The aftermath of credit stealing

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

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

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

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

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

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.