Kerala’s obsession with the Salute and the Police uniform?

The two top controversies now being discussed in news papers both relate to Police- one the lapse of the part of a senior Police Officer who failed to salute the home minister at a passing out parade at the Police Academy  in Thrissur and the other the Ernakulam District Collector wearing his wife’s police uniform at home that appeared as a feature in a leading newspaper.

In the case of RishiRaj Singh, ADGP and senior IPS officer, he may not have seen Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala entering from behind the stage as the passing out parade of constables had already begun. Rishi Raj Singh also said that as per convention dignitaries on the dais stand up only when national anthem is played during passing out parade. Moreover he was only an invitee to the function.

People suspected motives behind Rishi Raj Singh’s apparent  ‘disrespect’ shown towards Home Minister at a public function as he was recently removed as Chief Vigilance Commissioner  from Kerala State Electricity Board for booking a corporate house for power theft in the state capital.
Strangely, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has no complaint against the police official leaving it to  DGP Mr T P Senkumar to decide.However, other ministers and politicians have taken up the issue saying that his conduct would foster indiscipline in the Police!

The salute itself is a vestige of the British rule and you can find constables at police stations been forced to life a heavy rifle to salute their senior officers each time they arrive and depart to the station. Some sensible officers have already suggested the removal of this colonial practice which is cumbersome for the newly appointed women constables too.

District Collector wears Police uniform

M G Rajamanickam, who was adjudged the Best District Collector in 2014 is now being criticised for wearing his wife’s police uniform for a human interest story in a leading newspaper. His wife Nishanthini, an IPS officer  is also a popular police officer  having served in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts.

It may be recalled that Mr Rajamanickam was awarded for his exemplary work in Kochi Metro, Airport Seaport Road and launching novel projects such as Bhoomigeetham.

The State Government has issued a warning against the District Collector for the impropriety shown in wearing police uniform.  The crux of the newspaper feature was that Rajamanickam, an IAS officer was more fond of wearing police uniform while his police officer wife was interested in being an IAS official.

The public, the government officials and policy makers who have described the conduct as improper hasn’t questioned the motive of a leading newspaper in doing this story. Moreover, the collector did not appear in public in police uniform and the public wouldn’t have known unless the paper carried the story!

Kerala’s policy makers, the public and officials spend several reams of paper , correspondence and discussion on a topic that is neither socially relevant nor important leaving no time for developmental and social work to take place. 

How long will the electorate suffer all this in silence?

  

Trust not the news or newsmen, but the blog!

What constitutes a media person? The traditional view was that you need to work for a newspaper, magazine and later on with the advent of radio and television and the internet more categories were added to the list.

Recently, I saw an interesting discussion on election of CPM General Secretary in a Malayalam TV channel – there was  N Madhavan Kutty ( formerly Bureau Chief of The Indian Express) and Appukuttan Vallikunnu (Deshabhimani columnist), Ramachandran (formerly Malayala Manorama) and another person I don’t recall. When arguments and counter arguments heated up, each of them started blaming the other for lack of knowledge of inner functioning of CPM!

Blogs qualify as Media!
And one of them pointed out Mr Madhavan Kutty (NMK) is no longer in the media. NMK was aghast about lack of awareness of  the fellow scribes and writers. Haven't they seen the emergence of  New Media – including online publications and blogs. My head started spinning, blogging is also media activity and the world is now full of media persons!. No wonder and true that many former journalists are now confined to writing blogs. Pity others confined to retirement, unsung and unheard missing the golden opportunity to remain 'blogger journalists'?

My view on this issue is that blogs do not come under the purview of the news media. That is a platform to air your views and ideas for discussion to a larger audience or even a closed group or shared through social media. Google or any company that provides blogging platform free is providing servers, front end for free but are not publishers of the content nor endorse it. But they do have the right to reject objectionable matter uploaded by the blogger.

A news media can be defined as a system where there are trained journalists, cameramen and technical support team who gather news, check its veracity, maintain a library of data, information on various topics and disseminate news and analysis in an objective manner. Blogs do not fall in this category.

Blogs gain acceptability than news?
When it comes to business or products, consumers trust blogs or bloggers more than news, according to Brian Pittman (PR Daily) quoted in Entrepreneur.com.
"That's why blog networks such as BlogHer drive thousands-if not millions-of consumers to the products, services and issues they cover."

