Excelsior... Nation

Women engineers are on the increase: Study

MUMBAI, Dec 18: There is a "spectacular" increase in the number of girls entering engineering courses in the country for the last three and a half decades but the northern India has still to catch up, Prof S P Sukhatme, former Chairman, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, said.

There is also trend among women engineers to go for higher studies and teaching in addition to working in large and small private companies, Sukhatme, the winner of Indian National Science Academy award, said while delivering Daulat Singh Kothari Memorial Lecture here yesterday on 'Women Engineers in India'.

A study, conducted by Sukhatme and Dr Bharati Parikh at IIT Mumbai, has also observed that there was decreasing trend in employed women engineers from 69 per cent in 1980s to 55 per cent in 1990s and the unemployment rate has also gone up among them from 26 per cent in 1980s to 31 per cent in 1990s.

While the unemployment in men was found to be 5 to 10 per cent for the same period, he added.

From a mere one girl student, who was admitted at the University Deprtment of Chemcial Technology, Mumbai, in early 1970s, the number of girls joining engineering colleges has steadily increased and in 2005 it stands at 15 per cent of the total admission, Sukhatme said.

The women engineers were mostly specialised in electrical civil, computer and information technology, it added.

The revolution in women joining engineering courses was witnessed mostly in the southern states starting with Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, "the northern India with an exception of Delhi, has to improve its position."

In Gujarat, the number of students joining the engineering stream has started going up, Sukhatme said.

Analysing some of the reasons for the unemployment, the study suggested that these women engineers, who are unable to cope up with problems due to commitment at office and home could be given options for flexible working hours, to work from home when necessary, providing part time jobs, long leave facility during child birth and child care facility near work places, besides enhanced security during night shifts.

"With these, the human resource which is essential for soci-economic growth of the country could be duly acheived and in future also we could find more increase in number of girls joining engineering stream," Sukhatme said.

Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Dr Srikumar Banerjee said the success and maturity that India has gained in nuclear technology was evinced in the mastery over the entire fuel cycle and in the capability of building and operating Pressurised Hevy water reactors without any external support.

Understanding of microstructure was very important and BARC scientists have mastered it and "we are doing well in fabrication."

"Even Canada is asking for seamless tubes developed by BARC which are qualiifed for irradiation growth.

Banerjee said, in the nuclear technology field, India's future direction would be omtimisation of existing alloys and also development of new zirconium-tin-niobium alloys.

Banerjee said, for the upcoming Advanced Heavy Water Reactor, the challenge lay in the development of materials. (PTI)

India should make NATO compatible arms: Par committee

NEW DELHI, Dec 18: Concerned over the country's failure to make a breakthrough in arms exports, a Parliamentary Committee has recommended that ordnance factories should manufacture NATO compatible weapons.

Noting that failure to manufacture weapons upto NATO standards, specially small calibre items, has badly hit the country's efforts to boost arms sales, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence said specification of indigenous arms should be changed to make them NATO compatible.

Expressing concern that arms exports plunged to mere Rs 41 crores this year against Rs 93 crores in 2003-04, the committee in its report, tabled in Parliament, said India should become a major player by offering indigenous missiles, helicopters and major weapons systems for sale abroad.

The committee noted that Indian export market was at present confined to neighbouring nations like Nepal, Myanmmar and Maldives, besides catering to the replenishment market.

The committee said the Government should create an Export Promotion Board for ordnance factories. The factories should be restructured and experts involved in these in order to launch a modernisation drive, it added.

"The Export Promotion Board should have experts from international trade and marketing fields who can evolve an effective strategy and drive to tap the vast export markets for armaments, ammunitions and other defence products," the committee said.

In presentations to the committee, the defence production departments said while an Indian 5.56 assault rifle was being offered at 450 US dollars per piece, the rate in the international market was between 800 and 1000 USD.

As part of efforts to boost exports, the Defence Ministry has also sought pruning the negative list of nations and relaxation of licence restrictions from the Originalex - Soviet suppliers.

The Government informed the committee that higher end products and services were being targeted, apart from ensuring procedural simplification to promote exports.

The Ministry has profiled 30MM Medak Naval gun and upgraded 40mm L-70 anti-aircraft guns as potential weapons in the export category. The parachute market is also being explored as the Indian product is priced much less in the international market.

