Toothless Tiger

Late Tuulikki Ukkola
(Photo from ALMA Media)

 Today I visited Dentopolis, the Dental Clinic run by the University Central Hospital, and had the last of my 7 teeth in the lower jaw removed by two 4th year students who were named, Jaakko and Aino. 

Jaakko is the name of our eldest son and Aino is my late sister-in-law, Annikki's younger sister, who travelled around with Annikki before we were married!. 

The students were  guided by their teacher, Juha. 

It was very painfuld although a large amount of anaesthetic for each tooth was used, but I did not complain. 

On two earlier visits, first to a dental surgeon, who took out 4 teeth,  and then to 4 students, all my other teeth had been removed. 

The first lot of teeth were a problem as I had infection in the gums, but the second, done by 3 students guided by their teacher was no problem. 

As I came from the clinic, Annikki, who had been waiting paitiently for me, asked me whether I was now finally the  "Toothless Tiger”.

This aroused my memory about the famous Finnish journalist from Oulu, the late Tuulikki Ukkola, 

Tuulikki Ukkola, was born on November 28, 1943, in Taivalkoski, Finland. She started her journalism career at the newspaper Kaleva in 1962. Ukkola served as a Member of Parliament for the Oulu constituency from 1991 to 1995 as a member of the Liberal People's Party and later became the leader of the party from 1993 to 1995. She was re-elected as an MP for Oulu for the National Coalition Party in 2007, serving until 2011. Tuulikki Ukkola passed away on May 28, 2019, in Oulu at the age of 75.

In her political career she tried to bring forward the criticisms she had been writing about, but she met a brick wall and achieved very little.

When she came back to the newspaper in 1995 I wrote to her whether she had become a Toothless Tiger.

She thought it was very funny and added Annikki and me to her Christams card list, a great honour! .

Christmas card from Tuulikki Ukkola!

But that comment helped her back to her powerful writing and it was, thereafter, more constructive.

I may be the Toothless Tiger no,  but my friend in Helsinki, Christian Thibault carries on the Annikki and my legacy of fighting for the minorities in Finland. 

Christan Thibault

Christian resigned his membership from the Swedish Party in Finland after the last elections when they compromised their principles and joined the present government  as he felt that it was a violation of his life-long principles.

We value people like  Christian who adhere to their principles rather that follow the power trail to achieve their ends. 

Tuulikki learnt it the hard way! 

Tuulikki learnt her lesson that just by joining a political party and serving in Parliament would not achieve her dreams of improving society. The pen was the mightier power.

The Saacred Trust

The same was true of my grandfather, the late K. C. Mammer Mappillai, who then gave us the Sacred Trust followed by his sons, the late Padma Bhushan K. M. Cherian and Padma Bhushan K. M. Mathew and now followed diligently by his grandson, my cousin Padma Shri Mammen Mathew (Rajen).

1989 Delhi Rajen and Jacob
An everlasting brotherly bond of 75+ years.

Have I become a Toothleess Tiger?

Anatomically yes, but 

hopefully not with my brain! 

Finest Recipes of “Kerala’s leading cookbook author”

 I was fortunate to be the recipient, today, of a new cookbook from Kerala.

Cover of late Mrs. K. M. Mathew’s 

“Finest Recipes” 

The late Mrs. K. M Mathew’s eldest daughter-in-law, Prema, has curated a book of the finest recipes produced by my aunt in her lifetime. 

I have been fortunate in my life to have tasted many of them produced by Mrs. Mathew and then, by what I think is the the only cook in India that I know, her protege Vasu, who received an EU 9000 certificate for  his cooking skills!

In a recent blog entry about a Gujarthi evening I had enumerated the publications of late Mrs. K. M Mathew.

I have been brought up on enjoying the variety of good food from all over the world. 

I love most types of food, various Indian cusines, Chinese, Thai, Fusion, Continental, cordon blue, and "even British” as Roast Beef with Yorkshire pudding and Welsh rarebit. 

