Pages

Monday, December 31, 2012

My utopian dreams for 2013

These are my dreams for 2013 and not necessarily in the same order. I am not responsible for any hospitalization due to over-laughing ..

1. Tamil Nadu exports power as there has been excessive power production.
2. Karuna and Jaya join hands to jointly fight for Cauvery water.
3. Dr.Ramadoss ( maruthuvar Ayya for the elite ) has dissolved the PMK ( it was already extinct in 2012)
4. Chennai Auto Drivers use a proper meter for the trips.
5. Chennaithe Auto Drivers speak Tamil ( they usually abused the commuters and hence that was not Tamil )
6. Chettinaadu Vidyashram and Padma Seshadri schools don't accept donations.
7. MTC buses have doors.
8. MTC buses are air-conditioned ( idhu rumba over ... )
9. Tamil News Channels have started speaking in Tamil.
10. Tamil channel anchors don't sway their hands anymore while speaking.
11. Karunanidhi wishes for Deepavali.
12. DMK adopts a resolution against corruption ( idhu rumba over .. )
13. Delhi rape case culprits executed.
14. Prime Minister Singh's speeches are audible and more frequent.
15. A.Raja apologizes for his wrongs in 2G
16. Kamal Haasan speaks in short sentences without confusing anybody - gives straight answers.
17. Tamil Channels have stopped telecasting Tamil films on festival days and have started telecasting the
       speeches of Kirupananda Variar, Pulavar Keeran etc.
18. Students remain seated in MTC buses.
19. IT companies file proper tax returns and don't fudge their taxes.
20. Parliament and Assemblies work and pass laws.
21. IT resumes are not fudged.
22. OMR builders hand over homes on time .
23. Azhagiri speaks in Parliament.
24. O.Paneerselvam does not perform acrobatics in front of Jayalalitha.
25. Kudankulam begins power production.
26. TN schools have functioning toilets.
27. Corporation school students in 7 std are able to write 10 sentence essays.
28. Iyengars spend time going to temple instead of fighting over Vadakalai and Thenkalai.
29. The Hindu becomes nationalistic and it's editorial board is dissolved.
30. Arundati Roy speaks up for the Delhi rape victim instead of hobnobbing with the communists.
31. Kanimozhi remains at home taking care of son Aadityaa.
32. Educated Indians vote on Election Day.
33. Sri Lankan Tamil Issue is finally resolved and Tamils get equal rights.
34. Vaiko becomes an Indian and starts speaking about India.
35. Jayalalitha regularly addresses press conferences.
36. Govt school teachers attend school regularly.
37. Singapore deputes its officers to learn Mosquito control techniques from Chennai Corporation.
38. Chennai roads are not used as parking lots anymore. Road users actually use roads.
39. HR & CE Department officials visit Tamil Nadu temples under their control.
40. Sumangali Cable in Chennai provides receipt for monthly cable subscriptions.

எல்லாம் வல்ல பகுத்தறிவு துணை நிற்பதாக !

தமிழ் நாட்டு அரசியல் பற்றிப்  பேசலாம் என்றால் அது கருணாநிதி அல்லது ஜெயலலிதா பற்றி தான் இருக்க வேண்டும் என்று ஒரு எழுதப்படாத விதி நம் தமிழ் மீடியாவில் உள்ளது. அதனால் நமது எண்ணப்பதிவுகளை இங்கே பதிவு செய்கிறோம்.

 இது நாள் வரை ஆங்கிலத்தில் எழுதி வந்தேன். அது சரியான மக்களை சென்று அடைய வில்லை என்று சில காலமாகவே ஒரு எண்ணம். அதுவும் தமிழ் மட்டுமே பேசுகிற மக்களை அடைவதில்லை  என்ற உண்மை மிகவும் வருத்தம் அளித்தது. தமிழ் நாட்டு மக்களுக்கு சரியான ஆங்கிலம் தெரியவில்லை என்பது தமிழ் நாட்டின் கல்வி முறையின் ஒரு சாதனை என்று தான் சொல்லன் வேண்டும்.

தமிழ் நாட்டில் கல்வி முறையில் 1967 குப்பின் நடந்துள்ள அடிப்படை மாற்றங்கள் மற்றும் அதனால் உண்டான சமுதாய மாற்றங்கள் பற்றி பேச வேண்டும் என்றால் கூட அதுவும் அந்த  காலகட்ட அரசியல் சம்பந்தப்பட்ட ஒரு நிகழவே என்று நாம் அறிய வேண்டி உள்ளது. அதனால் கல்வி பற்றி பேசினால் அது அரசியல் தொடாமல் இருக்க முடியாது என்பது தெளிவு.

ஏன் என்றால், திராவிட ஆட்சியாளர்கள் மிகச்சரியாக கல்வி முறையில் மாற்றம் செய்து அதனால் இரண்டு  தலைமுறை மக்களை பகுத்தறிவு இல்லாத வெறும் உடம்புகள் ஆக்கி, சிந்திக்கும் திறன் இல்லாத ஒரு கூட்டத்தை உருவாக்கி உள்ளர்கள்.

