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Appreciate little things and remember God

2012-01-01T00:37:00.002+05:30

The verses that I read from the 80th chapter of Holy Quran inspired me to appreciate little things.

(80:24 to 32)
Then let humans look
At their Food,
(And how we provide it):

For that We pour forth
Water in abundance,

And We split the earth
In fragments,

And produce therein grain,

And Grapes and
The fresh vegetation,

And Olives and Dates,

And enclosed Gardens,
Dense with lofty trees,

And Fruits and Fodder,-

A provision
For you and your cattle.

Get inspiration from Nature, says Quran

2011-12-30T08:43:00.003+05:30

The reading of Holy Quran this morning took me through pages where God asks us to get inspiration from Nature for belief in Him.Here are some samples from 16th Chapter:

(16:10)
It is He Who sends down
Rain from the sky
From it ye drink,
And out of it (grows)
The vegetation on which
Ye feed your cattle.

(16:11)
With it He produces
For you corn, olives,
Date-palms, grapes
And every kind of fruit:
Verily in this is a Sign
For those who give thought.

(16: 12)
He has made subject to you
The Night and the Day;
The Sun and the Moon;
And the Stars are in subjection
By His Command: verily
In this are signs
For humans who are wise.

(16:14)
It is He who has made
The sea subject, that ye
May eat thereof flesh
That is fresh and tender,
And that ye may extract
Therefrom ornaments to wear;
And thou seest the ships
Therein that plough the waves,
That ye may seek (thus)
Of the bounty of God
And that ye may be grateful.

(16:15)
And He has set up
On the earth mountains
Standing firm, lest it should
Shake with you; and rivers
And ways: that ye
May guide yourselves;

2011-12-14T21:47:00.000+05:30

This is Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa's second appeal to the people of Kerala released on December 10, 2011.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's appeal to people of Kerala

2011-12-07T11:37:00.001+05:30

Following is the text of the appeal made by Jayalalithaa, chief minister of Tamil Nadu to people of Kerala on Tuesday (December 6, 2011) night:It has come to my notice that Ayyappa devotees from Tamil Nadu on pilgrimage to Sabarimala have been attacked by their brothers in Kerala. Vehicles bearing Tamil Nadu registration plates are being vandalized. Similarly, Tamil establishments in Kerala and even journalists and professionals from Tamil Nadu who are there on official work are under threat. The reason for this animosity appears to be the dispute between the Governments of Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the Mullai Periyar Dam issue. I call upon the highly educated and intelligent people of God’s own Country not to fall a prey to the machinations of narrow, vested interests or of unscrupulous anti-social elements and allow their rational minds to be manipulated to indulge in Quixotic acts of wanton mob violence. To me, these violent developments are alarming and based on imaginary, unfounded fears, which have been fuelled by irresponsible positioning by vested political interests. When a volatile situation has been precipitated, it is but natural that public passions run high. When things are so, it is the responsibility of the protagonists to reach out to the people and place matters in the right perspective. Let me clarify.There is no justification whatsoever to believe that the Mullai Periyar dam is unsafe or likely to collapse, bringing a deluge upon Idukki and surrounding districts. The dam is well maintained and has been periodically reinforced. Its safety is being constantly monitored and highly qualified and accomplished technical experts, including those nominated by the Supreme Court of India, have repeatedly reiterated that it is absolutely safe. To doubt its safety merely because it is 116 years old is sheer ignorance. Kallanai, or the Grand Anaicut Dam, widely considered to be the oldest dam in the world, built by Karikala Cholan over the River Cauvery, still stands in Tamil Nadu. Built in the second century AD, it is all of 1900 years old and absolutely safe. Kallanai was built with the same surkhi mortar as the Mullai Periyar dam. There is therefore no necessity to dismiss the Mullai Periyar dam as a primitive construction or fear that it would self-destruct due to old age. It was based on the confidence in its longevity that the initial water-sharing agreement entered into between the British Government of the State of Madras and the State of Travancore was for a period of 999 years.There has been widespread panic in recent times in the wake of a rumour that the dam stands on an earthquake-prone zone. A study of the seismic map of India, which can be easily downloaded by anyone from the internet, clearly shows that the whole of Kerala and most parts of India, including the city of Chennai, come under Seizmic Zone III, which stands for “moderately active”. Tremors, if at all, in Zone III will rarely cross 3 points on the Richter scale. Tremors of 2 to 2.9 intensity on the Richter scale are “generally not felt, but recorded”. Such tremors are taking place every minute all over the world and are mere statistics for the Meteorology Department. Tremors of 3 to 3.9 intensity on the Richter scale are “often felt, but rarely cause damage”. Such tremors are also widespread and no cause for concern. When this is so, there is absolutely no basis for fear that an earthquake will cause the collapse of the existing Mullai Periyar Dam. These facts are known to all concerned in Kerala as well. Yet, for some vested reasons, they have preferred to allow a fear psychosis bordering on mass hysteria to build up all over the State over the alleged lack of safety of the Mullai Periyar dam. Kerala is Tamil Nadu’s closest neighbour. In fact, till the early 1950s, the two States were one. Malayalees and Tamils share a common linguistic and cultural heritage. There are a large number of Tamils in Kerala. There are an even larger number of Malayalees in Tamil Nadu. And all have lived together all these decades in an admirable display of brotherhood and co-operation. The Government of Tamil Nadu and the people of the State would be the last people on earth who would want devastation to visit their brothers and sisters in Kerala. We would not claim that the Mullai Periyar Dam is safe unless we were absolutely sure of our facts. I also call upon the media to exercise restraint and report the issue responsibly and objectively.I also make a fervent appeal to the people of Kerala not to succumb to the machinations of ill-wishers and unscrupulous mischief mongers. Please do not indulge in acts of senseless violence and vandalism over an imaginary non-issue. Please do not destroy the mutual trust, esteem and goodwill that exist between the people of the two States – which have been painstakingly built up, not just over the last six decades, but over centuries. Do not let whipped up passions cloud your reason and better judgement. This is my request to a people whom I have always held in the highest esteem for their intelligence, education, rationality and hard work. Finally, I also call upon the political class of Tamil Nadu to desist from making inflammatory speeches on the issue, which would vitiate the cordial relations that exist between the people of the two States.

Abusing the media, the DMK style

2011-07-27T12:20:00.003+05:30

"We were defeated because of you. You, NDTV, repeatedly showed image of A. Raja and Kanimozhi being arrested. That contributed to our poll defeat," said a DMK general council member, while refusing to talk to us on elder brother M.K.Alagiri sulking at the proposed elevation of younger brother M.K. Stalin in the ranks of the DMK.

When another media colleague talked live about the DMK assessing its poll defeat outside DMK's general council venue at Coimbatore, he was mobbed. Thanks to some media-friendly volunteers of the DMK and other media colleagues, he escaped an attack.

At least two media colleagues had to shift their reporting locations away from the crowd of DMK cadre during the DMK's executive and general council held on July 23 and 24 at Singanallur in Coimbatore. It is to be recalled that the DMK chief himself had blamed the media for Dayanidhi Maran's exit from the UPA cabinet.

DMK chief M.Karunanidhi had used the media (not just Sun TV,Dinakaran and Kalaignar TV) to attack his Opposition when he was ruling Tamil Nadu. He had effectively used media even when he was the Opposition. So, he can stop instigating his cadre against the media.

Please read this now

2011-07-02T07:26:00.005+05:30

Seest thou not that it is
God Whose praises all beings
In the heavens and on earth
Do celebrate, and the birds
(of the air) with wings
Outspread? Each one knows
Its own (mode of) prayer
And praise. And God
Knows well all that they do. (Holy Quran Chapter:24, Verse:41)

Yea, to God belongs
The dominion of the heavens
And the earth; and to God
Is the return. (Holy Quran 24:42)

Seest thou not that God
Makes the clouds move
Gently, then joins them
Together, then makes them
Into a heap? - then wilt thou
See rain issue forth
From their midst. And He
Sends down from the sky
Mountain masses (of clouds)
Wherein is hail: He strikes
Therewith whom He pleases
And He turns it away
From whom He pleases.
The vivid flash of its lightning
Well-nigh blinds the sight. (Holy Quran 24: 43)

It is God Who alternates
The Night and the Day:
Verily in these things
Is an instructive example
For those who have vision! (Holy Quran 24: 44)

And God has created
Every animal from water:
Of them there are some
That creep on their bellies;
Some that walk on two legs:
And some that walk on four.
God creates what He wills;
For verily God has power
Over all things. (Holy Quran 24:45)

We have indeed sent down
Signs that make things manifest:
And God guides whom He wills
To a way that is straight. (Holy Quran 24:46)

Today's Reading

2011-06-30T07:42:00.002+05:30

The following verses of Holy Quran from Chapter 39 inspired me today:

God is the Creator
Of all things, and He
Is the Guardian and Disposer
Of all affairs. (39: 62)

To Him belong the keys
Of the heavens
And the earth:
And those who reject
The Signs of God,-
It is they who will
Be in loss. (39:63)

One, yet we differ

2011-06-11T16:20:00.004+05:30

As we read The Quran, it is increasingly clear that the divisions on the basis of religion are human-made. In the Book's 42nd chapter, the following verses explain the phenomenon.

