kurian's New Age Blog

In  the  1970s, Nigeria  emerged  suddenly as the  economic powerhouse  of Africa, due to  the skyrocketing  price of  crude oil.The Nigerian  currency, Naira, became a strong  currency  to reckon with, vying  with the US  dollar  and the British  Pound. The  oil boom was  like a 'big bang', sending  money  waves that  attracted  job seekers  to  Nigeria. The  Nigerian government  launched an ambitious  development programme  which envisioned  progress  in the fields of  education, health, roads, etc. They  recruited   foreign  teachers, doctors, engineers and  technicians to  implement the  programme. In  addition to the expatriates  recruited  from overseas, there were others  who  travelled to Nigeria  to  get jobs.  Nigerians were very kind  and generous  to  those who went to  Nigeria  looking for jobs. At  that time, Lelamma and I  were in Kenya. Our  opportunity  to go to Nigeria came very late, in November  1981. We  were  posted  to Government  Teachers'  Colle

An  average  Malayalee  has  multiple  loyalties due to  international  connections, either as working or settled in  a foreign country , or by having beloved  ones working in foreign countries. Peace and stability globally is a great  concern  for Malayalees, because  any  turbulence  in a foreign country , where Malayalees  are  settled in large numbers , produce a ripple effect , causing  much anxiety  and heartbreak  in Kerala. For instance,many Malayalee  nurses  are trapped in Mosul, recently seized by  terrorists. About  40 Indian  workers have been kidnapped in Iraq. These developments  cause much concern in  India. Any  threat  to  peace and stability  causes  concern to  peace-loving  people around the world, because everybody is affected by the  threat of terrorist attacks. Travellers  pay a  huge  amount as security  taxes. Even those who have  sympathy  for the terrorists  pay these  taxes, which were unknown  20  years  ago. When  tensions  mount in the Middle Eas

            A  poem   for  Bakolobeng    students  April   25th   was  a memorable   day  at  Bakolobeng   Secondary   School for   many   reasons. It  was the  last working  day of the  month  due to  a  long   weekend and  extended  special  school  holidays. For  me and  for Mrs. Visser, the  Principal, it was  our  last day  in our  careers. By  a  lucky coincidence, it was  my birthday. I   heard  that  the teachers, students  and the School  Governing  Body members  had  planned  a  special assembly  to  honour us. I thought  that the assembly  was  after  lessons, but  they  wanted to hold it  early in the morning. My thoughts  were centred  on  Mrs Visser, who had  contributed to the school, in a career  spanning  26 years. I  penned  a poem  in  five minutes  and  gave it to a  student  to read it at the  assembly.                              A   FAREWELL  TO  MRS  VISSER         Goodbye  Mrs Visser         Though   with  sadness          You  will be  sadly  mis