By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
CHENNAI, 19 September (asiantribune.com): Coimbatore will host the ninth edition of World Tamil Conference which will be held for four days from January 21 to 24, next year. Significantly, the current meet is organised after the Central government has accorded classical language status to Tamil.
The dates were finalised on Saturday at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to discuss the conduct of the Tamil Conference in a grand manner, an official release here said. The decision to hold the Tamil conference however was announced at the Conference of District Collectors and Police Officers on September 17.
Finance Minister K Anbazhagan, Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin, Union Minister A Raja, Ministers Veerapandi K Arumugam, K Ponmudi, Pongalur Palanisamy, Chief Secretary K S Tripathy, Finance Secretary Tamil Development Department secretary, Tourism Secretary, Police Intelligence Chief and Coimbatore District Collector participated in the meeting, the release said.
At the meeting it was decided to constitute various committees and find some responsible persons to head the committees and members. Soon more review meetings would be held in Chennai and Coimbatore to decide about the venue and finalise the route for procession, the release said.
Tamils and Tamil scholars living in various foreign countries would be contacted and invited to the conference, the release added.
The decision to organise the conference has been taken in deference to the wishes of Tamil scholars, researches, journalists and experts in Tamil language in other countries, Karunanidhi said
The Chief Minister’s keen interest to make the forthcoming Tamil conference a historical event in every aspect, was evident from his two meetings held in quick succession last week.
He spent considerable time on explaining how the collectors should make the conference a remarkable one. He made it clear that funds would not be a problem for achieving the task. He said the government was considering appointment of a special officer at the Secretariat to oversee the works for the conference and appointment of a coordinator to the collector of Coimbatore district.
Karunanidhi wants to hold the conference in a grand manner, involving scholars from various parts of the globe to showcase the rich cultural traditions of the Tamil race to the world and ultimately helped rekindle the pride of Tamil language. He said the chariots to be used during the rally to mark the conference should trumpet the glory of the Tamil race and the kings, poets and warriors who lived in this land in the past
The first Tamil Conference of held in Kuala Lumpur in April 1966. After the DMK assumed office for the first time in 1967, the then chief minister C N Annadurai had conducted the Second World Tamil Conference in the then Madras in a grand manner. The present Chief Minister Karunanidhi then played a major part in it.
It was then the city got filled with the statues of Tamil scholars. Dr. Sir A Ramaswami Mudaliar unveiled the statue of Annadurai at the Round Thana, Mount Road. Following this ten important figures in the Tamil history were unveiled on the Marina Beach. They were: Thiruvalluvar, Avvai, Kamban, Veeramamunivar ( C J Beschi), Bharathi, Bharathidasan, Dr. G U Pope, Dr. Robert Caldwell, Va Vu. Chidambaram and Kannagi.
The past eight world Tamil conferences and their dates are: Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia, April 16-23, 1966), Chennai (January 3-10, 1968), Paris (July 15-18, 1970), Jaffna (January 3-9, 1974), Madurai (January 4-10, 1981), Kuala Lumpur (November 15-19, 1987), Mauritius (December 1-8, 1989) and Thanjavur (January 1-5, 1995).
The Tamil conference is taking place after a gap of 15 years. The last meet was held at Thanjavur during the AIADMK regime in 1995.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Sri Lankan refugees at Chengalpattu on fast unto death
Tue, 2009-09-22 02:45 — editor
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
Chennai, 22 September (Asiantribune.com): A total of 58 inmates at the Chengalpet Sri Lankan refugee camp in Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu, India went on an indefinite hunger strike from Sunday morning demanding their immediate release.
The inmates who were arrested from Chennai, Ramanathapuram, Rameshwaram, Madurai and Tiruchi have been languishing in the camp for years without the government framing charge sheets, which has prevented them from approaching the court for any sort of relief. Time and again they have been on mass fasting, but to no avail. There are 61 inmates in the camp, of whom 41 are on protest.
Their grievances are, some of them are detained for more than three years, not allowed to meet their relatives in the other refugee camps, not allowed to meet even outsiders, not allowed to go out for work like other Sri Lankan refugees and they are psychologically affected.
They allege they are in virtual prison and the conditions prevailing are appalling. When the rain come the situation becomes worse and toilet facilities drinking water is scarce.
“Like our brothers suffering in concentrations camps at Wanni in Sri Lanka, we are starving and undergoing a similar kind of treatment in this camps in Tamil Nadu,” says an inmate who is on fast.
The fasting inmates are looking for the Chief Minister’s direct intervention this time, and to attract his attention only this fast unto death, they say.
- Asian Tribune -
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
Chennai, 22 September (Asiantribune.com): A total of 58 inmates at the Chengalpet Sri Lankan refugee camp in Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu, India went on an indefinite hunger strike from Sunday morning demanding their immediate release.
The inmates who were arrested from Chennai, Ramanathapuram, Rameshwaram, Madurai and Tiruchi have been languishing in the camp for years without the government framing charge sheets, which has prevented them from approaching the court for any sort of relief. Time and again they have been on mass fasting, but to no avail. There are 61 inmates in the camp, of whom 41 are on protest.
Their grievances are, some of them are detained for more than three years, not allowed to meet their relatives in the other refugee camps, not allowed to meet even outsiders, not allowed to go out for work like other Sri Lankan refugees and they are psychologically affected.
They allege they are in virtual prison and the conditions prevailing are appalling. When the rain come the situation becomes worse and toilet facilities drinking water is scarce.
“Like our brothers suffering in concentrations camps at Wanni in Sri Lanka, we are starving and undergoing a similar kind of treatment in this camps in Tamil Nadu,” says an inmate who is on fast.
The fasting inmates are looking for the Chief Minister’s direct intervention this time, and to attract his attention only this fast unto death, they say.
- Asian Tribune -
Jaya warns mass agitation if Centre doesn’t act to stop rights violations in Sri Lanka
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
CHENNAI, 22 September (asiantribune.com): The Opposition All India Anna DMK in Tamil Nadu today threatened to launch a mass agitation if the Centre did not act immediately on the brutal civil liberties violations in Sri Lanka.
AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa said in a statement here the TV visuals on the brutal execution of Tamils by the Lankan military personnel, shown by some channels, were disturbing. The footages were reportedly filmed by a soldier on a mobile phone camera.
The visuals showed young Tamils stripped naked and blindfolded with their hands and feet bound, kicked and shot through the back of their head by uniformed military personnel. ''The gruesome footage reinforces my earlier claim that civil liberties are non-existent in Sri Lanka and that the Tamil population there is subject to barbaric atrocities at the hands of the Sri Lankan Army,'' she noted
Though these visuals have been appearing on Indian TV and press, neither the Indian Government nor the State Government lodged a protest with the Sri Lankan Government, she said.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said the AIADMK was a strong votary against terrorism and a vocal critic of LTTE. Even assuming that the persons being shot dead in the footage telecast were LTTE activists, “executing them summarily without a trial was barbaric, inhuman and contrary to civilised norms.”
''It also violates international law relating to treatment of prisoners of war,'' she added.
The AIADMK did not expect the ruling DMK to protest against the atrocities being perpetrated upon the Tamils in Sri Lanka. ''but we expect New Delhi to ensure the life and dignity of the hapless civilian Tamil population of Sri Lanka languishing in various refugee camps in abominable conditions,'' she added.
''If the Indian Government does not act immediately, the AIADMK, along with like-minded political parties, will be forced to launch a mass agitation to focus world vision on the brutal civil liberties violations in Sri Lanka,'' she warned.
CHENNAI, 22 September (asiantribune.com): The Opposition All India Anna DMK in Tamil Nadu today threatened to launch a mass agitation if the Centre did not act immediately on the brutal civil liberties violations in Sri Lanka.
AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa said in a statement here the TV visuals on the brutal execution of Tamils by the Lankan military personnel, shown by some channels, were disturbing. The footages were reportedly filmed by a soldier on a mobile phone camera.
The visuals showed young Tamils stripped naked and blindfolded with their hands and feet bound, kicked and shot through the back of their head by uniformed military personnel. ''The gruesome footage reinforces my earlier claim that civil liberties are non-existent in Sri Lanka and that the Tamil population there is subject to barbaric atrocities at the hands of the Sri Lankan Army,'' she noted
Though these visuals have been appearing on Indian TV and press, neither the Indian Government nor the State Government lodged a protest with the Sri Lankan Government, she said.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said the AIADMK was a strong votary against terrorism and a vocal critic of LTTE. Even assuming that the persons being shot dead in the footage telecast were LTTE activists, “executing them summarily without a trial was barbaric, inhuman and contrary to civilised norms.”
''It also violates international law relating to treatment of prisoners of war,'' she added.
The AIADMK did not expect the ruling DMK to protest against the atrocities being perpetrated upon the Tamils in Sri Lanka. ''but we expect New Delhi to ensure the life and dignity of the hapless civilian Tamil population of Sri Lanka languishing in various refugee camps in abominable conditions,'' she added.
''If the Indian Government does not act immediately, the AIADMK, along with like-minded political parties, will be forced to launch a mass agitation to focus world vision on the brutal civil liberties violations in Sri Lanka,'' she warned.
Quantum computer is not far off
CHENNAI, 23 September: Quantum computer, a new paradigm computer, would become a reality in 10 more years, said Eric A. Cornell, physicist, who shared the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physics with Carl Wieman and Wolfgang Ketterie.
Answering questions from students after delivering the Honeywell-Nobel Laureate lecture at Thiagarajar College of Engineering (TCE) here on Wednesday, Dr. Eric said that he would have said "never" ten years ago for the quantum computer to become reality. Though the hurdles to research on this "more powerful than conventional computers" were formidable it would take at least 10 more years for it to become reality. He was much more optimistic now, Dr. Eric added.
Delivering a lecture on ‘Stone cold science: Bose-Einstein Condensation,’ the Nobel laureate said that the future was in the direction of "very, very small" structures. He explained how record low temperatures were reached in Bose-Einstein Condensation and their implications and the theory of superfluidiity. He opined that Indian physicists were as strong as anywhere in the world today.
Anil P. Gupta, Country Manager, Honeywell India, said that the lecture series was a global initiative launched jointly by Honeywell and Nobel Foundation. It served as a bridge between the industry and academia and Dr. Eric’s visit was the first of its kind to Tamil Nadu.
Later, addressing reporters, Dr. Eric said that Bose-Einstein Condensation would find new applications in remote sensing, navigation of submarines and satellites and cold refrigeration for quantum computers.
Krishna Mikkilineni, Managing Director, Honeywell Technology Solutions, said that the partnership they had with the TCE was the best such relationship in the world and the Honeywell facility here was providing training to students in batches, besides involving itself in research.
The correspondent of TCE, Karumuttu T. Kannan, said that it was a "great model" of industry-institute collaboration that had worked over the years well. The institution, he said, was now focussing on an unexploited area of engineering education – research.
He was confident that the visit of a Nobel laureate and the support provided by Honeywell would give a great impetus to research. V. Abhaikumar, Principal, said that the college was transforming into a centre of research, thanks to the support from Honeywell.
Answering questions from students after delivering the Honeywell-Nobel Laureate lecture at Thiagarajar College of Engineering (TCE) here on Wednesday, Dr. Eric said that he would have said "never" ten years ago for the quantum computer to become reality. Though the hurdles to research on this "more powerful than conventional computers" were formidable it would take at least 10 more years for it to become reality. He was much more optimistic now, Dr. Eric added.
Delivering a lecture on ‘Stone cold science: Bose-Einstein Condensation,’ the Nobel laureate said that the future was in the direction of "very, very small" structures. He explained how record low temperatures were reached in Bose-Einstein Condensation and their implications and the theory of superfluidiity. He opined that Indian physicists were as strong as anywhere in the world today.
Anil P. Gupta, Country Manager, Honeywell India, said that the lecture series was a global initiative launched jointly by Honeywell and Nobel Foundation. It served as a bridge between the industry and academia and Dr. Eric’s visit was the first of its kind to Tamil Nadu.
Later, addressing reporters, Dr. Eric said that Bose-Einstein Condensation would find new applications in remote sensing, navigation of submarines and satellites and cold refrigeration for quantum computers.
Krishna Mikkilineni, Managing Director, Honeywell Technology Solutions, said that the partnership they had with the TCE was the best such relationship in the world and the Honeywell facility here was providing training to students in batches, besides involving itself in research.
The correspondent of TCE, Karumuttu T. Kannan, said that it was a "great model" of industry-institute collaboration that had worked over the years well. The institution, he said, was now focussing on an unexploited area of engineering education – research.
He was confident that the visit of a Nobel laureate and the support provided by Honeywell would give a great impetus to research. V. Abhaikumar, Principal, said that the college was transforming into a centre of research, thanks to the support from Honeywell.
Fishermen issue: AIADMK demonstration at Rameshwaram today; DMDK’s at Delhi on Sept. 29
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
CHENNAI, 25 September (asiantribune.com): The AIADMK supremo Ms. Jayalalithaa has asked her party workers to hold a massive demonstration at Rameswaram on Friday urging the DMK government to act immediately to ensure the release of 21 Tamil fishermen, in which MGR Mandram secretary D Jayakumar and other office bearers would take part.
Condemning the ‘abduction’ of 21 fishermen from Rameswaram by the Sri Lankan navy last week, Ms Jayalalithaa charged that chief minister M. Karunanidhi remained a silent spectator to the continuing atrocities of the Sri Lankan navy on Tamil fishermen. He did the same during the last phase of Sri Lankan war when thousands of Tamil civilians were massacred, she said.
Ms Jayalalithaa said the Lankan navy had abducted 21 fishermen and five fishing boats when nearly 400 fishing boats ventured into the sea from Rameswaram on September 16. She pointed out that the incident had even set off an indefinite strike by the fishermen. But Mr. Karunanidhi had stopped with a statement of condemnation, she said.
Issuing statements would not help the fishermen who are suffering at the hands of Sri Lankan navy, the AIADMK supremo said and added Mr. Karunanidhi was soft attitude towards the Centre. And “Central government does not give any significance to the issue of fishermen,” she said.