11. (He is) the Creator
Of the heavens and
The earth: He has made
For you pairs
From among yourselves,
And pairs among cattle:
By this means does He
Multiply you: there is nothing
Whatever like unto Him,
And He is the One
That hears and sees.

12. To Him belong the keys
Of the heavens and the earth:
He enlarges and restricts
The Sustenance to whom
He will: for He knows
Full well all things.

13. The same religion has He
Established for you as that
Which He enjoined on Noah-
The which We have sent
By inspiration to thee-
And that which We enjoined
On Abraham, Moses and Jesus:
Namely, that ye should remain
Steadfast in Religion, and make
No divisions therein:
To those who worship
Other things than God,
Hard is the (way)
To which thou callest them.
God chooses to Himself
Those whom He pleases,
And guides to Himself
Those who turn (to Him).

14. And they became divided
Only after knowledge
Reached them, - being insolent to
One another.
Had it not been
For a word that
Went forth before
From thy Lord,
(Tending) to a Term appointed,
The matter would have
Been settled between them:
But truly those who have
Inherited the Book after them
Are in suspicious (disquieting)
Doubt concerning it.

15. Now then, for that (reason),
Call (them to the Faith),
And stand steadfast
As thou art commanded,
Nor follow thou their vain
Desires; but say; "I believe
In whatever Book
God has sent down;
And I am commanded
To judge justly between you.
God is our Lord
And your Lord! For us
(Is the responsibility for)
Our deeds, and for you
For your deeds. There is
No contention between us
And you. God will
Bring us together,
And to Him is
(Our) final goal.

Wealth and children are not yours

2011-06-10T05:53:00.002+05:30

If you ever thought your wealth and children are yours alone, you may be making a mistake. That is the message that I get while reading The Quran. Here is a sample verse from tenth chapter. (10:24)

The likeness of the life
Of the Present is
As the rain which we
Send down from the skies:
By its mingling arises
The produce of the earth-
Which provides food
For humans and animals:
(It grows) till the earth
Is clad with its golden
Ornaments and is decked out
(In beauty): the people to whom
It belongs think they have
All powers of disposal over it:
There reaches Our command
By night or by day,
And we make it
Like a harvest clean-mown,
As if it had not flourished
Only the day before!
Thus do We explain
The Signs in detail
For those who reflect.

What Nature tells us about God?

2011-06-06T05:19:00.003+05:30

A keen observation of Nature may lead to remembrance of God; In its 16th chapter, Quran tells us why in detail:

Chapter 16

Verse 65: And God sends down rain
From the skies, and gives therewith
Life to the earth after its death:
Verily in this is a Sign
For those who listen.

66: And verily in cattle (too)
Will ye find an instructive Sign.
From what is within their bodies,
Between excretions and blood,
We produce, for your drink,
Milk, pure and agreeable
To those who drink it.

67: And from the fruit
Of the date-palm and the vine,
Ye get out strong drink,
And wholesome food: behold, in this
Also is a Sign
For those who are wise.

68: And thy Lord taught the Bee
To build its cells in hills,
On trees, and in (humans') habitations;

69: Then to eat of all
The produce (of the earth)
And follow the ways of Thy
Lord made smooth: there issues
From within their bodies
A drink of varying colours,
Wherein is healing for humans:
Verily in this is a Sign
For those who give thought.

70: It is God Who creates you
And takes your souls at death;
And of you there are
Some who are sent back
To a feeble age, so that
They know nothing after
Having known (much):
For God is All-Knowing,
All-Powerful.

71: God has bestowed His gifts
Of sustenance more freely on some
Of you than on others: those
More favoured are not going
To throw back their gifts
To those whom their right hands
Possess, so as to be equal
In that respect. Will they then
Deny the favours of God?

These words have made me remember God.

IT IS A DUTY TO STOP INJUSTICE

2011-06-02T07:05:00.003+05:30

Why Holy Quran says it is your duty to stop injustice? These three verses (115 to 117) in Chapter 11 make things clear:

115. And be steadfast in patience;
For verily God will not suffer
The reward of the righteous
To perish.

116. If only there had been
Of the generations before you,
Humans of righteousness
Who prohibited humans
From mischief in the earth
(But there were none)
Except a few among them
Whom we saved (from harm)
But the wrong-doers pursued
The enjoyment of the good things
Of life which were given to them,
And persisted in sin.

117. Nor would thy Lord be
The One to destroy
The towns unjustly
While their people are
Righteous.

These words are worth contemplating these days.

Kollywood, Political Playground

2010-10-27T18:23:00.002+05:30

Tamil tinsel world’s association with politics has early origins. Film star MGR became the chief minister of Tamil Nadu four years before Ronald Reagan could become the President of United States. With such star-studded political scenario, the ruling DMK’s stranglehold over Kollywood is all set to become a poll plank in the upcoming Assembly elections if recent rhetoric of AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa and that of DMDK chief Vijayakanth are any indication. In the build-up to the 2011 Assembly elections, the role of chief minister M. Karunanidhi’s family members in Kollywood has become a talking point. While speaking at the Madurai rally of her party, AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa took up the cause of two leading young heroes of Tamil film world in a bid to attract the mass fan following of the stars. “A leading actor who refused to perform at functions organized by the DMK government free of cost was called to Karunanidhi’s house and was scolded. Another popular actor who expressed his political ambitions was compelled to act in films produced by chief minister’s family members,” said the former chief minister at the Madurai rally of her party on October 18. The opposition leader also alleged that the popular actors are being intimidated by the chief minister’s family. “It has become the work of Karunanidhi’s family members to turn heroes into zeroes and to turn zeroes in the family into heroes,” she added. DMDK chief Vijayakanth who has made it clear that defeating the DMK in 2011 polls is his sole aim has also lashed out at the reported influence of the ruling DMK on Tamil cinema. “The cinema theatre owners are asked to toe the line…..why should the cinema theatre owners be afraid….how many cinema theatre licences will they cancel….the owners should stand up and say that they won’t obey,” advised Vijayakanth at a function in his party headquarters. The influence of the ruling DMK’s first family in Kollywood will be one poll issue according to insiders in the AIADMK and the DMDK. Whatever be the alignment of political forces during polls, Jayalalithaa and Vijayakanth have already taken the political battle to Kollywood.

Today's Reading

2010-09-12T11:59:00.002+05:30

He created the heavens
And the earth
In true (proportions):
He makes the Night
Overlap the Day, and the Day
Overlap the Night:
He has subjected
The sun and the moon
(To His law):
Each one follows a course
For a time appointed.
Is not He the Exalted
In Power - He Who forgives
Again and again?
--
He created you (all)
From a single Person:
Then created, of like nature,
His mate; and He
Sent down for you eight head
Of cattle in pairs:
He creates you,
In the wombs
Of your mothers,
In stages, one after another,
In three veils of darkness.
Such is God, your Lord
And Cherisher: to Him belongs
(All) dominion : There is
No God but He : then
How are ye turned away
(From your true Lord)?

(Holy Quran : 39: 5 and 6)

Third Wedding Anniversary for Peer and Shuba

2010-09-07T09:47:00.002+05:30

And Among His Signs
Is this, that He created
For you mates from among
Yourselves, that you may
Dwell in tranquility with them,
And He has put love
And mercy between your (hearts):
Verily in that are Signs
For those who reflect.

(The Holy Quran:30:21)

A prayer for the Holy month of Ramzan

2010-08-29T12:41:00.002+05:30

Our Lord! pour out on us
Patience and constancy, and take
Our souls unto Thee
As people who bow to thy will.