I am, however, not a fan of fastfoods as the Macburger!

I was introduced to Finnish cuisine by Annikki starting with meatballs and meat loaf and many other exotic dishes, especially various preparations of fish. 

But Annikki became a master cook with her own versions of Indian cooking as Massla Dosai made in a Finnish style with Finnish ingredients.

Annikki ran the first cooking class of Indian recipes in Ylivieska polytechnic, and introduced the first Chinese cooking class in Oulu when she was the Chairperson of the English Club of Oulu!

I was introduced to cooking by Mrs. K. M. Mathew when I left India to study in London when she scribbled some great recipes for me and taught me the basics of cooking.

However, when Annikki married me in 1967, she quickly threw me out of the kitchen, despite my very good skills as producing Roast Lamb, as she found I was not to good at keeping the kitchen clean.

I have been through the new book and I give here the detailed Contents and the items contained in each of the Sub-Sections.

All the best recipes from my experience of Kerala cooking are in the book, especially my very favourite, Karimeen, the masala fried White Fish!

One anecdote tells the story of the hospitality of Mrs. K. M. Mathew.

We were on a trip through Kerala and Mrs. Mathew asked us to stopover at her home in Kottayam. When we arrived she had been called out for some work but she had organised lunch for us with her husband as our host.

The tablespread was fantastic as anything one could hope for was on the table. 

Our eldest son was having a problem and called one of the staff and whispered something in his ear.

This caused a great concern as the staff member went to speak with our host.

My uncle appeared greatly disturbed as he apologised to Jaakko that they had prepared chicken, beef, lamb, and an array of vegetarian dishes but was sorry that he had not included "pork".

We all split our sides laughing as, we as a family do not eat pork as it is forbidden by Annikki's religious belief. 

So we asked Jaakko what he meant to which he replied that all he wanted was a "FORK"!

We used to tease Mrs. Mathew's husband that the enormous circulation of the Malayala Manorama newspaper was because every Keralite housewife bought  the newspaper so as to produce the food which her husband would appreciate! 

A Keralite woman (and Annikki) knows that a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach !

I am yet to meet a lady from Kerala who does not know the contribution of Mrs. Mathew to her day to day life, not only with the daily recipes she produced for the newspaper but also for the best selling ladies magazine in India, VANITHA, which is now also published in Hindi.

Annikki and Thangam (Cochin 2014)

Here is a picture of my dear cousin, Thangam, at her boutique “The Weavers” in Cochin and Annikki when we visited her in 2014, our very last visit to India.

The front cover of the new book describes Mrs. K. M. Mathew's standing in the eyes of the New York Times. 

The back cover has a short note expressed from the very heart by the daughter of Mrs. K. M. Mathew, Thangam.

Thank you Prema and Thangam for sending us 

this wonderful gift.

Journalist extrordinaire - Sachi

The late K. S. Sachinanda Murthy (Sachi)

(Courtesy Malayala Manorama)

On 13th of October 2023, when the untimely passing is K. S. Sachindanda Murthy (known in media circles as Sachi) was announced, in my lifetime I have never seen the media react in such a manner. Almost every newspaper and magazine in India covered his life and contribution to journalism. 

My maternsl grandfather, K. C. Mammen Mappillai, laid down ”A Sacred Trust” for  all of us to follow.

The Sacred Trust

Sachi served Malayala Manorama for a full 40 years. He understood and followed ”The Sacred Trust”.

After joining Malayala Manorama in 1982, Sachi became the Chief of Bureau and when they started their unit in Delhi, he became the Resident Editor, Delhi. This is  largest unit outside Kerala. They have nearly 175 staffers in Delhi. (No drivers, no peons.)  They have the Hindi Vanitha  published from Delhi. 

Sachi headed all the verticals as his job. He ran it professionally and very very efficiently. Sachi ran a tight ship and gave fortnightly status reports on every facet to the Management. 