DMDK fast at New Delhi
The DMDK president Mr. Vijayakanth has called for a fast in New Delhi on September 29 and has sought an appointment with the Prime Minister and the Union Minister for External Affairs S.M. Krishna.
The DMDK president dubbed the Congress-DMK MPs’ delegation to New Delhi a couple of days before to petition prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh on IDPs in the island nation as “nothing but an eye wash.”
He wondered why Union minister for chemicals and fertilizers M. K. Alagiri was not part of the New Delhi delegation when other “ministers enacted the drama.”
Demanding a permanent solution to put an end to Sri Lankan Navy’s continuous attack on Indian fishermen Mr. Vijayakanth held Mr Karunanidhi responsible for all harassment the Indian fishermen were subjected to by the Lankan Navy. He said Karunanidhi had maintained silence when the islet was ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974 during his regime.
“While the LTTE was blamed for the firing at fishermen till sometime back, how is it, it is continuing when the Sri Lankan government claims to have eliminated the movement?” he asked.
CHENNAI, 25 September (asiantribune.com): The AIADMK supremo Ms. Jayalalithaa has asked her party workers to hold a massive demonstration at Rameswaram on Friday urging the DMK government to act immediately to ensure the release of 21 Tamil fishermen, in which MGR Mandram secretary D Jayakumar and other office bearers would take part.
Condemning the ‘abduction’ of 21 fishermen from Rameswaram by the Sri Lankan navy last week, Ms Jayalalithaa charged that chief minister M. Karunanidhi remained a silent spectator to the continuing atrocities of the Sri Lankan navy on Tamil fishermen. He did the same during the last phase of Sri Lankan war when thousands of Tamil civilians were massacred, she said.
Ms Jayalalithaa said the Lankan navy had abducted 21 fishermen and five fishing boats when nearly 400 fishing boats ventured into the sea from Rameswaram on September 16. She pointed out that the incident had even set off an indefinite strike by the fishermen. But Mr. Karunanidhi had stopped with a statement of condemnation, she said.
Issuing statements would not help the fishermen who are suffering at the hands of Sri Lankan navy, the AIADMK supremo said and added Mr. Karunanidhi was soft attitude towards the Centre. And “Central government does not give any significance to the issue of fishermen,” she said.
DMDK fast at New Delhi
The DMDK president Mr. Vijayakanth has called for a fast in New Delhi on September 29 and has sought an appointment with the Prime Minister and the Union Minister for External Affairs S.M. Krishna.
The DMDK president dubbed the Congress-DMK MPs’ delegation to New Delhi a couple of days before to petition prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh on IDPs in the island nation as “nothing but an eye wash.”
He wondered why Union minister for chemicals and fertilizers M. K. Alagiri was not part of the New Delhi delegation when other “ministers enacted the drama.”
Demanding a permanent solution to put an end to Sri Lankan Navy’s continuous attack on Indian fishermen Mr. Vijayakanth held Mr Karunanidhi responsible for all harassment the Indian fishermen were subjected to by the Lankan Navy. He said Karunanidhi had maintained silence when the islet was ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974 during his regime.
“While the LTTE was blamed for the firing at fishermen till sometime back, how is it, it is continuing when the Sri Lankan government claims to have eliminated the movement?” he asked.
Nedumaran condemns Jayalalithaa
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
CHENNAI, 25 September (asiantgribune.com): P Nedumaran, President of World Tamils Forum, condemned AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa for describing the LTTE as a movement that had degenerated into a terrorist organisation that annihilated anyone who did not toe its line.
He said in a statement here on Wednesday that Ms. Jayalalithaa had made these remarks without knowing history.
If what Jayalalithaa said was true, then the LTTE would have lost its popularity among the Lankan Tamils, Nedumaran said. “But they stood behind the Tigers through all the sufferings.’’
He said Lankan Tamils would not forgive those who had attempted to malign the LTTE.
CHENNAI, 25 September (asiantgribune.com): P Nedumaran, President of World Tamils Forum, condemned AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa for describing the LTTE as a movement that had degenerated into a terrorist organisation that annihilated anyone who did not toe its line.
He said in a statement here on Wednesday that Ms. Jayalalithaa had made these remarks without knowing history.
If what Jayalalithaa said was true, then the LTTE would have lost its popularity among the Lankan Tamils, Nedumaran said. “But they stood behind the Tigers through all the sufferings.’’
He said Lankan Tamils would not forgive those who had attempted to malign the LTTE.
Jayalalithaa dubs Karunanidhi’s Tamil conference a farce
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
CHENNAI, 26 September (asiantribune.com): Tamils world over are in a state of distress and in turmoil. Chief Minister Karunanidhi has done little for the cause of Tamils world over. Former chief minister and AIADMK general secretary Ms. Jayalalithaa, launching a tirade against the former organising the World Tamil Conference, dubbed the proposed meet a farce and “self aggrandizement.”
In a statement from Kodanadu where she staying, Ms. Jayalalithaa, referring to the state government's announcement that the conference would be organised in Coimbatore in January 2010, said ''like all utterances of Mr Karunanidhi, this one too smacks of vested interest and has nothing to do with his self-proclaimed love for Tamil language''.
The fact that no country has come forward to host the 9th World Tamil Conference for 14 long years since 1995 is an indication of the turmoil the Tamil world is going through, she said.
Ominous silence when Tamils suffered
“What does Karunanidhi plan to do about the fate of Tamils world over? What does he have to say about the ominous silence when the Tamils were being massacred in Sri Lanka, with the support and backing of the Indian government, of which his party is a part? Why was he unperturbed by the suppression of Tamils in Malaysia? What has he done to ensure that the classical status of Tamils in India exists beyond mere nomenclature?,” Ms. Jayalalithaa asked.
Malaysian Tamils, who hosted the first International Tamil Conference in 1966, feel that they are relegated to the status of secondary citizens in that country. Last year they had given vent to their feelings by coming out on the streets in protest, but were put down by brutal suppression without evoking even a token protest from Karunanidhi, the self-proclaimed saviour of the Tamil race, she said.
The Tamils of Sri Lanka, who hosted the fourth International Conference in Jaffna in 1974, are living in refugee camps in their own country. Their struggle for self determination was ruthlessly snuffed out by the Sri Lankan government with military aid and logistical support from Indian government in which Karunanidhi’s DMK party is a vital component
Karunanidhi never raised his voice, let alone his little finger, when the massacre of Sri Lankan Tamils was on, she alleged.
‘No’ for Tamil in Parliament
“Here in India, Karunanidhi’s own son M K Alagiri, who is a cabinet minister in the Union government, thanks to his father’s bargaining capabilities, is unable to even speak in the Parliament in Tamil. Obviously, Karunanidhi has been unable to do as much for Tamil as he has done for his sundry sons and grandnephews,” Jayalalithaa said.
“Why is he unconcerned about the fact that his son Alagiri has been disallowed to speak in Tamil in the Indian Parliament? Why is he still backing a central government that has heaped such a great indignity on the Tamil language and the Tamil people?” she asked.
''With this sort of track record in the service of the Tamil language and the Tamil people, Karunanidhi’s World Tamil Conference is nothing but a farcical charade for self-aggrandizement and holds nothing whatsoever for Tamil and the Tamil people. Those on show will be himself, literary figures in his party, his children and grandchildren.”
Does it qualify 9th Tamil conference?
The past eight conferences—Kuala Lumpur, Chennai, Paris, Jaffna, Madurai, Kuala Lumpur, Mauritius and Thanjavur—held were organized under the auspicious of the International Association of Tamil Research (IATR). “The 1995 conference at Thanjavur, which was held when I was Chief Minister, was organized by Japanese academician and an authority of Tamil language, Prof. Noboru Karashima, the president of IATR. Karunanidhi’s announcement of ‘his’ World Tamil Conference makes no mention whatsoever of the IATR.
Karunanidhi’s government has no locus standi to organize IATR’s series of International Tamil Conferences. If the 2010 conference is being organize by Karunanidhi, independent of IATR, then it cannot qualify to be called 9th International Tamil Conference as it is being made out to be, she said.
Karunanidhi, who talks so much about his so-called “political decency” was the first leader of Tamil political party to boycott International Tamil conferences.
He and his DMK party men stayed away from the fifth World Tamil Conference in Madurai in 1981, simply because the AIADMK government had hosted it under then Chief Miniser M G Ramachandran.
The DMK leader did it again in 1995 at the eighth World Tamil Conference in Thanjavur, which was held when she was the Chief Minister, she said.
''Having injected a brand of ''political decency'' into the International Tamil Conferences, does he expect the Tamils the world over to forget everything and
participate in the farce that he is organising in Coimbatore?'', she asked.
CHENNAI, 26 September (asiantribune.com): Tamils world over are in a state of distress and in turmoil. Chief Minister Karunanidhi has done little for the cause of Tamils world over. Former chief minister and AIADMK general secretary Ms. Jayalalithaa, launching a tirade against the former organising the World Tamil Conference, dubbed the proposed meet a farce and “self aggrandizement.”
In a statement from Kodanadu where she staying, Ms. Jayalalithaa, referring to the state government's announcement that the conference would be organised in Coimbatore in January 2010, said ''like all utterances of Mr Karunanidhi, this one too smacks of vested interest and has nothing to do with his self-proclaimed love for Tamil language''.
The fact that no country has come forward to host the 9th World Tamil Conference for 14 long years since 1995 is an indication of the turmoil the Tamil world is going through, she said.
Ominous silence when Tamils suffered
“What does Karunanidhi plan to do about the fate of Tamils world over? What does he have to say about the ominous silence when the Tamils were being massacred in Sri Lanka, with the support and backing of the Indian government, of which his party is a part? Why was he unperturbed by the suppression of Tamils in Malaysia? What has he done to ensure that the classical status of Tamils in India exists beyond mere nomenclature?,” Ms. Jayalalithaa asked.
Malaysian Tamils, who hosted the first International Tamil Conference in 1966, feel that they are relegated to the status of secondary citizens in that country. Last year they had given vent to their feelings by coming out on the streets in protest, but were put down by brutal suppression without evoking even a token protest from Karunanidhi, the self-proclaimed saviour of the Tamil race, she said.
The Tamils of Sri Lanka, who hosted the fourth International Conference in Jaffna in 1974, are living in refugee camps in their own country. Their struggle for self determination was ruthlessly snuffed out by the Sri Lankan government with military aid and logistical support from Indian government in which Karunanidhi’s DMK party is a vital component
Karunanidhi never raised his voice, let alone his little finger, when the massacre of Sri Lankan Tamils was on, she alleged.
‘No’ for Tamil in Parliament
“Here in India, Karunanidhi’s own son M K Alagiri, who is a cabinet minister in the Union government, thanks to his father’s bargaining capabilities, is unable to even speak in the Parliament in Tamil. Obviously, Karunanidhi has been unable to do as much for Tamil as he has done for his sundry sons and grandnephews,” Jayalalithaa said.
“Why is he unconcerned about the fact that his son Alagiri has been disallowed to speak in Tamil in the Indian Parliament? Why is he still backing a central government that has heaped such a great indignity on the Tamil language and the Tamil people?” she asked.
''With this sort of track record in the service of the Tamil language and the Tamil people, Karunanidhi’s World Tamil Conference is nothing but a farcical charade for self-aggrandizement and holds nothing whatsoever for Tamil and the Tamil people. Those on show will be himself, literary figures in his party, his children and grandchildren.”
Does it qualify 9th Tamil conference?
The past eight conferences—Kuala Lumpur, Chennai, Paris, Jaffna, Madurai, Kuala Lumpur, Mauritius and Thanjavur—held were organized under the auspicious of the International Association of Tamil Research (IATR). “The 1995 conference at Thanjavur, which was held when I was Chief Minister, was organized by Japanese academician and an authority of Tamil language, Prof. Noboru Karashima, the president of IATR. Karunanidhi’s announcement of ‘his’ World Tamil Conference makes no mention whatsoever of the IATR.
Karunanidhi’s government has no locus standi to organize IATR’s series of International Tamil Conferences. If the 2010 conference is being organize by Karunanidhi, independent of IATR, then it cannot qualify to be called 9th International Tamil Conference as it is being made out to be, she said.
Karunanidhi, who talks so much about his so-called “political decency” was the first leader of Tamil political party to boycott International Tamil conferences.
He and his DMK party men stayed away from the fifth World Tamil Conference in Madurai in 1981, simply because the AIADMK government had hosted it under then Chief Miniser M G Ramachandran.
The DMK leader did it again in 1995 at the eighth World Tamil Conference in Thanjavur, which was held when she was the Chief Minister, she said.
''Having injected a brand of ''political decency'' into the International Tamil Conferences, does he expect the Tamils the world over to forget everything and
participate in the farce that he is organising in Coimbatore?'', she asked.
Kannan elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Puducherry
By Gopal Ethiraj
PUDUCHERRY, 26 September (asiantribune.com): The ruling Congress nominee P. Kannan was on Saturday elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from the lone seat in the Union Territory of Puducherry.
An election release said here Kannan has been elected at the end of the deadline for withdrawal of nominations. The nomination of Mr. Kannan alone was found in order during scrutiny of papers on September 24 while that of four independents rejected for various reasons, including lack of supporters.
The former home minister of the Union territory, Mr. Kannan had merged his Puducherry Munnetra Congress (PMC), founded in 2005, with the Congress on August 29. He brought all his three MLAs to the Congress fold.
Earlier he supported the Congress nominee Mr. V. Narayanaswamy in the recent Lok Sabha elections, who won and became the Union Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs and Culture. The seat fell vacant on May 16 following the resignation of V. Narayanasamy.
After filing his nomination papers he met the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and took his blessings along with Mr. V. Narayanaswamy and Puducherry Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam.
With the merger of the PMC, the strength of the Congress in the 30 member Assembly has increased from 10 to 13 and the V. Vaithilingam Government is supported by the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (seven) and three independents.