மக்களுக்கு பொழுது போக்கும்  வாழ்க்கையில் ஒரு அம்சம் என்ற எண்ணம் போய் . அதுவே வாழ்க்கை  என்று எண்ணி சினிமாவின் பின்னால் ஆடு மாடுகளை போல் அலைய வைத்து விட்டார்கள் என்று சொன்னால் அதில்  தவறு இல்லை.

தமிழ் நாட்டில் கலை என்று ஒன்று இருந்தது. அது நாடகம், பாடல், சொற்பொ ழிவு மற்றும் பட்டி மன்றம் என்று பல வகை பட்டது. ஆனால் தற்போது கலை என்பதே சினிமா என்றும், கலைஞர் என்றாலே அது சினிமா கதா நாயகிகள் மற்றும் நாயகர்கள் என்று ஆக்கி உள்ளது நமது திராவிட ஆட்சிகளின் மிகப்பெரிய வெற்றி என்று தான் சொல்ல வேண்டும்.

பட்டி மன்றம் என்றால் சங்க இலக்கியங்கள் பற்றிய ஒரு சொற்போர் இருக்கும். பட்டி மற்ற பேச்சாளர்கள் சிறந்த கல்வி மான்களாக இருப்பார்கள். கம்பன், பாரதி, சிலம்பு, புரனானூரு என்று மேற்கோள் எடுத்து வைக்கப்படும். தற்போது வாலியும் வைரமுத்துவும் மேற்கோள் காட்டப் படுகிறார்கள். சி லேடையாகப் பேசுவது ஒரு நயம். ஆனால் அதுவே பேச்சு முழுவதும் இருப்பது ரசிக்கமுடியவில்லை.பட்டி மன்றம் என்ற பெயரில் பண்பாட்டுச்  சீரழிவு நடை பெறுகிறது.

ஒரு பொங்கல் திருநாள் அல்லது ஒரு தீபாவளி திருநாள் வந்து விட கூடாது. அன்று முழுவதும் மக்களை ஆடு மாடுகளை கட்டிப்போடுவது போல்  டிவி பெட்டி முன் அமர வைக்கும் ஒரு பண்ணபட்டு வீழ்ச்சி நாம் கண்டு கொண்டு இருக்கிறோம்.அதிலும் ஒரு 16 வயது நிரம்பாத பெண் நடிகை, நமக்கு எல்லாம் தமிழ் கலை உலகின் இளம் சுடர் என்ற போர்வையில் தனது அனுபவங்களை பகிர்ந்து கொள்வாள். அதையும் நாம் வெட்கம் இல்லாமல் குழந்தை முதல் கிழவர் வரை வாய் திறந்த படி பார்த்து மகிழ்கிறோம்.இந்த அழகில், "கல் தோன்றி மண் தோன்றா காலத்தே தோன்றிய மூத்த தமிழ்க்குடி " என்று பெருமை வேறு. என்ன ஒரு பண்பாட்டு வீழ்ச்சி ?

தமிழ் நாட்டில் சினிமா தவிர ஒன்றுமே இல்லையா ? ஒரு தொழில் முனைவோர் இல்லையா ? ஒரு மென்பொருள் ( சாப்ட்வேர் ) திறமையாளர் இல்லையா ? இவர்கள் எல்லாம் சாதனை செய்யவில்லையா ? உதாராணமாக என் நண்பன் நாமக்கல் மாவட்டம் வெலகௌண்டம்பட்டியில் ஒரு எளிய விவசாயகுடும்பத்தில் பிறந்து இன்று ஆஸ்திரேலியாவில் மிக நல்ல நிலையில் உலகின் மிகப்பெரிய மென்பொருள் நிறுவனத்தில் இயக்குனராக இருக்கிறான்.இவன் சாதனையாளன் இல்லையா ? அல்லது இவனைப்போன்றவர்கள் தமிழர்கள் இல்லையா ? இன்னொரு நண்பனின் தந்தை தேநீர் கடை வைத்து இருந்தார். தற்போது அந்த நண்பன் அமெரிக்காவில் ஒரு மென்பொருள் நிறுவனம் நடத்துகிறான். இவர்கள் இருவரும் கல்லூரியில் சேரும் பொது ஆங்கிலம் அறியாதவர்கள்.ஆனால் அவர்கள் உழைப்பால் உயர்ந்தவர்கள். இவர்கள் சாதனையாளர்கள் இல்லையா அல்லது தமிழர்கள் இல்லையா ? இவர்களின் வாழ்க்கை மற்ற தமிழர்களுக்குப் போய்ச் சேர வேண்டாமா ?

இன்று குமரிக்கண்டம் என்று சொன்னால் அதை எவ்வளவு பேரால் உணர்ந்து கொள்ள முடியும் என்று தெரிய வில்லை. யார் அந்த குமரி என்று வேண்டுமானால் கேட்பார்கள் போலும்.  அந்த அளவுக்கு தமிழ் அறிவு வளர்ந்து உள்ளது. 40 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன் இந்த அளவுக்கு கலாசார வீழ்ச்சி இல்லை என்று அறிகிறோம்.

இன்று கலை என்ற பெயரில் சின்னஞ்சிறு பிள்ளைகளை சினிமாவில் அரை குறை ஆடையுடன் பெண்கள் ஆடுவது போல் ஆட வைத்து மகிழ்கிறார்கள். இந்த அரை குறை ஆடை அலங்காரத்தை டிவி இல் பார்த்து குதூகுலம் வேறு. அதைவிட அலங்கோலம் அந்த குழந்தைகள் தங்கள் தாய் தந்தையரை மம்மி டாடி என்று அழைப்பது. அது தான் இன்று நாகரிகம் என்று போற்றப்படுகிறது.