Many personal stories have been recited in the last few days as everyone knew Sachi and everybody loved Sachi. Even the highest praise that have been offered are not enough to express the tremendous impact of this humble individual on the Indian media.

Three journalists stand out in my list of the extrordinaire category - the late B.G. Verghese, A. G. Noorani (now 93) and the late  K. S. Sachinanda Murthy.

When my cousin, Rajen told Sachi that I held him on the same pedestal as A. G. Noorani, he was thrilled to bits.

I knew B. G. Verghese as he was the brother of my aunt. BG used to visit us regularly when we lived in Bombay. When I was studying in St. Stephen’s College in Delhi, I used to meet him and his wife, Jameela regularly. They were both Stephanians, Jameela, before Stephen’s became a male only college.

I used to read BG’s columns regularly. He had the art of telling the facts in a manner which was understandable by the common man, much like the cartoonist, R. K. Laxman, That was why Nehru appointed BG as his Press Secretary.

I did not know A. G. Noorani personally, but his two brothers, Mohamed and Mushtaq,  are close friends of mine. Mohamed looked after me when I was being trained at Farbenfabriken Bayer AG in Leverkusen (near Köln) in Germany in 1964. Mushtaq was managing a hotel in the centre of Bangalore and Annikki and I stayed with him when we visited the city. They are true gentlemen and AG stands in the same category. AG knows that the PEN is mightier than the Sword and politicians as Nehru and Vajpayee respected this incredible lawyer, journalist and author.

I read AG's white papers at the time of the Indo-Chinese conflict and after that I got hooked on his writing.

Sachi was different but equal to both of them. 

He joined The WEEK in  Bangalore at the end of 1982. From my very first meeting I knew that he was a man of absolute talent. He could develop a story when one could never see another side to it. He hardly made predictions but when he did, he was always right.

 

Rajen getting his Padma Shri award from  President Abdul Kalam. His father Padma Bhushan K. M. Mathew is in the picture which also has his wife. Prema, their son, Jayant, and Jayant's wife, Anu. In the lventre back is Sachi.

(Courtesy Malayala Manorama)

Sachi served as the secretary general of the Editors Guild of India and chairman of the Lok Sabha Press Advisory Committee. He also was a member of the Central Press Accreditation Committee and the Press Council of India.

I was later told by my cousin Rajen that the contacts that Sachi had in all circles in Delhi and around India were without any comparison. He knew everyone that needed to be known and not only that he knew them intimately. He was the source for many journalists wanting a hot story. But Sachi was never after a hot story as his concentration was on the best reporting..

I met him for the first time when he joined tThe WEEK in Bangalore. He already knew the names of my wife and all my children. And he addressed me as Sushilchayan, a form of respect amongst Malayalis, although he was a Kannadiga from Kolar.

He knew all the contributions my paternsl grandfather, Raja Mantra Pravina Dewan Bahadur Maliyakal Kuriyan (Mysore) Matthan made to Mysore society.

When we moved to Finland, The WEEK magazine used to arrive at our home. Both, our son Mika and I, would rush to see Sachi’s writing. Although Mika was just 12 years old, he too liked the way Sachi told his story.

Mika kept all the old issues of the magazine for many years mainly because he liked Sachi’s page.

When President Pranab Mukherjee came to Finland in 2014, Sachi was in the media team but unfortunately we could not meet. A few weeks later I was in Delhi sitting in the office of The WEEK when Sachi came in. He was so greatly moved that he had not seen me during his visit to Finland, especially when he heard that I had brought  a group of Indians from Oulu to meet the Indian President.

After I heard of his illness, there was not a day that I did not say a prayer for dear Sachi and his family. It was then, when Rajen told him of my appreciation of Sachi that he was so moved by that.

What were the greatest lessons that I learnt from Sachi were that it is important to be humble and give respect to everyone who deserves respect. He taught me that it is the contacts that one develops in the course of one’s life that  leads to one’s success.

I will certainly miss the writings of Sachi as there is no one who can replace him.

