Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Trivandrum Golf Club and an encounter with Shashi Tharoor!


Pic - An emergency ambulance at the trivandrum golf club - signs of troubled times?
I wrote in this blog, two years ago, (http://shajikrishnan.blogspot.com/2007/06/in-greens.html) , of my introduction, to the lovely game of golf. In May 2007, I became a Member Elect of the Trivandrum Golf Club. In 2008 December, I was made a Member. The guidance of expert coaches helped me grasp the fundamentals of the game. I am regular in my golf and enjoy it.
The Trivandrum Golf Club found itself in the eye of a storm in 2008, when on May 30th, the Government of Kerala decided to resume ownership of the 25 acres of land and buildings in its possession. . The obvious reason cited was that the 25 acres of prime land and facilities within it were being enjoyed by a handful of people for their private pleasure and the public at large are denied access. The incidents connected with this action of the Government became subject of a legal and political controversy, the ripples of which are yet to die down . The High Court of Kerala quashed the orders of the Government on procedural infirmities but permitted appropriate action to be taken in compliance with the rules. Government is going ahead with taking over the land of the golf club and a protracted litigation is in place. Unfortunately, the public perception of clubs as places of exclusivity where the elite rub shoulders is yet to change and the Trivandrum Golf Club found very little support even when the government’s actions were arbitrary and heavy handed.
The above narration is only to give the reader a better understanding of the events of 22nd March 2009. The Extraordinary General Meting of the golf club was held at the club house that evening to consider two alterations to be made to the bye-laws and approve of the budget for 2009-10. The President, Mr.P..M. Abraham, was in the chair and the items on the agenda unanimously approved by the 36 members in attendance. Pity that in a club with 600 members, hardly a handful turn up .
Immediately after the meting was adjourned, a gentleman took the stage and mentioned that members of the Club should exercise their franchise in the Parliament Elections of 2009 to register their protest at the state government’s action towards the golf club. A second person ,in more explicit terms, said that members should use their clout to defeat the candidate of a particular political party bent on taking over the lands of the club The President of the Club was a voice of sanity when he stated that voting should be left to the individual choice and Club should seek recourse to legal remedies. . Unfortunately, many members refused to tow this line. I was in a minority when I said that though the actions of government were arbitrary and illegal, it is improper to use the club, even informally, to plan and discuss political action or retaliation. As responsible citizens of this country, club members ought to focus on graver issues facing the nation and not be myopic.. My comments invited a harsh reaction from the Secretary who categorised me a ‘new comer’. I still don’t get its implications.. Is a new comer not supposed to dissent.? Or is he not allowed to express his views in a meeting? Over the last two years, I went through the metamorphosis of being a Member-Elect, a Candidate member and finally a Member. Karl Marx's insights on the bourgeois patterns of thought are relevant in many contexts.
In the midst of all this it was announced that Shashi Tharoor, the Congress candidate from the Trivandrum Parliamentary Consitutency will be reaching the Club. The Congress Party is in the Opposition in Kerala where the Communists are at the helm of government. Mr Tharoor, who is a Honorary Member of the Golf Club, . arrived and spoke of the need for Trivandrum to grow in to a global city and secure recognition internationally. Some listeners were impatient and couldn’t wait to hear him out. They interrupted to ask his views on the Government’s resumption of ownership of the lands of the Club. Dampening their enthusiasm, Mr.Tharoor stated that the Club is regarded in the surrounding community as a exclusive zone with facilites being monopolized by a few hundred members. There must be a attitude change on the part of the members too, he said.. Mr. Tharoor agreed that in a city, facilities for leisure and recreation, like golf courses are necessary and what exists should be preserved. . Mr. Tharoor minced no words when he said ‘there is an egalitarian streak in Kerala society and you are on the wrong side of it’. Thanks, Mr. Tharoor for a sober response.
It’s often said ‘a politician thinks of the next election, a statesman thinks of the next generation.’ Mr.Tharoor displayed statesmanship during the few minutes he spend at the golf club. Sorry, Mr.Tharoor, that I can’t help you in this election.. The ‘egalitarian streak’ you mentioned in passing, is a contribution of the Left movement in Kerala, built through heroic struggles spanning many decades of the last century and I trace my roots to it.
But my respect for you as an individual has been built by our first encounter in the golf club and it will always be there. If the people of Trivandrum, elect you, I will only be happy to welcome you as our Member of Parliament .
Wish you all Success!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes ...Shashi Tharoor believes we have an 'egalitarian streak'...and we should give up our club land for service to the people !! And what does he do???

In 2008 he becames a resident of Dubai (instead of India) to register his company Afras Ventures to do business in india to evade taxes. And he expects we dumb taxpaying people will be taken in by his glib talk and foot his cushy retirement in India as MP or even minister ?

Let us start by charging him a big membership fee. Will he become a resident of India and do service for the people if loses this election ?

He says he is a proud Indian and Malyalee ??? Still he berates Indian culture and asks us to ape Americans ??

And now he says he is joing Indian politics to clean us Indians up and teach us the American way of doing things….he says he will do service to people of Trivandrum by explaing their problems in English in Parliment…yes !!! maybe his british accent will help !!

Reading between the lines - in 2001 the UN job paid for his Manhattan aptmt…now aging and close to retirement, he hopes to get a cushy political job to keep his Coke company PR job and get free travel and housing perks so that he can holiday with his American wife and run his business in Dubai…..

With strong American backing, It is nolt supprising that the congress party is pushing for to get a scenior policy making person in politics. Together the Italian born Sonia; PM with family in America and Rahull with his girlfrd can all together bring back East India Rule to India.

Anonymous said...

Interesting situation

from an interested party.

To first anon respondent - there is a fine line between patriotism to Nationalism to Racisim. Your comments flit between the latter 2 which is a shame because your underlying point may well be valid.

darrell moddy said...

hi,
i just wanted to say how much i enjoy reading your blog. in a world full of spin, it's nice to get some fact-based analysis.
keep up the good work.

online loans

darrell moddy said...

Well it gives lots of knowledge about Real Estate........
I like tit & it gives directions before going to choose any Real Estate.....
outbound call center

Unknown said...

Diamond rings for ladies and gents, quality diamond engagement rings, secondhand and antique diamond engagement rings.Diamond Rings

mario games said...

Nice post. I have been searching for articles about valves and actuators and your post really helps. Thanks a lot for posting this.

ragdoll games said...

Great and fantastic blog. I am interested very much in the subject matter of your blog, it’s my first visit. I like very much your way of presentation. I am so much interested to join your network. Thanks for sharing this post. Keep blogging.

sports games said...

i love this blog! keep up good works...its to be nice if we can know each other, do you think so?

sniper games said...

Yes, but can you afford the massive financial and technical outlays implicit in the iPhone studio system?

Anonymous said...

would just like to say to all my fellow Entrepreneurs…just remember that persistence is the key to success. I

environmentally friendly bags