(Quran: 7:126)

Tamil magazine apologizes for carrying visual purportedly representing Prophet Muhammed

2010-04-04T19:41:00.005+05:30

Chennai, April 4: After Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaat (TNTJ), a Muslim outfit, protested publication of a drawing purportedly depicting Prophet Muhammed in a Tamil weekly, the magazine's publisher apologized profusely. The magazine Mutharam from Kungumam group of publications was reportedly taken off newsstand shelves immediately. The publisher apologized in the next issue for hurting religious sentiments.

Hundreds of volunteers of TNTJ thronged the weekly’s office in Mylapore here last fortnight after the magazine carried what is purportedly a drawing of Prophet Muhammad along with a three-page life story of him written by one Athanur Chozhan. The publication of the drawing had created furore among sections of Muslims across the state.

“We immediately contacted the magazine office and expressed displeasure over publishing such an image along with distorted information on the Prophet who is revered by Muslims across the globe as God’s messenger,” said Mr Ansari, headquarters secretary, TNTJ told this journalist.

As hundreds of volunteers gathered in front of the magazine office, the representatives of the magazine has assured them that the distribution of the magazine in the market was already stopped.

“Realising our mistake, we immediately stopped the distribution of the magazine in the market. We have assured the protestors that an apology would be carried in the next issue of the magazine,” said one of the editorial committee members of the magazine.

In an apology letter given to the TNTJ, the magazine editor has said that it was an inadvertent mistake and would be rectified by carrying an apology in the forthcoming issue.

Some Muslim outfits in Thanjavur and other parts of the state agitated against the magzine. As the magazine is more subscription-based, the outfits have insisted on carrying an apology in the next issue.

The magazine lived up to its promise and carried a profound apology in its next issue on the edit page.

Chennai in 2009

2010-01-01T19:40:00.001+05:30

Chennai, Jan. 1: Chennai cityscape has undergone tremendous changes in the year gone by. The landmark Central Jail is razed to make way for the annexe of government general hospital. The landmark Kalaivanar Arangam is razed to make way for a modern auditorium. Padi flyover, Pallikaranai flyover at two different ends of the city and other new flyovers have made commuting easier for Chennaiites. Nearly 230 parks have been renovated, expanding the city’s lung space.
People were allowed to visit the 172-year-old Central Jail before it was demolished in July to accommodate extension of government general hospital. The 35-year-old Kalaivanar Arangam was demolished in December and a new auditorium is coming up at the place as part of the upcoming new Secretariat complex.
Marina beach got a make-over just at the end of the year, redefining the experience of the visitors to the second longest beach in the world. The city’s bus stops sported a cosy look and the process is yet to be completed.
Three platforms at the Central railway station in the city got expanded to accommodate 24-coach trains. New subways near Saidapet, Thillai Ganga Nagar and airport and new flyovers in Padi, Pallikaranai, M.K.N. Road, Cenotaph road made traveling easier.
The city’s waters got its first private leisure boating service. The works for connecting port with national highways started. The process of cleaning up Cooum river started with the setting up of Chennai River water authority.
The city’s traffic islands are decked up with fiberglass sculptures of traditional Tamil images such as Poikkal Kuthirai, Puliyattam, Therukkoothu. 42 more such sculptures at traffic islands will alter the cityscape and A vestige of British era, King George V’s statue was removed from public space, and landed in the government museum at Egmore.
Just one year into the project, the restoration of Adyar Poonga in 58 acres near Adyar estuary is progressing well ahead of its target. It is already looking green and inviting migratory birds to the heart of the city.
The city is looking forward to have a world-class Secretariat, Asia’s second biggest library and a world-class airport in 2010 and many more flyovers. Despite continuance of garbage burning at different parts of the city, efforts are on to make the city cleaner and more livable.

Ganesha procession at Muthupettai violated court order

2009-09-04T20:58:00.001+05:30

Chennai, Sept. 4: A fact-finding committee of human rights activists have faulted the Tiruvarur district administration for not adhering to the verdict of the Madras High Court in the conduct of Vinayakar Chathurthi processions.
Madras High Court’s first bench on August 26 ordered the Tiruvarur district administration to advise the organizers of the Vinayakar Chathurthi procession to take out procession in an alternative route to avoid violence in the communally sensitive Muthupettai town.
A fact-finding team comprising of Prof.A.Marx of PUHR, G.Sugumaran of federation for people’s rights and others which visited Muthupettai on the day of the procession (Sept. 2) has found gross violation of the Madras High Court order.
“The administration allowing the procession along the Muslim-dominant Pattukottai road is against the spirit of the Madras High Court order. The administration allowing the procession through Muslim streets till 8 pm disturbed peace in the communally sensitive town,” said the team in its fact-finding report.
The team praised the district administration for having mobilized nearly 400 policemen during the procession unlike the previous years. “However, the 400 police could not ensure that the mob of processionists did not damage the property of Muslims along the route,” observed the team.
District BJP president Karuppu (a) Muruganandam, a known offender with several cases pending against him, was behind provoking the mob against the Muslims. “The police have allowed Muruganandam to make announcements from a police jeep during the procession,” the team was quoted as saying.
The team had Thai.Kandasamy, poet and lawyer, M.Sivagurunathan, activist and M.Ilango of Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (PDK) as its members apart from Prof.A.Marx and G.Sugumaran.
This obvious case of violation of a court ruling by the district collectorate and the police would be brought to the attention of the Madras High Court, said the activists.

First documentary film on the history of Tamil Muslims

2009-08-30T12:34:00.002+05:30

Chennai, Aug 30: The film opens with the excavation by Kerala Council of Historical Research at Pattanam near Kodungallur, erstwhile capital of the Chera kingdom. The Mesopotamian shreds found there predate south India’s Roman contacts. Such lesser known facts about south India’s connections with West Asia and Islam form part of the narrative in historical researcher S.Anvar’s documentary film on the history of Tamil Muslim community which would be out in a month’s time.
Titled ‘In search of my roots’, the film is the first visual document on the history of Tamil-speaking Muslims. “Islam came to south India through trade contacts with Arabs which is more than 2,000 years old as proved by inscriptions, edicts and copper plates,” Mr Anvar told this newspaper. His film is a result of nearly five years of research and travel across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
It all began when Anvar found that his Muslim identity posed several challenges post- 9/11. Born near Theni, he always knew Islam as practiced in Tamil Nadu is distinctly different from the way it is practiced elsewhere in the country. “The fact that Muslims here are very much integrated into the Tamil society has a historical legacy as I found during the course of my research,” he said.
Muslims were part of the local rulers’ military such as the army of the Pandyas and the navy of Calicut Zamorins. Amir Khusrau’s chronicle on Muslim presence in the Pandyas’ army and the edict on the Muslim presence in the Zamorins’ navy are filmed to tell the story of how Muslims integrated into the mainstream society in the then south India.
The work of the Sufi saints such as Nathar Vali of Tiruchi and Shahul Hameed of Nagoor in the spread of Islam is another relatively unknown factor in the film. The kinship pattern between Muslims and other communities in the state is depicted in detail.
The film also tells how Islam adapted to the Dravidian milieu, filming many of the hundreds of mosques in the state which were built in Dravidian architectural style of stone masonry.

Jaya's boycott of bypolls is a costly mistake

2009-08-27T22:04:00.001+05:30

Chennai, Aug 27: Tamil Nadu is a typical example of thriving electoral democracy. Managing elections is a virtue here. People think voting is not just a necessity, but a duty which cannot be shirked. The popular image of an old lady being carried to the booth by her grandson in the recent byelections is proof for the culture of voting in the state. AIADMK supremo Ms Jayalalithaa’s call for boycott of bypolls is misplaced for several reasons.
Elections are like annual festivals in the temple of local deity. Exercise of franchise is meant for celebrations in rural Tamil Nadu. It gives people a sense of self-importance. The only reason for anyone to stay away from polls is extreme illness. “Voting is proof that I am still alive and kicking,” said 78-year-old Alamelu in Srivaikuntam who voted in the August 18 byelections.
AIADMK cadre were in a dilemma and had problems while distributing nearly two lakh handbills across five constituencies, asking the people to stay away from elections. Lack of faith in the state and central governments could not be sold as an idea when the independent election commission is conducting the elections, reasoned an AIADMK worker at the grassroots level.
“People of Tamil Nadu are used to participation in elections. The elections of 1967 when the people said a resounding no to successive Congress regimes is one such instance,” he said.
According to analysts, AIADMK chief’s call for boycott of re-polling for Chennai Corporation in February 2007 was the first mistake. The then boycott call drastically reduced the number of the AIADMK councilors in the strategically important Chennai corporation. The second boycott of August 18 byelections also has cost dearly for the largest Opposition in the state. MDMK and PMK have played second fiddle to the AIADMK and the people proved them wrong by actively participating in the poll process.

