PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION

          The changes in the environment like climatic variations; pollution of air and water; stress and strain of body and mind; other hereditary problems; and modern trends in food habits like eating fast foods are the major reasons that create health problems for the people.

The general health of the people of Kumbalam has improved with literacy. Due to torrential rains and excessive humidity of the atmosphere, May 15^th to November 15^th is the unhealthiest period for very old people and the young children, who play in the rain. The dampness and chill caused rheumatism, cold, cough, fever, and pneumonia. Diarrhea and dysentery too occur. It is the time for doctors especially the allopathic physicians to make their quick buck. As the exploitation has increased, I have noted people going to the medical shops to buy medicines without any prescription and consume it. The use of medicines especially anti-biotic is very high in our state which has badly affected the immunity and health of our people. However this practice of self-medication is not advisable.

During my childhood days there were some people, both men and women, having heavy legs like an elephant due to a disease called elephantiasis, which was spread by Culex mosquitoes. This was common in the water-logged and swampy areas of the delta region. Now this is under control except very rare specimens. Now “Chicken Gunia” and “Viral fever” are the two grave fevers that affect young and old alike during monsoon days. Children are affected by round worms as well.

Epidemics like cholera are unheard of nowadays. Small-pox too was completely eradicated by vaccination drive by the government.  Chicken-pox makes its presence felt during sweltering summer. There are some epileptic and insane persons in our Islands; they need free medical attention and perennial supply of medicines.

The blind, deaf, crippled, widows and unmarried women in our Islands have started getting pensions and other benefits from the government. They too are entitled for a decent living.

We have an allopathic public health centre at Panangad with few beds and resident doctors. The people at the northern areas of Kumbalam go to public health centre at Nettoor as well. The poor patients cannot afford medicines, the prices are very prohibitive. The government is duty bound to make available adequate medicines free of costs to the poor. An Ayurvedic hospital with a doctor is servicing the people. The Islanders request for a resident Ayurvedic doctor to serve them.

The poor folk in our Islands lack sanitation facilities. They may be given liberal loans to construct toilets, bath rooms and sewage tanks. This will avert pollution of water bodies especially Vembanad Backwaters. Canals shall be constructed on all road sides to drain out dirty water and excess water during monsoon; and keep it clean. The local authorities and the public health department may construct public lavatories and bath rooms and see that it is maintained properly. Make awareness among the Islanders not to litter in public places; and not to throw waste on their neighbour’s property. They should not only keep their premises clean and tidy but also keep the land, air, water and keep the total village clean and this would help in the improvement of Islander’s health.

          I have noticed that pollution of the environment is a serious problem which has to be curtailed at the source itself. All plastic wastes, as far as possible, should be reused or recycled. It is definitely the duty of the administration to find suitable ways to recycle the non-bio-degradable wastes and / or ban such items totally in the larger interest of the state to protect the environment. The government should make proper arrangements for disposal of large quantity of garbage from markets, hotel wastes and rubbish from hospitals. The local authorities are justified in charging reasonable fees and charges from such hotels, restaurants and other business places. Littering in public places should be fined heavily to deter such individuals.

I would like to appreciate the earnest efforts taken by the government to give subsidy through local administration to erect compost pits and bio-gas plants in an effort to reduce pollution is also commendable.

Excerpts from

NEED OF THE HOUR

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

‘VECHUR’ COWS

Cattle were domesticated at a very early stage of civilization. The excavations in Mohenjodaro and Harappa indicate the use of cattle in India as early as 5000 years ago. In Indian mythology they served as objects of worship. ‘Kamadenu’ means a cow from which all wishes can be milked. Animal milk released women from prolonged nursing, lowered infantile mortality, and provided a new and dependable food.

The three small ‘Vechur' cows we owned were called Ammini, Janu and Nandini. Ammini was a small cow, slightly reddish-brown in colour and was easy to handle even by children. She had a calf, Jacob and I used to take the cows out for grazing in green patches and gave them rice gruel mixed with coconut cake. They used to be given hay in the evenings. We had an extra special liking for Ammini. I reasoned out why this was so. Ammini used to permit both Jacob and me to pat, fondle and stroke her body, and then she would gush out and the adder would be filled with milk. Jacob and I would sit on either side of her and drink milk directly from her udder. Not once has she kicked us or created any problems for us while doing so. I remember Viswambharan, son of Narayanan Vappan, who used to help ‘Ammachi’ maintain them. The cows gave us ‘Panchagavyam’, i.e.  the five gifts of cow are milk, curd, butter, urine, and dung. We children loved drinking lots of milk. We also used to like the other dairy products made from the excess milk. The leftover milk was made into curd. When the curd was being churned to extract the butter we made sure we were around to get our share of it. The freshly prepared butter was very tasty. When we had had enough of it, the remaining butter was melted to make ghee. Ghee used to be a regular item on the breakfast table. When mixed with sugar it is a good combination with steamed rice cake (Puttu) or other snacks, (Palaharams,) like fied cake (Neyyappam,) and roasted banana. A spoonful of ghee with hot rice and adequate salt mixed with it for lunch is a starter especially for a festive ‘Sadhya’. Cheese, yet another product derived from milk, is dearer in the West and other cold regions but it was unknown to the villagers of Kerala. With the arrival of “Pizza,” the Italian dish, the use of cheese has increased considerably. Could this be one of the reasons for heart attacks becoming common among the youth? In tropical climate the fat of the cheese   does not burn off, it accumulates in the body; on the contrary in cold climate this same fat is required to maintain their body temperature.