PUDUCHERRY, 26 September (asiantribune.com): The ruling Congress nominee P. Kannan was on Saturday elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha from the lone seat in the Union Territory of Puducherry.
An election release said here Kannan has been elected at the end of the deadline for withdrawal of nominations. The nomination of Mr. Kannan alone was found in order during scrutiny of papers on September 24 while that of four independents rejected for various reasons, including lack of supporters.
The former home minister of the Union territory, Mr. Kannan had merged his Puducherry Munnetra Congress (PMC), founded in 2005, with the Congress on August 29. He brought all his three MLAs to the Congress fold.
Earlier he supported the Congress nominee Mr. V. Narayanaswamy in the recent Lok Sabha elections, who won and became the Union Minister of State for Planning and Parliamentary Affairs and Culture. The seat fell vacant on May 16 following the resignation of V. Narayanasamy.
After filing his nomination papers he met the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and took his blessings along with Mr. V. Narayanaswamy and Puducherry Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam.
With the merger of the PMC, the strength of the Congress in the 30 member Assembly has increased from 10 to 13 and the V. Vaithilingam Government is supported by the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (seven) and three independents.
Thousands throng Tirunallar as Shani transits to Virgo
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
CHENNAI, 26 September (asiantribune.com): Thousands of devotees and pilgrims from various parts of the country on Saturday converged at the Darbaranyeshwarar temple, Tirunallar, Karaikal region of Union territory of Puducherry in connection with the ‘Shani Peyarchi’ festival and worshipped and offered special prayers to the Shaneeshwara Bhagawan.
Lt. Governor of Puducherry Iqbal Singh and several dignitaries including Srilasri Shanmuga Desika Paramacharya Swamigal, the Head of Dharmapuram Adheenam, N.Vasanthakumar, Collector of Karaikal, witnessed the special abhishekams and poojas performed at the Shaneeshwara Bhagawan shrine around 3.30 p.m during the transit of Shaneeshwara Bhagawan (Lord of Saturn) from Simha Rasi to Kanya Rasi (Leo to Virgo).
The devotees from several places had started pouring into Tirunallar even four days ago for offering their prayers to the shrine. The entire town wore a festive look. The devotees took a holy dip at the Nala Teertham, Brahma Teertham and Saraswati Teertham, the holy tanks around the temple, and then offered prayers to Lord Shaneeshwara.
The Karaikal district administration has made elaborate security arrangements and provided basic amenities to devotees. About 1400 policemen were deployed with an increased strength of women personnel as part of the security arrangements during the festival. Police and fire service personnel were kept on vigil in the town.
Barricades were erected in front of the temple and the devotees stood in the queue for several hours of darshan of the deity. Nice pandal arrangements have been made to provide shade for devotees.
About 32 surveillance cameras were employed around the temple area. Special volunteers were posted for removing the old clothes thrown away by the devotees by the side of the holy tanks after taking bath, which is a practice to get rid of the influence of Shani.
The temples, as well as non-governmental organisations presented ‘annadanams’ as part of the festivities. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) operated special buses from various parts of Tamil Nadu and the Southern Railway ran special trains to clear the rush of devotees.
The Thirunallar Commune Panchayat has set up temporary toilets in areas around Nalankulam, Brahma Theertham, Saraswathi Theertham. Medical aid centers were set up around these areas and precautionary measures will be taken to tackle the threat of swine flu.
Police sources said that no untoward incident was reported.
The belief
When Lord Shani (Saturn) passes through the ‘Janma Rasi’ in one's birth chart, he is said to cause difficulties to a person and when he passes through the eighth house from one's Janma Rasi (Ashtamathu Sani) he casts more challenges.
However, the adverse effects of Shani can be relieved through prayer and by performing puja to appease Lord Shani. Sani transits from one house to another every two-and-a-half years and this is known as ‘Sani Peyarchi’.
Shani Peyarchi is one of the best known festival celebrated at Lord Darbaranyeswarar Temple and is visited by large number of people. Saneeswarar’s deity is taken in a procession around the town on this auspicious occasion.
The transit of Lord Saturn from one Rasi to another Rasi (one house to another) in every two and half years is known as ‘Shani Peyarchi’ and Saturn (moves slowly) takes 30 years to come full circle covering all the 12 Rasis.
CHENNAI, 26 September (asiantribune.com): Thousands of devotees and pilgrims from various parts of the country on Saturday converged at the Darbaranyeshwarar temple, Tirunallar, Karaikal region of Union territory of Puducherry in connection with the ‘Shani Peyarchi’ festival and worshipped and offered special prayers to the Shaneeshwara Bhagawan.
Lt. Governor of Puducherry Iqbal Singh and several dignitaries including Srilasri Shanmuga Desika Paramacharya Swamigal, the Head of Dharmapuram Adheenam, N.Vasanthakumar, Collector of Karaikal, witnessed the special abhishekams and poojas performed at the Shaneeshwara Bhagawan shrine around 3.30 p.m during the transit of Shaneeshwara Bhagawan (Lord of Saturn) from Simha Rasi to Kanya Rasi (Leo to Virgo).
The devotees from several places had started pouring into Tirunallar even four days ago for offering their prayers to the shrine. The entire town wore a festive look. The devotees took a holy dip at the Nala Teertham, Brahma Teertham and Saraswati Teertham, the holy tanks around the temple, and then offered prayers to Lord Shaneeshwara.
The Karaikal district administration has made elaborate security arrangements and provided basic amenities to devotees. About 1400 policemen were deployed with an increased strength of women personnel as part of the security arrangements during the festival. Police and fire service personnel were kept on vigil in the town.
Barricades were erected in front of the temple and the devotees stood in the queue for several hours of darshan of the deity. Nice pandal arrangements have been made to provide shade for devotees.
About 32 surveillance cameras were employed around the temple area. Special volunteers were posted for removing the old clothes thrown away by the devotees by the side of the holy tanks after taking bath, which is a practice to get rid of the influence of Shani.
The temples, as well as non-governmental organisations presented ‘annadanams’ as part of the festivities. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) operated special buses from various parts of Tamil Nadu and the Southern Railway ran special trains to clear the rush of devotees.
The Thirunallar Commune Panchayat has set up temporary toilets in areas around Nalankulam, Brahma Theertham, Saraswathi Theertham. Medical aid centers were set up around these areas and precautionary measures will be taken to tackle the threat of swine flu.
Police sources said that no untoward incident was reported.
The belief
When Lord Shani (Saturn) passes through the ‘Janma Rasi’ in one's birth chart, he is said to cause difficulties to a person and when he passes through the eighth house from one's Janma Rasi (Ashtamathu Sani) he casts more challenges.
However, the adverse effects of Shani can be relieved through prayer and by performing puja to appease Lord Shani. Sani transits from one house to another every two-and-a-half years and this is known as ‘Sani Peyarchi’.
Shani Peyarchi is one of the best known festival celebrated at Lord Darbaranyeswarar Temple and is visited by large number of people. Saneeswarar’s deity is taken in a procession around the town on this auspicious occasion.
The transit of Lord Saturn from one Rasi to another Rasi (one house to another) in every two and half years is known as ‘Shani Peyarchi’ and Saturn (moves slowly) takes 30 years to come full circle covering all the 12 Rasis.
21 Rameshwaram fishermen released with their boats
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
CHENNAI, 27 September (asiantribune.com): Twenty-one Rameswaram fishermen who were held by the Sri Lankan navy for allegedly straying into Sri Lankan waters returned home on Friday. They were taken back from the international maritime boundary line (IMBL) by the Indian Coast Guard.
The Rameshwaram fishermen were fasting, holding demonstrations and striking not to go into seas until their release for the past one week. On Friday the AIADMK held a massive demonstration at Rameshwaram for their release, even as the detained fishermen were being released. The impounded five boats were also released.
The 21 fishermen were taken away by the Sri Lankan navy while fishing between Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar on September 17. They were produced before a Mannar court and detained at the Anuradhapuram prison, said T. Ilamvazhuthi, Assistant Director of Fisheries, Rameswaram.
They were to be produced again on October 1 but the Union government sought their immediate repatriation. The fishermen were quickly produced before the Mannar court on Thursday and were released, he added.
On information of their repatriation, the Coast Guard sent its ship to receive the five boats and their crew from the Sri Lankan navy at the IMBL in Palk Bay on Friday. The boats were escorted by the ship to the Coast Guard Station at Mandapam where the fishermen were questioned by Central and State intelligence and other security agencies.
They were later handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries, Rameswaram.
CHENNAI, 27 September (asiantribune.com): Twenty-one Rameswaram fishermen who were held by the Sri Lankan navy for allegedly straying into Sri Lankan waters returned home on Friday. They were taken back from the international maritime boundary line (IMBL) by the Indian Coast Guard.
The Rameshwaram fishermen were fasting, holding demonstrations and striking not to go into seas until their release for the past one week. On Friday the AIADMK held a massive demonstration at Rameshwaram for their release, even as the detained fishermen were being released. The impounded five boats were also released.
The 21 fishermen were taken away by the Sri Lankan navy while fishing between Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar on September 17. They were produced before a Mannar court and detained at the Anuradhapuram prison, said T. Ilamvazhuthi, Assistant Director of Fisheries, Rameswaram.
They were to be produced again on October 1 but the Union government sought their immediate repatriation. The fishermen were quickly produced before the Mannar court on Thursday and were released, he added.
On information of their repatriation, the Coast Guard sent its ship to receive the five boats and their crew from the Sri Lankan navy at the IMBL in Palk Bay on Friday. The boats were escorted by the ship to the Coast Guard Station at Mandapam where the fishermen were questioned by Central and State intelligence and other security agencies.
They were later handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries, Rameswaram.
Majority Air India pilots call off strike; Delhi pilots adamant.
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
CHENNAI, 29 September (asiantribune.com): Although the Air India management on Sunday agreed to look into the grievances of the striking pilots, particularly the productivity-linked incentives (PLIs), and decided to form an ‘exclusive’ committee to look into the PLI modalities, a faction of executive pilots are firm on continuing the strike. This is even after a two-hour meeting with the Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav on Monday that ended in a stalemate. But a majority of pilots in some centres have resumed work.
While most pilots have given up their agitation, the Delhi pilots are adamant, and they are for continuing till the management also conceded their demand and paid them their last three months' salary arrears. According to a senior Air India official, executive pilots based in Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata have resumed duty on Monday.
Capt. V K Bhalla who is spearheading the pilots’ cause, accused Air India Chairman and Managing Director of creating confusion among the pilots. "We are still on strike," he maintained. The talks have ended in a stalemate as the management refused to give a positive reply over the payment of our due salary and withdrawal of PLI-cut order," Captain Bhalla said..
"The salary of the pilots will be paid with the cut, but he (Jadhav) refused to give any exact date or time when it will be paid to us," he said. "As of now, our stand is what it was earlier," Bhalla said. Air India spokesman Jitendra Bhargava also said the talks had remained "inconclusive".
Jadhav is expected to fly down from Mumbai to meet the Delhi faction of the senior executive pilots represented by Bhalla on Tuesday.
Air India has its head office at Mumbai.
As for now, flight operations on Monday are expected to be better than what it was in the last two days. The Air India management worked on the fact that the protesting executive pilots are only a loosely formed forum and so there would be differences of opinion within the group.
The civil aviation ministry has called a meeting of all airlines Tuesday to discuss the situation arising out of the Air India pilots' agitation as well as a similar protest by their counterparts in the Jet Airways earlier this month.
The Air India agitation began last week after the management's decision to slash the PLIs of employees by 25 to 50 per cent as a part of cost-cutting measures. The airline's current debt is about Rs 16,500 crore and its losses stood at Rs 7,200 crore in fiscal 2008-09 that ended March 31.
The cash-strapped airline operates around 310 flights (domestic--220 and international-90). Beleaguered Air India which carries about 30,000 passengers each day was even mulling suspending its operations for about 15 days from midnight tonight after fresh talks with the striking Executive pilots failed to break the three-day deadlock over cut in perks. Sources in the airline in Delhi and Mumbai said tonight the state-owned carrier has stopped accepting bookings and that it was seriously considering suspending the operations. A formal order to suspend the flights is being discussed and expected to be issued soon, sources said.
This should have spread fear waves among the pilots. The pilots of national carrier Air India in Chennai and other centres have called off their three-day strike over reduction in productivity-linked incentives (PLI).
BJP immediately condemned Air India's move to suspend operations, saying the step during the festival season was akin to "daylight attempted murder" of the national carrier. "The decision to suspend operations in the festive season on flimsy grounds is atrocious. This is daylight attempted murder of the national carrier," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said. The BJP MP maintained that the precarious financial health of Air India was a result of the decisions of the government and mishandling of the Airline by the Civil Aviation Ministry.
"The government wants to punish 32,000 employees to cover up its misdeeds," he said. "We demand that operations should be resumed immediately by withdrawing anti-labour policies.”
CHENNAI, 29 September (asiantribune.com): Although the Air India management on Sunday agreed to look into the grievances of the striking pilots, particularly the productivity-linked incentives (PLIs), and decided to form an ‘exclusive’ committee to look into the PLI modalities, a faction of executive pilots are firm on continuing the strike. This is even after a two-hour meeting with the Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav on Monday that ended in a stalemate. But a majority of pilots in some centres have resumed work.
While most pilots have given up their agitation, the Delhi pilots are adamant, and they are for continuing till the management also conceded their demand and paid them their last three months' salary arrears. According to a senior Air India official, executive pilots based in Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata have resumed duty on Monday.
Capt. V K Bhalla who is spearheading the pilots’ cause, accused Air India Chairman and Managing Director of creating confusion among the pilots. "We are still on strike," he maintained. The talks have ended in a stalemate as the management refused to give a positive reply over the payment of our due salary and withdrawal of PLI-cut order," Captain Bhalla said..