Sachi with Philip Mathew, the Chief Editor of The WEEK, and Prime Minister P. V Narasimha Rao

(Courtesy Malayala Manorama)

Sachi with President Ram Nath Kovind and Chacko  Mathew, the Administration Chief of the Malayala Manorama group. 

(Courtesy Malayala Manorama)

The Karnataka government decided to accord full state honours to the departed during his cremation.

Sachi was a recipient of the Durlabh Singh Media Award and the Karnataka Media Academy award award for lifetime contribution to journalism at the national level, among others.

Sachi is survived by wife Chandrika and sons Nithin and Rohan. 

His columns called “Desiyam” and “Power Point” in the Malayala Manorama daily and The Week respectively dealt with national politics and garnered a wide readership. The editorials written by Sachi in the Malayala Manorama daily shaped the worldview of a large Malayali audience.

May this great journalist rest in peace. And may the dear Lord give solace to his immediate family and every single member of our Malayala Manorama family who will all miss him dearly.

Education: The Great Equalizer

 

"Educated" blacksmith: The late K. Raghavan

When I was just 8 years old I went to Kottayam to stay the summer holidays with my maternal grandparents. 

Malayala Manorama was in the throes of being restarted after India obtained independence. A vindictive Dewan of Travancore, who had an aversion to Christians and anyone associated with the Indian freedom movement, had locked down the Malayala Manorama newspaper in 1938 and he had corrupted the justice system and imprisoned my grandfather on trumped up charges as he disliked journalists, (much like what is happening in India just today).

After coming out of prison and waiting for Indian Independence, K. C. Mammen Mappillai  restarted the newspaper.

He acquired a second hand rotary printing machine. There were no drawings or instructions, just packages containing all the parts of the press.

There was a young blacksmith who was also a car mechanic working for the newspaper. He used to repair the treadle presses when they broke down.

He had a small blacksmithery above the house kitchen where he would cast the lead letters for typesetting. As he allowed me to fan the fire with the bellows, I used to spend many hours with him.

One day, he was called by my grandfather who asked him whether he could put together a team of workers to set up the old rotary press. 

There was no hesitation from this young man, which spoke of great confidence.

He had no knowledge of engineering drawings, or any other training in any field of engineering.

He put together a group of similar youngsters and got to work. I watched, quite fascinated how he went about his work, opening each package and sorting  the parts one by one. 

Then they started putting the press together. Slowly the press started coming up, one side from the foundations and the other from the drive mechanisms. They worked feverishly and tirelessly, day and night, as it was a promise they made to my grandfather.

I went back to Bangalorc  and came back for our next  vacation. The press was almost ready and they wanted to start it up.

They considered me a mascot. Raghavan called me one afternoon and asked whether I would press the START button.

I pressed it but nothing happened. No one was disappointed. 

They got to work again and shortly I was asked to again perform the honours. 

This time this huge machine creaked and started to move to the cheers of the small group of workers.

Then it was a question of fine tuning and setting it up to run. Before my vacation was over, the machine was actually printing newspapers.

To my mind, that was the work of a highly educated individual, who in subsequent years earned the respect of printing engineers worldwide who came and set up the most complicated printing presses for the newspaper.  

The engineers held Raghavan in great awe.

Raghavan was not even permitted to retire by the newspaper and continued as an "Advisor".

This simple man, older to me by almost 9 years, always addressed me as “Sushilchayan” a term of respect in our Malayali system.

One day I will blog much more about this fascinating person.

Today there was a report in my INBOX that said that the country which was most educated was South Korea. Finland was ranked 29th  and India was near the bottom at 43rd out of 46 nations. 

The basis of judging this was by the number of people who had attained a tertiary degree.

List of most educated countries in the world: Know where India stands 

South Korea has the highest percentage of educated persons. 