The Defence Ministry informed the committee that it has sought nod for developing port infrastructure to handle hazardous cargo as foreign vessels were charging highly for such exports. (PTI)

Begging, an unknown phenomenon in Mizoram

AIZAWL, Dec 18: Begging is unknown in Mizoram. A number of factors have led to this justifiably proud feature of the Mizo society.

Some believe it to be because of the small population of the state.

Others point out that it is because of the religious beliefs of people.

Most of them here underline that it is due to the strong community spirit, lack of inter-tribal rivalry and bonds of kinship that has kept the social evil of begging at bay.

Darhmingthangi, Senior Vice President of state's apex women NGO, the Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP) told UNI that she firmly believes that religious cooperation has a lot to do with non-existence of beggars in the state. "Rather than begging, Mizos will give everything they can to live in the society."

"MHIP has taken upon itself to help each and every woman across the state who failed to make both ends meet. With the assistance from the Government, we have been able to guide them in finding sustenance," Ms Darhmingthangi pointed out.

In their respective regions, various NGOs in the state also play an important role in helping out the poor people by making them self sufficient.

"Begging was never in practice during the days of my great grandfathers. If any citizen needed help, people from village would come forward to provide aid to him,'' J H Zoremthanga, president of state's largest NGO body central Young Mizo Association (YMA), said.

"The tradition of our forefathers is being carried till date. Central YMA has given instructions to all YMA branches to see that no one from their premises begs," he said. "Our organisation's motto is to help them before they beg."

YMA loudspeakers were heard in every locality to help people in dire situations.

Another aspect of the region is that the Mizo society is tightly knit.

The reason is evident since irrespective of community and religion, even the Below Poverty Level (BPL) groups' mindset across the state is to help each other and work hard for their daily bread.

75-year old Lalninpui, who does not have any family members, collects vegetables from Aizawl market everyday. She then goes to some houses where she gets some rice in return for her vegetables.

"God has given me good health to work, nice friends to help around and why should I get something free out of sympathy?" she says.

Interestingly, police records too reveal the fact that there was no single arrest so far in connection with begging incidents in the region.

"I think, we have arrested only two beggars till now with petty theft. They too are non-Mizos," L T Hrangchal, Superintendent of Police (Aizawl district), claimed.

"It's difficult to spot beggars here," he added. (UNI)

Draft anti-communal violence law toothless, say rights activists

NEW DELHI, Dec 18: Prominent human and women rights groups and social and cultural activists have come out strongly against the provisions of the Communal Violence(Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, 2005 introduced in the current sessin of Parliament, saying it totally failed to achieve its purpose.

"The Government did not consult civil society groups or attempt to forge a national consensus on a bill of such importance," the activists say.

They put forward following points against the draft Bill:

The need to bring in an anti-coummunal violence law arose in view of the increasing communalisation across the country, particularly in the light of the riots in Gujarat in 2002. Such a law was expected to increase the powers of citizens against the the Government and the police and civil administration, but instead of strengthening the hands of citizens, the proposed law further strengthens the hands of the state against them, they feel.

It gives politicians, administration and the police wide powers, which all know are largely "used against the very minority groups" which the Bill purports to protect.

Under the existing law, most of what the Bill envisges is already permissible. Arms can be banned, routes of processions regulated, armed forces called in to assist civil administration and special courts established. The state is already sufficiently enabled to act so any new law should require it to act, and to make failure to protect citizens and the rule of law a serious crime.

The Bill provides for punishment of public servants who fail to prevent communal violence, but that requires consent of the state Government and some state governments may be partisan. Moreover, the power of the Central Government to order armed forces to intervene under the bill(in cases where the state Government is complicit in the violence) is negated by a provision which requires the Centre to seek permission of state Governments for such intervention.

The Bill is also silent on the issue of mass sexual violence in conflict situation. There is no definiton of sexual assault to include the kind of violence women sufferred in Gujarat--stripping mutilation, insertion of objects into their bodies.

All that the Bill gives women survivors of communal violence is section 376 of the IPC--the much maligned rape law whose evidentary requirements are difficult to meet even in peace time and impossible in a situation of violent communal conflict.

The bill also fails to address the problem of increasing communalisation of society and the polity at all levels and does not acknowledge or bring in its purview areas such as driving minorities out of erstwhile mixed settlements, social and economic boycott of particular groups, discrimination in employment and communal writings in text books.