I knew cow dung is organic manure and its demand is increasing. There may come a time when cow dung would become costlier than milk!!

         

I remember the farmers who were genuinely interested in rearing cattle for milk and cow dung. For a lot of families it was their only source of livelihood. Our Island was self sufficient in milk. When labour became so prohibitive, agriculture was neglected. The farmers then found it difficult to maintain their cattle. Fresh cow’s milk slowly became scarce and packet milk filled in the gap and monopolized the market. 

The government should give incentives to those who are interested in rearing cattle.  They also have to improve the cattle breed to enhance the milk production.

I recall the services of Dr Verghese Kurien, the Father of the White Revolution. He deserves the entire credit of making, Anand, a world renowned city and the Milk Capital of India, and “Amul” the best brand of milk. He will always be remembered for his great efforts and immense contribution to the dairy sector and in uplifting farmers of rural India. He made India the largest producer of milk in the world.

Excerpts from

NEED OF THE HOUR

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

THE SLUM

 I gazed huge business places and palatial mansions in and around Ernakulam town, where there was a great display of luxury by people of the upper social level. I asked ‘Appachan’, “Who does the upkeep and maintenance of these posh buildings?” He was pleased to take me to the Mullassery Canal Area, where he pointed out lots of dilapidated tiny huts, where people lived in dirty surroundings. A shabby door opened, and a bent old lady stepped out. Their doors so low one had to stoop to enter and within was darkness. A few of the roof tops thatched with coconut palm leaves were seen tattered due to the heavy rains. The stars winked slyly through the holes in the thatched roofs from where the inmates could gaze at them.

Rapid urbanization and better job opportunities forced these slum dwellers to migrate from the farms in the countryside to seek employment in the town; their privation forced them to live in their crowded, dirty and miserable sheds, where health, comfort and moral control were lacking. Order, sanitation, and health were not provided for adequately. Sickness and crime prevailed.

Quarrels between the husband and wife were very common. I still remember an episode.           The man came fully drunk and he grabbed his wife’s arm and twisted it; she was in pain. He had grabbed her by the nape of her neck so she could not move. Suddenly he tightened his grip to choke her. “Whore.” He growled. She bit her lips to keep from crying out. She tried to tear away, but he held her tightly, and furiously. She moaned, “I hate you.”

Yet, in the absence of luxurious surroundings, I knew that the inhabitants were not without means of enjoyment. They drank and feasted; the theatrical productions too furnished means of their entertainment. Political parties too use them for protest and rallies. Many were content with their life largely, of course, because they were not conscious of their limitations and accepted their fate as inescapable.

I was totally upset at their suffering and privation. Aren’t they the proud citizens of this great country? Aren’t they who have to rule this country tomorrow? Isn’t the government duty bound to provide these slum dwellers social security, protection and means for a decent living? 

Excerpts from

NEED OF THE HOUR

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

MY HELPLESSNESS

Ouseph Palliparambil was brought from Thuravoor by my great grandfather to carry on the business of   extracting coconut oil. An oil-presser was used to extract coconut oil from copra. His son, Kurien, took over the business.  Jacob and I used to visit the oil-presser occasionally.

All on a sudden Kurien’s son, Anthappan, became insane. The family kept it a secret. When he started to become violent Kurien nd his wife Annamma approached ‘Appachan’, my father, to seek his advice on what is to be done. I vividly recall their arrival; his hair tousled, shirt open; he was sore and had not slept a wink. My eyes took in Kurian then darted to his wife, Annamma, who was fragile and haggard with longing for her son. She was biting the edge of her towel loosely thrown over her body to keep herself from bursting into tears. She wanted to say some thing but her words choked as if a lump in her throat.

After a flurry of consultations with his doctor, ‘Appachan’ arranged to send their son to a Psychiatrist at Ernakulum. Since there was no progress in his mental state, his parents took him to the Ayurvedic Physician in Kumbalam for consultation. In spite of having the medicines prescribed by him there was no encouraging result seen.