 Sameer Khan Follow on Twitter|   Published: 2nd October 2023 9:43 am IST

Ratings from report:

1. South Korea: 69%
2. Canada: 67%
3. Japan: 65%
4. Ireland: 63%
5. Russia: 62%
6. Luxembourg: 60%
7. Lithuania: 58%
8. UK: 57%
9. Netherlands: 56%
10. Norway: 56%
11. Australia: 56%
12. Sweden: 52%
13. Belgium: 51%
14. Switzerland: 51%
15. United States: 51%
16. Spain: 50%
17. France: 50%
18. Denmark: 49%
19. Slovenia: 47%
20. Israel: 46%
21. Latvia: 45%
22. Greece: 45%
23. Portugal: 44%
24. New Zealand: 44%
25. Estonia: 44%
26. Austria: 43%
27. Turkey: 41%
28. Iceland: 41%
29. Finland: 40%
30. Poland: 40%
31. Chile: 40%
32. Slovakia: 39%
33. Germany: 37%
34. Czechia: 34%
35. Colombia: 34%
36. Hungary: 32%
37. Costa Rica: 31%
38. Italy: 29%
39. Mexico: 27%
40. China: 27%
41. Saudi Arabia: 26%
42. Brazil: 23%
43. India: 20%
44. Argentina: 19%
45. Indonesia: 18%
46. South Africa: 13%

In another recent report the best education system in the world is considered to be in Norway, followed by Finland, Singapore and South Korea.

I asked AI to prepare a short essay about its view on the best education systems.

Title: Exploring the World's Leading Education Systems 

Introduction:

Education plays a crucial role in shaping the future of any nation. Governments across the globe strive to enhance their education systems to provide their citizens with high-quality learning experiences. While there are several countries renowned for the excellence of their education systems, identifying the single country with the absolute best education system is subjective and depends on various factors. In this essay, we will explore some top contenders and shed light on their noteworthy aspects.

Norway:

Norway is often lauded for its exceptional education system. The country emphasizes inclusive practices that embrace diversity and provide equal opportunities for all students. Norwegian schools prioritize critical thinking, creativity, and student autonomy over rote memorization. Moreover, their curriculum is designed to foster skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and communication. Consequently, Norway consistently ranks high in education-related metrics, promoting a culture of lifelong learning.

Finland:

Regarded as a pioneer in educational excellence, Finland has long been praised for its holistic approach to education. Finnish schools focus on nurturing students' overall well-being and personal growth, alongside academic achievement. Their curriculum places emphasis on playfulness, promoting a relaxed and enjoyable learning environment. Additionally, Finland places great importance on attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers, recognizing their role in driving educational success. This commitment has resulted in high teacher satisfaction and student outcomes.

Singapore:

Singapore, renowned for its high scores in international assessments, is often considered one of the world's leading education systems. The country prioritizes rigorous academic standards and a highly competitive curriculum. Singaporean schools emphasize mathematics, science, and technology, building a strong foundation for STEM-related fields. Moreover, the nation has a robust teacher training system, ensuring educators are equipped with the necessary skills to deliver quality education. Singapore's commitment to consistent improvement and innovation has contributed to its educational reputation.

South Korea:

South Korea is recognized for its strong educational achievements, with its students consistently ranking among the top performers in international assessments. The country emphasizes the importance of education and instills a strong work ethic in students from a young age. South Korean schools dedicate significant time to core subjects, particularly mathematics, science, and language. Additionally, their education system values discipline, dedication, and hard work, with students frequently engaging in additional tutoring and extracurricular activities.

Conclusion:

Identifying a single country with the absolute best education system is complex and subjective. However, Norway, Finland, Singapore, and South Korea represent nations that have achieved remarkable educational success. These countries prioritize various aspects, including inclusivity, teacher quality, holistic development, core subject mastery, and discipline. By examining the noteworthy aspects of these education systems, societies worldwide can gain valuable insights for enhancing their own education systems. Ultimately, the pursuit of educational excellence should be an ongoing endeavor, with a focus on creating environments that empower students to reach their full potential.

I then asked AI to write me an essay about education and whether achieving a tertiary degree was the criteria to define the education status of a nation.