Right of survivors to rescue, relief and rehabilitation has been introduced in a watered down fashion without stipulating any mandatory national norms for a rehabilitation scheme.

While rejecting the draft, the activists called upon the UPA Government to open negotiations to prepare a law that can "genuinely" strengthen the citizen's hands and made Governments more accountable to them.

The signatories to the statatement included Uma Chakravarty, Rooprekha Verma, Colin Gonsalves, Kamal Mitra Chenoy, Harsh Mander, Malini Ghosh, Apoorva Ananad, Anil Choudhary, Digant Oza, Shabnam Hashmi, Vani Subramaniam, Nayan Patel, Sandhya Gokhle, Farah Naqvi, Gagan Sethi and several other activists. (UNI)

Mulayam should announce assets: BJP

LUCKNOW, Dec 18: The BJP today joined the Congress in demanding public disclosure of assets allegedly accumulated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and his kin.

"Why is the CM afraid of making public his assets, since a people's representative should alway be transparent in his deeds," said leader of the opposition in the state Assembly Lalji Tandon.

Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Tandon, also the leader of the BJP legislature party, said after refusing a CBI probe in the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai, the CM was again trying to hush up the assets issue.

"Mr Yadav's attitude proves there is something fishy in making public his assets and his rejection of a CBI probe in the MLA murder case."

The leader of the opposition also slammed the state Governemnt of 'misusing' people's money in unproductive expenses such as Saifai Mahotsav. "It is clear misuse of funds by the government to highlight the CM's village."

Earlier, state Congress chief Salman Khurshid had demanded disclosure of assets accumulated by the CM and his kin. "I do not know the reason behind the CM's attitude in avoiding the issue."

Observing that people had a right to know about the assets of politicians and public figures, Mr Khurshid had announced that all UP Congress leaders would volunteer to disclose their assets.

"When a person becomes a public figure, the thin line between personal and public life disappears...During elections Mr Yadav had given an affidavit about his assets. What is the harm in issuing a fresh one," he observed.

Mr Tandon said the BJP 'Nyay Yatra', that commenced from Varanasi on December 14, was receiving people's support. Former UP Chief Minister and BJP general secretary Rajnath Singh is leading the Yatra.

He said another Yatra from Moradabad would be started next month by another former CM Kalyan Singh, where recently a district panchayat member Jagdish Khadagvanshi was murdered. A UP minister is the prime accused in the case. (UNI)

Dear students have safe sex, condom machines at your doorstep

NEW DELHI, Dec 18: Dear students, if you want to have sex, have it all safely. This is the message of Delhi State AIDS Control Society (DSACS) on whose recommendation condom vending machines have been set up in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Delhi University (DU) campuses.

Not surprisingly, the response is overwhelming.

According to DSACS Chairperson Bhupinder Prasad, the vending machines, along with health kiosks, have been started at five places in Delhi in last one month. Besides condoms, literature on HIV/AIDS and chocolates and other commodities are available at these centres.

"We are targeting the students community. The intention is to ensure that if they want to have sex, let them have safe sex," she told PTI.

DSACS has also recommended for opening such a kiosk in Jamia Milia University campus, she added.

Anybody, who wants condom, can get the product from the vending machine. People can thus overcome the hesitation over purchasing it from general stores, in full glare of the public.

The other places where such facilities have been started include Delhi Secretariat and the Health Ministry. Hindustan Latex Limited is installing these machines following recommendation of the DSACS.

The response to these vending machines is picking up, Prasad said, pointing out the uptake of condoms comes around 80 to 100 pieces in JNU campus everyday.

"The response shows that it is becoming popular. Hence, we are starting in other campuses," she said.

This facility was started in DU last week, so the uptake figures are not immediately available.

She said Delhi is becoming more vulnerable to prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Quoting the surveillance report, she said about 45,000 people in the capital city are infected with HIV, 35 per cent of whom are in the age group of 15-25, she said. (PTI)

International Conference on Operation Research for Development

JAMSHEDPUR, Dec 18: A three-day 5th International Conference on Operation research for Development (ICORD-V) will commence here from tomorrow.

The 5th conference in the series was being organised in the country for the second time afer its first edition held at Ahmedabad in December, 1992, Prof Jonathan Rosen head of London School of Economics and Prof A Tripathy (IIM-A) as well as the organising committee head B K Sinha of Tata Steel, told newsmen here last evening.