"The salary of the pilots will be paid with the cut, but he (Jadhav) refused to give any exact date or time when it will be paid to us," he said. "As of now, our stand is what it was earlier," Bhalla said. Air India spokesman Jitendra Bhargava also said the talks had remained "inconclusive".
Jadhav is expected to fly down from Mumbai to meet the Delhi faction of the senior executive pilots represented by Bhalla on Tuesday.
Air India has its head office at Mumbai.
As for now, flight operations on Monday are expected to be better than what it was in the last two days. The Air India management worked on the fact that the protesting executive pilots are only a loosely formed forum and so there would be differences of opinion within the group.
The civil aviation ministry has called a meeting of all airlines Tuesday to discuss the situation arising out of the Air India pilots' agitation as well as a similar protest by their counterparts in the Jet Airways earlier this month.
The Air India agitation began last week after the management's decision to slash the PLIs of employees by 25 to 50 per cent as a part of cost-cutting measures. The airline's current debt is about Rs 16,500 crore and its losses stood at Rs 7,200 crore in fiscal 2008-09 that ended March 31.
The cash-strapped airline operates around 310 flights (domestic--220 and international-90). Beleaguered Air India which carries about 30,000 passengers each day was even mulling suspending its operations for about 15 days from midnight tonight after fresh talks with the striking Executive pilots failed to break the three-day deadlock over cut in perks. Sources in the airline in Delhi and Mumbai said tonight the state-owned carrier has stopped accepting bookings and that it was seriously considering suspending the operations. A formal order to suspend the flights is being discussed and expected to be issued soon, sources said.
This should have spread fear waves among the pilots. The pilots of national carrier Air India in Chennai and other centres have called off their three-day strike over reduction in productivity-linked incentives (PLI).
BJP immediately condemned Air India's move to suspend operations, saying the step during the festival season was akin to "daylight attempted murder" of the national carrier. "The decision to suspend operations in the festive season on flimsy grounds is atrocious. This is daylight attempted murder of the national carrier," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said. The BJP MP maintained that the precarious financial health of Air India was a result of the decisions of the government and mishandling of the Airline by the Civil Aviation Ministry.
"The government wants to punish 32,000 employees to cover up its misdeeds," he said. "We demand that operations should be resumed immediately by withdrawing anti-labour policies.”
Air India to restore incentives cut; a panel to look into pilots’ concerns
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
CHENNAI, 28 September (asiantribune.com): Air India has decided to set up a committee to look into concerns of pilots, who are on a strike since Saturday, protesting against a 20 per cent cut in their Productivity-linked incentives (PLIs) by the management.
The PLIs formed a significant part of their monthly emoluments and the pilots claimed their wages suffered. By the cut. For the airlines, it was a lopsided wage structure with salaries and wages constituting 35 per cent of the total operating costs.
At least 33 flights, including international flights, were cancelled on Sunday, the second day of the strike. Thirteen domestic flights were cancelled on Saturday as several pilots reported sick. The executive pilots who reported sick are seniors handling management responsibilities in the airline.
As the agitation by the executive pilots entered the second day on Sunday, Air India Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav held a four-hour long meeting with different sections of agitating pilots in Mumbai.
After a meeting with agitating executive pilots, the airlines management decided to set up a committee "exclusively" to look into their concerns over the cut in their incentives (PLIs). "The committee, comprising Executive Director (Finance), Executive Director (Industrial Relations), General Manager (Operations in Mumbai) and respresentatives of the executive pilots, would address the concerns of the agitating executive pilots over the cut in the PLIs," Air India spokesperson Jitendra Bhargava told media persons in Mumbai.
The state-owned Air India on Sunday agreed to restore the productivity-linked incentive (PLI) to placate its agitating senior pilots but they refused to call off their strike. But the pilots have demanded that they also be paid their three-months arrears.
The management has agreed to reverse PLI but they haven't made any commitment to pay the three-months arrears. “We will call off our strike only when the airline assures us of this," said Capt. V K Bhalla, who is spearheading the agitation.
The beleaguered carrier on Wednesday had decided to slash the PLIs of employees by 25 to 50 per cent as part of its cost-cutting measures, which sparked the strike.
The airline's current debt is about Rs 16,500 crore and its losses stood at Rs 7,200 crore in fiscal 2008-09 that ended March 31.
Meanwhile, the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday condemned the national carrier's decision to slash the wages and PLI of its pilots and demanded the government's intervention in the Air India strike.
"The country knows that Air India incurred losses due to wrong policies of the government and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel. It is ironical that instead of making the minister accountable for the present state of affairs of Air India, the pilots and workers are made to suffer," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.
The party also demanded a white paper on the reasons for the present financial status of Air India.
CHENNAI, 28 September (asiantribune.com): Air India has decided to set up a committee to look into concerns of pilots, who are on a strike since Saturday, protesting against a 20 per cent cut in their Productivity-linked incentives (PLIs) by the management.
The PLIs formed a significant part of their monthly emoluments and the pilots claimed their wages suffered. By the cut. For the airlines, it was a lopsided wage structure with salaries and wages constituting 35 per cent of the total operating costs.
At least 33 flights, including international flights, were cancelled on Sunday, the second day of the strike. Thirteen domestic flights were cancelled on Saturday as several pilots reported sick. The executive pilots who reported sick are seniors handling management responsibilities in the airline.
As the agitation by the executive pilots entered the second day on Sunday, Air India Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav held a four-hour long meeting with different sections of agitating pilots in Mumbai.
After a meeting with agitating executive pilots, the airlines management decided to set up a committee "exclusively" to look into their concerns over the cut in their incentives (PLIs). "The committee, comprising Executive Director (Finance), Executive Director (Industrial Relations), General Manager (Operations in Mumbai) and respresentatives of the executive pilots, would address the concerns of the agitating executive pilots over the cut in the PLIs," Air India spokesperson Jitendra Bhargava told media persons in Mumbai.
The state-owned Air India on Sunday agreed to restore the productivity-linked incentive (PLI) to placate its agitating senior pilots but they refused to call off their strike. But the pilots have demanded that they also be paid their three-months arrears.
The management has agreed to reverse PLI but they haven't made any commitment to pay the three-months arrears. “We will call off our strike only when the airline assures us of this," said Capt. V K Bhalla, who is spearheading the agitation.
The beleaguered carrier on Wednesday had decided to slash the PLIs of employees by 25 to 50 per cent as part of its cost-cutting measures, which sparked the strike.
The airline's current debt is about Rs 16,500 crore and its losses stood at Rs 7,200 crore in fiscal 2008-09 that ended March 31.
Meanwhile, the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday condemned the national carrier's decision to slash the wages and PLI of its pilots and demanded the government's intervention in the Air India strike.
"The country knows that Air India incurred losses due to wrong policies of the government and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel. It is ironical that instead of making the minister accountable for the present state of affairs of Air India, the pilots and workers are made to suffer," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.
The party also demanded a white paper on the reasons for the present financial status of Air India.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Chidambaram election challenger’s silence surprises
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
CHENNAI, 18 September (asiantribune.com): The election petition, challenging the victory of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, from Sivaganga constituency in the Parliament Elections held in May last, is yet to be numbered, due to silence on the part of the petitioner and the defeated candidate S Raja Kannappan. It has raised eye brows in the AIADMK as well as in other circles.
The election petition rules says the petitioner should file his affidavit papers personally appearing before the High Court Registrar General and also for corrections. In July Kannappan appeared before the registry and filed his paper. After going through his affidavit, the registry found some fault and intimated Kannappan to come in person and correct the mistakes.
More than two months have lapsed, Kannappan is yet to turn up to the registry and make corrections. With the petition still remaining unnumbered, Kannappan’s lack of interest is quite surprising, especially after being so fast in filing the election petition, claiming he was leading in several rounds, seeking recount of votes, his objection to the results went unheeded, etc.
Kannappan had submitted in his petition that in the last round of counting, he was leading with 3555 votes and all of a sudden the Returning Officer had announced Chidambaram won the elections with a margin of 3354 votes. His objection was not accepted
There were seven election petitions filed in the high court after the Lok Sabha elections, including one from Puducherry. The election petitions filed against Union Fertilizer Minister M K Alagiri, former minister T R Balu, small-time film artiste J K Ritheesh and Kumar of AIADMK, elected from Madurai, Sriperumbudur, Ramanathapuram and Tiruchy respectively have been numbered after being admitted by the concerned judges, in the Madras High Court and issued notices. The other two petitions are in the process of getting admitted.
CHENNAI, 18 September (asiantribune.com): The election petition, challenging the victory of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, from Sivaganga constituency in the Parliament Elections held in May last, is yet to be numbered, due to silence on the part of the petitioner and the defeated candidate S Raja Kannappan. It has raised eye brows in the AIADMK as well as in other circles.
The election petition rules says the petitioner should file his affidavit papers personally appearing before the High Court Registrar General and also for corrections. In July Kannappan appeared before the registry and filed his paper. After going through his affidavit, the registry found some fault and intimated Kannappan to come in person and correct the mistakes.
More than two months have lapsed, Kannappan is yet to turn up to the registry and make corrections. With the petition still remaining unnumbered, Kannappan’s lack of interest is quite surprising, especially after being so fast in filing the election petition, claiming he was leading in several rounds, seeking recount of votes, his objection to the results went unheeded, etc.
Kannappan had submitted in his petition that in the last round of counting, he was leading with 3555 votes and all of a sudden the Returning Officer had announced Chidambaram won the elections with a margin of 3354 votes. His objection was not accepted
There were seven election petitions filed in the high court after the Lok Sabha elections, including one from Puducherry. The election petitions filed against Union Fertilizer Minister M K Alagiri, former minister T R Balu, small-time film artiste J K Ritheesh and Kumar of AIADMK, elected from Madurai, Sriperumbudur, Ramanathapuram and Tiruchy respectively have been numbered after being admitted by the concerned judges, in the Madras High Court and issued notices. The other two petitions are in the process of getting admitted.
Kovai to host Ninth World Tamil Conference from January 21-24
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
CHENNAI, 19 September (asiantribune.com): Coimbatore will host the ninth edition of World Tamil Conference which will be held for four days from January 21 to 24, next year. Significantly, the current meet is organised after the Central government has accorded classical language status to Tamil.
The dates were finalised on Saturday at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to discuss the conduct of the Tamil Conference in a grand manner, an official release here said. The decision to hold the Tamil conference however was announced at the Conference of District Collectors and Police Officers on September 17.
Finance Minister K Anbazhagan, Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin, Union Minister A Raja, Ministers Veerapandi K Arumugam, K Ponmudi, Pongalur Palanisamy, Chief Secretary K S Tripathy, Finance Secretary Tamil Development Department secretary, Tourism Secretary, Police Intelligence Chief and Coimbatore District Collector participated in the meeting, the release said.
At the meeting it was decided to constitute various committees and find some responsible persons to head the committees and members. Soon more review meetings would be held in Chennai and Coimbatore to decide about the venue and finalise the route for procession, the release said.
Tamils and Tamil scholars living in various foreign countries would be contacted and invited to the conference, the release added.
The decision to organise the conference has been taken in deference to the wishes of Tamil scholars, researches, journalists and experts in Tamil language in other countries, Karunanidhi said
The Chief Minister’s keen interest to make the forthcoming Tamil conference a historical event in every aspect, was evident from his two meetings held in quick succession last week.
He spent considerable time on explaining how the collectors should make the conference a remarkable one. He made it clear that funds would not be a problem for achieving the task. He said the government was considering appointment of a special officer at the Secretariat to oversee the works for the conference and appointment of a coordinator to the collector of Coimbatore district.
Karunanidhi wants to hold the conference in a grand manner, involving scholars from various parts of the globe to showcase the rich cultural traditions of the Tamil race to the world and ultimately helped rekindle the pride of Tamil language. He said the chariots to be used during the rally to mark the conference should trumpet the glory of the Tamil race and the kings, poets and warriors who lived in this land in the past
The first Tamil Conference of held in Kuala Lumpur in April 1966. After the DMK assumed office for the first time in 1967, the then chief minister C N Annadurai had conducted the Second World Tamil Conference in the then Madras in a grand manner. The present Chief Minister Karunanidhi then played a major part in it.
It was then the city got filled with the statues of Tamil scholars. Dr. Sir A Ramaswami Mudaliar unveiled the statue of Annadurai at the Round Thana, Mount Road. Following this ten important figures in the Tamil history were unveiled on the Marina Beach. They were: Thiruvalluvar, Avvai, Kamban, Veeramamunivar ( C J Beschi), Bharathi, Bharathidasan, Dr. G U Pope, Dr. Robert Caldwell, Va Vu. Chidambaram and Kannagi.
The past eight world Tamil conferences and their dates are: Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia, April 16-23, 1966), Chennai (January 3-10, 1968), Paris (July 15-18, 1970), Jaffna (January 3-9, 1974), Madurai (January 4-10, 1981), Kuala Lumpur (November 15-19, 1987), Mauritius (December 1-8, 1989) and Thanjavur (January 1-5, 1995).
The Tamil conference is taking place after a gap of 15 years. The last meet was held at Thanjavur during the AIADMK regime in 1995.
CHENNAI, 19 September (asiantribune.com): Coimbatore will host the ninth edition of World Tamil Conference which will be held for four days from January 21 to 24, next year. Significantly, the current meet is organised after the Central government has accorded classical language status to Tamil.
The dates were finalised on Saturday at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to discuss the conduct of the Tamil Conference in a grand manner, an official release here said. The decision to hold the Tamil conference however was announced at the Conference of District Collectors and Police Officers on September 17.
Finance Minister K Anbazhagan, Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin, Union Minister A Raja, Ministers Veerapandi K Arumugam, K Ponmudi, Pongalur Palanisamy, Chief Secretary K S Tripathy, Finance Secretary Tamil Development Department secretary, Tourism Secretary, Police Intelligence Chief and Coimbatore District Collector participated in the meeting, the release said.