 One morning when Jacob and I went to Kurien’s house, we noticed Anthappan lying in the courtyard. We spotted a coconut trunk buried in the soil next to him. One of his legs was put into a hole made out in the trunk and the hole sealed by hammering a wedge. By doing so he could not remove his leg on his own thereby making him immobile. This was done to curb his violent nature triggered occasionally by his insanity. On seeing us he called out to us in a mournful voice, “‘Mone’, dear son, please remove the wedge so that I could be free.” Then he started crying for a minute. Suddenly a ghostly smile creased on his face. Next moment, a pall of gloom surfaced on his face. We felt very sorry for him. We were so helpless. He could not eat or drink or even attend to his morning chores comfortably. We reported the matter immediately to ‘Ammachi’. ‘Appachan’ sent word for Kurien who came, remained silent. ‘Appachan’ reached out and touched Kutien lightly on his shoulder. Kurien tried to justify his action. He riveted his eyes on the ceiling and his lips were quivering. He said that he did not want to dump the responsibility of looking after his son on government hospitals or other mental asylum.  He found no other way of keeping him in restraint so he had to resort to this crude form. He wanted to look after Anthappan himself. I noticed tears swelling in Kurien’s eyes. Finally he agreed to bind him to a long iron chain so that he gets a little more freedom. Anthappan was totally frustrated and sought our help to free him again. It was neither fair nor proper to restrain his freedom of movement but everybody was helpless in the matter. Before long, God Almighty helped him escape the bondages of life through his premature death.

I had occasion to see other insane people, I have seen epileptic eruptions too. I saw an epileptic patient, who shrieked and fell down on his face; and frothing at the mouth.

I realized that people preferred to hide insanity and epileptic disorders from public notice. They were apprehensive about the after effects of it being made public mainly in connection with the future of the other children in the family. There was an element of fear and anxiety of not obtaining a suitable marriage alliance for their children especially in the case of their girl children. They were worried and frightened that they would be ostracized from the society. It is the duty of the society and the government to make people aware that these illnesses are curable, if checked out at the right time. These patients are to be advised to get proper medical care and attention, when they show the primary symptoms of the illness. 

Nowadays, medical expenses are very prohibitive. Therefore, it is the duty of the government to provide free medical care and attention to such patients.

Excerpts from

NEED OF THE HOUR

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com

josephjthayamkeril@google.com

DRINKING WATER AND WATER SUPPLY

  

For drinking water the family members of the ‘Oli Mana’ depended on the nearby Vazhavelil pond. Our family used to take a special interest in the up keep and maintenance of this pond. The pond was cleaned every year and particular care was taken not to pollute the water. The pond bund was strengthened so that dirty water would not flow into that pond. Rajamma Vazhavelil was entrusted with the duty of bringing drinking water to the ‘Mana’. There was no water supply connection on our islands.

During monsoon, we used to erect four stakes in the open area of the courtyard and a washed and cleaned brand new dhoti would be tied at a certain height. A ‘Kuttalam’, a large copper vessel, its mouth covered with a cloth was kept underneath to harness the rain water. The water collected was crystal clear and most refreshing to drink. I have never had such fine natural water. We used to get plenty of water for our domestic use during the rainy season.

The salinity of water in the ponds in our compound increases during the summer. Whilst renovating our house we tried the rain water harvesting method which enables us to store the rain water. All the water was diverted to the two ponds which are close to our house. In the process the pond water is now devoid of   its entire salintity. We utilize this pond water for irrigation. All our fruit trees, lawn and garden depend on this source.  My neighbour Joseph too says that he is getting potable water from his well, which is close to our pond.

The mineral and medicinal value of the River Periyar was first discovered by the Portuguese Grande Ferrare da Alva and the place thereafter called as Alva which in English became Alwaye. The drinking water supply by the government was commissioned only after I became a graduate from Sacred Heart College at Thevara in 1973.

The drinking water ponds were neglected after the commissioning of the water supply scheme in our islands. I recall an event when the municipality commenced water supply in the suburbs of Thevara. The PWD water supply department and the municipality forcefully reclaimed all the ponds and wells in the municipal town limits. They did this on the ground that these open ponds would serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Those ponds were artificially created for harnessing rain water; but the reclamation was actually a ruse to force people to take water connections from the new water supply project. Now, the prohibitive labour charges made it unfeasible to maintain the ponds in our Islands. The construction of more and more residential houses near the ponds with bottomless sewage tanks further aggravated the situation.