The second, third and fourth editions were held at Rio De Janeriro, Brazil (August 1996), Manila, Philippines (November 1997) and Kruge National Park, South Africa (May 2001) respectivelly .

They said the conference series was initiated with a conviction that Operational Research (OR) can make significant contribution to the process of development in general and developing countries in particular. A document titled "Ahmedabad Declaration", which was unanimously accepted during ICORD-I at Ahmedabad in 1992, highlighted the various actions to be initiated at different levels for making or play an important role in development.

The development of soft or approached over the last 25 years have given a significant base for use of or in development related activities, they said while claiming that the soft or approaches have always been found quite effective in addressing various issues at enterprise level as wll as in addressing various community and social issues like health, education, infrastructure, urban development and crime prevention.

A two-day pre-conference workshop on problem structuring methods for development, which was organised a couple of days ago, were a set of participating approaches which appropriated for the wicked problem encountered in development situation, they said, these have been found useful at community level and also had impact at national building initiatives.

Appreciating Tata Steel for its important role in the success of ICORD, they said the objective behind organising such conference was to bring together operational researchers to exchange their views on the subject.

About 100 delegates from across the country and abroad including United Kingdom, France, Brazil, Brunei, Iran, Mexico, Canada, Burkino Faso, Kenya, Egypt, South Africa, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Columbia, Cameroon, Bangladesh, Nepal and Romania are expected to participate in the conference.

The three plenary talks in the conference included the first representing Asia, second representing Europe including Africa and the third representing North and South America.

Kirit Parikh, Member of Planning Commission, Prof Luk Wan Wassebhove from Insead, France and Prof. Roberto D Galvao from UFRJ, Rio De Janerio, Brazil will be the plenary speakers, they added. (PTI)

Small booklets leaving big imprint on Dalit psyche

ALLAHABAD, Dec 18: While the emergence of backward classes as a social and political force has been made possible by the efforts of their leaders, credit also goes to the Dalit literature to complement the efforts by infusing a sense of dignity in these sections, says a study.

The study conducted by Dalit Resource Centre, funded by the Ford Foundation, has found that voluminous literature produced by Dalit writers, has contributed towards bringing self-respect and the motivation to move ahead into the lives of the "depressed" classes, Director of the project Badri Narayan Tiwari told PTI here.

Tiwari, who is a faculty member at the G B Pant Social Science Institute here, said a characteristic feature of this "literature of sell respect" is that it is brought out mostly in the form of cheap and small booklets, which can be procured at any of the political or cultural gatherings of the Dalits.

He said through these booklets, the Dalits have sought to question "the politics of silence" which has resulted in hardly anything.

"This has also resulted in the emergence of an alternative history which has been rejected by the mainstream historians," he said adding Dalit literature must be analyzed in the context it has been written in.

"We can take (as an example) "Pasi Samrajya" authored by R K Chaudhary, which seeks to trace the descent of Rajbhar Pasis from a royal dynasty of the medieval period which was allegedly dethroned by the Mughals in collusion with upper caste Hindus," Tiwari said.

"Instead of scornfully pointing towards the historical improbability of this theory, one needs to understand that this is an attempt by an oppressed community to take some pride in its past. The alleged role of the upper caste Hindus, in fact, reflects the anguish of a community that has for ages suffered exploitation and humiliation," he said.

The authenticity of the facts in the booklet may be questionable but they have an "irresistable" appeal for those who have been at the receiving end of an inequitable social order," he said.

"A similar case in point is the booklet on Lakhan Pasi written by one Rajkumar. This booklet deals with a mythical figure, after whom, the writer claims, is the city of Lucknow named.

"Here again, we can see a very strong attempt to protest the prevalent social ethos. That have been a cause of torment for the Dalits. The attempt is not only to establish that a modern city is named after their hero but also to counter the claims that it was named after Ram's brother Lakshman seen as a representative of the upper caste hegemony," said Tiwari.

"And these are only two samples. There are many others widely-circulated booklets that pose new questions before the Hindu mythology," he added.

Valmiki and Ravidas, the great saint poets, are extolled as symbols of Dalits selflessness. There are writings that assert that Eklavya's promptness in offering his thumb to Dronacharya is an example of the Dalit ideal of service and reverence for their masters, a virtue that has been rarely respected by the elite class," Tiwari said.

