A treasure that made me rich

Among many other things what life has taught me is that you don’t have to be the direct beneficiary of something to become a happy man in your life.

I was a happy and proud Indian when India won the cricket World Cup, though I never got a penny from it. Dhoni got, Tendulkar got and other players who have played and not played all got a fortune of cash. But not me. I was still happy, say even more than Sreesanth.

I was also a happy Indian when A.R. Rehman got Oscar award. When he took the award I took the happiness. But I was not that happy when the movie Slumdog Millionaire bagged the award. Not because I have anything against the movie. But I don’t subscribe to the idea of foreigners selling the pathetic conditions of our slum life to the world. And I still believe if the movie has won the academy award it is just because of some ‘white hands’ in it.

When Viswanathan Anand became the Grand Master I was double happy. He was an Indian first and South Indian second. The later one was the reason for my double happiness. All south Indians are that way. They become happier if the person concerned is a South Indian. The same applies to in sadness too. Otherwise ask Karunanidhi. He was sad when Kalmadi went to Tihar, depressed when Raja followed and when Kanimozhi went, he cried.

When I think of Viswanathan Anand’s extraordinary brain power, I wish our politicians had got half of it. I must admit, it is a thought that makes me sad, not happy.

I was always happy to watch Sania Mirza play, whether she win or lose. It was the same case with every Indian, I bet. I felt proud when she won and sympathized when she lost. At least she tried hard, I argued for her. The way she was progressing I thought one day she will conquer the world. She proved me wrong and conquered a Pakistani. She still plays for India as an Indian. However, today many Indians see her as Sania Malik not as Sania Mirza. That’s the problem.

Another woman I am really happy with is Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. Can anyone imagine where the Congress Party will be today if she was not in the helm of affairs? I am saying this not because I am a Congressman. In that case I am also happy with the way Mr. Narendra Modi is carrying out his work in Gujarat (except his inaction during the riot). With no personal connections with either of these two, I still feel happy about them and their work.

Another time I felt much happier is when Mr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam became the President of India. People like him are real treasures of the country and when he has been selected for the high position of Indian President, I felt myself getting honoured.

And comes to think of treasures, I feel I am one of the most honoured, fortunate, luckiest, richest and happiest men in the world today. That is because Shree Padmanabhaswamy temple, where thousands of crores of wealth being been unearthed, is situated just one hour ride from my home.

Have the cake and eat it too

AN OPEN LETTER TO SHREE OOMEN CHANDY, CHIEF MINISTER OF KERALA, AND SHREE UTHRADOM THIRUNNAL MARTHANDA VARMA MAHARAJA, HEAD OF TRAVANCORE ROYAL FAMILY.

Respected Chief Minister Mr. Oomen and Shree Uthradom Thirunnal Marthanda Varma Maharaja,

As there are lot of suggestions and opinions are coming from both ordinary and eminent people of this state regarding the utilization of the massive wealth unearthed from Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple in Thiruvanathapuram, here is a concrete and useful suggestion, which if implemented, would change the face of our state.

Everyone will agree that unless and until a wealth is used in a proper manner there is no value for it. A dead asset is of no use. Therefore the treasure wealth that has been found must be used for the welfare of the whole state in the name of Sree Padmanabha.

This does not mean we must dispose of the wealth.

A country or a state can progress only if the three basic amenities like Road, Water and Electricity facilities are improved. If you consider the present condition of the three amenities in our state you will come to know we have to improve a lot on these areas.

Once you have these facilities in place development will be an automatic process. But our main problem is we do not have sufficient fund to carry out these projects successfully and the will power to take the initiative.

Here are my suggestions:

A separate trust consists of three senior members from the Palace authority, three members nominated by the government, one representative from each national political parties (heads of the parties in the state will be a good option) and three members of public prominence under the guidance of Supreme Court be formed to take care of this wealth.

The trust should keep the wealth under the custody of Reserve Bank of India under a mortgage scheme.

The trust should make available a 90 per cent of the value of the wealth as loan under the mortgage plan. This amount should be deposited in an account operated by three trust members, one from palace representative, one government representative and one from the public prominence. (No political member should be made a signing authority). Proposals should only be approved with consent of all the trust committee members with a veto power to all members.

Initially this amount should be utilized for only three purposes; road development project, electricity projects and water projects.

ROAD PROJECT:

A six line national highway to be constructed across the state connecting all important places and local roads widened wherever it is necessary. This road project must keep in mind the road safety and must help avoid all accidents happening in our roads every day.

ELECTRICITY PROJECT:

Electricity is the next project we must concentrate. Kerala is a state where we a lot of natural resources. Despite we get considerably good rain during the monsoon season our concerns to produce enough electricity is still at large. We must explore other possibilities that could produce enough electricity to meet our needs. The project should be aimed at our long term requirement.

WATER PROEJCT:

Water water everywhere not a drop to drink is apt saying when it comes many places in our state. The situation may not that grim in urban areas. But in rural areas the situation is different. We must make drinking water easily available to everyone in the state. No doubt it will be one of the most humanity works that will be carried out rather than a social need.

The projects that are mentioned above only based on the priority. Availability of funds could be used in any project that will be good for the state and can bring direct benefit to the needy people of the state. Again, with the approval of all trust members.

We have resource now, I mean the money. We are not disposing off the wealth which is a real treasure. On the contrary by carrying out the above mission in the above manner we will be having a cake and eating it too.

The loan taken against this treasure will be repaid to the Reserve Bank of India by the government through a fixed monthly installment. The duration for repayment of the loan could be fixed for 25 years which will be an ideal duration. This process can be continued and in every 25 years the state could avail fresh loan from the Reserve Bank for development of the state.

HOW TO PRESERVE THE TREASURE

Reserve Bank of India must make the provision to keep the wealth under a well-protected security cover by constructing a hi-tech security locker.

The Reserve Bank in coordination with the government of Kerala should construct a high security cell in Kanakakunnu Palace, where the treasure could be kept under stringent security cover, probably in a vacuum glass chamber. This will enable the authorities to open the place for public viewing, may be for one month in every calendar year during the Onam festival.

This above proposal, if implemented with the full consent and guidance of respected Shri Uthradom Thirunnal Marthada Varma Maharaja, the present custodian and head of Travancore royal family, I hope, will be the best option to utilize the treasure in a meaningful way.

Apart from the projects mentioned above, a substantial amount from the mortgage loan amount to be deposited in the temple account in a fixed deposit and interest from this deposit can be utilized for the development of the temple. (There may be question raised about the repayment of loan by the government as part of the amount has been deposited temple account. What is to be taken into consideration is that the government is the main beneficiary of the temple treasure, and therefore the government should consider this proposal in healthy manner and bear that responsibility).

The responsibility of the security measures deployed in the treasure site in Kanakakunnu Palace will be a joint venture of Reserve Bank of India and government of Kerala. The state government can also avail extra security advises from the central government if necessary.

Last but not the least, all the projects carried out using this resource will be the name Sree Padmanabha prefixed to it. Like Sree Padmanabha Highway, Sree Padmanabha Water Project, Sree Padmanabha Energy Project, Sree Padmanabha Seawater Desalination Project etc. etc. etc. etc………

It is a dream, will it materialise? Let wisdom prevail.

Yours truly,

P.S. Rajan