At present the Islanders especially those who are residing at the northern area of Kumbalam are not getting adequate supply of potable water which the government is obliged to supply. The water supplied is contaminated with coli-form, industrial effluents, toxic wastes, pesticides, nitrates and salt to a prohibited degree. The excessive addition of chlorine makes it even worse. The sea level is rising day by day due to the high temperature and melting of ice in Polar Regions. Brine is now reaching up to Aluva where the pumping station is situated. The above facts and circumstances demand the development, erection and commissioning of a new major water supply pumping station at Edamalayar to protect the health and life of the inhabitants of Greater Cochin Area. I would also recommend a water tank and pumping station at Kumbalam to cater the needs of the railway station, big hotels and apartment complexes that are coming up in this fast developing Suburban Island.

Gone are the days when crystal clear water was available for drinking purposes.  Instead now we are supplied with mineral water manufactured by various companies. What is even more amazing is that they are dearer than cow’s milk.

Is it not the duty of the government and the local authorities to supply a reasonable quantity of potable water, electricity, cooking gas and sanitation free of cost to the common man? Are they justified in charging exorbitant land tax and property tax on buildings with less than 2000 Sq. Feet? The welfare of the poor citizens and unorganized poor agriculturists, the backbone of the society, are significant. They are at a breaking point; they could not bear the brunt of various levies imposed by the government and the local authorities. 

Excerpts from

NEED OF THE HOUR

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

A STATUTORY CHRISTIAN BOARD

I have noticed that the location of a monastery or church is always very distinct. For example, the CMI (Carmelites of Mary Immaculate) monastery at Thevara, an indigenous Syrian Catholic religious organization founded in 1831; the founder friars of that monastery had a vision. They knew how to generate funds from the Catholic Community for their development projects. These far-sighted friars bought large extents of land in Thevara. This was predominantly dominated by the fisher folk.  These fishermen were then economically weak and socially, culturally, and educationally backward. At the outset the friars set up a primary school, and a small printing press. The school gradually developed into a high school with a hostel; and recently they set up a CBSE School as well.  They further expanded into the making of Sacred Heart College, an Arts and Science College, which was established in 1944 with magnificent buildings fringed with attractive gardens and potted plants,    a library, a spacious auditorium, vast play grounds and facilities for both sports and games. At present the college is accredited with five star statuses and a grade by the NAAS (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) and it has become an autonomous college. The college offered 14 under graduate and 14 post-graduate courses in varied subjects to cope with the demands of the modern age. The printing press too grew considerably. They renovated the church and monastery building. These institutions offered jobs for a lot of people. A different class of people with intellectual abilities, good values and virtues came to be associated with these institutions. A good number of them settled close to the college out of convenience. The elite in the City of Cochin also moved to this area not only for its scenic backwater location but also due to the availability of important amenities for the development of their children. This made drastic changes in the lives of common man. Now the people living in Thevara are all literate; they are all employed, living in stylish and modern buildings.  Their living conditions too have improved considerably. Privation and sufferings are stories of the past. Nobody can ignore the great contribution and services of the friars and the nuns of varied congregations in the field of education and health. The yeoman services they have rendered for the peace and progress of common man especially in the State of Kerala is highly laudable.

I cannot but comment that these ideals they upheld are realities of the past. I am amazed to note the changing scenario.

 Day by day the values and virtues are failing; deterioration has extended its tentacles to all walks of life including Christianity. The profession of a friar and nun especially secular priests have degenerated into a mere livelihood for many. Indiscipline disobedience, lecherous behaviour and materialism are the rules of the day.

 I was flabbergasted when a protest march was taken out by the secular priests brazenly through the public roads in the city of Cochin, a few years back, against their spiritual leader and Bishop Dr. Sebastian Mankuzhikari, who tried to introduce the ancient Chaldean order of worship in churches under the Ernakulam Diocese. The secular priests finally succeeded in ignominiously transferring him to an insignificant diocese at Thamarassery in Kozhikode district.