"From here on, we can see more pro-active attempts to confront and challenge what Dalit writers may term as manuvadi ethos. It is well-known that learning of the Vedas was forbidden for the shudras. So, now the Chamar community can be seen asserting with a vengeance the existence of Chamarved, a holy book composed by holy men from their community," he said.

This quest for asserting themselves through intellectual means also led the Dalits to re-write modern history from their own perspective, said Tiwari.

"While there is little dispute over Dalits' participation in the freedom struggle copious writings are available depicting their role in even in the first war of independeence. Booklets by Bauddhacharya S Rao Sajivan Nath on Matadin Hela, a scavenger whose taunts impelled Mangal Pandey to rebel and Bhavani Shankar Visharad's work on Jhalkari Bai, projected as the motivator of the Rani of Jhansi, are a few examples," he said.

Tiwari, who has travelled to hundreds of villages across Uttar Pradesh as part of his project, claimed these booklets, which have a surprisingly large circulation despite not a very high literacy rate and purchasing power among the trageted community, have considerably shaped recent political movements as well.

"In his hey days, Kanshiram and now Mayawati have admitted having referred to one or more of these booklets to add an extra punch to their speeches. In fact, one of the most popular booklets doing the rounds is BSP Ke Geet by one Shiv Prasad Dohre, containing verses propagating the party's ideology.One hear activists reciting the verses at almost all gatherings of the party," he said.

"Similar attempts to arouse Dalit consciousness have been made in other states as well - for example by Ram Vilas Paswan in Bihar. The Dalit movement may not be as strong every where but nowhere is it now feeble enough to be ignored," he added.

However, Tiwari cautioned it would be "too simplistic" to see these booklets as mere political tools developed by interested parties.

"Our study shows there is a direct correlation between the level of social and political awakening in a community and its contribution to the development of Dalit literature," he said.

"For example, Chamars and Pasis have been the most prolific in producing booklets on their heroes and they also happen to be the most vocal among the depressed castes. On the other hand, Jogi, Rangrej and Tatwa are some of the communities that have not been able to build their own legends and they are hardly considered a force," he added. (PTI)

Demolition drive: Delhi Cong to approach Centre

NEW DELHI, Dec 18: Congress in Delhi today decided to approach the Centre to find an amicable solution to the demolition drive currently underway in the capital to remove illegal constructions on orders of the Delhi High Court.

This was decided at a meeting of party Lok Sabha MPs from the capital called by Pradesh Congress president Ram Babu Sharma.

"We will be meeting Union Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy and Lt Governor B L Joshi to convey our concern over the issue. A strategy will have to be devised to find a solution," Pradesh Congress chief Ram Babu Sharma told reporters after the meeting.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit is also meeting Reddy this evening to raise the issue. Dikshit was also invited to the meeting, but she did not attend citing official preoccupation.

MPs Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Tytler, Anita Tirath and Delhi Mayor Satbir Singh attended the meeting which came a day after MCD began its drive to raze over 18,000 unauthorized constructions in the capital.

Three other MPs, Kapil Sibal, Ajay Maken and Sandeep Dikshit, did not turn up for the meeting. Maken and Sibal had informed in advance their inability to attend the meeting but there was no word from Sandeep, Sharma said.

Asked why the state unit and the party Government were meeting Reddy seperately, he said, "organisation has a different way of appraoch to solve the problem." (PTI)

Surjewala denies comment on letter to Jagat

CHANDIGARH, Dec 18: Haryana minister and former Indian Youth Congress (IYC) president Randeep Singh Surjewala today countered UN Oil-for-Food scam accused Jagat Singh's statement to the Enforcement Directorate that he had authorised Mr Jagat Singh to go to Iraq as a IYC delegate.

"I had never authorised Jagat Singh to go to Iraq as a IYC delegate during my tenure and as far as the reported letter is concerned I will only comment on it after I see the original letter in my own hands," Mr Sujewala said at a press conference here.

Mr Jagat Singh, who was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate on December 16 in connection with the Volcker controversy, had furnished proof of his having been a part of a Youth Congress delegation to Iraq in 2001. He had also presented to the Enforcement Directorate a copy of the letter of Mr Surjewala given to him mentioning his status as being part of the delegation. The letter, dated January 4, 2001 and written on the letterhead of the Youjh Congress, was signed by Mr Surjewala.

