഭരണം ഏല്പിച്ചു അവ്രര്‍ക്ക് സാമ്പത്തിക സഹായം ചെയ്യലാണ് അവിടെ ജനധിപത്യ പുനസ്ഥാപനത്തില്‍ ചെയ്യാന്‍ കഴിയുക എന്ന അമേരിക്കന്‍ തന്ത്രം ആണ് ഈജിപ്തിലും ഇത്രയും കാലം ഹുസ്നി മുബാറകിനെ സഹായിച്ചത്. ഇസ്രയേല്‍ കഴിഞ്ഞാല്‍ അമേരിക്ക ഏറ്റവും  കൂടുതല്‍ സാമ്പത്തിക സഹായം നല്‍കുന്ന  ( വര്‍ഷത്തില്‍ $ 1.5 billion) രാജ്യമാണ് ഈജിപ്ത്.
30 വര്‍ഷക്കാലം  ഹുസ്നി മുബാറകിന്റെ ഭരണകൂടം നടത്തിയ മനുഷ്യാവകാശ ലംഗനങ്ങള്‍ അമേരിക്ക കണ്ടില്ലെന്നു നടിച്ചു. അതെ സമയം തന്നെ ചൈനയോട് മനുഷ്യാവകാശത്തെപറ്റി വാചാലമാകുകയും    ചെയ്യുന്നു.

                                                       Photo Courtesy: Arab News

സാമ്രാജ്യത്വ ശക്തികളുടെ പിന്തുണയില്‍ സ്വന്തം ജനതയെ പട്ടിണിക്കിട്ടും രാജ്യത്തിന്‍റെ പൊതു മുതല്‍ കൊള്ളയടിച്ചു  അത് സ്വകാര്യ  സ്വത്തായി കയ്കാര്യം ചെയ്ത് സുഖലോലുപന്മാരായി കഴിയുന്ന ഭരനാധിപന്മാര്‍കുള്ള  മുന്നറിയിപ്പാണ് ഈജിപ്തിലെ അലെക്സാണ്ട്രിയ,  കൈറോ നഗരങ്ങളില്‍ നിന്ന് ഉയര്‍ന്നു  കേള്‍കുന്നത്. ഒരു ഭരണാധികാരിക്കും സ്വന്തം ജനതയെ ചതിച്ചു ഒരു വിദേശ രാജ്യത്തിന്‍റെ സഹായത്തോടെ ആ രാജ്യത്തെ ഒരുപാട് കാലം വരുതിക്ക് നിര്‍ത്താന്‍ കഴിയില്ല. ജനകീയ പ്രതിഷേധങ്ങളെ പട്ടാളത്തിന്റെ ഉരുക്ക് മുഷ്ടി കൊണ്ട് എല്ലാ കലവും നേരിടാനും സാധ്യമല്ല. മാറ്റം അനിവാര്യമാണെന്ന ബോധം ജനങ്ങള്‍ക് വന്നു കഴിഞ്ഞാല്‍ , അതൊരു ദേശത്തിന്റെ വികാരമായി മാറിയാല്‍ , സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം എന്ന പൊതുവികാരത്തെ അടിച്ചമര്‍ത്താന്‍  ഒരു ഏകാധിപതിക്കും കഴിയില്ല. ജനകീയ സമരങ്ങള്‍ വിജയിക്കുക തന്നെ ചെയ്യും. 

Drink Iranian tea with a taste of history.

Hyderabad is famous for its cuisine. If Hyderabadi Biriyani is the King among them, Iranian tea is the prince. Most Hyderabadis, whether they are local or not, will feel mouth watering when they talk about Iranian tea. As the name suggests, the credit of the tea goes back to the famous family of Iranian dishes. In India, Hyderabad is the second largest city in terms of the number of Iranian shops and popularity, after Mumbai. The tasty tea, popularly known as Irani chai, is made from Assam tea leaves in almost all Iranian tea shops.

If you miss this famous beverage while you are in Nizam’s city, you will miss a fine opportunity to 'taste' the Iranian culture as well. There are many interesting stories behind the origin of Iranian restaurants. The 65 year old Hajji Mansoor Ali recalls one of such stories like this: During Nizam’s era, Iranians who had come to Hyderabad in search of better prospects usually came together for casual talks in the evenings. Gradually, natives also started to come and they were occasionally provided with refreshments such as tea. Soon, this tea became an inevitable item in the evenings. When these gatherings began to grow, the popularity of tea also spread.

People rush to Iranian tea shops in the cold evenings of the winter to enjoy the hot and savoury flavour of Iranian tea. “There will be big crowds in front of the tea shops in the winter. People warm themselves by drinking tea,” says Arun, a daily customer who works in a private company.      