Again what Pittman says is a statement and I don’t know whether it has been empirically verified. There are people who believe in the news than adverts. But even if it’s partially true, this tells upon the credibility of our newsmen. Who's responsible for this fall?

Both Newspapers and journalists and the new breed of bloggers come under Article 19 (1) of the Indian Constitution- Freedom of Speech. There ends the similarity, but for all practical purposes, they need to be seen differently.

What’s the harm in former Journalists saying, “ I am a blogger.” Hasn’t it become a  more respectful activity than a  journo?

Beats 'n' Steps, dance-fitness studio launched in Kochi

KOCHI, INDIA: Burning calories, attaining fitness and remaining healthy are all goals most people have. Until now the options were going out for a walk, jogging, workout in the gym or at home. All these fitness routines are good enough but has a lot of limitations.

Key drawbacks:

1)Progress in walking and jogging activities may take a longer time to show results
2)Solo activities may be uninteresting and lead to boredom and abandonment
3)Rain or inclement weather can spoil the outdoor activity and hence impact daily excercise routine

It is here that dance based fitness routines score over conventional ones, according to Aswathy Visweswaran, ZIN (Zumba Instructor Network-www.zumba.com) and Prasanth S, Zin, co-founders of Beats 'n' Steps a dance-fitness studio in South Kalamassery in the commercial city of Kochi.

"We decided to launch this venture based on dance-based routines because people from all age groups especially late 30's and 40's genuinely feel a need to have some fun, entertainment and tangible results when it comes to burning calories and attaining wellness,"  Aswathy and Prasanth said.

Beats 'n' Steps provides training in Zumba Fitness, Aerobics, Bollywood dance, Hip Hop, and traditional yoga and Bharatanatyam. Zumba is capable of burning upto 800 calories an hour. Many people are initially shy or reluctant to join Zumba as they feel they require to be good at dancing. " Many of the students whom I studied with had no background in dancing but only a desire to be healthy and shed flab," Aswathy Visweswaran said in chat with CommodityJourno.blogspot.in. Presence of personal trainer and contemporary dancer, Ritin is a boost for Beats 'n' Steps, the promoters said.

Seema Subodh, is a Reebok certified Aerobics trainer now available at Beats 'n' Steps. She believes that dance based fitness sessions bring out the best in each individual raising their confidence level and outlook towards life. However, those having heart ailments or chest problems need to first consult a doctor and also need to inform the trainer about their ailments.

Anupama, bollywood and bharatanatyam trainer is an accomplished dancer who has done several shows in India and abroad. She believes Beats 'n' Steps has the right mix of offerings for anyone interested in the aesthetics of keeping fit and healthy in life.

Mehbooba, the yoga teacher said that awareness about the benefits of yoga is now spreading across the world. The mere fact that June 21 is observed as International Yoga day is ample proof this. It can work miracles on our body, mind, breath control meditation and body flexibility.

In due course, Beats 'n' Steps is planning several innovative programs on personality development and machine based workouts, promoters said. There are separate classes for ladies and kids.

For details: contact Aswathy Visweswaran 9744954607, Prasanth-9895611537
Beats'n' Steps is located at CUSAT Signal Jn, South Kalamassery, Kochi-682023

Dance based fitness routines are in, workouts aren't out but!

KOCHI: Are you bored of workouts, jogging early in the morning or found the morning walk uninspiring? Then Perhaps, dance based fitness routines may be just right for you. Beats 'n' Steps, a dance-fitness studio was launched in early May in the heart of Kochi to provide the fitness enthusiasts with an alternative choice of dance-based fitness routines, according to promoters S Prasanth and Aswathy Visweswaran, both qualifed ZINs (Zumba Instructor Network).

Many people find walking, jogging difficult to continue after a few days, according to Prasanth. On the other hand he has seen treadmills and excercise cycles being used as cloth hangers in many houses while Gym activities are not group based and hence difficult to sustain interest.