Mr Surjewala said he had also clarified to the Congress high command that he had neither authorised Mr Jagat Singh to represent the Youth Congress in Iraq nor to enter into any commercial transactions. (UNI)

HC dismisses State's plea to reject compensation plea

NEW DELHI, Dec 18: The Delhi High Court has rejected an application moved by the Union Home Ministry seeking to quash a petition moved by a UK-based NRI who sought a compensation of Rs 1.5 crore from the Government for his illegal detention by the Delhi police.

Justice A K Sikri dismissed the application on the ground that considering the allegations made by the petitioner there was prima facie sufficent grounds for considering the plea made in the petition.

The application moved by the Home Ministry took the plea that the petition was not maintainable as police officials enjoyed certain immunity from such prosecution under Section 140 of the Delhi Police Act.

The petitioner Balbir Singh was arrested by a police team led by Special Branch Inspector Rajbhir Singh on June 24, 1999 under the Explosive Substances Act.

Since no interim bail was granted the petitioner remained in jail till March 27, 2002 when he was eventually acquitted of the charges by the Sessions Court.

Accusing the police of resorting him to illegal confinement and foisting a false case with a malicious intent Balbir Singh moved the High Court seeking compensation for the trauma suffered.

Counsel for the Home Ministry Suresh Kait argued before the court that under Section 10 of the Delhi Police Act a police officer enjoyed immunity from prosecution for "acts done under the colour of duty or authority."

Further he contended that the suit should be dismissed since it was filed after the time barred period of three months after the date of the act complained of.

"The acts complained of, if proved by no stretch of imagination would be acts under the colour of duty, Justice Sikri observed while dismissing the application.The matter was posted for further hearing till March 1, 2006. (PTI)

'Authentic' history of modern India needs to be written: Kalam

KOCHI, Dec 18: Noting that historians can make vital contributions to national security and economic development, President A P J Abdul Kalam today said that an "authentic, comprehensive" history of India from 1857 needs to be written.

"An authentic comprehensive history of India is yet to be written in such a manner and style that enables citizens, analysts and policy makers at all levels to understand the rythms of social and economic change, locally and globally," the President said inaugurating the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Kerala History Association here.

Historians of the 21st century face a great challenge while writing Indian history from domination to freedom: political and economic. This research and analysis recorded in history books of India will be the document of freedom, which should inspire all nations to protect their territorial and economic integrity, he said.

This would help in implementing strategies for social, technological and economic change by empowering people with knowledge to think strategically and create their future, he said.

India was a "theatre" of invasions from many nations. "I ask myself why my nation succumbed to this phenomenon? Why my nation allowed many nations to have territorial and other ambitions? Why Indian history very rarely talked about India's invasion of other nations? These questions need to be answered."

"There may be many reasons, but it is essential that the knowledge of history should strengthen the nation by a unified action", the President said.

The time has come now to think of a new breed of historians, who can make the past meet the present and create the future. With value added approach to study and use of history, India can develop capabilities as a nation to think strategically and create a glorious future, Kalam said.

"Let us dispassionately treat our history after 1857, the commencement of the war of Independence, as our baseline. Let us preserve data and start writing accurately after 1857, when the nation in an integrated way challenged the alien rule", he said.

He urged the Association to partner academic, research, Government and industrial institutions in this endeavour.

The President said that some questions were raised a few years ago on why history should be taught as a subject in educational institutions.

This was an "extremely shortsighted" view, he said likening history to a "great teacher". There is a lot to learn from the "pluses and minuses" of the historical past. It was a fact of life which cannot be wished away, Kalam said.

Historial research can compel a society to analyse itself carefully, construct coherent arguments, present those arguments persuasively and draw intelligent conclusions, enabling a future to be created, free from the past.

Kalam said historical writing must inspire the younger generation into enlightened action to realise their full potential.

KHA president and former Supreme Court Judge, V R Krishna Iyer said the state was unique in several ways. Kerala was the state with the highest literacy, the largest number of elderly people and the largest number of people in other nations. The Largest remittances of money from abroad comes to the state. Kerala was also rated high in fine arts and literary excellence.

Alcoholism related deaths in kerala are the highest in the country. People invest their money on two and three wheelers in Kerala, from where the highest traffic accidents are reported. Churches, mosques and temples co-exist here.

Dr E P Antony, KHA secretary and Dr M V Pylee, Member Advisory council of the Association, also spoke.

Fisheries minister Dominic Presentation represented the Chief Minister at the function. (PTI)