At the meeting it was decided to constitute various committees and find some responsible persons to head the committees and members. Soon more review meetings would be held in Chennai and Coimbatore to decide about the venue and finalise the route for procession, the release said.
Tamils and Tamil scholars living in various foreign countries would be contacted and invited to the conference, the release added.
The decision to organise the conference has been taken in deference to the wishes of Tamil scholars, researches, journalists and experts in Tamil language in other countries, Karunanidhi said
The Chief Minister’s keen interest to make the forthcoming Tamil conference a historical event in every aspect, was evident from his two meetings held in quick succession last week.
He spent considerable time on explaining how the collectors should make the conference a remarkable one. He made it clear that funds would not be a problem for achieving the task. He said the government was considering appointment of a special officer at the Secretariat to oversee the works for the conference and appointment of a coordinator to the collector of Coimbatore district.
Karunanidhi wants to hold the conference in a grand manner, involving scholars from various parts of the globe to showcase the rich cultural traditions of the Tamil race to the world and ultimately helped rekindle the pride of Tamil language. He said the chariots to be used during the rally to mark the conference should trumpet the glory of the Tamil race and the kings, poets and warriors who lived in this land in the past
The first Tamil Conference of held in Kuala Lumpur in April 1966. After the DMK assumed office for the first time in 1967, the then chief minister C N Annadurai had conducted the Second World Tamil Conference in the then Madras in a grand manner. The present Chief Minister Karunanidhi then played a major part in it.
It was then the city got filled with the statues of Tamil scholars. Dr. Sir A Ramaswami Mudaliar unveiled the statue of Annadurai at the Round Thana, Mount Road. Following this ten important figures in the Tamil history were unveiled on the Marina Beach. They were: Thiruvalluvar, Avvai, Kamban, Veeramamunivar ( C J Beschi), Bharathi, Bharathidasan, Dr. G U Pope, Dr. Robert Caldwell, Va Vu. Chidambaram and Kannagi.
The past eight world Tamil conferences and their dates are: Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia, April 16-23, 1966), Chennai (January 3-10, 1968), Paris (July 15-18, 1970), Jaffna (January 3-9, 1974), Madurai (January 4-10, 1981), Kuala Lumpur (November 15-19, 1987), Mauritius (December 1-8, 1989) and Thanjavur (January 1-5, 1995).
The Tamil conference is taking place after a gap of 15 years. The last meet was held at Thanjavur during the AIADMK regime in 1995.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sunday Celebrity: Playback singer P.B.Sreenivos, the multi-faceted personality
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
Chennai, 30 August (Asiantribune.com):Up to the age of three, his parents were very much worried the child was not speaking, and they were praying all the gods they knew to open up his voice. Their joy knew no bounds when one day the child yelled when a stone slab fell near it with a great bang.
The child later was known and became renowned with its voice. It was none other than P.B.Sreenivos, the film playback singer, lyricist, writer. He has sung more than 1000 songs for films in fourteen Indian languages. As a playback singer, he has created a niche for himself, and honors came one after another. As a lyricist he is proficient enough to pen in eight languages—Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit, Malayalam and English. He is also known as Md. Rafi of South India.
When child Sreenivos found his voice, singing became his choice. His mother was good singer at home. That inspired him, he started to hum. He came across sweet Hindi songs of Manna Dey, Md. Rafi, Naushad, Talat, Mukesh. Rafi became his voice-model. All Rafi-sung songs were on lips.
“When I was trying film chances, it was Rafi numbers my audition test-songs. My songs S.P.Balasubramaniam was using as his audition test-songs when he was knocking at the doors of producers, which fact he himself acknowledges in all his interviews. I am happy, honored,” says P.B.Srieenivos talking to Asian Tribune.
Our meeting, early this week at the Mylapore New Woodlands, where he sits every evening and is almost the Brand Ambassador of the hotel, was itself happening with a symmetrical thinking. He was waiting for me, and the rain had delayed my reaching on time. However, ‘PBS’ as he is called affectionately, received me warmly, and asked me to sit for sometime and have my coffee while he said he would finish his writing he was on. I wondered if it was punishment for my late coming.
Not willing to kill my time I started to scribble on my papers. There were half a dozen servers and those who had come to eat were behind my back watching my paper. ‘PBS’ asked me what was it—I had completed a profile sketch of ‘PBS’. With a big simile and surprise, he said what a big coincidence, “I was penning a poem on you in Tamil with your name embedded vertically down the lines!” We exchanged our sketches of each other duly signed.
His will power prevails
How he came into film industry? While at school and college at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, Sreenivos used to tell he would become a playback singer, and his family was against it. His father brought an astrologer home and asked him to see if he would have any success in his pursuit. The astrologer said he would not click well. His parents then persuaded him to change his idea of future. But he was not to give up.
His father then took him to Emani Shankara Sastri, a veena exponent (he was a sub-registrar in Kakinada then) for an advice, who asked him to sing a song. He was out with his Rafi song from “Didar” ‘huve hum jinke liye’, and won his appreciation. Sastri said he would have a bright future in films. His parents stopped crossing him thereafter.
His break in films
In 1951 was his first break in films with “Mr.Sampath,” in Hindi, a Gemini film, which was also made in Tamil as “Miss Malini”. He sang couplets and triplets with Geeta Dutt and Shamshed Begum. His first break in Tamil was in R.Nagendra Rao’s ”Jathakam,” which was also made in Telugu and Kannada.
“Gemini’s S.S.Vasan was very much impressed with my voice. He told Sastri even my humming, melts him. Narasu Iyer of Narasu Studios’ recording of my song ‘Avanillal puviyinile anuvum asayade’ for “Prema Pasam” and ‘Muralidhara mohana krishna’ for Thyagi Ramaiah Das gave me courage to stay put with my resolve to be a playback singer,” Sreenivos says of his beginning in the industry.
Then came his recording in “Adutha veettu Penn” where all his four songs became hits—‘kannale pesi pesi kolladhe’, ‘vadatha pushpame..’, ‘Maalayil, malar solaiyil..’ and a Japanese-worded ‘Sayanora, sayanora..Tokio’ with S.Janaki. “Kalangalil aval vasantham..” penned by Kannadasan, tuned by Viswanathan-Ramamurthy duo for “Pava Mannippu’ is another hit of PBS, still doing rounds.
Suseela’s ectasy
‘Nilave ennidam nerungathe’, a solo tuned by M S Viswanathan for Gemini Ganesh, still speaks of him as imitable singer. “S.Janaki would say I cannot imagine any better voice for this song. Once P.Suseela and myself were giving a light music programme at Annamalai Mandram in Chennai. As she has to catch her train she finished her singing first, got off the stage, but could not leave the hall without listening my ‘nilave ennidam nerungathe’. Not aware of this, I was rendering other songs, keeping this much-awaited number to the last. Impatient Suseela sent a chit, asking me to sing the song and that she was waiting. I did. Filled with ecstasy, she came back on the stage and joined with me, making the solo a duet.”
His association with AVM, he remembers well. For AVM’s “Ramu” a Gemini Ganesh-K.R.Vijaya starrer, his rendering ‘kathalikka neram’, ‘Viswanathan velai vendum..’ ‘anubhavam pudumai avalidam kanden..’ ‘ninaipadellam nadanduvittal..’and so many were his hits.
“There was times I have given five recording in a day. There were two films with all songs with me and Janaki—“Policekaran Magan” and “Sumaithangi”,’ PBS remembers with contentment.
Appreciation from US president
PBS has cut many gramophone disc records. One in English is noteworthy. When Apollo landed on Moon in 1968, he wrote an English poem “ Man to Moon; Moon to God” which was published by a weekly “Movie Land”. A producer V.Radhakrishnan came forward to cut this into a record disc. The copy of the same was sent to Louis Armstrong, the man who landed on the moon and President Nixon, the then president of USA, who sent a letter of appreciation to him.
His singing for recent films include ‘7 G Rainbow Colony”, “Gilli” “Aayirathil Oruvan.” In the last film he has sung for a Vairamuthu song. He is content he has sung with Lata Mangeskar, P.Suseela, S.Janaki and almost all top music directors.
A formula for ragas
He is lover of Gazal singing, and writing gazal is his favourite sport. He says he written gazals in eight languages. He has invented a formula to remember 72 ragas. He calls it “Diamond key” (Vaira savi). It is beneficial to the music learners to recognize all ragas. PBS’ was made a visiting faculty of the Music college.
During Ms. Jayalalithaa regime, P.B.Sreenivos was made president of Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram and Kunnakudi Vaidhyanathan, secretary for a term of three years. “Kalainger period I got the Kalai Mamani title. Jayalalithaa period I got the chance to confer the title to 200 of the artistes.”
Almost all state governments have honored him. Kartnataka government has honored him last month and also the Sri Ragavendra mutt bestowed on him “Sangeetha Kalanidhi” title and made him Asthana Vidhwan of the Mutt on August 7, 2009. “It should be noted I am 7th asthana vidwan of the Mutt like the sa-re-ga-ma-pa-da-nee. The ‘nee’ is me,” he says. Kanchi Sankaracharya Sri Jayendraswamigal had bestowed on him “sangeetha Nathamani” title in addition to “sangeetha ratna” conferred earlier.
His devotional rendering include Sri Sharadha Bhujanga stotram, Sri Venkateswarta Suprabatham, Sri Mallikarjuna stotram, Mukunda mala and Purandeswara compositions. He has penned about 2 lakh verses, gazhals, bajans and dohas. A book titled “Pranavam’ in eight languages is authored work.
One can always meet him at his usual jaunt at the Woodlands in the evenings, he sporting his zari turban, shawl and trisurnam line on his forehead. If asked of his old song lines, he hesitates not to do so. “Musicians and rasikas go together. There is no former without the latter. Remove ‘M’ (him) from music ‘U’ become sic(k),” he says.
Come September 22, this year, P B Sreenivos would be turning 80. He has four sons and a daughter, but none of them venturing into films, all are good singers. His sister’s son V.G.Madhusudanan is an up and coming singer, who might step in his shoes, PBS believes.
- Asian Tribune -
Chennai, 30 August (Asiantribune.com):Up to the age of three, his parents were very much worried the child was not speaking, and they were praying all the gods they knew to open up his voice. Their joy knew no bounds when one day the child yelled when a stone slab fell near it with a great bang.
The child later was known and became renowned with its voice. It was none other than P.B.Sreenivos, the film playback singer, lyricist, writer. He has sung more than 1000 songs for films in fourteen Indian languages. As a playback singer, he has created a niche for himself, and honors came one after another. As a lyricist he is proficient enough to pen in eight languages—Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit, Malayalam and English. He is also known as Md. Rafi of South India.
When child Sreenivos found his voice, singing became his choice. His mother was good singer at home. That inspired him, he started to hum. He came across sweet Hindi songs of Manna Dey, Md. Rafi, Naushad, Talat, Mukesh. Rafi became his voice-model. All Rafi-sung songs were on lips.
“When I was trying film chances, it was Rafi numbers my audition test-songs. My songs S.P.Balasubramaniam was using as his audition test-songs when he was knocking at the doors of producers, which fact he himself acknowledges in all his interviews. I am happy, honored,” says P.B.Srieenivos talking to Asian Tribune.
Our meeting, early this week at the Mylapore New Woodlands, where he sits every evening and is almost the Brand Ambassador of the hotel, was itself happening with a symmetrical thinking. He was waiting for me, and the rain had delayed my reaching on time. However, ‘PBS’ as he is called affectionately, received me warmly, and asked me to sit for sometime and have my coffee while he said he would finish his writing he was on. I wondered if it was punishment for my late coming.
Not willing to kill my time I started to scribble on my papers. There were half a dozen servers and those who had come to eat were behind my back watching my paper. ‘PBS’ asked me what was it—I had completed a profile sketch of ‘PBS’. With a big simile and surprise, he said what a big coincidence, “I was penning a poem on you in Tamil with your name embedded vertically down the lines!” We exchanged our sketches of each other duly signed.
His will power prevails
How he came into film industry? While at school and college at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, Sreenivos used to tell he would become a playback singer, and his family was against it. His father brought an astrologer home and asked him to see if he would have any success in his pursuit. The astrologer said he would not click well. His parents then persuaded him to change his idea of future. But he was not to give up.
His father then took him to Emani Shankara Sastri, a veena exponent (he was a sub-registrar in Kakinada then) for an advice, who asked him to sing a song. He was out with his Rafi song from “Didar” ‘huve hum jinke liye’, and won his appreciation. Sastri said he would have a bright future in films. His parents stopped crossing him thereafter.
His break in films
In 1951 was his first break in films with “Mr.Sampath,” in Hindi, a Gemini film, which was also made in Tamil as “Miss Malini”. He sang couplets and triplets with Geeta Dutt and Shamshed Begum. His first break in Tamil was in R.Nagendra Rao’s ”Jathakam,” which was also made in Telugu and Kannada.
“Gemini’s S.S.Vasan was very much impressed with my voice. He told Sastri even my humming, melts him. Narasu Iyer of Narasu Studios’ recording of my song ‘Avanillal puviyinile anuvum asayade’ for “Prema Pasam” and ‘Muralidhara mohana krishna’ for Thyagi Ramaiah Das gave me courage to stay put with my resolve to be a playback singer,” Sreenivos says of his beginning in the industry.
Then came his recording in “Adutha veettu Penn” where all his four songs became hits—‘kannale pesi pesi kolladhe’, ‘vadatha pushpame..’, ‘Maalayil, malar solaiyil..’ and a Japanese-worded ‘Sayanora, sayanora..Tokio’ with S.Janaki. “Kalangalil aval vasantham..” penned by Kannadasan, tuned by Viswanathan-Ramamurthy duo for “Pava Mannippu’ is another hit of PBS, still doing rounds.