 ஒரு பத்து  திருக்குறள் தெரியவில்லை குழந்தைகளுக்கு. இதில் தமிழன் என்று வாய்க்கு வாய் சொல்லிகொள்வதில் ஒரு குறைவும் இல்லை.

ஜாதி இல்லை என்று ஊருக்கு ஊர் எழுதி வைத்துவிட்டுப்  பிறப்புச் சான்றிதழ் முதல் இறப்புச் சான்றிதழ் வரை ஜாதி இல்லாத இடமே இல்லை. இதில் பெரியார் வழியில் அண்ணா  வழியில் அம்பேத்கர் வழியில் ஜாதியை ஒழித்து விட்டோம் என்ற  இறுமாப்பு ஓய்ந்த பாடு இல்லை.

தற்போது கல்வி முறையில் சமச்சீர் கல்வி என்று ஒரு புது கோமாளி வேறு. இதில் திருக்குறளை மனப்பாடம் செய்ய வேண்டாமாம். ஏன் என்று கேட்டால் கல்விச் சீர்திருத்தம் அன்று சொல்கிறார்கள். ஆனால் சினிமா பாடல்களை சிறுவர்கள் மனப்பாடம் செய்யலாம். அது தான் பகுத்தறிவு போலும்.

கம்ப ராமாயணம், திருப்பாவை, திருவெம்பாவை முதலியன ஒழிக்கப்பட  வேண்டிய ஒன்று ஆனால் சினிமா பாடல்கள் ஒலிகப்படவேண்டிய ஒன்று. இப்படித்தான் இருக்கிறது நமது தமிழ் நாட்டுக்கல்வி நிலை.

மக்கள்  குடி நீருக்காக பல மைல் தூரம் நடந்து செல்ல வேண்டும். ஆனால் "குடி மகன்கள்" எந்த கஷ்டமும் இல்லமால் கடை தெருக்களில் உற்ச்சாக பானம் அருந்த அரசாங்கமே வழி செய்து கொடுக்கிறது. பள்ளிகளில் கழிவறை கட்டி தர இந்த அரசாங்கங்களுக்கு அருகதை இல்லை. "டாஸ்மாக்" என்ற பெயரில் சாதராண மக்களை அழிவுப் பாதையில் கை பிடித்து அழைத்துச்செல்கிறது அரசு. இது என்ன பகுத்தறிவு என்று தெரியவில்லை.

"இயற்றலும் ஈட்டலும் காத்தலும் காத்த வகுத்தலும் வல்லது அரசு "  என்று வள்ளுவர் அறிவுறுத்துகிறார். ஆனால் இந்த வள்ளுவரை யார் அறிந்து இருக்கிறார்கள் ? "வாழும் வள்ளுவரை " மட்டுமே நம் தமிழர்கள் அறிந்து வைத்து இருக்கிறார்கள்.  "டாஸ்மாக்" மூலமாக அரசாங்கத்துக்கு வருமானம் வருகிறது என்று தம்பட்டம் வேறு. இதை விட ஒரு வெட்கக்கேடு வேறு ஒன்று உண்டா ?

"தமிழ் ஒரு காட்டுமிராண்டி பாஷை" என்று பெரியார் சொன்னதாலோ என்னவோ ,7-ம் வகுப்பு படிக்கும் ஒரு மாணவனுக்கு 15 வரிகளில் தமிழில்  ஒரு கட்டுரை எழுத முடியவில்லை. ஆங்கிலத்தில் ஒரு வரி சரியாக பேச முடியவில்லை. இவர்கள் தமிழ் நாட்டை ஆண்டு தமிழை வளர்த்த  லட்சணம் இது தான்.

டெல்லியில் தமிழன் என்றால் அலைக்கற்றை விவகாரம் ( 2G ) என்று ஏளனம் செய்யும் நிலை.

"தமிழன் என்று சொல்லடா தலை நிமிர்ந்து நில்லடா" என்ற நிலை போய் தற்போது தமிழன் என்றாலே ஒருவித சங்கோஜத்துடன் நெளிய வேண்டிய நிலை. இது தான் "கல் தோன்றி மண் தோன்றா ..." என்பதன் லட்சணமா ?

"அரசியல் பிழைத்தாற்கு அறம் கூற்றாகும் " என்பது முது மொழி. இன்றோ அறம் இல்லாமல் இருப்பவரே அரசியலில் ஈடுபடுகிறார்கள். கல்வியில் மாற்றம் புகுத்துகிறார்கள். தலைமுறைகளையே சீரழிக்கிறார்கள்.

இது தான் இன்றைய தமிழ் நாட்டின் நிலை. இந்த இழி நிலை மாற வேண்டாமா ? இன்னும் எத்தனை காலம் தான் இந்த பண்பாடு அற்ற நிலை ?

நிலைமை இவ்வாறு இருக்க, தமிழர்களாய் இருக்கும் நாம், இவற்றை எல்லாம் மறந்து விட்டு, "மானாட மயிலாட" கண்டு, ஆங்கிலபுத்தாண்டு கொண்டாடி தமிழை வளர்ப்போமாக.

