The nations two major game changers,T N Seshan and E Sreedharan,did schooling and early college in Palakkad,the Kerala district bordering Tamil Nadu. This was way back in the 1940s. Since then BEM High School and Government Victoria College have remained but today neither is a remote favourite of students or parents. Kids barely wait to get out of school to head for teaching institutes mushrooming in neighbouring Tamil Nadu to do any course from catering to computers. When both states are going to polls,unlike the touchy river water disputes mentioned in manifestoes,this one-way cross-border student flow seems nobodys concern on either side. For Tamil Nadu understandably so because it is the gainer. In more senses than one quite a few of these academic institutions are funded and run by Keralites. As for Kerala,neither of the political fronts used to ruling by turn will cast the first stone. Both have serially sinned. The education portfolio has mostly been grabbed by any coalition partner with clout enough to bargain and interests far too sectarian to do any good. Five years ago when the CPM reclaimed the portfolio and assigned it to M A Baby,student leader-turned-two-term Rajya Sabha member-turned-state minister,some movement was expected,at least in institutions under the ministry. If you wish to audit your hope just walk into the government-run Victoria College; youll see science students grappling with vintage lab equipment and arts students staring at the plaster-peeling wall. If this is the state of higher education,healthcare,Keralas other welfarist pride,too has only takers here who cant afford the cross-border commute. For advanced critical care or a mere second opinion,people rush to Tamil Nadus Coimbatore. Looks strange because Palakkad is teeming with doctors,pharmacies,diagnostic labs and nursing homes. Often they achieve results through sheer brilliance but against heavy odds,says K P Ramanathan,the towns veteran dealer of pharma goods. There is a clear lag in medical infrastructure. Road accidents have become pretty common on the highway and for expert trauma care you have to rush the victims elsewhere. The government could have developed its District Hospital into a centre of excellence. Private investment would have followed. An old-timer sums up the scene,Our leaders surely know whats going on. Ever heard of a VIP getting admitted to a hospital here? And remember this was where the legendary social reformer Sree Narayana Guru once sought medical help in the nursing home run by Apothecary Krishnan. This again was way back in 1928,a good two decades before Seshan and Sreedharan left the place. So the only way to catch this Kerala border town at its best is to keep travelling back in time. Why bother? The states political message is loud and clear: When the going isnt good,go elsewhere. In the last 55 years since the reorganisation of states,if you think the development-seeking voter has had little to choose between on the Kerala side of the border,relax. It has been the same on the other side as well for very different reasons though. We dont worry too much about who wins elections here. Every government extends the growth story, says Prasannakumar,a Keralite engineer based in Kuniamuthur. This Coimbatore suburb houses many tiny to medium industrial units which,like the educational outfits around,have revenue footprints extending to Kerala. Then why not just hop across the border? Id love to but darent. Not that I love my home state less but the place doesnt inspire enough confidence to risk capital. Surely things are changing. A mere 40 minutes into Kerala is CM Achuthanandans well-nursed constituency,which houses the Kanjikode industrial belt,further spurred by some competitive nursing by Defence Minister Antony. Perhaps it is the mindset, admits Prasannakumar,and it wont change overnight. For now,this expat Keralites nostalgia-driven round trip has stopped short of the Kerala border. It isnt as though the Tamil side of the picture is rosy. There is acute power shortage and since the place is industrialiaed,it doubly hurts. The Tamil politician is addressing the problem. Power cut is a key poll issue and the Opposition AIADMK is raising it right through its campaign in this sector. The accompanying issue voiced equally loudly is the slide of textile town Tirupur,thanks to a global slump and tough pollution norms. If the DMK and the Congress cant come up with convincing action plans,it could cost them decisive votes. This isnt the kind of electoral price Palakkads contestants budget for. They do talk about small-time development and the ones who talk the biggest of the lot are the least winnable BJP candidates. To know how serious they are,take one look at the saffron posters. No Nitish Kumar,only Narendra Modi,a pretty heady cocktail for even the Malayali.