Eternal Bondage: The story of Kashmir in Tamil

2009-08-21T22:30:00.000+05:30

The best ever book written on Kashmir in Tamil is out now. The author is A.Marx, veteran human rights activist and liberal thinker. He says there is one Indian Army jawan posted for every five Kashmiris citing the huge deployment of armed forces in the Valley. The militarisation of Kashmir is against the will of the people, he observes.
The book is the result of a fact-finding mission in which A.Marx and G.Sugumaran (Puducherry) were members. Mr Sugumaran is the publisher of the book. Their visit to Kashmir was under scrutiny when they were kept under house arrest for two days citing curfew.
The book talks about the historical mistake of Jawaharlal Nehru who did not keep the promise of conducting a plebiscite. The systematic plan by the Hindutva forces to alienate Muslims in the valley are detailed by the author.
The possibility of armed militants playing into the hands of Pakistan and the worries of the ordinary Army jawan posted in Kashmir are narrated realistically. The objectivity of the author could be seen in portions when he records the viewpoints of the Sikhs and Pandits in Kashmir.
While Mr Marx proclaims the need for autonomy and demilitarization of Kashmir, he tells the readers how people of Kashmir desperately need peace after over two decades of violence, extra-judicial killings, illegal abductions and unaccounted disappearances.
He lauds the hospitality of Kashmiris and understands their aspirations. The people long for freedom from being a playground for two neighbouring countries. They are neither loyal to India nor to Pakistan. They want freedom and peace, he observes in no uncertain terms.
He feels that the acceptance of elections conducted by Indian election commission by the Kashmiris is with a hope that someone would bring them peace. They are open to trying out options which could improve their conditions, he says.
The book tells how the renegades from militant movements run their own goonda raj with the blessings of armed forces and the tacit support of the Indian agencies. Despite some typos, the breezy style of narration helps even a beginner understand how the Indian and Pakistani establishments continue to keep the people of Kashmir in eternal bondage just to show off their military might.

Frisking or grilling of Muslims is very common in India

2009-08-19T21:47:00.001+05:30

Frisking or grilling of Muslims is very common in India. Though there are several instances in the past, let me narrate a recent instance of ‘suspicious eye’ on me just because I have a Muslim surname. Independence Day, August 15, 2009. 6 pm. The second gate of Raj Bhavan on Sardar Patel Road in Chennai. Vehicles belonging to mediapersons are asked for invite copies and media ID cards before being allowed in for the tea party hosted by Governor Surjit Singh Barnala on the occasion of I-day.
I was there at the gate a little while before six p.m. A person of the special branch inspects my invite and media ID. When he inspected my media ID, he spontaneously remarked ‘Oh’ and told his fellow special branch person something in a husky voice. He then asked me to register my name in the visitor’s notebook kept on a table beyond the entry point.
I waited to sign in the notebook as there were few people waiting to sign in the notebook. To my surprise, I noticed that all media persons head towards the party after showing the invite and ID to the two special branch guys. Even as I waited, I asked the second special branch guy why I alone should sign the register which is meant for occasional visitors to Raj Bhavan, especially the lower staff of the Raj Bhavan such as gardeners and others.
He apparently does not have an answer. A security person intervened and said, “They are special branch people; you cannot ask them such questions.” I argued back saying: “Why me when other media persons are allowed to go?” At moments of crisis, there is always an answer (I am a believer). One Sathyaseelan of DIPR (Department of Information and Public Relations) came to the rescue. He said, “Sir, you can go as you have shown your credentials.” I then asked the second SB (special branch) guy: “You wanted me to sign the register as I am a Muslim?” He smiled back. I went ahead for the party.
The tea party was good. But I could not stay there for long as I kept thinking that our country needs to change the way it treats its largest religious minority, the Muslims.

These pastors were left in the lurch by the Gospel Asia or BCI Church

2009-07-24T22:27:00.002+05:30

Chennai, July 23: Over hundred pastors held protest against Believers Church of India (BCI) in suburban Padappai on Thursday. The pastors accused the Church of amassing wealth and letting them in the lurch. The pastors who had worked with the Church for more than a decade said they left the Church as it was “exploiting” them. However, BCI’s Tamil Nadu Diocesan secretary Mr Johny George refuted the charges leveled by the pastors.
Pastors from different parts of Tamil Nadu who were either sacked or left from the BCI assembled near the state headquarters of the BCI at Padappai and raised slogans against the Church. But the police removed the protestors from the venue and advised them to protest elsewhere. The protestors then went to the office of the Superintendent of Police and handed over complaints seeking action against the Church.
“Nearly 1,400 pastors worked for the BCI across the state for more than 10 years. But the church did not keep the promises it had given when we were inducted into the church. They stopped even the monthly support they provided without prior notice,” said Christu Paul Ravi, one of the pastors who was sacked by the church.
“We were given a lot of promises such as helping the education of our children. They did not keep the promises. When we asked them why they did not keep their promises, we were insulted and even threatened with false cases,” said Simion, a pastor from Theni who was sacked by the church.
However, BCI’s Tamil Nadu Diocesan secretary Mr Johny George told this journalist that the charges were baseless. “The Church has a Constitution. If anyone disobeys the Constitution, they would be dealt with seriously. We train thousands of pastors and don’t compel them to be with us,” he clarified.

A solution to y2k38 in sight?

2009-07-09T18:26:00.001+05:30

Chennai, July 9: Harish Bharadwaj (27), a Chennai-born M.S student in software, has developed a software programme that will solve the y2k38 problem in computers, a problem similar to y2k which will occur before or in the year 2038. Times beyond 03:14:07 on January 19, 2038 will ‘wrap around’ and be stored as a negative number, which the systems would interpret as a date in 1901 rather than 2038.
Software application design giants including Microsoft had spent over 300 billion US dollars on solving the y2k problem when the computers faced the millennium roll-over problem in 2000. When the date became 01.01.00, the system thought it was January 1, 1900. Some patch works were created to upgrade the hardwares then to support four-digit years to tide over the crisis.
Popularly called time complexity management, IT giants have been trying to tackle this problem all these years. Chennai-based Harish Bharadwaj was discussing this problem with his mother Lakshmi who was a professor of mathematics then. After his graduation in computer engineering from UK, he dedicated more than four years on the subject and adopted a multi-disciplinary approach employing mathematics, geometry, astronomy, electronics and computer science to develop a programme.
The existing programming method is about dumping enormous data of Gregorian calendar and extracting year, month, date details. “The dumping of data fills the entire width or the memory size. I have developed a programme which takes into account the limitations of computers’ memory and helps systems run through one billion years with 13-digit fractional precision,” said Harish Bharadwaj demonstrating how the programme works to this journalist and a senior computer science professor in the city.
“If Harish’s work is recognized worldwide, it will not only solve the time complexity problem in the computers, it will also etch India’s name in the annals of world IT history,” said the professor from Anna University who first published Harish’s research paper in CSI Digest, a scientific journal run by Computer Society of India (CSI).

Existing ways of computing time

Dumps enormous data of Gregorian calendar and extracts year, month, date details.

Buffer overrun occurs as the dumped data exceeds memory size.

Cannot roll-over centuries, millenniums.

Harish’s way of computing time

Programmes the knowledge of Gregorian calendars with knowledge of planetary systems.

Applies method and logic drawn from traditional knowledge systems and helps years, centuries, millenniums to run over to the next time period without any problem.

Can run through centuries and millenniums for a billion years.

Tamil heroes refused to act in a film penned by 'Tamil Champion'

2009-07-05T21:05:00.000+05:30

Chennai, July 5: Prominent young stars of Kollywood turned down the offer for a lead role in the film ‘Neeyindri Naanillai’ for which story and screenplay are penned by Chief minister M.Karunanidhi. Film director Ilavenil admits that the production team approached leading stars in the industry only to be told that they don’t have dates. “They are afraid of being stigmatized if they act in a movie scripted by chief minister,” the director told this journalist.
Chief minister M.Karunanidhi has been working on at least two film scripts currently. Fuelled by the moderate success of Uliyin Osai, his earlier film, at the box office, Mr Karunanidhi has embarked on two ambitious projects. One is Ponnar Sankar, a historical story in which actor Prashanth plays a dual role. Other story which will be filmed soon is ‘Neeyindri Naanillai’, a romantic story that is based on few characters from his novel Suruli Malai written in the 1950s.
The lead role of a forest officer is played by Telugu hero Uday Kiran. The female lead – a local woman - is played by award-winning Meera Jasmine. Another female role is played by actor Karthika. “We discussed the story with the chief minister quite early. But the search for a prominent actor to play the lead role took a while as many actors including Srikanth refused to act as the film would bring them a stigma,” said director Ilavenil, the favourite of the chief minister. He directed Uliyin Osai earlier.
“Many actors here are afraid of being sidelined in the industry if Ms Jayalalithaa returns to power next time,” said the director. However, agents of some of the actors approached by the production team (Nandini Arts) have a different take on the issue. “Many actors don’t want to get entangled in this project as they are not sure of how much control they will have over their role. They are also worried if the film will do well in the box office given the track record of the recent films penned by the chief minister,” said an agent of an actor who was contacted to play the lead role in the film.