Chotta samosa and mirchi bhaji are the 'close friends' of Iranian tea in Secunderabad while people prefer Osmania biscuits in Old city. “People usually eat chotta samosa and mirchi bhaji with iranian tea,” says Mansoor, waiter of Hotel Alpha, opposite to Railway station. “Here we serve osmania biscuits with the tea,” said Amarudhin, the supplier of Hotel Shadab, near Charminar.

Favourite beverage:  People prefer Osmania biscuits with Iranian tea.          Photo: Mohammed Anvar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are hundreds of Iranian tea shops in the twin cities. We can see a cross section of Hyderabadis in the shops. People from every walk of life including students, professors, doctors, advocates and bureaucrats are among the customers of Iranian tea. Tourists, within and outside the country, go in search of this famed beverage.   

If one ask whether all Iranian tea shops have an Iranian cook, the answer is no.  “Many Iranian hotels don’t have any relation with ‘real’ Iranians who came here long back. Real Iranian hotels are very rare nowadays. Cooks from Iranian tradition are no longer available. So we ourselves prepare Iranian tea and serve it,” explains Ayyub, cashier of Nimrah cafe & Bakery.

Understanding the popularity and 'market' of Iranian tea, other hotels like Paradise in Secundearbad also started serving it. The only difference is, of course, the cost. Old city hotels Irani chai cost Rs. 4 to 7 while city hotels charge you Rs.10/-. “Here we prepare more than 2500 pots of tea every day,” says Krishna Reddy of Alpha hotel, opposite to Secunderabad railway station. This shows the popularity of the beverage.

Even In the busy city life people flow to hotels for their favourite beverage. “Since it is a general eatery, many people come daily. But for Irani chai we have a special counter inside the hotel. Sometimes we can’t control the crowd in this counter, especially at evenings,” says a waiter of Alpha hotel at Secunderabad. Hotel Paradise is famous for its special Hyderabadi Biriyani. “Though people prefer Paradise to eat Biriyani, most of them taste of Iranian tea. Definitely people will love it once they taste it,” opines Anoop after taking a sip of hot Iranian tea from Paradise.

The legacy of Irani chai continues in the twin cities. Drinking the chai has become a fashion rather than a habit for some people. This beverage has brought popularity for the twin cities and it recalls the culinary tradition of Hyderabad during the time of Nizams. Thus, for Hyderabadis, Iranian tea is not only refreshment but also reminder of its past. The saga of Iranian tea will never end in these cities as it has many stories to say, many experience to share and many people to taste its flavour. 

Educate oneself and those around, says JP

Honouring the legend : Dr.Jayaprakash Narayan garlands the portrait of  B.R Ambedkar at DST auditorium.Prof Kancha Ilaiah is also seen.Photo:Mohammed Anvar.                                                            

“Some people may say that your generation have many faults. But don’t go behind this general notion. If their generation was without fault, this nation’s fate would have been different,” said Loksatta Party president Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan in his speech at the freshers' orientation programme organised by Ambedkar Students' Association (ASA) here on Monday.

“Education is the best tool to fight for your rights. It will help you to bring about changes into the society in which you are living. Educational institutions are not just factories that give out degree certificates. From those institutions your minds are stimulated and hearts are inspired,” added the former IAS officer.

In his forty five minute speech, he reminded the students that they have to struggle for their own future. “If you want to bring changes to this country, you have to make sure that each child of this country gets ample opportunity to fulfil his or her potential. Unless you achieve something in this direction, our country will remain the same,” the Kukatpalli MLA spoke to a packed audience in the DST.

He appealed to the privileged student community to use their individual talents for the public good. “Individual growth without overall development of the society will contribute nothing to humanity. That is why people like Dr. Ambedkar dedicated their entire life for public good. They built the nation. After that generation, unfortunately, people are giving up the public domain. Without freedom fighters we would have gained Independence. But we wouldn’t have had a nation” added Dr. Jayaprakash to the new faces.

Prof. Kancha Ilaiah , Dr. Prakash Babu and Dr. K. Suneetha Rani also spoke. Earlier, ASA general secretary Ms. Simi presented the annual report.

As smart as her smile

      C.H. Mariyath (In white churidar) is being honoured in a function.
( Photo Courtesy : http://mariyath.blogspot.com/)   

Born as healthy, spent childhood like others until she woke up one day as she couldn’t walk. Her legs were shivering then and body temperature was high. She never thought this was the beginning of her new life as a physically challenged person due to Polio. Then she was studying at fourth standard. Spent many years in different hospitals, consulted different practitioners and underwent different ways of treatment. When her brother Firoze took her into his hands as she couldn’t walk to the vehicle, she looked at the playground in which her friends were playing in front of her house. 

A water colour  painting by C.H. Mariyath.

She is C.H. Mariyath. A differently abler woman now releases her autobiography. It was released by Aabdul Samad Samadani, a former MP of Kerala. His remark on her during the book release is absolutely true. “Her fight against the fate is best example to all of us how we can tackle the life. I don’t think that even we people do not have this much courage to fight against our destiny”.