Suseela’s ectasy
‘Nilave ennidam nerungathe’, a solo tuned by M S Viswanathan for Gemini Ganesh, still speaks of him as imitable singer. “S.Janaki would say I cannot imagine any better voice for this song. Once P.Suseela and myself were giving a light music programme at Annamalai Mandram in Chennai. As she has to catch her train she finished her singing first, got off the stage, but could not leave the hall without listening my ‘nilave ennidam nerungathe’. Not aware of this, I was rendering other songs, keeping this much-awaited number to the last. Impatient Suseela sent a chit, asking me to sing the song and that she was waiting. I did. Filled with ecstasy, she came back on the stage and joined with me, making the solo a duet.”
His association with AVM, he remembers well. For AVM’s “Ramu” a Gemini Ganesh-K.R.Vijaya starrer, his rendering ‘kathalikka neram’, ‘Viswanathan velai vendum..’ ‘anubhavam pudumai avalidam kanden..’ ‘ninaipadellam nadanduvittal..’and so many were his hits.
“There was times I have given five recording in a day. There were two films with all songs with me and Janaki—“Policekaran Magan” and “Sumaithangi”,’ PBS remembers with contentment.
Appreciation from US president
PBS has cut many gramophone disc records. One in English is noteworthy. When Apollo landed on Moon in 1968, he wrote an English poem “ Man to Moon; Moon to God” which was published by a weekly “Movie Land”. A producer V.Radhakrishnan came forward to cut this into a record disc. The copy of the same was sent to Louis Armstrong, the man who landed on the moon and President Nixon, the then president of USA, who sent a letter of appreciation to him.
His singing for recent films include ‘7 G Rainbow Colony”, “Gilli” “Aayirathil Oruvan.” In the last film he has sung for a Vairamuthu song. He is content he has sung with Lata Mangeskar, P.Suseela, S.Janaki and almost all top music directors.
A formula for ragas
He is lover of Gazal singing, and writing gazal is his favourite sport. He says he written gazals in eight languages. He has invented a formula to remember 72 ragas. He calls it “Diamond key” (Vaira savi). It is beneficial to the music learners to recognize all ragas. PBS’ was made a visiting faculty of the Music college.
During Ms. Jayalalithaa regime, P.B.Sreenivos was made president of Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram and Kunnakudi Vaidhyanathan, secretary for a term of three years. “Kalainger period I got the Kalai Mamani title. Jayalalithaa period I got the chance to confer the title to 200 of the artistes.”
Almost all state governments have honored him. Kartnataka government has honored him last month and also the Sri Ragavendra mutt bestowed on him “Sangeetha Kalanidhi” title and made him Asthana Vidhwan of the Mutt on August 7, 2009. “It should be noted I am 7th asthana vidwan of the Mutt like the sa-re-ga-ma-pa-da-nee. The ‘nee’ is me,” he says. Kanchi Sankaracharya Sri Jayendraswamigal had bestowed on him “sangeetha Nathamani” title in addition to “sangeetha ratna” conferred earlier.
His devotional rendering include Sri Sharadha Bhujanga stotram, Sri Venkateswarta Suprabatham, Sri Mallikarjuna stotram, Mukunda mala and Purandeswara compositions. He has penned about 2 lakh verses, gazhals, bajans and dohas. A book titled “Pranavam’ in eight languages is authored work.
One can always meet him at his usual jaunt at the Woodlands in the evenings, he sporting his zari turban, shawl and trisurnam line on his forehead. If asked of his old song lines, he hesitates not to do so. “Musicians and rasikas go together. There is no former without the latter. Remove ‘M’ (him) from music ‘U’ become sic(k),” he says.
Come September 22, this year, P B Sreenivos would be turning 80. He has four sons and a daughter, but none of them venturing into films, all are good singers. His sister’s son V.G.Madhusudanan is an up and coming singer, who might step in his shoes, PBS believes.
- Asian Tribune -
Sunday Celebrity: M. B. Nirmal is a catalyst of social change
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
Chennai, 07 September (Asiantribune.com): There is no dearth of social workers, social thinkers, visionaries and missionaries in the country. India needs change. But the modern world has its own new crop of social problems. It needs new applications; it needs to be identified, new methods adopted.
Here is one man to whom the un-treaded service area was stretched clear in front of him and he got into the un-beaten track to correct the ‘ills and spills’ of the society. That great visionary, missionary; social reformer and social activist; environmentalist and “greenkeeper” is M.B. Nirmal, the founder of Exnora International (EI)
Exnora International has several organizations in itself such as Civic Exnora, Rain Water Harvesting Exnora, Water Bodies Protection Exnora, Pollution Prevention Exnora, Organic Farmers Exnora, Students Exnora etc.
The best part of Exnora Vision is bringing a big revolution in the very outlook of service clubs.
Only people of social status and financial standing can normally become members of leading service clubs. Exnora has made the membership available to ordinary men, who of course will be developed to do extraordinary things in environmental service activities Nirmal must be the first person, who carried environmental protection message to several lakhs of men and women individually and collectively work for the cause. Like Rotary and Lions which are founded in USA with laudable mission to serve humanity, Mr. M B Nirmal founded Exnora International in India with the main objective of environmental protection.
Service-minded educated people believed to play a part with some political groups or through clubs and other organizations. Nirmal came, the swing of the service-minded people went along with him. “I have 1.5 million memberships through various networks of Exnora. Exnora International operating mainly through its branches, clubs which in turn operates through its various sub-chapters / divisions / exclusive wings / ancillary organs,” Nirmal says.
“Exnora is a viable alternative where even an ordinary person with very less income devoid of his race, religion, caste, language and economic status can become a member with a very nominal fee. The whole idea is to enable even ordinary people to join Exnora Innovators Club and develop themselves so as to be able to serve society. The acid test to join is whether the person has the love to serve. Exnora Innovators Club offers pride of club membership to anyone and everyone.”
Service starts from micro, grows to macro level
Nirmal’s grandfather and father were very rich. They lost their huge fortune of wealth in family business. In 1971, a young Nirmal was forced to move to a small house surrounded by slums which was in alarming proportion of unhygienic condition with heaps of trash, piles of cow dung, pools of sewage and open defecation. With no option of moving to a better place, he started thinking how to make his place better, and indeed he achieved his mission. Also he found a mission stick on to him in macro-level, in the later years.
Instead of finding ways of throwing them out, he motivated them to throw out their misconceptions, wrong perceptions and pessimism. He made them partner to his mission and part-owner to the success. Today the area has become a model in all respects, including the slum dwellers having a common people’s toilet, children toilet, community underground drainage, tuition center, lush street garden, gym, and water collection system etc.
Nirmal made so many innovations in the field of Solid Waste Management. He created a concept called SoWaM (Solid Waste Management) and three branch concepts called So-SoWaM (Source Solid Waste Management), De-SoWaM (Decentralised Solid Waste Management) and Ce-SoWaM (Centralized Solid Waste Management).
He is also the innovator of several other ideas like Perennial Landfill and Vertical Composting. The idea of sky farming (terrace garden), using the sky place for horticulture, would indeed solve the major problems of the world viz – Poverty, Unemployment, Air Pollution and Garbage.
Restoring water bodies.
Nirmal says, Exnora started water bodies’ protection in the urban areas, and nearly 20 lakes have been upgraded. “We have more than 3000 lakes in Chennai. They are all under total ruin.
The Municipalities dump garbage, debris and construct bus stands, hospitals, schools on the lakes also Illegal earth quarrying goes unabated. If we preserve all our water bodies there is no need to go with begging bowl to the neighboring states.”
Nirmal says we have requested the Government to interlink the lakes even before discussing interlinking the rivers.
How the idea was formulated involving the people in the civic movement? He says the greatest advantage India has is its people who are service-minded. By mobilizing this manpower resource we can solve many of the problems we are facing today and emerge victorious.
He says in any civic activity undertaken, the people who are going to be the most affected, are seldom consulted. They are not involved in either in the process of planning or implementation and as a result of it, it remains far removed from the whole situation. “We made them partners that are why we became success.”
By empowering these people to tackle the problem on their own, the job is made easy. That is what he does, and things are easily solved. He motivates the people to come out with new ways and plans to tackle the issue and set up an efficient system of operation for solving it.
Civic movement
Civic problem is an enormous one. No civic body alone can do it all alone. The civic movement of the people should give a helping hand.
What does Nirmal think about civic amenities in India being privatized? He feels privatization is only a short-term solution. For example, if the aim is to only keep the city clean then privatizing garbage disposal is a good idea. The private collector will dispose off the garbage to dumps outside the city. The city might become clean at the cost of the outskirts.
“But we must set our eyes on long-term solutions. To do that we have to change the mindset of the people.
There are agencies that are ready to pay for this domestic waste because it can be converted into manure. The aim should be to achieve a zero percent waste generation and establish a cycle wherein this waste gets generated back into providing energy.
“We are also involved in setting up rainwater harvesting projects vermiculture and other initiatives, which will help in the optimum use of earth's resources and reduce the production of waste through recycling.”
Non-renewable resources will be over in another thirty- five years and then we will have to turn to alternative sources of energy like, wind, solar and tidal energy, he says At that time energy generated through waste will be a major contributor. Therefore we have to realize the importance of effective waste management and the advantages of learning to recycle in order save earth from degradation.
Exnora Green Cross Vellore (EGC) is another of his success story, started in 1995 by C Srinivasan as an affiliate of Exnora International. EGC's vision is to "bring about socio-economic change through employment generation based on environmental conservation... by enlisting people's participation".
EGC began with a project to restore the Vellore hills and ran into several other interconnected issues. To restore the topsoil, a project to compost organic waste was started. To generate cattle dung for composting, a project to protect the cattle wealth was initiated. To stop people from depending on the hills for firewood, renewable energy units and several alternative income generation activities were introduced. And so on.
Nirmal served last as the Chief Public Relations Officer of Indian Overseas Bank before he took voluntary retirement. He had served as Chief Manager of a few of IOB major branches including the overseas Hong Kong Branch, Teynampet and Nungambakkam, Chennai, India.
What media says of him
Nirmal has won a lot of appreciations and awards—Lion and Rotary clubs, Tamil sangams, etc It is interesting to see what the media had to say on him and on his services.
Reader's Digest, the largest circulated magazine of the world in its "Heroes for Today" section described him as a Peerless Leader who has a remarkable ability to inspire people to work together; New India Times wrote 'Many call him a visionary. Most regard him as a Motivator. He has proved that motivation can move mountains and people too. He is always pregnant with ideas'
The Inner Wheel Club of Rotary International featured him as one of the eight 'Pathfinders' of India, along with Mother Terasa, Mr.Sunderlal Bahuguna, Dr.Verghese Kurien Dr.M.S.Swaminathan, in their book "Path Finders".
New India Times (USA) wrote, 'Mr.Nirmal's speech at FETNA, Missouri electrifying'. The Hindu, the National daily, described him as a Catalyst of Social change and wrote, "Nirmal's optimism is infectious" ; Indian Express, the National daily regarded him as one of the six crusaders who will change India. News Today, the daily acclaimed him as Man of the year for 1995, and adored him, Nirmal is a highly motivated person and an incurable optimist with undying and unquenchable optimism. His watchword is 'Never say Die' and lives so.
India Today, the national weekly chose him as "one of the Ten Angels of Change" who are transforming India. Gentleman (Indian Express) selected him as One of the Ten Leading Gentlemen of Chennai and wrote, "Mr.Nirmal is a walking example of positive thinking. Malayala Manorama, the largest circulated daily of India described.Nirmal as the 'Wonder man' of the Banking Industry .The International Indian, a Magazine published from Dubai wrote "Jawaharlal Nehru said, 'Success often comes to people who dare and act; it seldom goes to the timid who are ever afraid of the consequences'. Nirmal is one such individual who dared to make a difference". South China Morning Post published from Hong Kong wrote "Nirmal has the ability to bring out the Gandhi in everyone".
His work was hailed by Sunday, The Week, Economic Times, Financial Express, Times of India, Chitralekha (Gujarathi), Eenadu (Telugu). International Newspapers like India Abroad (USA) and other leading newspapers and periodicals.
Nirmal has been a regular guest and visiting faculty to deliver inspirational and motivational lectures on various subjects in the specialties related to Behavioral Science and Creativity at the National Level Apex Training Institutes.
Apart from Motivation, his 7th Sense, a powerful Brain Resource Development Training Programme is equally a great success, being attended by the top executives of Government and Corporate organizations as well as members of faculty of Arts & Professional Colleges. 'Study Smarter & Not Harder' for students and 'Effective parenting' for parents are also smash hits. His training programmes are conducted in India and Abroad.
He is author of twelve books in Tamil and six books in English written for individual and societal development. He has been writing in leading Magazines and periodicals regularly.
- Asian Tribune -
Friday, September 4, 2009
Dr. Swamy appeals SC to scrap Sethusamudram project
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
CHENNAI, 05 September (asiantribune.com): Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking that Setusamudram Shipping Channel Project (SSCP) be declared invalid.
Dr Swamy mentioned his application today before the Supreme Court for urgent hearing. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan and Justices P Sathasivam and B S Chauhan, however, directed the application for hearing in the first week of October.
The application stated that there were no proper studies conducted before starting the project, and therefore the project should be declared invalid and fresh research should be carried out before restarting the project.
According to a report of National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), at Dona Paula, Goa published in March 2009, he said in his application, the NIO is yet to study the impact of seasonal cycle of sediment transport and cyclones. It will also study the impact of biosphere reserve on environment due to changes brought about due to the construction and operation of the channel with alignment 4A.
Dr Swamy has also appealed to appoint an impartial committee to de novo consider the project only after the requisite data has been collected over the proper period of years and the same has been properly studied.
The Supreme Court is awaiting the report of Dr. R K Pachauri committee which was appointed by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to explore the possibility of adopting some new route\alignment to complete the project so that Ram Setu can be saved.
CHENNAI, 05 September (asiantribune.com): Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking that Setusamudram Shipping Channel Project (SSCP) be declared invalid.
Dr Swamy mentioned his application today before the Supreme Court for urgent hearing. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan and Justices P Sathasivam and B S Chauhan, however, directed the application for hearing in the first week of October.