எல்லாம் வல்ல பகுத்தறிவு துணை நிற்பதாக !


Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Hinduism - an intro

Having been inspired by a speech of Late Swami Chinmayananda, here is my feeble attempt at a smaller podcast on Hinduism in Tanglish ( Tamil + English ).

Monday, December 24, 2012

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Hanumaan helped Modi win elections.. how ?

Watch this video to understand how Hanumaan helped Modi win elections.


Modi's victory due Hanumaan's help ?

Political pundits are talking about different reasons for Modi's victory. But I feel Lord Hanumaan is the reason for this victory. Listen in to the podcast and leave your comments ..

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Much ado about Mani Shankar Iyer

So he is at it again. Verbal diarrhea at its worst. Recent episode is about the MPs being loud mouthed in Parliament. He has said that they are animals and hence shout like one. In a way he is right to a great extent. However if we look at his performance in the Rajya Sabha especially during the Lok Pal debate, we find that he was on his feet as well as on top of his voice for the most part because Ram Jethmalani chose to malign Rajiv Gandhi. Hence Mani wanted to draw attention from the "family" and hence tried his best in the vocal contest.

Now let us look at what is wrong with Mani and what is right about what he said.

Mani, the quintessential leftist in the centre-left govt that he has been part of, came to stardom due to his classmate Rajiv Gandhi. Schooled at Doon school and later at St.Stephens Delhi, he got the "holier than thou" attitude once he became a foreign service officer. Later when his friend became the PM, he resigned from bureaucracy and became the minister of Panchayati Raj ( yes , you are right . The term Panchayati Raj differs from Goonda Raj in that they are differently spelled and also that Panchayati Raj is the term often associated with alien life and ministers, if assigned one, are mostly on the verge of entering a lunatic asylum).

With Rajiv's demise, he faded away and tried various sycophantic means to be in power but was over powered by vested interests ( read Reliance, US, Essar etc ) and shifted out of the petroleum ministry. From then on he has become the non-official guarantor of secularism in national TV.

Having tried many means of being in the limelight, he tried his best to be of some relevance in Tamil Nadu. While at the center he is an outcast because of his "imaginary" leftist views, he is despised in Tamil Nadu because of his surname ( IYER is a four letter word in Tamil Nadu ) and an acerbic tongue that seems to suggest that who ever happens to be on the other side of him would need to declare himself as a nincompoop.

However one eminently admirable trait of Mani is his ability to pretend that he is immensely wanted in the Congress party and speak thus in the media. However sycophantic he has tried to be, he has so far been kept away from the corridors of power by the powers that be ( read Reliance, US ). Hence his diatribe against the parliamentarians now.

Not that what he said was not right. Manis' words are true to the last dot. We don't see anything happening in the Parliament. What we see regularly in the parliament is the routine of parliamentarians testing their vocal cords and their lung power and in some cases their 6.5 packs as well ( being MPs they are entitled to an extra 0.5 pack more than ordinary folks ).

But I would not pardon Mani for his remark that all MPs shout like animals inside the parliament. How could he say so against the MPs from Tamil Nadu ? Has anybody seen any MP from Tamil Nadu speak in parliament, leave alone shout ? How dignified and polite ( read dumb founded ) they are in Parliament ? While in Delhi, the only time they open their mouth is in the Parliament canteen.

Wait a minute - I need to scold Mani for his remark on MPs especially the Tamil MPs despite their dignified behavior. How could he be so unjust to the Tamil MPs ? How could he accuse them of shouting when they don't know what is happening in the Parliament as the other MPs shout either in Hindi or in English , albeit rarely ? They often stand up in Parliament dumb founded resembling an Anna Durai statue. The only difference between the Tamil MPs and the Prime Minister is that the latter speaks once on Aug 15.

Hence , Mani, beware, my Tamil Blood is boiling beyond any measurable limit due to your intemperate comments. Please apologize to the Tamil MPs as you cannot accuse them of any shouting in Parliament when they have hardly opened their mouths either for Sri Lanka or Cauvery or FDI or Mullai Periyar or anything of interest to the common man.

I give you a way out of this conundrum. If you can't apologize to the MPs, then apologize to the animals for comparing them with MPs.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Quick guide to ( not )getting arrested ..



1. If you Take a picture of anybody that you know or don't know. Ensure that he is not
Chidambaram err.. Not from Chidambaram, a temple town in Tamil Nadu.
2. Don't celebrate Karthi err.. Karthigai festival. Chances are you would be talking to somebody
about Karthi-gai and hence could get arrested that too if you celebrate Karthi-gai in
Chidambaram.
3. Better wear a talisman with one or many of the following verse " Long Live ________" you
should fill in the blanks based on which state you happen to be in. Anyways have a spare
talisman with "Long Live _________ Gandhi". You never know what to fill in. It could be Sonia,
Rahul anybody .
4. Time to express condolences to any body who is dead - better have a script that would
automatically post to all the social media sites. Serves as an insurance policy just in case, you
never know. Next time your 60 year old milk man comes home, pls express your condolence to
his long dead grand father. The milk man could be from your local hooligan party .
5. Always have a black shirt / saree handy. Better pack one in your laptop bag. Leaders die now a
days in such numbers that's you don't want to be caught unawares.
6. Rehearse your condolence message like " father figure" , " light has gone out " ( not applicable
to Tamil Nadu as the lights are always out ), " vacuum has been created ", " era has ended "
etc.
7. Just in case you are arrested still, cry out these words " secularism at stake", " freedom of
expression", " thought police ", " law and order" and "fundamental right ". Chances are you
could be let off on bail as soon as you are arrested.
8. If nothing else works out, better be in jail . It is a better place. You could have ministers and
starlets to keep company with !