Another unfortunate and shocking episode reported in the news media was that of the vicar of St Mary’s Church, Njarakkal and a section of the fanatic religious group of parishioners, who criminally intimidated and assaulted two CMC sisters with the common intention to take control and management of the Convent School situated on the first floor of the convent building and the Poor Home, which was established in 1945. Both these belong to the CMC Convent at Njarakkal. Their futile attempt was on the basis of a fraudulent by-law fabricated by the vicar in connivance with the Bishop of Ernakulam diocese. They manipulated and obtained orders from the Deputy Director of Public Instruction. This was done without the knowledge of the sisters of the Convent. The provocation for the atrocious and concerted acts was due to the dismissal of the service of their Manager, (who was the vicar of St. Mary’s Church at Njarakkal. He was appointed to the post of Manager by the Mother Superior of the Convent. The Vicar was asked to leave on the charges of mismanagement and misappropriation of the funds of their school. In order to cover up his wickedness, conspiracy and to wriggle out of the grievous felony, the Vicar of Njarakkal Church filed a writ petition, WP(C) No. 30106 of 2006 of the High Court of Kerala, and obtained a judgment dated 11-08-2010 from the single bench, which was technically in his favour. But the single judge erroneously omitted to consider the real bone of contentions in the case. What the judge failed to realize was -who bought, and to whom the landed property of the school belonged and who started the original Convent Girls School. That was the crux of the issue. Aggrieved by the judgment of the single bench, the Mother Superior filed WA No. 28 of 2011 before the High Court of Kerala. A division bench presided over by Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair and Justice B.P. Ray heard that appeal in detail along with other connected appeals filed, WA Nos. 28, 48, 66, 69 & 76 of 2011, and passed an elaborate, common, appellate judgment, dated 12-4-2011 reversing the judgment passed by the single judge. The Vicar, the looser, moved Special Leave Petition No. 12909 of 2011 before the Supreme Court of India, but the SLP was dismissed as per order dated 17-5-2011 and upheld the appellate judgment passed by the division bench. The Court upheld the absolute right of the Mother Superior of the Convent over the Little Flower Convent School and Poor Home and the right of the Mother Superior of Little Flower Convent, Njarakkal, in Ernakulam district as the Manager of both the institutions. The Convent sisters further created history of sorts when they sued a Syro-Malabar bishop of the Ernakulam diocese and the priest of St Mary’s Church, Njarakkal for criminal intimidation, conspiracy and forgery, and for man-handling two CMC sisters with their common intention to take control and management of the school and Poor Home belonging to the convent fraudulently.

I too have personal experiences wherein the bishop of Ernakulam diocese and secular priests, through murky deals, were involved in making such blatant moves. I knew personally that the bishops tried to unduly influence and coerce owners of private chapels to assign their properties to the bishop of Ernakulam. On another occasion, they trespassed into my private property and illegally erected a ‘Bhandaram’, the church offering treasury, which they removed when a complaint was moved against the bishop and the secular priest with a copy to the Sub Inspector of Police. Their concerted acts were in blatant violation of the tenets of Christian Commandments, teachings and practices.

The vows of “poverty, chastity and obedience” are conveniently forgotten by the priests. Nowadays priests liberate themselves from the cassock. They are often spotted in hotels and cinemas in the city. They drive around in their own posh cars, which is the new status symbol. Education has become a business for the secular priests; they charge exorbitant fees for admission to schools, colleges and professional courses. Lump sums are demanded   for the appointment of teachers and lecturers; the Carmelite Missionary of India (C.M.I. friars and C.M.C. nuns) are no exception. Selfless service has become anathema, abhorrence and abomination to them. I was disturbed by a recent revelation in our leading local daily, “Malayala Manorama.” It had reported that the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Jacobite Bishop Kuriakose Mar Clemis, paid three crore rupees to the hierarchy to get the ‘Bishop’ title four years ago. Merit is often overlooked. I was rudely shaken up to hear that twenty-five crores of rupees were spent to construct St. George Church at Edappally. It may require another five crores to complete it. Most of the churches were reconstructed or are under renovation, spending exorbitant amounts when the global economy is in the grip of a recession. Aren’t austerity and simplicity the need of the hour? I would have appreciated if the Church had invested this money for erection of an industrial unit which would generate employment and feed the hungry mouths and / or they utilized it for the modernization of their school and hospital at Edappally.

I was again perturbed at the revelation of Sr. Jesme, an able and efficient principal of St. Mary’s College at Trichur, Her university records eloquently speak about her outstanding academic brilliance. Sr. Jesme, (Jesus and me), in her autobiography in Malayalam namely “Amen: Oru Kanyastrhreyude Atmakadha” (An autobiography of a nun) reveals the group interests, politics,, quarrels and fights for power and positions in their convents and educational institutions. It portrays the outbreak of suppressed sex among the convent sisters and in their college hostels and also exploitation of sex by the priests. It explains the harassment meted out to her as principal for her truthful and correct decision to oppose the collection of capitation fee for various new courses and illegal donations and unfair appropriation of caution deposits from students by the management. The hierarchy in their provincial house at Trichur and some of the superior nuns branded her insane and made endeavours to put her in mental asylum in order to usurp her seat of principal of the college. Ultimately she put an end to the bitter episode by taking a hard and painful decision to leave her Carmelite Missionary Congregation (CMC) at Trichur.