The application stated that there were no proper studies conducted before starting the project, and therefore the project should be declared invalid and fresh research should be carried out before restarting the project.
According to a report of National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), at Dona Paula, Goa published in March 2009, he said in his application, the NIO is yet to study the impact of seasonal cycle of sediment transport and cyclones. It will also study the impact of biosphere reserve on environment due to changes brought about due to the construction and operation of the channel with alignment 4A.
Dr Swamy has also appealed to appoint an impartial committee to de novo consider the project only after the requisite data has been collected over the proper period of years and the same has been properly studied.
The Supreme Court is awaiting the report of Dr. R K Pachauri committee which was appointed by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to explore the possibility of adopting some new route\alignment to complete the project so that Ram Setu can be saved.
K. Rosiah sworn-in as interim AP Chief Minister
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
CHENNAI, 04 September (asiantribune.com): Senior-most Congress leader and Finance Minister K Rosaiah was on Thursday sworn-in as Chief Minister of Andhrea Pradesh, following the untimely death of incumbent Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Wednesday.
At a simple function at Raj Bhavan, the Governor N D Tiwari administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Rosaiah. He was the only one to be sworn in.
After official declaration of death of Reddy was made, Mr. Rosiah was sworn in. After taking the oath, he drove straight to the State Secretariat where he met all the ministers of the Reddy Cabinet.
Kadapa to be ‘YSR district’
The first thing the new Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah did was he convened an emergency Cabinet meeting, which lasted hardly 20 minutes, mourned Dr. Reddy and four others who died in Wednesday’s helicopter crash. It observed a two-minute silence and adopted a resolution to name Kadapa district after Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy as a tribute to the departed leader.
Later, Mr. Rosaiah and his Cabinet colleagues drove to YSR’s residence at Begumpet and paid their respects to the leader. Describing YSR’s death as most shocking, the Cabinet expressed its deep sympathies to all the bereaved members of the families.
YSR’s services recalled
The Cabinet recalled the services of Dr. Reddy, who saved the State from an imminent financial crisis and put it on the highway of development in five years.
His several innovative schemes were placed on record such as Aarogyasri, Pavala Vaddi, Abhaya Hastham, free power to farmers, Indiramma, fee reimbursement to students, loan waiver for various sections and his flagship programme, Jalayagnam under which 81 irrigation projects were taken up at a cost of Rs. 1.5 lakh crore to cover over one crore acres.
“It is hard to believe that the amiable, visionary and workaholic Chief Minister, who was humane in every word and deed, is no more. The void caused by his death can’t be filled,” the Cabinet said.
Rosaiah’s profile
The 77-year-old Rosaiah, kept a low profile and was always a non-controversial leader. A senior-most leader, he has held various portfolios in successive Congress governments since 1979 and served under different Chief Ministers, but mostly the Finance portfolio he got.
He, in fact, has set a record by presenting as many as 15 Budgets to the Assembly.
Born in July 1933 at Vemuru in Guntur district, he is a bachelor of commerce . He belongs to the Vaishya community. Active in politics since his student days, he was a close follower of the late parliamentarian and farmers leader Prof. N G Ranga.
Mr. Rosaiah served as a member of AP Legislative Council in 1968, 1974 and 1980. He became a Minister for Roads and Buildings in 1979 under M. Channa Reddy. He served as a minister in the Cabinets of T Anjaiah, Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy, N Janardhana Reddy and has been serving as a minister in the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy Cabinet since May 2004. He held portfolios like home, health, education and transport.
During 1995 to 97, he was also the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president. He was elected to Lok Sabha from Narsaraopet in 1998.
In 2007, Andhra University had conferred an honorary doctorate on him. Mr. Rosaiah is married to Sivalaxmi and has three sons and a daughter.
CHENNAI, 04 September (asiantribune.com): Senior-most Congress leader and Finance Minister K Rosaiah was on Thursday sworn-in as Chief Minister of Andhrea Pradesh, following the untimely death of incumbent Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Wednesday.
At a simple function at Raj Bhavan, the Governor N D Tiwari administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Rosaiah. He was the only one to be sworn in.
After official declaration of death of Reddy was made, Mr. Rosiah was sworn in. After taking the oath, he drove straight to the State Secretariat where he met all the ministers of the Reddy Cabinet.
Kadapa to be ‘YSR district’
The first thing the new Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah did was he convened an emergency Cabinet meeting, which lasted hardly 20 minutes, mourned Dr. Reddy and four others who died in Wednesday’s helicopter crash. It observed a two-minute silence and adopted a resolution to name Kadapa district after Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy as a tribute to the departed leader.
Later, Mr. Rosaiah and his Cabinet colleagues drove to YSR’s residence at Begumpet and paid their respects to the leader. Describing YSR’s death as most shocking, the Cabinet expressed its deep sympathies to all the bereaved members of the families.
YSR’s services recalled
The Cabinet recalled the services of Dr. Reddy, who saved the State from an imminent financial crisis and put it on the highway of development in five years.
His several innovative schemes were placed on record such as Aarogyasri, Pavala Vaddi, Abhaya Hastham, free power to farmers, Indiramma, fee reimbursement to students, loan waiver for various sections and his flagship programme, Jalayagnam under which 81 irrigation projects were taken up at a cost of Rs. 1.5 lakh crore to cover over one crore acres.
“It is hard to believe that the amiable, visionary and workaholic Chief Minister, who was humane in every word and deed, is no more. The void caused by his death can’t be filled,” the Cabinet said.
Rosaiah’s profile
The 77-year-old Rosaiah, kept a low profile and was always a non-controversial leader. A senior-most leader, he has held various portfolios in successive Congress governments since 1979 and served under different Chief Ministers, but mostly the Finance portfolio he got.
He, in fact, has set a record by presenting as many as 15 Budgets to the Assembly.
Born in July 1933 at Vemuru in Guntur district, he is a bachelor of commerce . He belongs to the Vaishya community. Active in politics since his student days, he was a close follower of the late parliamentarian and farmers leader Prof. N G Ranga.
Mr. Rosaiah served as a member of AP Legislative Council in 1968, 1974 and 1980. He became a Minister for Roads and Buildings in 1979 under M. Channa Reddy. He served as a minister in the Cabinets of T Anjaiah, Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy, N Janardhana Reddy and has been serving as a minister in the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy Cabinet since May 2004. He held portfolios like home, health, education and transport.
During 1995 to 97, he was also the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president. He was elected to Lok Sabha from Narsaraopet in 1998.
In 2007, Andhra University had conferred an honorary doctorate on him. Mr. Rosaiah is married to Sivalaxmi and has three sons and a daughter.
DK’s Veeramani courts arrest, resorting to rail roko for IDPs in Lanka
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
CHENNAI, 04 September (asiantribune.com): Dravidar Kazhagam chief K Veeramani and of hundreds of cadres were arrested here on Wednesday when they attempted to resort to rail roko demanding right to life for Sri Lankan Tamils (IDPs) languishing in the makeshift camps in the island nation.
Mr. Veeramani said the internally displaced Tamils in northern Sri Lanka are leading an horrible life and they should be taken out of the camps soon. He demanded the union government to take immediate steps to restore human dignity of the Tamils.
“Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa should be put on trial for butchering hundreds of thousands of innocent men and women,” he said.
Mr. Veeramani said he would hold next protest at the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission office in Chennai and the DK would lock its gates.
Later, Mr. Veeramani led the cadres from Periyar Thidal where the meeting was held, and proceeded towards the Central Railway Station through EVK Sampath Road and Poondamalli High Road to hold a rail roko. They were arrested and released later.
CHENNAI, 04 September (asiantribune.com): Dravidar Kazhagam chief K Veeramani and of hundreds of cadres were arrested here on Wednesday when they attempted to resort to rail roko demanding right to life for Sri Lankan Tamils (IDPs) languishing in the makeshift camps in the island nation.
Mr. Veeramani said the internally displaced Tamils in northern Sri Lanka are leading an horrible life and they should be taken out of the camps soon. He demanded the union government to take immediate steps to restore human dignity of the Tamils.
“Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa should be put on trial for butchering hundreds of thousands of innocent men and women,” he said.
Mr. Veeramani said he would hold next protest at the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission office in Chennai and the DK would lock its gates.
Later, Mr. Veeramani led the cadres from Periyar Thidal where the meeting was held, and proceeded towards the Central Railway Station through EVK Sampath Road and Poondamalli High Road to hold a rail roko. They were arrested and released later.
Madras HC also decides to disclose assets of judges on its website
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
CHENNAI, 03 Septmber (asiantribune.com): The Madras High Court has followed those of the Karnataka, Bombay, Delhi, Kerala and Punjab and Haryana High Courts in deciding to disclose the assets of the sitting judges on their websites.
A Full Court of Madras High Court that met this evening, chaired by Chief Justice H L Gokhale, decided to declare the assets of its Judges. The full court meeting decided to submit its judges assets to the Chief Justice before October 31. Latter it will be published in the official website of the Madras High Court.
All the judges, located in Chennai who participated in the meeting, debated the issue before, and took the decision on disclosure of assets in the public domain, such as the court's official website.
The administrative committee, comprising the top seven judges of the court had already discussed the issue on Tuesday.
It was the Supreme Court's resolution in 1997 that flouted the idea of declaration of assets, and the same was circulated to all high courts. It was adopted by the Madras High Court only in 2008; when Mr. Justice A P Shah was the chief justice of the court.
Although judges of the high courts have been declaring assets to their respective chief justices, as required by the resolution, details are not put in the public domain for common perusal and transparency.
The Bombay High Court decided on Tuesday to follow suit, following a meeting by the full court after which the Registrar General formally made the announcement on Wednesday. Registrar General A I Cheema said the decision has been taken and the modalities will be decided in due course. . The registrar-general of the Kerala High Court even specified that the details would be posted at the site on September 30.
Karnataka judge’s action, a domino effect
The Karnataka High Court decided the same on Tuesday, following Justice D V Shylendra Kumar voluntarily deciding to disclose his assets to the Registrar General of the court that had a domino effect. On Wednesday, he also put up the details of his assets and liabilities (that he had submitted to the High Court Registrar General on Monday, on a website.
A note on the site stated that the particulars of assets of Justice Shylendra Kumar, were being displayed on the site as the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court had prevented the information from being displayed on the High Court website. According to the information posted on the website, Justice Shylendra Kumar owns assets worth Rs 50.38 lakh.
Under pressure of a growing public opinion and with a couple of High Court judges already declaring their assets, the Supreme Court judges decided last month to post the details of their assets on the website of the court. The Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan had announced that members of higher judiciary are free to declare their assets. The CJI had said that he has the right to speak on behalf of all judges as head of the judiciary.
Chief Justice of India Justice K G Balakrishnan, however, had formally announced on August 28 that SC judges, who had been following the May 7, 1997 resolutions scrupulously, had now decided to put the details of their assets on the Supreme Court website. He, however, said high courts could adopt on their own their stand on the issue.
Responding to a question on declaration of judges' assets during a recent conference of apex court judges, Balakrishnan had said: "At the time of their appointment, every Supreme Court judge has to declare his assets. Thereafter, if any property is purchased, he has to give the information to me in a sealed cover."
"This must be the case with High Court judges (who would furnish the information to the chief justice of the high court concerned)," he added.
What legal luminaries say
The Bar Association of India (BAI) also wants declaration of assets by judges, saying that it would enhance their dignity greatly.
"There are statutory provisions in the US apex court on disclosure of assets by judges. There is an urgent need that such provision should be implemented in India, too," the BAI had said recently in a statement.
Former chief justices of India J S Verma and V N Khare too had supported the idea of declaration of assets by high court judges.
Top legal minds welcomed the decision to make public judges’ assets after initial reluctance saying “it is better late then never”.
Meanwhile, senior Supreme Court advocate Shanti Bhushan believes if more judges disclose their assets then the people's faith in the judiciary will be restored.
“It is a step in the right direction as it will restore the people's faith. People will be expecting that those judges who have nothing to hide will come forward and declare their personal wealth, this way people can scrutinise how much wealth they have,” Bhushan said
Former Attorney General and Constitutional expert Soli J Sorabjee said: “it is a very good decision taken by the judges. I think it is a very good development. It’s better late than never.” He added that the judges have heeded the views of former chief justices and senior advocates who were also very keen to maintain the image of the judiciary.
“I am sure their initial reluctance not to declare assets was not because they had anything to hide. They had misgivings that it may be misused,” he said.
Sorabjee also said the decision will raise the stature of the judiciary in public eye. “It raises the stature and image of the judiciary and what is more it reinforces the confidence of the litigants in the supreme judiciary.”
Agreeing with Sorabjee, advocate Prashant Bhushan, who had launched a campaign on the issue, said it would also now encourage the judges of the high courts to make public their assets.
“It is an absolutely welcome move and I am sure it will also encourage the judges of the high courts to publicly declare their assets and force the government to put up assets of government servants on public website which can be accessed by the people,”Bhushan said.
Senior advocate K K Venugopal termed the decision as “excellent”.
“I think it is the greatest steps that the judiciary could take because it has cleared all the clouds which have been hanging over the issue,” he said.
CHENNAI, 03 Septmber (asiantribune.com): The Madras High Court has followed those of the Karnataka, Bombay, Delhi, Kerala and Punjab and Haryana High Courts in deciding to disclose the assets of the sitting judges on their websites.
A Full Court of Madras High Court that met this evening, chaired by Chief Justice H L Gokhale, decided to declare the assets of its Judges. The full court meeting decided to submit its judges assets to the Chief Justice before October 31. Latter it will be published in the official website of the Madras High Court.
All the judges, located in Chennai who participated in the meeting, debated the issue before, and took the decision on disclosure of assets in the public domain, such as the court's official website.
The administrative committee, comprising the top seven judges of the court had already discussed the issue on Tuesday.
It was the Supreme Court's resolution in 1997 that flouted the idea of declaration of assets, and the same was circulated to all high courts. It was adopted by the Madras High Court only in 2008; when Mr. Justice A P Shah was the chief justice of the court.