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Gods must be crazy ..

Yes, you guessed it right. I have received comments , brick-bats, accusations, suggestions, advice, direction etc based on my previous post trying to understand some fundamental stuff. And this piece is to answer those.

All have expressed anguish and sadness at the demise of the child. Predictably many have quoted from various scriptures and gurus on the probable answers and the direction that Sam needs to take. Some have advised delving deep into some sub-sect related scriptures while some have relied heavily on some famous gurus and their sayings. A couple of readers have accused me of blasphemy and sent comments that I was tending to be atheistic and that was not the right course.

But the questions raised last time were not relating to the existence of God. Whether one believes in His existence or not is left to one's own analysis and decision.

Most of us have been so indoctrinated into some belief system quite early in life that questioning the fundamental beliefs is considered sacrilege. But, what at least needs to be done is to try and understand the purpose of the beliefs, validate the belief structure in relation to the present and adopt the results.

What I had tried to raise in the earlier post was that on the one hand God is known to us as all-encompassing, all-knowing, all-powerful, omnipotent, omniscient et al. That is the basic premise. Given that is the case, how does one answer such absurdities like a loving child being taken away in no time, for no fault of hers, that too with no notice ?

Why should we have differently enabled children ? Why should afflictions happen to children at very early ages and the child should continue to suffer over its lifetime ? Issues such as Dyslexia, several other deformities both internal and external and the different syndromes like Attention Deficit -- what did the soul of the child ( in its previous birth, just in case that belief is true ) do to deserve these reduction of normal abilities ? Even if the 'soul' would have been a Hitler (so to say ), in its previous birth, what is the rationale behind punishing the child ? When even the Penal Code designed by mere humans prescribes punishment only after 18 years of age, how does the 'code' designed by the Universal Architect start punishing a child even during infancy ?

Now, I don't mean to say that these questions have not been asked in the past. But the point is, I feel, the different spiritual explanations provided by the seers and gurus for these questions are characteristically similar irrespective of the religion or sect :

"We do not know the ways of God. 
We are incapable of understanding the meaning of 'karma'. 
Therefore subscribe to my school of thought and be at peace or at least pretend to be at peace. 
For the answers, do not look elsewhere, look into yourself and you will get the answer".

'Answers' such as the above splashed with sanskrit / greek / tamil / hebrew words and verses are only being supplied. The ingredients of the 'Answers' vary only in proportion but the essence is the same -

 " You don't know. 
Only I know, hence go through these and be pacified. 
In case you are not pacified, then you have not believed in what I have told you. 
So better believe what I have told you and begin to think that you have got the 'Answer'".

Nothing else other than the above.

And Sam and people like him who want to know the 'Answer' but have not got that begin to pretend that they have got the 'Answer'. They are forced to conform to standards. And the degree of conformity is the speed with which they return to the " Spiritual Path " of their guru / verse / text whatever.

And the Universal Architect continues in His characteristic ways with another Sam another day.

Sure, He must be crazy ( women's libbers pardon me. He could be a She as well. I don't know ).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Nimshi – the angel that flew away ..


This time again, it was another friend, Sam, who posted in FB on his daughter, today.

Sam, the devout south Indian Christian who has suffered only hardships in life. Lost his father at an early age, struggled financially to complete his Rubber Technology degree, worked in Rubber Processing plants as Engineer, ventured into ERP, burnt his entire wallet in learning SAP, struggled to make ends meet without a job, joined IT as a trainee at an age when he should have been a manager, coded along with freshers who were 10 years younger to him, climbed an agony ridden path to financial stability and all along the way continued to proclaim his contentment in Jesus and in life for having a wonderful family of a caring wife, two cheerful children and an elderly mother.

So contented and family oriented was he that despite having a H1-B visa, he chose not to travel to the US to work on long assignments – he didn’t want his children’s education to suffer and leave behind his mother- mind it, he still had to pay debts due to the SAP course.

Sam was also gifted with a sense of humor that his self deprecating wise-cracks were the talk of the town. Never one to grumble and never one to begrudge, he took things in his stride with a smile always saying that he was happy with what he had. Well, in common parlance, one could even call him an ‘asattu ammanji” – not being worldly wise and making some quick buck in the short while. He lacked the capacity to do that.

One day, his 14 year old daughter Nimshi complained of headache while he was working from home. She was so tired that he fed her a soup. She vomited and complained of more headache. He comforted her with pain balm and took her to a nearby hospital all the while messaging his boss for 1 day leave. The nearest hospital was not helpful and he went to the second best in town to be informed that there was no hope. Five days of ventilator support later, he oversaw his angel removed from ventilator support and prepare for the heavenly abode. Thus ended the little angel’s brief time with him on earth.