Sodomy, incest, the abuse of nuns and the molestation of children have been endemic in the Christian Church from its very origins. Abuse of children in Church-run institutions by celibate priests has become an international scandal. The Churches that once were the gathering point for entire communities are now half empty with only gray heads during worship. Disgusted with sex abuse scandals, highly exaggerated and fabricated gospels and fables, and for other reasons like exploitation of the laity on sacraments, mass attendance is declining among the younger generation, under age group of 30, in the western countries including Italy. Did a myriad of books and articles start to decry? Recently my cousins, Celin Jose and Jose Neerackal, who were working at Scotland, told me that a church at Dundee in Scotland has been converted into a beer parlour. How colossal is the problem? We have reached a stage where we cannot imagine being anything but a Catholic. Can the Church really reverse this exodus of young adults? The population of the world is exploding, but the Church is losing ground. The Church is in a steep state of decline. A few blind believers could be cheated and exploited throughout their life; the Church could cheat or exploit their sheeps for some time but the Church cannot cheat or exploit all their sheeps for all time to come. Everything, faith or institution, which had a beginning and growth has an ending too. This is a natural rule of law.

Shibu K.P. (Kalamparambil, Karukutty, a former friar of Vincentian Order) in his autobiography, “Oru Vaidikante Hrudayamitha,” (This is the Heart of a Priest) discloses, “The convents and nunneries are being converted into brothels. The priests have sex with the nuns at night in these convents. Because of these acts, the chastity of the priests and nuns has come under suspicion. Their love for God has shrunk. Some of the clergy indulge in watching pornography and reading pornographic material. They lose themselves in this habit. These books and DVDs are kept in secret places and can’t be found easily.”

I was stunned, when Bishop John Thattungal, of Kochi diocese, who raised a storm following his decision to adopt a thirty year old woman as his daughter, has been suspended by Pope Benedict XVI, in 2008.

Some of the secular priests and their hierarchy would quarrel over doctrines during the day and sexually harass nuns during the night. I was astounded by the revelation of Sister Mary Chandy in her autobiography “Nanma Niranjavale Swasthi,” (Peace to the One filled with Grace), revealed, “The cry of a baby came from the bathroom of one of the inner rooms along with the sobs of a woman. We used our might to force open the bathroom door and what we saw would break anyone’s heart. A nun who had given birth to a child was pushing the head of the baby into the closet. The bathroom was filled with blood. The legs of the child, which were sticking out of the closet, were kicking for life.” She describes some of the sexual harassments meted out by a number of nuns in convents at the hands of some lecherous secular priests. Convent sisters are coerced to offer – how many jugs of wine, how many cauldrons of food, and how many young nuns to some of these secular priests! The hierarchy and the mother superiors of some of the convents abetted and encouraged such heinous crimes. They coerce these young nuns into “sin” as part of the oath of obedience. Those who questioned it were harassed and had to leave the convent like Sr. Mary Chandy, who was forced to hit the head of a secular priest with a wooden stool to avert an attempt of molestation and rape on her. Some of the secular priests and the hierarchy of the convent chase them even outside their territory and try their best to malign and ostracize them. I take this opportunity to bring to the notice of the priests and friars, especially those of the Roman Catholic Churches that Article 23 of the Constitution of India prohibits traffic on women. Therefore those who harass and sexually exploit the nuns on the basis of one of the vows they had taken which is “the vow of obedience” shall be prosecuted for offences, convicted and sentenced to undergo punishments prescribed under the Indian Penal Code.

Retreat is becoming the new money minting business of the last quarter of the 20^th century. Brother Dhinakaran became a multi-millionaire and started a university of his own. The self proclaimed Bishop Yohannan bought thousands of acres of plantations, built palaces, acquired schools and colleges. The friars of Vincentian congregation started popular mission retreats at Potta. When their retreat turned out to be a crowd puller; they bought sprawling areas on either side of NH-47 on the banks of River Chalakudy. They are extending their territory eastwards to the foot-hills of Sahyadri Mountains. Their products like Jose Anathanam and his nephew has made huge investments in real estate. They bought a vast area at Kumbalam abutting the NH-47 on the western side and backwaters on the eastern side.  Mullakkara Devassy is trying to outdo others by campaigns and by the sale of his CDs. Fr. Sebastian Kaiparambath, a charismatic product, former vicar of a church at Udayanapuram (2004-05) made a prophesy that the sun would vanish and the water is going to engulf the earth. His prophesy spread like a wild fire. The blind believers hoarded bundles of candle sticks and match boxes to deter the ensuing darkness. The candle and match box manufacturers made a quick buck. Such foolish prophets and self-proclaimed saints are mushrooming. They are misguiding and looting their blind believers.

