The Hindu : Antony rues moral disintegration

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 10, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Antony rues moral disintegration

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Dec. 9. Those in a position to lead society--including politicians, bureaucrats, social workers and journalists--are increasingly losing their moral right to provide such a leadership, the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, has said.

Mr. Antony was speaking after giving away the M.R. Madhava Warrier award for excellence in investigative journalism, to the reporter of the Rashtra Deepika, Reji Joseph, for his series of articles titled `Karunyathinayi Kaathorkkunnavar'.

The generation of journalists, of which Madhava Warrier was a typical representative, may never be seen again.

In fact, such a generation of people who put ideals before material comforts may never be seen again.

Today, the overwhelming urge for creature comforts has under its sway all sections of society, thus weakening their moral position in society.

For the last seven years now, Kerala has been leading the other States in the number of suicides committed in a year.

``Has anybody--the Government, the media, social workers--seriously discussed this problem,'' Mr. Antony asked.

Referring to the topic dealt with in the award-winning article series--problems of the aged--Mr. Antony said Kerala is today a dangerous place for the elderly to be in.

``Children are today ready to lavish money on their aged parents or in-laws, but are most reluctant to have the aged live with them. What is needed today are sympathy, empathy and an attitude of mercy,'' the Chief Minister said.

Material comforts are needed, no doubt.

What Kerala's society must try to do however is to bring back to vogue those age-old moral values along with trying to create more and more material comforts, the Chief Minister added.

The CPI(M) ideologue, P. Govinda Pillai, delivered the Madhava Warrier memorial lecture.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Antony rues moral disintegration

Steps to protect Pandavanpara assured

Equipment snags dog MCH