Medical fraternity attributed this to ‘Coloidal Cyst’.
Wikipedia said “A colloid cyst is a cyst containing gelatinous material in the brain. It is almost always found just posterior to theforamen of Monro in the anterior aspect of the third ventricle, originating from the roof of the ventricle. Because of its location, it can cause obstructive hydrocephalus and increased intracranial pressure. These cysts account for approximately 1% of all intracranial tumors. 
Symptoms can include headache, vertigo, memory deficits, diplopia, behavioral disturbances and in extreme cases, sudden death. The developmental origin is unclear, though they may be of endodermal origin, which would explain the mucin-producing, ciliated cell type" - whatever 

 True to self, Sam reported to work soon, started taking assignments while still waiting for the 6 o’clock daily call from his daughter only to be reminded of her non-presence by the absence of her call.
Now-a-days, he doesn’t want to disturb his family and hence stops his car beneath the fly over and cries out aloud regularly at the same time. The school where Nimshi went to, though he wants to avoid on his way back from work, reminds him of the absence of his angel. Hence cries again in front of the school.

Now he has some questions :

  1. Why did the angel come into his life, splash his life with happiness for 14 years and just vanish in a matter of 3 hours ?
  2. He never asked for this beautiful angel in the first place. He didn’t even aspire for one. But she came , or shall we say, was sent by God ?
  3. Why did she bring such happiness to him and the family with such characteristics that any parent would want from their child ? Why was she the embodiment of such virtues and why did she vanish ?
  4. What wrong did Sam do to lose her that too so early ? More so, his wife and even more so, the little brother ? Sam was so polite that he dared not even ask for the refund for his SAP course once he didn’t get the job that they promised.
  5. If it is God’s design to ‘test’ Sam to see if he is truly devoted to HIM, is not He supposed to be merciful and benevolent?
  6. If it is not due to Sam, then is it due to Nimshi herself ? Is it due to her ‘sins’ in her previous birth, also called ‘Karma’ as per tradition ? If so, why should she face such a violent departure with no notice?
  7. Is she not still a child, not even knowing about herself ? If so, how could she be held responsible for anything related to a previous birth ( luckily Christianity doesn’t believe in previous birth stories ). Even then, how to explain this ?
  8. Why should the angel have been let into this world at all if she was needed so soon ?
  9.  What was accomplished in 14 years ? Three per million have this colloidal cyst , it seems. So, what is this point of answering this statistical question while the moral question to God is not answered ?
  10. Sam is a man committed to God who took HIS verses seriously. But he is still seeking answer to the fundamental question : Why my angel, so soon, so fast and so cruel ?
  11. One foundational question : What is this design all about ? What is logical in this case of the angel going back in 14 years when she didn’t even know what was happening to her.
  12. Why to Sam, the purist, the eternal common man who is contented with life and family and has placed himself in God ?
So was it colloidal cyst or a tyrannical twist or a tryst with destiny ?

Sam and I were trying to figure this out in a phone call that lasted more than an hour. Not sure if we found that while Sam seeks solace from funding a church in the angel's name. 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Know your score, Mr.MP


Dear Member of Parliament ,

As an Indian citizen, I take this opportunity to talk to you and convey what I feel needs to be conveyed to you, especially after the recent wash out of the current Parliament session.

I write to you because I don't see any other means of communicating with you. Not that this method is going to be effective and that you are going to mend your ways but because as an ordinary citizen, I bleed daily to eek out a living and you seek to drink my blood by way of wasting my tax-payer money in Parliament by not conducting any business that is even remotely associated with governance.

Mr.Member, the very fact that you are in Parliament repesents the trust that I, as a Citizen, have on you to ensure that my works are done. You were chosen based on trust based on what you and your political leaders told you would do once elected to Parliament. You and your leaders also swore on all the leaders of the past such as Gandhiji and others.So I trusted you. 

But, you broke my trust.

I want to remind you that you were elected to Parliament not to test your lung power that you often exhibt in shouting down anybody that dares to speak in the hallowed precints but to conduct the business of government that is to frame laws. But that is nowhere to be seen in the recent past.

I agree that it is my bounden duty to bear your expenses such as Telephone bills, Air Fare and your daily allowances. Now that I have paid your expenses and also your salary, what have you done to me, your employer ? Did you do anything that is remotely connected with governance in the parliament ? 

So the moot question is  : why should I continue to employ you ?

Would you employ your servant maid if she doesn't do what you ask her to do ? So, why should I employ you now that you neither do yours nor allow others in the parliament do their duties towards me ? 

Basically, are you serving me as well as I am serving you ? Are you worthy of my trust anymore ?

While it would not be appropriate for me to expect to have known about leaders of the past, I would like to draw your attention to what JFK ( John.F.kennedy ) said in a historical speech dubbed as 'City Upon A Hill " speech. In this he speaks about 4 parameters on which one would be judged as a public servant. 

"For of those to whom much is given, much is required. And when at some future date the high court of history sits in judgment on each one of us—recording whether in our brief span of service we fulfilled our responsibilities to the state—our success or failure, in whatever office we may hold, will be measured by the answers to four questions:

"First, were we truly men of courage—with the courage to stand up to one's enemies—and the courage to stand up, when necessary, to one's associates—the courage to resist public pressure, as well as private greed?