The Catholic Church should stop the practice of recruiting in novitiates at a very young age. The young boys and girls who have the “Call of the Lord” should be fully convinced and aware of what they are going into. Only then will they be doing justice to their choice in life, the life of celibacy and sacrifice which will make them totally dedicated and devoted. In the event of he / she cannot stay a celibate, it is better to liberate them from the prison of celibacy. Let them abandon the holy life, strip off the cassock, and get married and settled in life. Holy Bible, Apostle Paul advised the unmarried and the widows (1 Corinthians 7 Verses 9,) “But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” In the event of a priest or friar or nun desires to marry, their parental share / patrimony deposited in the monastery or convent or with their hierarchy should be returned forthwith with 6% simple interest on filing his / her application expressing his / her wish to leave the order/congregation. Such individuals may be permitted to marry and lead a normal life with their family. It is the duty of the Catholic Church and the society to accept and rehabilitate without any stigma attached to them. The Catholic Church should realize and accept the fact that sex is not a sin; it is only a biological necessity. The outbreak of suppressed sex is one of the problems our society faces today. The Catholic Church could also bring reforms, “like the priests of Ancient Christians, the secular priests of Roman Catholic Church also could be allowed to marry and maintain a family.” This would prevent sexual exploitation of hapless and unwilling nuns in convents.

More shocking than the sex was the violence and cruelty that went with it. The CBI is once again directed by the High Court of Kerala to probe into “the Abhaya case.” “The ghost of Sr. Abhaya, the victim of a murder case in a convent at Kottayam, haunts top echelon in the religion and the society.”

I am of the opinion that a statutory Christian Board, similar to the Devaswom Boards in Kerala State, shall be constituted by the government to control and manage the church properties fraudulently obtained from the laities. Mismanagement and misappropriation of church funds have to be curtailed. Moreover, in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India and the security and safety of its citizens, a foreign sovereign or Pope or Patriarch or another person shall not be allowed to interfere in the affairs of our Churches or faiths. Put an end to all the vestiges of the colonial rule. A competent and qualified person from among the laymen or a priest can be appointed as Pope or Patriarch to head the statutory Christian Board with the concurrence of the Govt. of India. Such Pope or Patriarch shall not have any allegiance or subjugation to the Pope at Vatican or Patriarch in Antioch or elsewhere and shall be treated as equal to Pope or Patriarch elsewhere.

Read

MYTH OF ST.THOMAS AND

THESIX MONTHS WAR AND CONVERSION OF HINDUS INTO MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN FAITH as well

Excerpts from

NEED OF THE HOUR

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com 

MY DREAM PROJECT: A NEW NH-47-BYPASS WITH A BRIDGE BETWEEN THEVARA AND KUMBALAM TO REPLACE THE ANCIENT FERRY SERVICES

I wish to draw the kind attention of the Prime Minister of India, the Minister of Transport & Highways and the Minister of Railways at New Delhi, the Chief Minister of Kerala and the State Minister of PWD & Highways & Railways at Thiruvananthapuram, to an emergent and viable development scheme, which saves time, fuel and money and helps in the future development of the city of Kochi, Kerala State.

The proposal is to construct a seven kilometer long, new National Highway-47-bypass (NH-47-bypass), which would commence from half a kilometre north of NH-47 toll plaza at Kumbalam south-east and end at Atlantis in the city of Kochi. The NH-47-bypass would connect the Kumbalam Railway Station located at the north-west of the NH-47 toll plaza. The proposed NH-47-bypass would proceed northwards, parallel to the railway line at Kumbalam. A wide Road Under Bridge (RUB) has to be constructed for the proposed NH-47-bypass beneath the railway embankment, passing at a height of 8 meters or more at Kumbalam North. This NH-47-bypass would go on further north through the proposed earth bund and a small pillar bridge having four or five spans between Thevara and Kumbalam backwaters and continue further, either through the western (or eastern) side of Thevara to meet the NH–49 Highway Junction at Thevara. The proposed NH-47-bypass has to be further extended up to Kadavanthara South on a pillar bridge through the backwaters on the eastern side of Thevara and through the reclaimed canal area in between Thevara and Konthuruthy. From the Kadavanthra South Junction area, there is an approach road proceeding north-west which was formed for the construction of a Road Over Bridge (ROB) above the railway line to connect it to M.G. Road, at Atlantis and further to Pallimukku in the city of Kochi. The Panampilly Nagar Extension Road, part ways at Kadavanthara South and proceeds further north to Manorama Junction. The NH-47-bypass from Kumbalam south-east to Atlantis is a long cherished dream of the Islanders of Kumbalam. All the buses that ply up to the Thevara Ferry could be extended up to Kumbalam south end to service commuters who lack proper transport facilities. It is a shortcut to Atlantis and Pallimukku at Ernakulam, saving eight kilometers. This would also facilitate easier access to the city of Kochi from Alleppy side through the Kumbalam-Thevara Bridge. This is also a very practical solution to the never ending traffic snarls one witnesses every day at major junctions such as Vytilla and Kundanoor on the NH-47. A sketch of the proposed NH-47-bypass, commencing from Kumbalam South to Atlantis at Ernakulam with the proposed bridge between Thevara and Kumbalam, is annexed herewith for easy reference.