After realizing that she couldn’t walk throughout in her life, she was not disappointed. She completed her SSLC and Pre Degree with the help of her brother Firoze. She didn’t spend her time to curse her fate. She wrote poems instead she designed Sarees and she went to design Henna (Mehanti) for her friends.

When we see that ever smiling face , we can’t even imagine she is victim of Poliomyelitis . Her quest to read and speak to others would amaze us. She regularly contacts her friends through telephone and internet. When asked how she manages to do this variety of things, she said, “This is how I deal with the world. I never get bored in doing these things. I am enjoying each and every thing that I come across.”

She likes to make friendships. Especially with people like her, “I never feel that I am physically challenged person. My friends and of course my parents doesn’t allow me to feel so. They care me and they never leave me alone. This type of people always like to talk with people. That’s why I make friends among these types of people”. Mariath told with her innocent smile.

A drawing by C.H. Mariyath

“Strong belief in God and the interest to intervene in everything that she can made her strong. She loves gardening and children very much. Until now she was interviewed by many people and she host many guests and chat with them. The 32 year old beautiful Mariath, her friends and relatives call her Mary, is enjoying the life in her own way. 

“God, let my parents, relatives and friends may long live” this is the daily prayer of Mary.  When I bid fare well to her after my conversation, the smile of that face and a shining in her eyes doesn’t fade away. Let it be so...................    
           

Celebrations go on in the eve of Eid

Fragrance of perfumes, shining of new dresses, beauty of hennas on the hands and of course the self satisfaction of completing thirty fasts...... Kerala Muslims are enjoying their Eid-ul-fitr very grandly. All people both mentally and physically prepared to welcome the Eid by the eve of 30^th fast itself. People are busy with giving Zakaths (compulsory donation of food grains by each Muslim) to deserved people.

Men engaged in purchasing needy things for Eid day’s delicious food in the eve of last fast meanwhile women engaged in wearing mehanthi on their hands. They will assemble in someone’s house and a girl who is an expert in mehanti designing will draw different designs on her friend’s hands. It may last up to the dawn of eid day.

In the morning of Eid, people will go to Eid Gahs (Specially arranged place to offer Eid namaz). After the namaz they would greet each other and would visit the graveyard of their relatives to pray for them. People would convey ‘EID MUBARAK’ to everyone and hug each other. There would be a speech, of Imams (one who lead the namaz), in which imams will talk about how people can keep the purity of fasting throughout the whole life.    

    Girls enjoy the beauty of Mehanthi on the eve of Eid.      Photo courtesy : sasthamcotta.wordpress.com

People would come back to their home from the Eid Gahs. Most probably every house would have many guests. After exchanging some conversations they would start to have their delicious lunch with special items. Non vegtable food has a prominent place in the dining table of eid day.

The eve of Eid would be celebrated by visiting the relatives and friends. But nowadays the delight of togetherness lacks in almost all family. The new trend in eid celebration is visiting the beaches and hilly areas with friends. The old says that new generation are interested only making tours not to visit their relatives on Eid day. “ Eid is the occasion of seeing and visiting your relatives, especially people like your grandmother and grandfather.  It gives pleasure to them. They can’t visit you people because they are old.” Says Usman, a retired UP school teacher.  “The coming of nuclear family system in the society has adversely affected all our celebrations.” Opined a retired sociology professor Muraleedhran. According to him the togetherness and harmony among the family members are decreasing day by day and it can be seen in all the celebrations whether it is Eid or Onam or Christmas.

But the youth says that the trip with the friends is inevitable. “We are planning the trip when the Ramzan begins itself. All my friends are taking part in the tour. How can I leave alone?” asks 20 year old Askar. “The problem is we do not have that much holidays to take in part both family visit and tour. So we opt tour and we often visit our relatives but we organise tour only on Eid days.” Khaleel Ahmmed, a final year B.Com student explains his stance.

Contrary to boys, girls wish to visit their relatives on Eid days. “ Eid is an opportunity to us to meet all my cousins and relatives. After we changed our house to the town, I really missed my cousins and friends. I use Eid to visit and stay with them.” Jasmine, 2^nd year BA Student told.

Large families who has acquired name and fame in the society, they organises family get together on the eve of Eid.

For the last two years, youth also organised EID EVES in different places all over Kerala. Different people from different sects come together and share their Eid experiences with the assembled. “Many people are spending their time not worthy on the eve of Eid. Then we decide to use this time to interact each other irrespective to our religion, cast and political parties.” Said K.Nisamudheen, secretary of Eleven Lion’s Club, who organised an Eid eve which was inaugurated by the MLA.  According to him this type of events helps the society to know each other and helps the religious harmony.

Anyhow Eid is an occasion of happiness and enjoy. When people came to know about the ‘taste of hungry’ at least for thirty days, they can understand the feeling of thousands who doesn’t get enough food to live.

All festivals are for people’s eudaimonia. Togetherness and acquiring wisdom from old people are the aims of each festive.