Secondly, were we truly men of judgment—with perceptive judgment of the future as well as the past—of our own mistakes as well as the mistakes of others—with enough wisdom to know that we did not know, and enough candor to admit it?

Third, were we truly men of integrity—men who never ran out on either the principles in which they believed or the people who believed in them—men who believed in us—men whom neither financial gain nor political ambition could ever divert from the fulfillment of our sacred trust?

Finally, were we truly men of dedication—with an honor mortgaged to no single individual or group, and compromised by no private obligation or aim, but devoted solely to serving the public good and the national interest". 

Well Mr.Member of Parliament, it would be too much to expect you to follow what JFK has said. 

You could atleaset consider democracy  not as a blood sport where one side needs to lose and that the result of any democratic activity would need to be bloody with no clear victory to anybody. 

When you didn't allow the parliament to function, not only did you destroy the sanctity of the structure called parliament but also the very spirit of democracy that is embodied in the structure.

So, as per JFK, when a future historian judges your behaviour, do you know what would your score be ? It would be zero out of four ( 0 / 4 ).

Would you want your children and grand children to read about your parliamentary performance scorecard with such a score ?

Regards
A worried Citizen

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

To Sirs and Madams with love ..

It all started with an FB post by Dhas, my friend of many years ( from my II std ), on the day being Teacher's Day and several follow-up posts by different friends. Thus was unshackled the reservoir of emotions that I have been nurturing over the past many years on my teachers. Out came random thoughts out of nowhere, some in unlikely combinations yet others in sequence that probably resembled the 'Timeline' in FB.

Many a thought was steeped in melancholy that just re-winded the long lost time at school. Apart from the melancholy strain, many such thoughts brought back memories of the exemplary teachers that were virtues personified. No words could properly describe the emotions that welled up my chest. I wouldn't attribute this to paucity of words in the English language but to my rather limited vocabulary of the fantastic language that is English.

Talking of the English language can never be complete without reverential references to the different colossus  that reigned my school in the English language department. A simple listing of the different teachers and their performances at school would be an understatement of their accomplishments as teachers. Let me list down some of them that I am able to recall  :

Mrs.Sridevi Padmanabhan ( Class VI and VII ) :

A motherly figure that inspired an undying love for the language. Her classes were poetry all the time as the eloquence with which she handled prose, poetry and composition seemed to be poetry to the ears. She inspired one to aspire to have a better handwriting. Never one to criticize, she always smiled at my mistakes and corrected me with such dedication that I felt as though I was her child. Still distinctly remember her handling of a lesson on Swami Vivekananda and his achievements in the US. She used to encourage students to deliver speeches in the assembly. A rare soul , once in a blue moon kind of person. Tried today to contact her over phone using an age old BSNL number only to be reminded that the number has not been in use.

Mr.G.Krishnamoorthy ( GK for us ):

The masculine version of Mrs.Sridevi. The dedication and passion that he exhibited while teaching poetry , I have never seen anywhere else excepting for Mrs.Ulagammal about whom we shall see soon. When GK taught Lucy Gray, we saw Lucy in his person. Wordsworth would have cried in joy seeing GK teach Lucy Gray. His handling of 'The solitary reaper' made me see the highland lass murmuring a melancholy strain near the Thiruvalluvar Statue. An episode that I can never forget is his handling of 'The Castle', a poem by Edwin Muir. The emphasis on 'wizened warder' , 'wicked-wicket gate' -- these stand out still. I even now hear GK reading the verses to me when ever I think of his classes. And not the least, he had me in tears when he taught 'To Sir with love' by E.R.Braithwaite as well as 'In celebration of being alive' by Dr.Christian Bernard. The very fact that I am able to recall the authors and the topics and the choicest adjectives stand testimony to the impact that his words have had on me and continue to haunt me ( if I might say so ). My children also know GK though they have never seen him. I would have repeated these to them that many times. Many years later when I read the book 'To Sir with love' and saw the movie by the same name thenceforth, I felt GK standing beside me. Such was the influence that GK exuded by his very thought and action. That much dedication and passion has never been seen until now. Fortunate to have been his student for 2 years.

Mr.T.K.Ramanujam  ( TKR a.k.a. Bahu ) : (Class XI )

This colossus rode the English sphere like Alexander rode all over the earth. His words were measured but authoritative that the very delivery of them would instill a feeling that nothing else could be true but his words. A man of few words, he spoke and taught with compassion. His very short congratulatory speech lasting for 3 minutes on the Principal when the latter won the Best Principal Award was remembered for a very long time. A highly erudite human who put his beliefs into action, he amazed me many a time with his mastery of the language. The only time you could see him not reading a book was probably when he used to cycle to school. I cherish the moments spent with him in class and in the Corporation Library. I learnt that the librarian would lend the new arrivals to TKR even before cataloging them. Such was his appetite for books. Never seen such a voracious reader in life.

Mrs.Ulagammal : ( Class IX & X )

She was the Tamil language in human form. Never one to utter an English word, she used to turn into Mother Theresa whenever she taught the non-detailed section on the Saint of Calcutta. She became the character and was so involved in teaching that she seldom noticed some noise in class. On her class being disturbed once in a while due to our pranks, one could see the Goddess of Fury in her. Even then, not an English word to be uttered. Such a dedication has also not been seen so far.