An open letter to the Prime Minister of India

2009-07-01T21:25:00.000+05:30

Peer Mohamed,
Guindy,
Chennai – 600 032
June 29, 2009

To
Hon’ble Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India,
New Delhi

Dear Mr Prime Minister,

It is an ordinary citizen’s open letter to the man who holds the highest office in the country.

I have been a journalist for ten years. I could see people of power in the media houses trying to treat me as a ‘second class worker’ denying me opportunities as the Indian Establishment does with its Muslim citizens and the poor.

The poor and the Muslims in the country don’t have proportionate space in its Army or in the police forces. They do belong here but are treated like untouchables when it comes to recruitment into the Army or the police forces.

I know of a Muslim boy – Jaffer Sadiq in Tamil Nadu who cleared all the tests for a police selection but not recruited as he is a Muslim. He had to go to the Judiciary (Madurai branch of the Madras High Court) to get a verdict in favour of his recruitment but to no avail.

And the country should be ashamed to fight its own poor with its security forces. The alienation of the poor and the Muslims of the nation should stop for its own good. Muslims and the poor are an equal partners in its struggle for freedom and later in its development process.

The situation obtaining today is the outcome of a historical neglect of the poor in south, north, centre, west and north-east of the country and that of the Muslims across the nation. Justice Rajinder Sachar has pointed out the results of the state’s discrimination on its Muslims.

Gujarats, Kandhamals and Nandigrams have forced the Muslims and the poor to create their own armies and fight injustices and police atrocities against them.

Sikhs had felt alienated in this country at one point of time. I think the government had made amends to correct the flaws as the Sikhs fought aggressively for their rights. Muslims and the poor are scattered across the country and do not have a unified leadership to fight aggressively for their cause.

Please don’t suppress the Muslims and the poor in the name of ‘terrorism.’ Their uprisings are genuine attempts to assert their space in the country of their birth. Please talk to them and understand their issues instead of treating them with suspicion and cruelty.

What is the representation of the largest minority in the country in its Army or its police forces? Can you please come out clean on this?

Affirmative action, Equal Opportunity should not be mere utterances. Such pronouncements should lead to ‘real’ action to make our democracy more inclusive.
Dear Prime Minister, give it a thought and let us free our country of discrimination against its own people. That will make our country a better place to live for everyone.

Sincerely Yours

Peer Mohamed

Holy Quran confirms latest studies in evolution

2009-06-25T18:52:00.000+05:30

I am re-reading the Holy Quran after a small surgery I had recently. I came across the verse:

We made from water
Every Living thing. Will they
not then belive?
Chapter: 21, Verse: 30

A recent book Inner Fish by world-famous palaeontologist Neil Shubin suggests that our ancestors could be fish. The discovery of 375-million-year old fossil fish by Neil Shubin and his colleagues in Arctic led to this inspiring book.

The book scientifically explores the connection between anatomy of human and that of fish. It suggests the invasion of land by fish 375 million years ago.

I was reminded of Dr. Maurice Bucaille's famous book on The Quran and Modern Science which I read when I was in school.

A first of its kind exclusive interview with Balasingham Nadesan, Political Chief, LTTE

2009-03-29T10:12:00.000+05:30

In an exclusive interview to this journalist, Mr B.Nadesan, Political Head, LTTE, talks about the need for an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka to thwart the worsening humanitarian crisis. LTTE thanks AIADMK supremo Ms Jayalalithaa for following in the footsteps of her mentor MGR in showing concern for Sri Lankan Tamils.

1. You offered to announce a ceasefire without preconditions. Is it because of the worsening humanitarian crisis or because of the losses suffered by the Tamil Tigers?

Yes, we are insisting for a ceasefire, because Sri Lanka keeps
accelerating its genocidal war. A ceasefire is needed to alleviate the worsening humanitarian crisis and for people to get essential relief supplies. From a politico-military point of view, we will never ask for a ceasefire if we are weak.

2. India offered humanitarian assistance to the war-hit Tamils. Is the assistance reaching the war-affected Tamils?

For our people it is all just a news. I can confirm you that Indian humanitarian assistance have not reached the people who are in real need. But, Peer, didn't a Sri Lankan minister recently say at the Lankan parliament that India has also been a major part of causing humanitarian catastrophe to Tamil people?...

I want to say, instead of sending humanitarian assistance, India can go one step further and do the real needful to prevent this humanitarian catastrophe from happening once and for all.

3. What is the real scene out there? Are you able to inflict equal damages to the Sri Lankan military?

Yes, we are continuously inflicting heavy damages to the advancing special formations of the Sri Lankan military. Therefore, we have confirmed information that, Sri Lanka has now brought inexperienced non-combatant army unites to the battle front. However, militarily speaking, yes, we have lost territories. But, I wouldn't give credit to the Sri Lankan military. It is the international
community’s lopsided policy towards the Tamils that has contributed to our current military setback.

4. Why is the International community not able to act and bring about a ceasefire?

I dont think they are not able to, Peer. The international community has wrongly characterized our struggle for political aspirations as “terrorism.” Moreover, India couldn't identify Tamils as their true friends in this island, and has drawn an unwise foreign policy right now. Consequence of these are, India and the
international community are strengthening the Sri Lankan military directly or indirectly, officially or unofficially and they are going along with this genocidal war on Tamils. Tamil people are appalled to see the international community and India are willing to complicit with Sri Lanka in annihilating the descendants of one of the oldest civilizations on this earth.

5. There was a proposal from India and the US to evacuate Tamils from their traditional dwellings to a military-controlled zone...

Already, Sri Lanka has been uprooting the Tamils from this island for the past 61 years under various guises: be it removal of citizenship, education and employment discrimination to state organized pogroms, race riots to now “war on terror.” Proposing an "evacuation" or asking for a “safe passage” for the civilians is like giving a nod to Sri Lanka’s ethnic cleansing agenda. The international community and India must stop any action towards the negation of the territoriality of Tamils by calling to continue with the uprooting of a reluctant Tamil populace under the guise of an “evacuation”.

Instead they should insist the Sri Lankan government to stop the war, give “safe passage” to independent monitors, aid workers and journalists to come here and see what the will of the people is; whether their choice is living on their land and make a livelihood with dignity and security or detention in internment camps run by the Sri Lankan military.

6. It has been an unprecedented information war with well-oiled propaganda machinery of the Lankan government working with international media to black out the story of the war-affected Tamil civilians.

Sri Lanka Government has barred independent journalists from visiting the areas of intensified conflict. BBC correspondent Christopher Morris who was on special assignment in Sri Lanka left recently following hostile allegations made against him by the Defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse. Even with Sinhala and English media in Colombo, Sri Lanka is enforcing a total blackout by way of intimidation and deaths with impunity. The Sinhala people too are kept in the dark of the humanitarian sufferings and enormous economic price tag that is waiting down the road.

7. Fourteen people have immolated themselves for the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils. But it has not shaken the conscience of the world or the Lankan government.

First of all, on behalf of our nation, I salute all those who have sacrificed their lives for the Eelam Tamil people.

Neither we nor those who sacrificed their lives did expect a genocidal government to be shaken by any sacrifice. They actually sacrificed their lives asking India to act on behalf of the Eelam Tamils; but, India has not respected their sacrifices and acted accordingly.

The World, on the other hand, which still gives a ‘moral’ support to this genocidal war, sees this as happening in the ‘back yard’ of India and wants India to take the lead. As long as the Government of India fails to act properly, Sri Lanka will continue triumphantly and continue to transform Tamil land into a savage killing field.

8. MDMK chief Vaiko and CPI leader D.Pandian convinced AIADMK supremo
Ms. Jayalalithaa to take up Lankan Tamils' cause as a poll plank...

