MERRY CHRISTMAS

RED DRAGONFLY

Saw a red dragonfly near my house. First time I am seeing one.

BUS STATION

KSRTC Bus Station - Kollam

SCHOLARSHIP TESTS

There are several organizations that conduct scholarship tests in India. If they charge a fee for it, there is something fishy. They may call it Application fee, Registration fee, Test fee etc. A genuine scholarship test should not require a fee.

Organizations that conduct these tests contact school authorities and try to get the maximum number of students to appear for the test. To spread the net wide they admit students from standard IV to standard XII for the test. Some of them advertise in the newspapers. Some are even able to get information regarding their test to appear as news in the media. Maybe they pay more. They may claim to have test centers throughout the country. But once the fee is received they may cancel some centers. This will reduce their expenditure. They inform the candidates that due to unavoidable circumstances the chosen center is not available and that the candidate will have to appear for the test at a far off center. They are not really interested whether or not the candidate appears for the test.

Suppose a fee of Rs.100/- is charged for the test. In a country like India with a large population they can get about 100,000 candidates to apply for the test. So the total amount they receive will be Rs.100, 00,000/-

They may need about Rs.500, 000/- for their expenses which includes test paper preparation and correction, hiring examiners and invigilators, renting examination halls etc. Once the results are announced they may spend another Rs.500, 000/- as scholarship for the students who did well. So their total expenditure will be about Rs.10, 00,000/- and the balance amount of Rs.90, 00,000/- will be their profit.

Usually they invite a Minister or some high government official as chief guest for the scholarship distribution ceremony. After distributing the scholarship the chief guest will give a speech congratulating the winners and praising the organizers for being so generous.  

RAILWAY STATION

Kollam Junction Railway Station

View from Over Bridge

Hotel Railview. Opposite Railway Station. It used to be a small dingy bar.

Old Railway Station which is nearby. Now the area in front is used as parking space for two  wheeler's.  I remember arriving at this station in 1972 to settle at kollam.

Road near Railway Station. The Trees!

FATIMA MATA NATIONAL COLLEGE

                                                                                                                 

Studied at this College for seven years. 1974 - 1981

Spent most of the time at this end of the building where the Physics Department was located.

Had to climb this over bridge every day to get to College.

POLITICS IN INDIA

Very few people in India enter politics to serve the people. Many want the power of being in charge or the chance to make big money. Some want both power and money. Criminals are attracted to politics because it helps them get away with their criminal activities. Once in power, they get bribes and kickbacks which can run into millions of dollars. It is the most lucrative profession. Some are reported to have Swiss bank accounts. Police and criminal gangs are used to silence or even eliminate their opponents. In most countries the interest in politics is only during the elections. In India there is a constant interest and the media gives unnecessary coverage to politicians. We can’t trust the media because many are owned by politicians and some are just bribed.

If they are in the opposition, they oppose just for the sake of opposing. They will not allow any progress. They will call for a hartal or bandh for silly reasons. Political processions block the roads. Students are divided along political lines and made to fight each other. They are also used in agitations. Dynastic rule is rampant. Most politicians groom their children to take over when the time is ripe.

During elections, votes are bought with bribes and gifts. Almost all the candidates are corrupt and almost all the people are corrupt. So a totally corrupt candidate can win a landslide victory. A Huge amount of money is needed to win an election. Money and position lure politicians to defect. Some parties split because of the tussle for leadership. Many want to be the leader. So regional and communal parties have sprung up and the only way to form a government is through coalition.

It is not ideology that attracts people to a political party. I know some communists who dream of settling in the United States. They say communism is more suitable for India but they would prefer to live in the capitalist United States. People support a party because they have relatives or friends in that party who can help them, if they come to power. Most of the public feel insecure. They need the help of politicians to get a job, since there is a very high level of unemployment. Businessmen need politicians to help them get licenses and permits. A friend of mine met with an accident. It was midnight and only a few junior doctors were available at the hospital. His relatives called up a politician. The politician contacted the chairman of the hospital who got the best doctors to attend to him immediately. His political connections helped him.