You can see the police men from the Calicut City Traffic Unit manning the  traffic in  the busy Arayadathupalam Junction, just in front of the Baby Memorial Hospital. I happened to be there around 6 pm yesterday and was drawn to the laborious efforts of  two cops controlling the traffic of the busy junction of the calicut city. These two police men were very much patiently taking all  the pains of leading the vehicles to the proper directions which otherwise would have gone haywire or chaotic and also directing the pedestrians crisscrossing the roads.

I just stood on the side of the road watching the hullabaloo of the traffic on  roads,  the revelries of the passengers and the street vendors. But at the same time, I noticed the painstaking efforts of  two cops to control the busy traffic in the junction and also helping the pedestrians to cross the road. They were all doing it in  much patience and in sincerity. Soon, I noticed, a police officer joined them, apparently a young circle inspector, which gave the cops more vigour and enthusiasm in the traffic control.

I still tood there keenly observing the toiling  action  of the cops  to control the traffic, which they were doing with all vigil and pleasantness, at times  advising  the erraneous drivers.These men in uniform, who always have to face the brunt of all unnecessary brickbats from different quarters  deserve much praise from the public with all their hard-work.

But what was more noticeable in the midst of their hectic work was that  protectice gear was amiss from them,  especially in the present menace of swine flu across the country. I found that these cops are without any protective masks to control the traffic. I felt how can they manage the    smoke emanating  from the engines of a large number of  vehicles, which  eventually would award them all troubles in their life.

Further, at a time when we we are in the grip of the fear of the dreaded A(HINI) influenza, these police men manning the traffic just in front of a busy hospital without masks would invite possible health hazards  from the hospital on this score as well.

I don’t understand what prevent them from wearing the protective masks to ensure their safety from the influenza and other health hazards. Or, is it due to the reason that the Department  does not provide them such  safety gadgets? The authorities should come forward to provide them all protection against such threats to their health. I’m really concerned about the health and  safety of these traffic police men who are doing selfless service to the society.

Pramod

Homeward bound: Innocent O. Udeh, Minister (Consular and Education), from the Nigerian Embassy in New Delhi, calls on Aadibe George, ailing footballer, at Thrissur District Hospital on Monday.

Dear friends,

I just highlighted the cause of a sick Nigerian footballer and his friend here  through the Iland blog and some of my groups on Net almost one month ago in the hope that something could be done for these hapless persons, who have lost their lives here in an alien land or someone would come forward to help them to reach their home back. With greatest gratitude, I should say that many of my friends or even unknown persons  reading the story on the Net have taken up their cause with many agencies or organisations and even the Nigerian Embassy in Delhi  and the UN. I was totally upset and dismayed over the lackadaisical approach of the soalled human rights organisations or philanthropic sections of the people all around the world to save them from the clutches of death. After all, whar is life? Some even questioned my integrity or propriety in taking up the cause of a foriegner duo due to sheer technicalities. Are we all to stay on earth permanently? I felt sad over such inhumane attitude of many.

Now, after a pretty ‘less’ time, the Nigerian Embassy Minister has come to Trichur to visit the ailing Aadibe and take steps to take him back home. I don’t know what happened to them to come so late  to the rescue of thier citizens in an alien land. Im reproducing a report published in the Hindu daily dated 23rd June 2009. My post on Aadibe was made on almost one month back.

The Hindu report follows:

 The two Nigerian footballers who were released from the Central Jail at Viyyur recently will fly home on Wednesday.

Aadibe George, 32, and Kinstan E. Chukku, 32, will fly to Dubai from the Nedumbassery airport and from there to Lagos, Nigeria's capital.

The legal formalities for their deportation were over and the Nigerian Embassy had issued them emergency travel certificates, said P.K. Kuttappayi, Superintendent of Police, Idukki, who is the Foreigners Registration Officer in Idukki district. His office bears the travel expenses.

Innocent O. Udeh, Minister (Consular and Education) of the Nigerian Embassy in New Delhi, expressed concern over the safe transportation of Aadibe, who was paralysed after a stroke while in jail. Mr. Udeh visited the footballer who was undergoing neuro-rehabilitation treatment at the district hospital.

"It is India's responsibility to ensure that both Nigerians reach safely in Nigeria," he said.

There are 2,500 Nigerian citizens, mostly students, currently living in India.

Santhosh Babu, Resident Medical Officer of the district hospital, said Aadibe's condition had improved and he could be transported to Nigeria with proper medical care.

As he had started responding to stimulation, a familiar atmosphere and language would help improve his condition, Dr. Babu said.

Aadibe and Chukku, who had come to India to play for various clubs in Goa, were arrested by the Kattappana police on December 8, 2007, for travelling without valid documents.

As the Judicial Magistrate, Kattappana, rejected their bail plea, the two were sent to the jail. The Kerala High Court quashed the cases against both on May 26.

Though the maximum punishment for travelling without valid documents is imprisonment for a year, the Nigerians spent 18 months behind bars.

Courtesy: The Hindu

George Aadibe, an ace  footballer from Nigeria, now does not know the freedom he has got from the prison life  in Kerala nor does he hear the hurrays and jubilations  from the football grounds across India.The slavery of unconsciousness  and incapacitation following a cerebral haemorrhage  after spending harrowing times in prisons and courts here,has totally conquered  this football maverick, leaving him paralysed and-bed-ridden.This football wizard  from Nigeria,aged 34, who throbbed the hearts of football lovers here  came  to India for playing football for various clubs in tourneys in different parts of India.