Our beloved legendary Chief Minister M.G.R whole heartedly stood with the Eelam Tamils at all times. He emphasized that Thamizhagam is not only the symbol in bringing all Tamils together but also supported India giving a decisive helping hand in bringing about an honorable life for the Eelam Tamils. We are now elated seeing his envision for Eelam Tamils being followed under the current AIADMK leader Ms.
Jayalalithaa, along with Mr. Vaiko and CPI leaders including D.Pandian in their steadfast support to Eelam Tamils' quest for freedom.

9. What does Indian elections mean for you?

Tamil people are deeply saddened to hear the recent admittance in the Sri Lankan parliament by Minister Nimal Siripala DeSilva that “India has played a major role” during Sri Lanka’s current military campaign on the Tamil land.

We urge the current and future Indian government(s), political leaders, policy makers, academics and the people of India to envision the future and clearly identify India’s true and permanent friends in her crucial southern flank. That is none other than the Tamils of Eelam. India must recognise the Tamil people’s struggle and support the creation of Tamil Eelam; because, Tamils are the natural allies of India - in spirit, culture, tradition and heritage.

Sri Lanka is hoodwinking India and will always entertain forces that are hostile to India within the shores of the island: that has been and is the history. India by going along with Sri Lanka thinking that it is in its best interests is only harming the peace, security and prosperity of the world’s largest democracy for the long run.

10. Is there any progress in your efforts to reach out to Barack Obama's administration and the international leadership?

Key members of President Obama’s administration and the United States legislative branch are beginning to see the cruelty of the Sri Lankan military onslaught and the civilian misery in the aftermath. Hopefully there will be action in the various judicial bodies as well in the near future to curb Sri Lankan atrocities.
President Rajapakse’s army continues to fire into the civilian areas despite Secretary of State Madame Hillary Clinton’s call to not fire into the people. Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative for UN, is supporting UN Security council briefing on Sri Lanka.

We urge the international leadership including Russia and China to do more and act fast to halt the genocidal war by Sri Lanka and help end the humanitarian catastrophe being faced by the Tamil civilians.

11. MDMK chief Vaiko said he was proud of associating himself with the LTTE when the Sri Lankan Army released pictures of Mr Vaiko with the LTTE leaders.

He is a great compassionate man. He has the in-depth understanding of our struggle, and is always an unconditional and unwavering supporter of the Eelam Tamil people. We are also proud to have him as our friend.

12. Renowned Lankan Tamil pop singer Maya Mathangi Arulpragasam has told American Media that the Lankan Tamils are being discriminated against by the government. Do you appreciate her words?

She is a child of our soil and a prominent young member of our vast Tamil diaspora around the world. We all are proud of her, whose support is a great source of strength to Eelam Tamils. The beauty of her humanitarian heart is that she chose to speak for the suffering people fearlessly, knowingly amidst the all powerful Sri Lanka propaganda machinery that demonizes anyone who speaks for the Tamils.

13. A.R.Rahman told the world to choose love over hate on the Oscars dais. Do you read that in the Lankan context?

He is a genius and we wish him well and success in his history making musical journey. As a Tamil, we all were proudly watching him receiving two Oscar awards, and listened to his speech about how he chose ‘love over hate’.

61 years ago our Tamil leaders had not asked for a separate state and chose "unity" and decided to stay with the Sinhalase as one country when British colonialism came to an end. You know how Sri Lanka has been treating the Tamils ever since, starting with the disfranchisement of hundreds of thousands of Tamils immediately after Britain left in 1948 to today’s “war on terror”. This is due to their refusal to cohabitate this island giving equality and dignity to all
the people.

14. Mahinda Rajapaksa has invited TNA parliamentarians, who support the LTTE for peace talks. How do you respond to that?

TNA has refused to meet anyone representing the Sri Lankan government until truce and unhindered humanitarian access is granted to the people of Vanni. No one would have forgotten that it is the same President Rajapakse who has been excluding TNA during his earlier so called peace initiatives.

We are certain that Sri Lanka President Mhinda Rajapkse has no intention to find a political solution for the ethnic conflict. The motive behind this invitation is monetary than exploring a political solution. Unprecedented military spending and also the global economic slowdown has put Sri Lanka to urgently look for financial assistance; international community is slowly stepping up pressure to find a
political solution and Sri Lanka once again wants to hoodwink them; Sri Lankan military campaign is now unexpectedly facing heavy resistance from us and Sri Lanka needs more time. You have to see this invitation in the back drop of these events, Peer.

15. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said, in his letter to Tamil Nadu chief minister M.Karunanidhi, that he has requested Sri Lanka to ensure devolution of power to Sri Lankan Tamils. How do you see this development?

I can assure you that both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi, know very well that Sri Lankan government will not devolve any political power to the Tamil people. That has been the history, and that is what happened to the India architected Provincial council solution as well. Prime Minister Singh should know that India's military-related assistance to the Sri Lankan government is in no way an incentive for the Colombo government to devolve any
political power to the the Tamils, but rather as we witness it would only continue to encourage it to impose its military power on Tamils.

Gandhi and Tamil Nadu

2009-01-30T22:49:00.001+05:30

Chennai, Jan 29: Gandhiji has visited Tamil Nadu twenty times between 1896 and 1946. His association with Tamils started in South Africa while practising law. He has visited the interiors of the state and interacted with diverse personalities such as Kanchi saint
Chandrasekara Saraswati and E.V.Ramaswamy Periyar.
“His harijan yatras to the state were spurned by orthodox people. Though the Kanchi Acharya appreciated Gandhi’s devotion to God during the meeting between them in 1927, the Acharya objected to Gandhiji’s politics of inclusion of harijans. But Gandhiji ignored the criticism,” said A.Marx, author of the book Gandhi and Tamil orthodoxy.
Though rationalist leader E.V.Ramaswamy Periyar did not meet Gandhiji after July 1927, Periyar always had high regards for Gandhiji. When Gandhiji passed away in 1948, he suggested that India should be named Gandhistan. He also wanted Indian year and religion named after Gandhi.
It was during his visit to Madurai in 1925, he decided to change his attire to be seen as one with the poor peasants of the country. As he supported the temple entry agitation of the dalits and the OBCs, they were able to enter Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple in 1939 under the leadership of Vaidyanatha Iyer.

Chennai's encounters with the Mahatma

2009-01-30T22:46:00.000+05:30

CHENNAI, JAN 29: Chennai's streets reverberate with memories of the
Mahatma. From the Victoria Public Hall near the Central railway station, Thakkar Baba Vidyalaya on Venkatnarayana Road, Srinivasa Iyengar's house in Alwarpet (now Chola Sheraton) to the Marina beach, the city has many bonds with Mahatma Gandhi.
During his first visit to the city in 1896, he spoke of the plight of Indian workers in South Africa at a meeting held in Pachayappan Hall near Parrys Corner. However, he made a more memorable speech at the Victoria Public Hall in 1915 during his second visit.
"Do you know that in the great city of Johannesburg, the Madrasis look on Madrasis as dishonoured if he or she has not passed through the jails once or twice during this terrible crisis that your countrymen in South Africa went through during these eight long years?" he asked in the meeting.
His third visit to the city in 1916 was to mobilise students for the freedom struggle. He addressed the students at the MadrasChristian College and Victoria Hostel.
While his fourth visit was a short one en route Patna in 1917, it was during his fifth visit in 1919, he addressed a gathering of nearly 15,000 people on the Marina beach. He met poet Subramania Bharathi during this visit.
His visits to the city invited both bouquets and brickbats.
His advice to the youth to marry young widows at a meeting in Pachayappan Hall during 1927 was criticized by a section of the local media.
During his last visit in 1946, he stayed at the Hindi Prachara Sabha in T.Nagar and addressed a prayer meeting of nearly one lakh people there.