Although judges of the high courts have been declaring assets to their respective chief justices, as required by the resolution, details are not put in the public domain for common perusal and transparency.
The Bombay High Court decided on Tuesday to follow suit, following a meeting by the full court after which the Registrar General formally made the announcement on Wednesday. Registrar General A I Cheema said the decision has been taken and the modalities will be decided in due course. . The registrar-general of the Kerala High Court even specified that the details would be posted at the site on September 30.
Karnataka judge’s action, a domino effect
The Karnataka High Court decided the same on Tuesday, following Justice D V Shylendra Kumar voluntarily deciding to disclose his assets to the Registrar General of the court that had a domino effect. On Wednesday, he also put up the details of his assets and liabilities (that he had submitted to the High Court Registrar General on Monday, on a website.
A note on the site stated that the particulars of assets of Justice Shylendra Kumar, were being displayed on the site as the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court had prevented the information from being displayed on the High Court website. According to the information posted on the website, Justice Shylendra Kumar owns assets worth Rs 50.38 lakh.
Under pressure of a growing public opinion and with a couple of High Court judges already declaring their assets, the Supreme Court judges decided last month to post the details of their assets on the website of the court. The Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan had announced that members of higher judiciary are free to declare their assets. The CJI had said that he has the right to speak on behalf of all judges as head of the judiciary.
Chief Justice of India Justice K G Balakrishnan, however, had formally announced on August 28 that SC judges, who had been following the May 7, 1997 resolutions scrupulously, had now decided to put the details of their assets on the Supreme Court website. He, however, said high courts could adopt on their own their stand on the issue.
Responding to a question on declaration of judges' assets during a recent conference of apex court judges, Balakrishnan had said: "At the time of their appointment, every Supreme Court judge has to declare his assets. Thereafter, if any property is purchased, he has to give the information to me in a sealed cover."
"This must be the case with High Court judges (who would furnish the information to the chief justice of the high court concerned)," he added.
What legal luminaries say
The Bar Association of India (BAI) also wants declaration of assets by judges, saying that it would enhance their dignity greatly.
"There are statutory provisions in the US apex court on disclosure of assets by judges. There is an urgent need that such provision should be implemented in India, too," the BAI had said recently in a statement.
Former chief justices of India J S Verma and V N Khare too had supported the idea of declaration of assets by high court judges.
Top legal minds welcomed the decision to make public judges’ assets after initial reluctance saying “it is better late then never”.
Meanwhile, senior Supreme Court advocate Shanti Bhushan believes if more judges disclose their assets then the people's faith in the judiciary will be restored.
“It is a step in the right direction as it will restore the people's faith. People will be expecting that those judges who have nothing to hide will come forward and declare their personal wealth, this way people can scrutinise how much wealth they have,” Bhushan said
Former Attorney General and Constitutional expert Soli J Sorabjee said: “it is a very good decision taken by the judges. I think it is a very good development. It’s better late than never.” He added that the judges have heeded the views of former chief justices and senior advocates who were also very keen to maintain the image of the judiciary.
“I am sure their initial reluctance not to declare assets was not because they had anything to hide. They had misgivings that it may be misused,” he said.
Sorabjee also said the decision will raise the stature of the judiciary in public eye. “It raises the stature and image of the judiciary and what is more it reinforces the confidence of the litigants in the supreme judiciary.”
Agreeing with Sorabjee, advocate Prashant Bhushan, who had launched a campaign on the issue, said it would also now encourage the judges of the high courts to make public their assets.
“It is an absolutely welcome move and I am sure it will also encourage the judges of the high courts to publicly declare their assets and force the government to put up assets of government servants on public website which can be accessed by the people,”Bhushan said.
Senior advocate K K Venugopal termed the decision as “excellent”.
“I think it is the greatest steps that the judiciary could take because it has cleared all the clouds which have been hanging over the issue,” he said.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
A PIL against obscenity, violence telecast in TV channels
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
CHENNAI, 31 August (asiantribune.com): A Public Interest Litigation Petition (PIL) seeking direction to the Central government to regulate and prohibit the transmission or retransmission of obscenity, violent, vulgar telecasts and exhibition of indecent dramas, serials, dances and advertisements by private channels, was filed in the Madras High Court today.
The Court ordered notice to Union Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry, Prashar Bharati Nigam Ltd and Central Board of Film Certification, when the PIL came before the First Bench of Chief Justice H L Gokhale and Mr Justice D Murugesan, and directed the respondents to file their counter on or before October 5.
Stating the TV was an indispensable feature for everyone, irrespective of age, the petitioners Rev. Father Pancras M Raja and three others contended that present-day youth and children áre being exposed to “mind pollution” by the television programmes, advertisements telecast by the Satellite Cable TV Networks. “'Mind pollution' was worse than all other types of pollution.”
The petitioners claimed that psychologists all over the world have been cautioning that exposure to media violence and sex had a damaging effect on children, minors and youth. The parents are worried and feel helpless and are frustrated that their right to bring up their children a “mind pollution” free atmosphere is being snatched away.
The PIL also said the right to freedom of TV, however, is a valuable right but the right should go with it the responsibility; the duty to protect the rights of others should not be given a go-by. The PIL added there were over 290 private TV channels in the country, and the damage is so much.
The petitioners submitted and sought order to restrain repeated telecast of events which terrified viewers like the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai and the February 19 last police-advocates clash in the Madras High Court premises.
CHENNAI, 31 August (asiantribune.com): A Public Interest Litigation Petition (PIL) seeking direction to the Central government to regulate and prohibit the transmission or retransmission of obscenity, violent, vulgar telecasts and exhibition of indecent dramas, serials, dances and advertisements by private channels, was filed in the Madras High Court today.
The Court ordered notice to Union Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry, Prashar Bharati Nigam Ltd and Central Board of Film Certification, when the PIL came before the First Bench of Chief Justice H L Gokhale and Mr Justice D Murugesan, and directed the respondents to file their counter on or before October 5.
Stating the TV was an indispensable feature for everyone, irrespective of age, the petitioners Rev. Father Pancras M Raja and three others contended that present-day youth and children áre being exposed to “mind pollution” by the television programmes, advertisements telecast by the Satellite Cable TV Networks. “'Mind pollution' was worse than all other types of pollution.”
The petitioners claimed that psychologists all over the world have been cautioning that exposure to media violence and sex had a damaging effect on children, minors and youth. The parents are worried and feel helpless and are frustrated that their right to bring up their children a “mind pollution” free atmosphere is being snatched away.
The PIL also said the right to freedom of TV, however, is a valuable right but the right should go with it the responsibility; the duty to protect the rights of others should not be given a go-by. The PIL added there were over 290 private TV channels in the country, and the damage is so much.
The petitioners submitted and sought order to restrain repeated telecast of events which terrified viewers like the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai and the February 19 last police-advocates clash in the Madras High Court premises.
Coimbatore Anna varsity VC suspended on corruption charges
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
CHENNAI, 1 September (asiantribune.com): The Vice-Chancellor of the Coimbatore Anna University R. Radhakrishnan has been suspended following a raid by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) at his house and office.
On August 7 2009, sleuths from the DVAC carried out simultaneous raids at four places, including the house and office of the Coimbatore Anna University Vice-Chancellor. The agency said it had unearthed unaccounted cash from both premises.
There was a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the Vice Chancellor seeking registration of corruption case against him and his prosecution, that came up for hearing before the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice H L Gokahle and Justice Murugesan today.
The Advocate General (AG) P S Raman submitted that the government has already placed the VC under suspension, and the DAVC inquiry is on in the corruption case registered against him.
Seeking to dismiss the petition, the AG in his counter affidavit informed the Court that the government has granted permission to the DVAC to register a corruption case against R Radhakrishnan, vice-chancellor of the Anna University-Coimbatore.
Counter-affidavit on behalf of the deputy secretary of the higher education department, filed in response to a public interest writ petition filed by advocate S Sivapandi said the government accorded its sanction to the DVAC on July 30. The government also suspended the VC two days before.
After recording the counter filed by the AG, the bench disposed of the petition.
CHENNAI, 1 September (asiantribune.com): The Vice-Chancellor of the Coimbatore Anna University R. Radhakrishnan has been suspended following a raid by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) at his house and office.
On August 7 2009, sleuths from the DVAC carried out simultaneous raids at four places, including the house and office of the Coimbatore Anna University Vice-Chancellor. The agency said it had unearthed unaccounted cash from both premises.
There was a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the Vice Chancellor seeking registration of corruption case against him and his prosecution, that came up for hearing before the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice H L Gokahle and Justice Murugesan today.
The Advocate General (AG) P S Raman submitted that the government has already placed the VC under suspension, and the DAVC inquiry is on in the corruption case registered against him.
Seeking to dismiss the petition, the AG in his counter affidavit informed the Court that the government has granted permission to the DVAC to register a corruption case against R Radhakrishnan, vice-chancellor of the Anna University-Coimbatore.
Counter-affidavit on behalf of the deputy secretary of the higher education department, filed in response to a public interest writ petition filed by advocate S Sivapandi said the government accorded its sanction to the DVAC on July 30. The government also suspended the VC two days before.
After recording the counter filed by the AG, the bench disposed of the petition.
A tri-lingual documentary on Sri Aurobindo
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
PUDUCHERRY, 31 August (asiantribune.com): Noted documentary film-maker Gunavathy Maindan’s next documentary venture “Sri Aurobindo” was inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for Culture V.Narayanaswamy in Puducherry on Sunday.
The film is being made in commemoration with the centenary year of the coming of the Mahan Aurobindo to Puducherry (April 1910 to 2010). It is planned to shoot as a tri-lingual—Tamil, English and Hindi
The one-hour documentary would be shot at Puducherry, Baroda in Gujarat and Kolkatta and Darjeeling in West Bengal where the Indian Nationalist and freedom-fighter, writer, poet, philosopher and yogi had lived and worked.
Sri Aurobindo had his schooling and higher education (Cambridge) in England and returning to India his mind flowed to what he had missed of his motherland—its culture, philosophy, literature and languages. What struck him more was the nationalism. He joined the movement for India’s freedom from the British rule in 1905. The famous Alipore Bomb case in which he was implicated proved to be a turning point in his life.
He migrated to Puducherry in 1910, then under French regime, and continued his freedom struggle, possibly under the garb of spiritualism. For him spiritualism and nationalism were same as Santana Darma. While practicing both, spiritualism seemed to have overtaken him, with which he is known to the world. He was a contemporary of the nationalist poet Subramaniya Bharathi.
Puducherry stood to gain largely from his presence here for forty years, and also with his prime disciple the Divine Mother.
As the Union Minister sounded the clap-board and started the shooting of the film, the invited dignitaries hailed the writer-director Gunavathy Maindan, who has 14 documentaries to his credit. The speakers included Welfare Minister Kandaswamy, Prof. Dr. Manojdas, Prof. Dr. Murali Sivaramakkrishnan, Dr. P.Raja, Dr. Ritanath Kesari, MLA S.P.Sivakumar, Dr. K.I.Manirathinem, Chairman, Navasaksti Township Developers and Journalist Gopal Ethiraj.
PIL challenging MLAs pay hike dismissed
By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
CHENNAI, 31 August (asiantribune.com): A petition challenging the order of the government to hike salary and decision to allot land for constructing house for MLAs has been dismissed by the Madras High Court today.
When the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed the social activist ‘Traffic’ K R Ramaswamy came up for hearing before the First Bench of Chief Justice H L Gokhale and Justice D Murugesan, the Government Pleader (GP) Raja Kalifulla submitted, the salary hike to the MLAs was announced by the government in the State Assembly.
And on the government has not yet taken any decision to allot any piece of land to MLAs; the government has closed the proposal of allotting lands to them, the GP informed the court.
Dismissing the petition, the Bench recorded the statement of the GP and said, the MLAs’ salary increase was within the permissible limit.
In his petition, ‘Traffic’ Ramaswamy, had earlier submitted that the hike in the salary of MLAs announced by the Finance Minister was unwarranted.
He said legislators were expected to serve the people, recalling that in the distant past only an honorarium was paid to MLAs when they attended Assembly sessions. There was no fixed monthly salary.
He also submitted that at present MLAs were given free accommodation with modern facilities. It was not necessary to allot free land or land at a concessional price in the city, which was already facing acute shortage of space.
When several hut-dwellers were not able to get [better] accommodation, it was not fair to give additional accommodation to MLAs, most of whom owned houses in their constituencies and also in the city. He had sent a fax message to the authorities, the Finance Minister and the Chief Minister.
CHENNAI, 31 August (asiantribune.com): A petition challenging the order of the government to hike salary and decision to allot land for constructing house for MLAs has been dismissed by the Madras High Court today.
When the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed the social activist ‘Traffic’ K R Ramaswamy came up for hearing before the First Bench of Chief Justice H L Gokhale and Justice D Murugesan, the Government Pleader (GP) Raja Kalifulla submitted, the salary hike to the MLAs was announced by the government in the State Assembly.
And on the government has not yet taken any decision to allot any piece of land to MLAs; the government has closed the proposal of allotting lands to them, the GP informed the court.
Dismissing the petition, the Bench recorded the statement of the GP and said, the MLAs’ salary increase was within the permissible limit.
In his petition, ‘Traffic’ Ramaswamy, had earlier submitted that the hike in the salary of MLAs announced by the Finance Minister was unwarranted.
He said legislators were expected to serve the people, recalling that in the distant past only an honorarium was paid to MLAs when they attended Assembly sessions. There was no fixed monthly salary.
He also submitted that at present MLAs were given free accommodation with modern facilities. It was not necessary to allot free land or land at a concessional price in the city, which was already facing acute shortage of space.
When several hut-dwellers were not able to get [better] accommodation, it was not fair to give additional accommodation to MLAs, most of whom owned houses in their constituencies and also in the city. He had sent a fax message to the authorities, the Finance Minister and the Chief Minister.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)