CYCLONE OCKHI
As many as 75 fishers lost their lives in Kerala as cyclone Ockhi ripped through the coastal area wrecking terror and marauding the seaside hamlets. Ockhi hit the coast on November 30 and the state is still reeling under the aftershock. Coastal areas of Ernakulam District in Kerala were affected by the cyclone. Around 2,648 people were evacuated to seven shelters over Kochi. According to the latest statistics released by the state government, 143 fishermen are still missing from Kerala which includes 17 people from Thiruvananthapuram. 37 bodies remain unidentified.
KOCHI METRO
Hon’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kerala's first metro line On June 17, 2017, PM Modi inaugurated the first phase - 2 km of the total 25 km stretch - of the Kochi metro from Palarivattom station. The Kochi Metro is the first in India to use Communication Based Train Control technology to maximise frequencies and minimise errors. Each station on the Kochi Metro will have solar panels, which will focus on producing 35% of the total power usage. • Nearly 1,000 women and 23 transgenders have been selected to work on different roles in Kochi Metro rail system.
K.E. MAMMEN Passed Away
Noted Gandhian and Freedom fighter K.E. Mammen, who had participated in the Quit India Movement, passed away on July 25, 2017, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He was 96 Mammen was born on July 31, 1921, in Thiruvananthapuram. During his college years, he became an active participant in the freedom movement. He was first jailed for taking an open stand against P Ramaswamy Iyer, the then Dewan of the erstwhile Travancore state. iv. In recent years, Mr. Mammen had been active in anti-liquor struggles in Kerala. v. He is a recipient of many accolades, including Ramashramam Award and Lohi Vicharavedi Award and TKV Foundation Award. vi. He was honored with the Mother Teresa Award constituted by the YMCA Kottayam in 1995 for his relentless fight against the social evils.
PUNATHIL KUNJABDULLA Passed Away
Distinguished Malayalam Writer, Punathil Kunjabdulla Passed Away On 27th October 2017. Kunjabdulla was 77 years old. He was suffering from an aging-associated disease for a long time. A medical doctor by profession, Kunjabdulla was one of the most significant modernist writers as well as one of the finest practitioners of the avant-garde in Malayalam literature. His body of work includes more than 45 books, including 7 novels, 15 short story collections, memoirs, an autobiography, and travelogues. His masterpiece ‘Smarakasilakal’ (Memorial Stones) won the Central and State Akademi Awards.
E CHANDRASHEKHARAN NAIR Passed away
Former Minister Shri E Chandrashekharan Nair passed away. He died at Sri Chitra Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on 29 November 2017, after a prolonged illness. He was aged 89 at the time of his death. In the Ministry headed by Shri.E. K. Nayanar, he was the Minister for Food, & Civil Supplies and Housing from 25 January 1980 to 20 October 1981. In addition to the portfolio of Food and Civil Supplies, he handled the portfolio of Animal Husbandry & Dairy Development from 2 April 1987 to 17 June 1991 in the Ministry headed by Shri. E.K. Nayanar. In the 10th KLA, he represented Karunagappalli and was the Minister for Food, Tourism & Law from 20 May 1996 to 13 May 2001.
The concept of “Maveli Stores” aiming at making available essential commodities at a fair price to poorer sections of the society, also emerged at his initiative.
I. V SASI Passed away
Ace filmmaker and technician IV Sasi passed away on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 in Chennai. He was 69. According to reports, the director developed uneasiness on Tuesday morning and breathed his last on the way to the hospital. The body has been kept in Surya hospital, Chennai.
IV Sasi started his career as an art director in 1968, with the AB Raj movie Kaliyalla Kalyanam. He has received two state awards for Best Film. The Kerala state government has honored him with the JC Daniel award in 2015. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.
Considered to be a pathbreaker, IV Sasi broke away from the shackles of commercial cinema to give the audience gritty realism and films with technical brilliance. In his first film as director, IV Sasi made the unconventional choice of casting Ummer, a regular villain, as the hero in Utsavam.
IV Sasi's fame was not restricted to Mollywood. He has also directed the superstars of the Tamil industry, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth.
In 1992, IV Sasi was awarded the prestigious Nargis Dutt Award for best feature film on national integration for his film Aaroodam. I V Sasi was married to actor Seem.The couple had celebrated their wedding anniversary in Kozhikode last year. The couple has two children.
Actor DILEEP in police custody
Malayalam Film Actor Dileep was arrested in July 2017, in connection with the abduction and molestation of a popular actress. Dileep’s counsel moved a bail application, but the court decided to hear it after the police custody ended. The actor’s counsel denied all the charges related to conspiracy in the abduction and molestation of the actor in February. He was remanded to sub-jail. Finally, his bail application was granted and got bail after spending around 2 months in Jail.
Kerala High Court removed life time ban on cricketer S. SREESANTH
The Kerala High Court on Monday 7th August 2017, set aside the lifetime ban imposed on cricketer S Sreesanth by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) alleging engagement in spot-fixing during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match in 2013. Meanwhile, the BCCI chose not to react to the court order. Asked about the BCCI’s stand, acting president C K Khanna said: “The judgment has come today. The BCCI’s legal team will study the judgment and give its observations. Obviously, their feedback will be taken and placed in an appropriate forum (general body).”
In May 2013, Delhi police had arrested Sreesanth and two of his Rajasthan Royals teammates, Ajit Chadilia and Ankit Chavan, on charges of spot-fixing. Later, the BCCI had imposed a life ban on him.