Chemmozhi Institute limping

2008-10-15T18:38:00.001+05:30

Chennai, Oct. 14: The delay in appointment of director and senior executives for Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT) by the Centre even after five months of its institution here has raised questions as to whether the Centre is adopting a partisan attitude towards Tamil.
CICT is the pet project of chief minister M.Karunanidhi. He has visited the CICT here six times in the last five months. Originally known as Centre of Excellence for Classical Tamil and was based in Mysore, the institute moved to Chennai in mid-May 2008. The 65 scholars in the institute have made remarkable progress in research on classical Tamil literature and Tamil dialects.
However, the inordinate delay by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) in transferring financial and executive powers to the institute makes the employees remain temporary staff and the salaries are delayed every month.
Anyone from across the world can learn Tamil online if one of the ten ambitious projects of this institute takes off in six months as planned. The mission of taking Tamil to the world arena through standardization of 41 Tamil classics from the classical phase (300 B.C to 600 A.D) is almost complete. The dialect research wing is ready with 10,000 new Tamil words through field research across the state.
The delay in appointment of director, registrar and finance officer for the institute has slowed down the decision-making process. Though MHRD sources claim the selection process would begin soon, the temporary basis of employees and delay in disbursal of salaries has weakened the team momentum. Field research is not undertaken to record new vocabulary after the pilot study as decision-making is delayed.
“We work hard to bring out high quality work aimed at establishing the classical nature of Tamil language. We have been working on a specialized library on Thirukkural (ancient couplets) and Tholkappiyam (a grammatical treatise) which will be a one-stop reference point,” said Mr K.Ramasamy, present officer-in-charge and retired director of the institute.
“There is a slowdown as the transition is not complete yet. Dealing with the MHRD is quite difficult and it causes few hardships,” he admitted.

Untold story of the youth behind the bars

2008-08-12T21:39:00.000+05:30

Chennai, August 12: International Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL) called the police’s bluff on the arrests of Muslim youth in Tamil Nadu post-Ahmedabad blasts. In a detailed fact-finding report on the arrests made by the state police after the Bengaluru and Ahmedabad blasts, 13 advocates in the fact-finding team claimed that the arrests were made without any “evidence.”
“Police are spreading news that the arrested Muslim youth have been plotting to blast Anna flyover on Independence Day. That has created panic among the public. We, as lawyers upholding the rule of law, wanted to ascertain the truth after meeting the five Muslim prisoners, their families and the concerned police officials,” said Mr Narayanan, joint secretary of IAPL.
Thirteen lawyers from three human rights organizations including IAPL visited the Muslim youth who are imprisoned post-Ahmedabad blasts for an alleged plot. They also interviewed the family members of the arrested youth and the concerned police officials.
“The police’s claims that the youth are planning terror strikes on Independence Day are false. The false propaganda is aimed at creating Islamophobia and getting more funds for the police force,” said Mr S.Manoharan, general secretary, IAPL.
“The youth are threatened with encounter killings and are forced to give statements according to the whims and fancies of the police. Human rights of the prisoners are violated during the interrogation,” said the fact-finding report.
“Late-night hour raids in the houses of Muslim youth, intimidation of the relatives of the prisoners are clear violation of the rule of law. The state government should order a judicial probe into the recent arrests of Muslim youth to put an end to the false propaganda spread by the intelligence agencies,” added the report.
In the meanwhile, imprisoned Abdul Gafoor’s wife Zeenat Najma petitioned the state human rights commission (SHRC) that her husband was implicated in a false case and sought the commission to order a CBI probe into her husband’s arrest. She said her husband was not a terrorist. Imprisoned Heera’s father Syed Nazeem wrote to the chief minister seeking fair retrial in the case of Heera.

Tamil poet’s family ostracised

2008-01-22T00:08:00.000+05:30

Chennai, Jan.20: The culture of alcohol consumption in Muslim societies is being debated across the globe. But when a Tamil writer attempted that six months ago in a literary monthly magazine Uyirmmai published from here, not only the writer but also his family was excommunicated by the local jamaat. Award-winning Tamil poet Mr.H.G.Rasool (47), his wife Ms.Fareeda Begum (45), his children Nasrin (18) and Ruhi Parveen (8) are living amid hostility at their residence in Thuckalay in Kanyakumari district. They cannot attend family get-togethers such as marriages or the annual urs in the local dargah.
Mr.Rasool’s essay was titled “culture of drinking in Islam.” He discussed the culture of drinking in the light of quran, hadith and Islamic history. The teetotaller poet concluded that “mild drinking” was accepted in many Muslim societies and also inferred that “drinking is not a punishable offence in the light of quran.” That was reason enough to “provoke” the local jamaat to the extent of excommunicating him.
“Mr.Rasool has to write an apology letter in the same magazine for having underestimated the intelligence of crores of Muslims in the world,” Mr.Jehabar Sadiq, president of Anjuvannam Peer Mohammadiyya Muslim Association (APMA), the jamaat which ostracised him, told this journalist.
The irony is that Mr.Rasool was Vice-President of APMA jamaat for five years till he was expelled in May 2007 following the controversial essay. “I was not saying anything on my own. I deduced from various available literature that mild drinking is not a punishable offence in Islam,” said the poet.
The poet was under attack from the ulema five years ago for a controversial poem which wanted to know if there were any women prophets in human history.
Social ostracism in Tamil Muslim community meant complete exclusion from community life. “We are psychologically disturbed by the isolation. We are grateful to the relatives and friends who are still standing by us. I hope things will be alright soon,” said Nasrin who is studying second year in a college at Nagercoil, 16 kms from Thuckalay.

Madigas’ internal reservation demand gathers momentum

2008-01-08T18:35:00.000+05:30

Chennai, Jan. 8: In what seems to be a fight for a space within the existing space, Telugu-speaking Arundhatiyar (the equivalent of Madigas in Andhra Pradesh) organizations in the state demand six per cent reservation for the community within the 18 per cent allotted for the Scheduled Castes. “We demand six per cent reservation within the 18 per cent reservation for Scheduled Castes in Tamil Nadu,” Mr.R.Adhiyaman, President, Aathi Thamizhar Peravai, an umbrella organisation of Arundhatiyars in Tamil Nadu told this journalist.
Andhra Pradesh model where Madigas enjoyed seven per cent reservation for four years (2000-2004) emboldened Arundhatiyars in the state to renew their decades-old demand. “Andhra Pradesh government has given seven per cent reservation for Madigas in their state. But Supreme Court struck it down after four years. Tamil Nadu government should have the political will to follow that example,” Mr.Dayalan, President, Arundhatiyar Viduthalai Munnani, told this journalist.
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) which is in the forefront of internal reservation struggles in the state is vocal about this issue. “Even before the PMK was launched in 1989, we have been demanding internal reservation for Arundhatiyars. We had a conference in Erode demanding internal reservation for Arundhatiyars,” Mr.S.Ramadoss, founder-president of PMK told this journalist. He insisted the Tamil Nadu government should consider this demand seriously.
“The demand for internal reservation for Arundhatiyars is valid and our party organised a huge rally in Chennai last year to press for this demand. We are going to press for it again at our state conference to be held in Madurai from January 8 to 10” Mr. N.Varadarajan, state secretary, CPM, told this journalist. He added, “I am confident that the Chief Minister will heed our demand.”
CPI’s state deputy secretary C.Mahendran said, “The government should understand that the Arundhatiyar community requires special measures to enhance its status in the society.” He added, “The dominant dalit political groups should give ground and help the state ensure special opportunities for the Arundhatiyars.”
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) led by Mr.Thol.Thirumavalavan supported the demand of Arundhatiyars in their election manifesto during May 2006 Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu. But they retracted their stance after CPM took up the cause last year. When contacted by this journalist, Mr.Thirumavalavan said, “I will comment on this issue later.”
With parties such as PMK,CPM and CPI already expressing support, Aathi Thamizhar Peravai, United Arunthatiyar Front – a grouping of seven Arundhatiyar organizations are planning a huge rally in Chennai next month to demand six per cent reservation for Arundhatiyar community in Tamil Nadu.