The story of Aadibe, who is struggling for life in the Trichur district hospital in Kerala,  is really pathetic and heart-rending. Aadibe, along with his friend Kinstan E Chukku,32, came to India for playing football tournament.During their trip to India, they came to Kerala to visit some tourist centres in the hill station of Idukki 17 months ago.May be due to their ignorance, they overstayed in the country after their visa period. The two Nigerians were arrested on 12th December 2007 by the Kattappana Police on charges of overstayal in the country.They were languishing in the judicial custody  with no hope of deportation due to the prolonged  legal procedures.
In the meantime, apparently due to the mental stress and strain by police and court cases with the fear of ending his life in prison here, Aadibe had a cerebral haemorrhage a few months back and lost his consciousness.He was in coma since then.He survives on the liquid food, costing Rs.18, administrated to his nose  through tubes.
This  football genius does not know  the football or  hear exaltations and revelries from his fans on grounds on his memory now.The two youth from poor agricultural families in Nigeria came to India to earn some money from the football tournaments.Bad luck and tragedy had been haunting them.Having lost his memory completely, Aadibe has no one to console him.The prison authorities in Viyyur jail admitted him to the Calicut Medical College and then to the Trichur district hospital for treatment.The Pain and Paliative Care workers, police and nurses care him in the Trichur hospital, inspite of the difficulties with communication and his body language.Medicines worth Rs.150/- are administrated to him daily.
The Resident Medical Officer, Dr.Santhosh Babu is also  personally attending on him.He says Aadibe has improved a lot and needs further care and attention. Its now  essential for him to have the care of his relatives.They have to come to the hospital for caring him, which would enable him to convalesce sooner,  he adds.
Meanwhile, Justice V. Ramkumar of  the Kerala High Court,  in a most humane judgement,  came to the rescue of the beleaguered  Nigerians.He quashed the charge sheet pending before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Kattappana, against them for overstayal in the country. Justice Ramkumar, who is noted for his progressive and pro-people judgements, directed the police to release them from prison unless their continued detention was necessary in connection with any other case.In his order, Justice V. Ramkumar said that the police did not obtain sanction under the Passport Act 1967 to detain the Nigerians.Aadibe does not know the judgement and the new lease of life and  freedom to him.
With the High Court  having come to his succour, the question now arises is who would take care of and protect Aadibe. Dr.Santhosh Babu says that there would be no difficulty for him for air travel to Nigeria and he could regain normalcy within months, if continued with treatment in a  friendly atmosphere with his dear and near ones.
The Nigerian Embassy in Delhi has also to come to the rescue of their  two hapless citizens in an alien land
Pramod

Journalism has been a favourite subject to me and journalists are the most favourite lot of prfessionals to me. My aptitude and infatuation to journalism date back to a couple of decades ago when, as a youngster after my graduation, I worked as a stringer for Indian Express in my home town. It was in 1986 when, out of my intense love and passion  to write and to become a journalist, I wrote a letter to S.K.Anantaraman, Resident Editor of Indian Express, Cochin to appoint me as their local correspondent in my home-town. To my great astonishment, after a few days, I received a reply from the great and veteran journalist asking me to send news of topical and local interest to them for publication. I vividly recall with gratitude the encouragement given by the eminent journalist and Resident Editor of a leading national newspaper to a cub reporter like me.

Greatness and humility are found only in great people is the apt description I can say about the versatile journalist Anantaraman.I still keep the letter received from him as the greatest and the most valuable treasure in my life. I used to send stories on the local events and developments to the newspaper and they published most of them. Technology was not developed much in those days. I had to post my reports in the first clearance itself at 9 am from the head post office. Then only, it would reach the Cochin office the next day and the news would find the light of the day on the third day. My journalistic stint was there for a few years till I got some other appointment. I kept my journalistic talent and urge alive by regularly contributing articles to magazines published from Hyderabad and Delhi for long.

With my little background in journalism like this, I keenly observe journalists and their stories. I personally analyse all the news reports and articles and arrive at all the positive angles and the lacunae of each write-up I come across or read.

After joining in the University of Calicut in 1988, I have been seeing a peculiar and extra-ordinary local correspondent of the most popular Malayalam daily with the largest circulation, Malayala Manorama, based at Thenhipalam  and observing his news reports. He is Mr.Devadas, a simple and hard-working person, down to earth, from humble background who made his dent in journalism by his own immaculate ways. Why he is peculiar is that he does not have any professional degree in journalism to his credit. Yet, Devadas writes more eloquently and coherently on any subject than any other well-qualified or senior Malayalam journalists . He is well-informed and adept at any subject; be it politics , society , education, literature, sports etc. The readers of Manorama have witnessed many instances of his having unravelled the stories of glaring corruption and other social taboos through his reports in Manorama.Having proved his mettle in the world of letters, Devadas still remains as a local reporter of the Malayala Manorama or is he content with the role of a local vernacular press reporter?

While he continues to be a local reporter within the confines of a town , I always wonder why the potentials of this talented reporter with long innings of more than 20 years in the field remain untapped and unnurtured.He can contribute more in the arena of journalism. He is a marvellous journalist par excellence.

Pramod

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Pramod