Later, this NH-47-bypass from Kumbalam south could be further extended up to the Phase IV Ring Corridor network proposed by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), commencing from Mulamthuruthy-Udayamperoor-Panangad-Kumbalam south, to stop at NH-47 at Kumbalam. This would facilitate a circular route to ease congestion in Kundannoor, Vyttila and Trippunithura town.

The existing road on the eastern side of the railway line at Kumbalam North would also connect Nettoor Island through the Kumbalam-Nettoor Bridge, for which technical and administrative sanction has already been obtained. The acquisition of land for widening Panditji Road is in progress.

I wish to point out that three-fourths of the backwaters in between Kumbalam and Thevara is very shallow (one meter during low tide and two meters at high tide on the Kumbalam side.) A reasonable area of the backwaters can be reclaimed, developed and sold to make residential cum commercial buildings. The available open spaces could be utilized for making walkways and parks. This would, no doubt, make the Thevara-Kumbalam Bridge and NH-47-bypass project viable as was done in the case of GIDA bridges to Vypeen Islands from Ernakulam. It is pertinent to note that the reclamation for GIDA Bridge Project was approved by the High Court of Kerala as well. The soil that would be dredged for the National Water Ways and Inland Navigation can be utilized for reclamation of these areas.

In this connection, it is significant to note that the Cochin Port Trust had given necessary consent / No Objection Certificate (vide Letter No. B5-2477 / 1976 dated 16-6-1977) for a similar scheme, when a fish pond by putting up a bund by reclamation at the same area along with the construction of Kumbalam-Thevara Bridge was considered by them.

Apart from the above, we, the Islanders, also point out that the railway embankment and the railway-line at Kumbalam North are constructed at a height of six to eight meters or more. The railway has already made provision to drain excess water during monsoon rains from the Thirunilath paddy fields and other properties that are situated on the western side of the railway embankment. However, this is not enough to avert the flooding of water. People residing on the western side continue to face flooding and health problems during the monsoons. Therefore, it is just and necessary to construct a new wide drain beneath the railway embankment connecting the Thirunilath paddy fields on the west, to the ‘Tharamassery Concrete Public Drain’, on the eastern side of railway embankment, located on the northern side of the ‘Tharamassery Concrete Public Road, about fifty meters north of Panditji Road. It is covered with concrete slabs constructed by the Kumbalam Panchayath. The Tharamassery Concrete Road, with a public drain is situated in between Re Sy. Nos. 19 and 20 of Block 15 of Kumbalam Village.

On behalf of the Islanders of Kumbalam, I humbly pray that Your Honour may be pleased to order an on-the-spot study of the proposals made and find ways to sanction and implement the proposed scheme for the construction of NH-47-bypass starting from the NH-47 at Kumbalam South Toll area; a wide Road Under Bridge (RUB) beneath the railway embankment for the proposed NH-47-bypass at Kumbalam North; an approach bund road and a  small pillar Bridge between Kumbalam and Thevara, to connect NH-49 Highway junction at Thevara, and further continuing to Kadavanthara South through the backwaters in between Thevara and Konthuruthy and then through a Road Over Bridge (ROB) to M.G. Road at Atlantis, to Pallimukku in the city of Kochi; and an additional wide drain to connect Tharamassery Public Drain situated on the eastern side at Kumbalam North to avert flooding, and thus render justice to the Islanders of Kumbalam and the commuters from Alleppy side to the city of Cochin, to ease the traffic congestion in Kundanoor and Vyttila junction  on the NH-47, and for the progress and development of the city of Kochi as expeditiously as possible.

Excerpts from

NEED OF THE HOUR

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

VICTORY IS ALWAYS WITH THE PEOPLE

The governments are created to protect the natural rights of life, liberty and property of its subjects. The governments shall not neglect the welfare of the people. Presently all the political parties and movements have degenerated and the eyes and hearts of political leaders are riveted on power and money. They have forgotten the common man who elevated them to their seats of power.

In the event of a government do not come up to the expectation of the people and fails to provide food, shelter and clothes; and the foreign policy of the government fails and a war ensued with the result some portion of our territory is conquered by an enemy country; the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution are suspended or infringed and / or a government engrossed in corruption, nepotism, bias and ineptitude of a serious and grave nature; the people, have a vested right to protest against it. Their anger and resentment might build up into a full scale revolution. If necessary, the people are naturally and rationally justified in overthrowing a government in power in a peaceful way. I make it clear that public property shall not be destroyed in the bargain. The government and the members of the parliament and legislatures shall beware that “the will of the people is supreme than the parliament and any other form of government.” But such agitation shall be directed against issues only, not against any particular individual. The people, and not any one individual, should be the real sovereign.

Excerpts from

NEED OF THE HOUR

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.