With Zumba one can see the results in terms of weight loss, fat loss and toning of the body in a few months time and the music and dance lifts the spirits making it easier for participants to continue with the programme, according to Aswathy Visweswaran, a pharmacist turned Zumba fitness trainer. Zumba Fitness was started by Colombian fitness trainer Beto Perez - it's a dance based fitnesss routine inspired by world rhythms of salsa, cumbia, merengue, hip hop, belle and reggaeton. No other workout is capable of burning upto 800 calories in an hour.

Zumba-magic! Zumba sessions can bring out the best in you in terms of looks and outlook towards life, says Aswathy Visweswaran, ZIN (Pix Courtesy: Beats 'n' Steps)

Many people are hesitant to take up Zumba because they are shy of dancing or that it is difficult to learn the steps. However, in a group based activity no one bothers to find the mistakes of the other and gradually beginners learn to copy the steps of their masters, Aswathy Visweswaran said. Moreover, performing in front of a mirror also allows them to see their mistakes and correct them, she added.

Zumba has now many specialities including Aqua Zumba (swimming pool based), Kids Zumba for children and special routines for toning. Only licensed Zumba instructors certified by Zumba.com are expected to take classes.

Zumba classes are held in 180 countries, 15 million people are attending a Zumba class around the world and tried out in 2 lakh centres. "The Zumba fever is really catching up in the country with international master trainer Beto Perez's performance in Mumbai in February 2015" according to Arunima Gupta, co-founder of The Floor, a contemporary dance and fitness school in Kochi. "Happiness is the second name of Zumba Fitness. It's a great therapy in these times of stressful living. So now, what are u waiting for? asks Arunima, who has trained over a dozen ZINs in Kochi and helpe them start their own venture including Aswathy-Prasanth's Beats 'n' Steps.(www.facebook.com/beatsnsteps, http://www.aswathyvisweswaran.zumba,com).

Who can join Zumba & Aerobics
Any reasonably healthy person can do Zumba, aerobics and other dance based fitness routines, But Seema Subodh, a qualified aerobics trainer at Beats 'n' Steps has a word of caution for people with heart ailments. Get the advice from your physician before starting the programme. And those wondering what's happened to multi-gyms- there are still there - you may need it for toning and muscle building though!

Panangad: The pictorial delight of the Kochi backwaters

Kerala offers the best getaways to beat the heat, but our day out in the backwaters of Panangad in Kochi was so enchanting except for the scorching heat that only lessened after heavy rains a few days later. Coconut trees are quite universal in Kerala but you find it in lesser numbers in this place. Surrounded by lakes, and minimal human habitation, this place gets its food from submerged pokkali rice and fish catch- chemmeen, the premium fish variety.

We may burn out but not the enthusiasm of kids and this time our little Dash Zoe was also around to enjoy in the grass and sun.  (With Diyah, caretaker of Zoe)

Fishing provides food and livelihood for the people here. With a little bit of luck and a good net, you can have a sumptous lunch and dinner. But these days fish catch is falling.

Kakka meat (Clam)  is one of the favourite dishes here and cooking is done using fire wood or offshoots of coconut tree- leaves or kodumbu

People usually wear lungis, dhotis which can be either folded into half above the knee or worn down to the ankle. They wrap around a towel in the head and they hold beedis or match box for convenience.

Tiled and thatched roofs were common earlier but they have been replaced by concrete roofs even in this area.

The water you get here is salty and you need rain water harvesting to get quality drinking water or get them from across the shores in sintex tanks transported on vanchis (country boats).

(We are grateful to Rajo Devi and family for facilitating this tour in their family location in Panangad covering around 75 acres)

Easter thoughts: Faith and how vital it is in business too

The week that went by was marked by festivities- we had the Holy Friday that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and Easter that celebrates the resurrection of Christ.The millions of people who thronged to churches on these days no doubt believed in The Bible and the role Jesus did to redeem the sins of mankind.

Religions may differ,people do not worship the same God but what unites the Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or any other community is their Faith in the lord.

I was thinking about this even as sometimes religion is being blamed for some of the divisions that have formed in the society and consequent turmoil. The other day my son Darshan who is quite adept at making coffee was talking about making a new business out of coffee. His basic question was- after spending lakhs of rupees,  if the business flops.!