Dalit uprising met with thrashing

2007-12-28T17:51:00.000+05:30

Chennai, Dec. 20: This incident reminds one of feudal ages when slavery was an accepted social practice. Mr.M.Subramaniam (44), a labourer belonging to Arundhatiyar community and a resident of Ramakrishnapuram near Tiruttani, 84 kms from here was beaten black and blue in front of the village temple when scores of villagers watched as mute spectators. He was attacked by a group of caste Hindu Naidus of the same village for questioning them on denial of passage to his residence. “Mr.M.Subramaniam has given a complaint to the police about the atrocity; the police is not taking necessary action”, says Mr.M.Venkataiyan, a social activist from Tiruttani who helped him get medical treatment. Subramaniam’s wife and three children now live in fear of being attacked by caste Hindus as they are isolated from their own community and branded as “trouble-makers”.
Ramakrishnapuram is a serene village on Tiruttani hills where caste Hindu Naidus are in a majority (nearly 50 families) and Dalit Arundhatiyars a minority (only 8 families). Of the eight Arundhatiyar families, only Subramaniam’s family is not into doing menial work for caste Hindu households. His children are getting school education and he prefers going to masonry work at Tiruttani than doing servile work to Naidu landlords.
“We had a 12-feet wide, half a kilometer long approach road from our colony to the main road allotted by the then Adi-Dravida welfare tashildar Mr.Duraikannu in 1999. But the passage was occupied by Mr.Narayanaswamy Naidu and few others and they started cultivation in the passage,” Mr.Subramaniam told this journalist. “When I pointed out that this is in violation of government norms, they got angry,” he added.
A case was registered with the Tiruttani Police Station in this regard one month ago. But no caste Hindu was arrested till date. When this journalist met Mr.Kalappan Naidu against whom complaint was given, he admitted that he had hit Mr.Subramaniam as he provoked the caste Hindus in the village. Mr.E.Magesh, Inspector of Police, Tiruttani, observed: “It is the responsibility of local revenue officials to ensure that the Arundhatiyar people get a proper passage.”
But the situation on the bureaucratic front is pathetic. “Tiruttani Adi-Dravida Welfare office does not have a Revenue Inspector or a Surveyor; only an office assistant is there,” observed Mr.Sampath Kumar, Adi-Dravida welfare Tashildar of Tiruvellore, who was given additional charge of Tiruttani when this journalist brought to his notice the plight of Arundhatiyars in Ramakrishnapuram. Official apathy and police inaction seem to help caste domination remain intact.

The aftermath of credit stealing

2007-11-28T17:14:00.000+05:30

Mr.Anand Natarajan, the credit stealer Editor of India Today - Tamil told the New Delhi office that I threatened him just to reinforce his earlier complaint that I was a terrorist. The message was clear: if you question your boss about credit stealing, he will get you out of the job. The spat over credit-stealing led to my dismissal last week.

Chennai's Return to Nature

2007-08-23T15:47:00.000+05:30

They are travelling together amidst forests searching for traces of the prehistoric life; they are not research scholars; it's more because of their love for Nature. They stay back in the woods days and nights together like aboriginal people. The oldest fine arts college in the country, 150-year old Govt. College of Fine Arts - Chennai - is their second home. They had come together for an exhibition at Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai last week. The exhibition, aptly titled "Serene Perceptions", helped Chennaiites understand the necessity of returing to Nature for solace and saving our next generation. T.Athiveerapandian's series "Towards Nature" tried to recreate Nature's myriad colours in bigger (8 feet x 6 feet) as well as smaller canvases. "My works of art may help the viewer relate to her ecology" says Athiveerapandian. P.Manivannan's works are inspired by the hilly terrain he frequents in search of rock art sites. His black and white works explore his own mindscape. His acrylic works try to create a conversation between his self and Nature. K.Natarajan's exemplary sculptures revolve around Nature and our age-old aesthetic traditions. His oil works explore his relationship with environment and stand out from the rest with an unique style. K.T.Gandhirajan's rock art photographs give us a glimpse of the aesthetic traditions of prehistoric humans who wandered in the western ghats of Tamil Nadu. This show took me close to Nature giving ideas for my next itinerary.

Berijam Lake - Synonym of Serenity

2007-08-12T13:30:00.001+05:30

It's 35 kms from Kodaikanal en route Cochin on the hills. As you travel deep into the pine woods towards Berijam Lake you are reminded of poet Bharathiar's famous lines "Eththanai Kodi Inbam vaiththai iraiva" (oh God, how many pleasures you have created). White Roses of the forest and mountain streams welcome you into that 3km-long lake. I went there during May 2007 and spent hours together enjoying the indescribable beauty of Nature.

Discrimination and Dissent

2007-07-29T13:37:00.000+05:30

I have been working with India Today's Tamil Edition for the last seven years. This is my eighth year of service in that reputed organisation. India Today is known for its professionalism and seriousness. But the kind of discrimination I am facing within the organisation is unknown to the world. Between 2003 and 2004, I was not allowed to write anything except small news items for one and half years. Thanks to my Executive Editor Anand Natarajan, I am still given a meagre sum as a salary when compared to my colleagues.
The interview I did with Tamil Actor Kushboo in September 2005 helped increase the circulation of the magazine for the next six months. I thought the discrimination era was over.
The story of injustice does not stop there. During May 2007, I was asked to write about the tussle between Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi and his grandnephew and former IT minister Dayanidhi Maran for India Today English Edition. That was a Wednesday night when I was called by Mr.Anand Natarajan to do the story. I came back from my girlfriend's place to file the story. That was a four page story in English. It took me till 1 a.m to send the story. It appeared with Mr.Anand Natarajan's byline in English. When I asked him, he said it was Delhi's (India Today English Office) mistake.
This piece of of information can cost me my job. But speaking out is much more important for a journalist than anything else.

Srilankan Tamil Poet Majeeth escapes attempt on life

2007-07-26T16:26:00.000+05:30

Srilankan Tamil poet Majeeth(35), who had authored seven books and is one of the Editors of literary magazine "Peruveli", escaped unhurt in an attempt on his life. A powerful bomb exploded on Thursday, 19th July, 2007, 23.15 hrs SLT (Srilankan Time) in the verandah of his house at Beach Road, Akkaraipatru, Eastern Srilanka. The poet used to to have his literary meetings (which was attended by about dozen writers) in that portico of his house.Majeeth writes on the pains of war and is an advocate of peace.His famous line "Sarikanin pinangal thinnum kahangal pookkum thennaiyai tamil eelam" (Eelam looks like a coconut tree blooming with corpse-eating crows; the corpses are that of the righteous). Majeeth who supported the struggle for a separate Eelam since his early days became disillusioned with the LTTE in the recent years when they started using Muslims as pawns in their war against the Srilankan Army. The incident of Mutur where Muslims were used by LTTE as a shield against Srilankan Army was strongly criticised by Majeeth in "Peruveli".His new book titled "Puli painthapothu iravugal kodaigalaga irunthana" (when tiger bounced, nights turned into summers) never got printed following veiled threats from LTTE sympathisers. Majeeth is also afflicted with some illness related to brain for quite sometime now. He lives with his wife and only daughter.Though Majeeth's house has police protection after the incident, he feels insecure and threatened. (CBC)

Kushboo Controversy goes International

2007-06-30T17:37:00.000+05:30

Alana Rosenbaum, a journalist from Melbourne, Australia got interested in the "chastity" controversy in Tamil Nadu that began after my interview with actor Kushboo appeared in India Today-Tamil edition dt. 28th September 2005. Alana is now doing a research on the subject talking to all the people involved in the controversy. I reproduce the column that sparked off
the great "Chastity" debate.

COLUMN WHAT KHUSHBOO REALLY SAID
Chastity is Becoming Outdated
Women in Chennai were lagging behind Bangalore in expressing sexual desires. But Chennai women are now coming out of hibernation. I see a lot of women going out, in pubs and discos here. Women are able to talk about sex without inhibition. Given our conservative Indian backdrop, women are slowly coming out. But I do have questions about this women liberation when cases like Stefani's accident are happening (this girl was chased and killed by drunken youth after a night party in a Chennai hotel). But at the same time, I think sex education is a must in our schools. When the schools fail to teach sex, parents should educate their children about sex. In my opinion, sex is not only related to body; it's got a lot to do with our minds. I can't understand how some girls could change their boyfriends every Friday. When a girl is sure about her boyfriend she can tell her parents that she's going out with him. When the girl has a serious relationship the parents should also allow it. Our society should liberate itself from such ideas that the brides should all be virgins at the time of marriage. No educated man will expect his bride to be virgin at the time of marriage. But when indulging in pre-marital sex, the girl should guard herself against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
I married a guy who I love. As we were sure about our relationship, we lived together even before marriage. Now it is six years since we got married. As we have two kids, our responsibilities have increased. As our children sleep in the same bedroom, my husband and me should find time for ourselves. But still our sex life is enjoyable. Married couples should be able to give each other happiness physically also. Satisfying each other is happiness. When they understand the other person's sexual desires, there won't be any problems in married life. Some couples make use of pornography to add spice to their sex lives. I don't see anything wrong with that. At the same time each one should understand the other person's likes and dislikes; comfort and discomfort levels. When women express their sexual desires they are looked down upon. This attitude should change. Sex is about two minds.
(As told to Peer Mohamed)
This guest column by Khushboo appeared on page No. 23 of INDIA TODAY's Tamil edition, issue dated September 28, 2005.

My photograph digitally taken on 20th June 2007

2007-06-30T14:36:00.000+05:30