Here is the interesting reply I received from AI

which fits quite well with Annikki and my practical experience:

Title: Exploring the Concept of Education: Beyond Tertiary Degrees

Introduction:

Education is a multifaceted term that goes beyond the mere acquisition of a tertiary degree. It encompasses a broader range of experiences, knowledge, and skills gained through formal, non-formal, and informal means. This essay aims to delve into the true essence of education and illustrate that its definition exceeds the boundaries of obtaining a tertiary degree.

Understanding Education:

At its core, education can be defined as the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, values, and understanding through various forms of learning. It involves both formal education, obtained through institutions like schools and universities, and informal education, which can be attained through real-life experiences, interactions, and self-study. Education equips individuals with the ability to think critically, solve problems, communicate effectively, and adapt to a rapidly changing world.

A Broader Scope:

While obtaining a tertiary degree is undoubtedly an important aspect of education, it would be too narrow to confine the entire concept to this single accomplishment. Education encompasses a wide array of experiences and opportunities that foster personal and intellectual growth, beyond the boundaries of academic achievement. For instance, individuals can acquire knowledge and skills through vocational training, apprenticeships, or workshops that equip them with valuable expertise in various fields.

Non-formal Education:

Non-formal education plays a significant role in shaping individuals' lives, even though it may not necessarily lead to a tertiary degree. This category includes community-based programs, professional development courses, online learning platforms, and workshops. Non-formal education provides individuals with learning opportunities to acquire skills, gain new perspectives, and expand their knowledge outside the traditional academic setting. It enables lifelong learning, fostering personal and professional growth on an ongoing basis.

Informal Education:

Informal education is an indispensable part of one's learning journey, often occurring naturally within everyday life experiences. It includes learning through observation, interaction, trial-and-error, and self-reflection. Informal education enables individuals to acquire practical skills, socialize, learn cultural norms, and develop valuable life skills that may not be achieved through formal education alone. In many cases, informal education complements or even surpasses the knowledge gained through formal channels.

The Purpose of Education:

Education serves a broader purpose beyond the acquisition of factual knowledge or qualifications. It fosters personal development, empowers individuals, and promotes social cohesion. The goal of education is to nurture critical thinking, enhance problem-solving abilities, shape ethical values, and cultivate well-rounded individuals capable of contributing positively to society. Education equips individuals with a sense of agency, enabling them to make informed decisions, adapt to changing circumstances, and engage actively as global citizens.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, education is a far-reaching concept that should not be limited to the sole acquisition of a tertiary degree. Education encompasses formal, non-formal, and informal learning experiences that empower individuals to grow intellectually, acquire practical skills, and develop a wide range of competencies. While a tertiary degree holds its significance, it is only one aspect of the broader landscape of education. By recognizing and valuing various forms of education, we can promote lifelong learning, personal growth, and societal development.

Malayala Manorama launched its Manorama Year Book in 1959.

1984 Year Book which I brought to Finland with me and formed the basis of many lectures I gave about India.

The 2008 year book I recently gifted to a young Indian boy in Oulu who has a bent for curiosity.

Another year I gave the Year Book to a young Finnish girl in Oulu on her graduation. I was thanked profusely for it.

Many have asked me how I acquired such a broad General Knowledge. 

When the first edition of the Year Book was being prepared, my uncle, the Chief Editor of the Malayala Manorama, set up a offer where he offered me Rupee 1 for every mistake I could find in the Year Book. 

Rupee 1 was a huge sum those days for a 16 year old.

I meticulously read the Year Book, cover to cover, and earned a tidy sum! 

That proof reading exercise paid me well then and later in my personal and professional life.

I am not a very clever individual but certain key steps in my life have paid me lavishly!

(I will blog a few other interesting helpful tips for life in a later blog!)

My friend and hero, Raghavan, is my model of an educated human being. No South Korean, Norwegian, Finn or Singaporean, could hold a candle to my Raghavan!

Raghavan did not even have a basic education.