Kochi: Shri P S Sreedharan Pillai, Governor of Goa, said in Kochi that we do have a workaholic Prime Minister, and that is the strength of our Democracy. He added that ‘loose talk’ has no room in Democracy. He was speaking at “Ezhuthaazham @ 182” (Depth of Writing @ 182), a programme organised in Kochi International Book Festival (KIBF) in connection with the release of four books authored by Sreedharan Pillai and the celebration of the release of his 182nd book. “Orientation on Education”, “Anthology of Official Address”, “Musings on Social and Economic Issues”, and “Kadhayalla Kadhakal” (compilation of Malayalam stories) were released on occasion by Mega Star Mammootty. Governor said, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru had opined that ‘leaders are expected to educate the people. It is essential for the success of Democracy.
Sreedharan Pillai said Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh trained him to think more rationally than emotionally. When the rulers treated a section of the people as second-class citizens under the drastic Democracy rule during 1975 – 1977, Param Pujaniya Sarsanghchalak Shri Balasaheb Deorasji, who was jailed in Yerwada Central Prison, called on the workers to protest in Gandhian non-violent style. The same protest was adopted when the Sangh was banned in 1948.
The Governor said that he could visit 461 villages in Goa within 15 months. It allowed him to learn about the problems and issues they face. National media reported that Goa Raj Bhavan had turned Lok Bhavan.
Governor blasted K Muraleedharan MP, Congress leader and son of former CM K Karunakaran, for insulting him three times. He was referring to Muraleedharan’s senseless statement that Kerala Governor is always out of state and Goa Governor is always in Kerala. Sreedharan Pillai said his father was an ordinary farmer, not a chief minister. He believes that people wield the ultimate power and nothing is above that. He added that the same M.P. once demanded to imprison him for a reference he made during the Sabarimala agitation of 2018. He wonders if this approach of the M.P. is due to the ‘compensation case’ of Prof. Eachara Warrier. (Prof. Warrier was the father of P. Rajan, the engineering student who was killed in police custody during the Emergency. K. Karunakaran resigned as CM in April 1977 after hardly spending one month in office in connection with the Rajan case). He said M.P. should know what happened to the people who earned a lot. Governor said he knows the history of the people responsible for that young student’s tragic death.
The almighty God would not let anyone go scot-free. He asked the M.P. not to utter nonsense for the sake of applause. Opponents are not enemies. He asked the Congress leader to try to find virtues in others. He should cultivate the reading habit and practise writing.
Even though the Governor criticised the M.P. in harsh language, he did not mention his name, not even once. But the audience got the message and roared their approval with thunderous applause. Governor added that the media are not to blame because they give what people need. In a democracy, we have to respect political opponents as our friends. No other state ‘enjoys’ this much ‘harvest of hatred’ as Kerala does.
Governor said that for Mahatmaji and Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay, the welfare state, meant the development of the lowest strata of the population. Deenadayali called it ‘Anthyodaya’. He could study the conditions of the ordinary people during his traverse in the villages of Goa. About his writing, he said that he writes because he loves to write.
Justice Cyriac Joseph, Lok Ayukta, Keralam and former Supreme Court Judge, said that imaginative talents, instinct and flair to dream and positive energy are the glitters of Sreedharan Pillai’s literary works. Mega Star and matinee idol Mammootty said that ‘182nd book’ is an incredible surprise. He said it takes about two days to complete a letter. Matters taking place in the thoughts develop into writing after intellectual treatment. He said that he is not an academic or social worker. But, he respects Governor Sreedharan Pillai thanks to his qualities. Mammotty released the latest four books authored by the Governor. Goa Varsity V.C. Prof. Harilal B. Menon, P. Sivashankar, K.A. Baijunath and Rajesh Vijayan received the first copies of the books from Mega Star Mammootty.
T. Asaf Ali, former DGP Kerala High Court, said that Sreedharan Pillai is an efficient lawyer, a shining politician and a personality with social commitment. He took proactive steps like a prophet to bring peace to the post-riot Marad. Pillai is a rare sort of lawyer. He was successful in all courts – Magistrate court to Supreme Court.
Novelist Abraham Mathew said that Shri Pillai is usually kind and docile. He is calm and quiet in debates, but at the same time, he strictly sticks to his decisions and principles.
Dr J. Prameeladevi, the former chairperson of the Kerala Women’s Commission, said that Shri Pillai’s books deserve detailed studies. Despite versatile and heavy responsibilities and tedious professional compulsions, Shri Pillai keeps on writing. That is Shri Pillai’s peculiarity, said Dr Sreeshailam Unnikrishnan.
Goa University V.C. Dr Harilal B. Menon presided. Dr Menon said that Governor Sreedharan Pillai converted Goa Raj Bhavan to Jan Bhavan. Former union minister Prof. K.V. Thomas, BJP leader M.T. Ramesh and NBT Executive Member E.N. Nandakumar spoke on occasion. Mega Star Mammootty inaugurated the exhibition of Sreedharan Pillai’s 182 books.
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