This kind of thinking is not unusual for many who do not ultimately enter business. Here again faith in one's own ability and support systems are important for any business idea to succeed. There are people with any number of ideas which may or may not be tested in the market before it is launched. Ultimately, the success of any new venture depends on the faith the promoter has in his idea, how he does the ground work, how he does the market survey and ultimately pool the resources in terms of money, human resources and regulatory approvals to get the business going.

Karl Marx said religion is the opium of the masses. The Left and the ideology based parties believe in the doctrines of their founders and hope such beliefs can be translated into action and hence benefit mankind. They persuade the party workers to think on those lines. Without faith in the founding principles, no worker could meaningfully co-operate with the activities of a party.

In a corporate organisation, workers or employees not aligned to organisational goals tend to be ousted as they don't add value to their services.

People like Mother Theresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela who took up public causes had an unwavering faith in what they stood for despite the many hurdles they may have initially faced before they became international movements. It is said faith can move mountains, such is its power.

Now, perhaps, amidst geo-political tensions in Yemen, the fear over Iran's nuclear bomb and the deal and corruption and atrocities everywhere, a firm belief or faith in change alone can bring a transformation in society.

I am happy to share an insight from Dr Deepak Chopra, the alternative medicine advocate. He feels Wall Street executives need to have two hours meditation to get the required rest and tackle high stress. This is in turn should help them become more productive. Even just 15 minutes of meditation provides more rest than deep sleep. Among those who follow his work is hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones, who has his entire staff meditate daily.


(The author is a renowned business journalist/market analyst. He is now providing content development for websites, social media (FB Twitter, LinkedIn), and blogging  services. Please contact : sreekumsree@gmail.com for your requirements)

Zumba's first ever mega event in Kerala on Valentine's Day

KOCHI: This Valentine's Day, why not have a romance with Zumba? Jazz it up with music, dance and some enjoyable rhythymic body movements leading to a celebration called the 'Party for Love of Fitness'

Arunima Gupta, Co-Founder of The Floor which is organising this mega event at Le Meridien on February 14th says this is a not-to-be missed opportunity to be led by ZES Sucheta Pal, the international master trainer of Zumba. This is the first mega Zumba event featuring the much sough after trainer Sucheta Pal.

Zumba is a great way to remain young, vibrant, healthy, burn of calories faster than any other fitness programs, says a confident Arunima. 

Event Venue - Le Meridian Amphitheatre, Cochin

Time - Feb 14th, 5 to 7 pm

Arunima has only this to say to fitness enthusiasts: Don't miss this exciting evening full of Dance, Fitness, Fun and Food. "In the morning, we also have a zumba session for kids called the KidsZumba. It is not just fun dancing session but more so, helps children develop confidence,  team spirit and leadership skills in creative way."The Zumba fever is really catching up in the country with international master trainer Beto Perez to perform in Mumbai on February 1," Arunima said.

"Happiness is the second name of Zumba Fitness.  It's a great therapy in these times of stressful living. So now, what are u waiting for? Let your hair down and bring in on this Valentine's Day with Zumba Fitness, she adds.

Zumba classes are held in 180 countries, 15 million people are attending a Zumba class around the world and tried out in 2 lakh centres.

Zumba sessions are typically an hour long and are taught by instructors licensed by an organisation called Zumba Academy. The excercises include music, fast and slow rhythms as well as resistance training. Unlike other aerobics or fitness programs, Zumba helps you to choose your pace and style and helps you shed weight and age in a few months time. It targets the abs, thighs, arms and other muscles throughout out the body. 

Toning is adding sculpting of body and cardio. Aqua Zumba is Zumba in a swimming pool. The instructor leads the class from poolside while participants follow the shallow water workout. Moves have been specially adapted to combine the same dance movements used in a Zumba Fitness class with those used in aqua fitness classes creating a fun and effective total body workout.  

Precisely what's Zumba: Workout + dance + music + rhythym+ fitness and joy. Keeping young is not boring any more... Plus there is no age barrier for Zumba-- whether you are in your teens, mid-30 or 40 or early 50's Zumba is right for you. Be young, fit and acti

For more details or to schedule interviews with Sucheta, Arunima: : Arunima Gupta (arunimagup@gmail.com) Mob: 9747640575, 9562036699 or Govind 9745736931 or to grab your entry passes.

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