Mr.K.Venkatesan ( Echo ) : ( Class VIII )

A very versatile and respected person known for his erudition. Handled the Social Sciences for us. He was forced to do that because the Principal had chosen to close down Economics from the curriculum. He handled many a question ranging from the mundane to the esoteric from an inquisitive as well as troublesome class with such ease that we used to be dazed at the brilliance exhibited. While explaining about extremism ( it used to be the sikh extremists then fighting for Khalistan when they had not evolved into terrorists ), the ease with which he elaborated on the Irish Republican Army to the likes of Fidel Castro and the Tamil fighters and drawing parallels as well as distinctions among these groups - the depth of knowledge has inspired me to dwell deep into these issues. Hats off to Echo Sir for the path he has shown that even today serves as a beacon light.

There are a whole lot of other teachers like Mr.Ramachandran ( Rambo ) who simply exuded sincerity in his words and deeds, the Sanskrit teacher Mr.Pattabhiraman who personified simplicity and adherence to tradition, Mrs.Jailani who made the Class X Social Sciences interesting and open to debates, Mrs. Kanchana who was a very decent teacher who was never harsh and a whole list of other luminaries that have inspired and awakened the spirit of inquiry even in the adverse conditions that they were forced to teach and tried to make learning as enjoyable for us as was humanly possible for them to do.

To all the Sir(s) and Madam(s), a very humble and respectful Pranaam. There is nothing I can do more than saluting your sacrifice ( under the then very tyrannical conditions ) and your selfless dedication to your profession, teaching.

And to those teachers who have since passed away ( Mrs.Booma, Mr.Aranganathan, Pulavar Natarajan and Mrs.Muthulakshmi Raman), a very respectful homage.

Dear Teachers, you do not know what you have done to me as a person. Only I know what I used to be and what I am now and it is because of you that I am what I am.

Thank You

A proud Jawahar Product.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Election for Retirement .. ?

Dear Mr.President,

Congratulations on your being elected for retirement !

Well I wouldn't call you by your first name and suffix a 'da', not because I don't want to proclaim my knowledge of Bengali but because 'da' in Tamil is disrespectful. I need to respect you for your age, right ?

Mr.President, you might have to be content with living in the 340 room villa in Delhi ( henceforth called RB aka Rashtrapathi bhavan ). You would not enjoy the power-cuts that a free Indian enjoys as also the water shortage. However you would enjoy the solitude and peace of mind that the position brings you.

Just some pieces of advice to spend your retired life :

  1. Go for a walk daily. You could choose to walk inside the villa or outside, in the Moghul gardens. But while walking please remember that the birds on top of the trees in the garden have a place to rest while many thousands of free Indians are free to rest in platforms.
  2. Do not hesitate to talk on the phone. But ensure that you don't talk on the same phone everytime. have 4 to 5 mobile connections. You might never know which number Chidambaram has tapped.
  3. Do not speak inside the RB.Chidambaram could have bugged the place  Please come out into the garden and speak or better don't speak at all for even if you speak, it wouldn't make any difference to the lives of the millions that are in the platforms.
  4. Perform Sandhya -Vandhanam, err... Sonia-Vandhanam three times a day. This will ensure a peaceful retirement for the next 5 years. Your predecessor did that. Her predecessor didn't do that and hence has to spend time lecturing students and foreign universities.
  5. Please ensure that you have time for the 'Living Thiruvalluvar' from Tamil Nadu, whenever he visits Delhi on his wheel chair. He would start coming soon once the 2G case is completed, to visit his family in Tihar. Better, spare a room for the old guy in your mansion so that he doesn't have to travel back to Chennai.
  6. Keep in mind that the 'Living Thiruvalluvar' has demonstrated his sense of 'social justice' by voting for you and not for the tribal from Meghalaya. I know that you belong to that obnoxious community that should be riled at every opportunity - that is what the Socrates of the South has taught us.
  7. Once you rest comfortably in RB, you will develop a deep sense of mercy and compassion. That has got something to do with the architecture of the RB. Hence accumulate all the mercy and compassion till the end of your term so that the same can be used to shower benevolence on the state guests Kasab, Afzal Guru and the Rajiv killers for they know not what they have done.
  8. Please engage better speech writers for your annual tryst with the TV (Aug 15,Jan 26 etc ). Your predecessor, the lady who had her office out of the Air India plane, was so woefully pathetic that she didn't even know she was reading the previous years' speech.
  9. Please read 'The Hindu' regularly to know about what is happening in the government and also to know what Arundati Roy has to say about the suffering Maoists.
  10. Oh yes, beware of the Bengali anchor Barkha Dutt - the one who wears a slawar with a duppata and a 1 Re sized bindi only when ever she interviews Bengalis - she will be soon at your home to interview you. Please accept the interview as she is likely to help Sania Err...Sonia form the next govt.
  11. Before I forget, ask your gate keeper to say " Addressee Not Found" for any posts that would come from Gujarat or Tamil Nadu. They would be pestering you for justice. Never mind, they know not that they don't belong to the Indian Union. The two states would automatically fall into the Union once the DMK and the Congress form the govt in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat respectively.
  12. Finally, please perform the following  Manthra Japam 1008 times a day 
    1. "We need to abolish black money"
    2. "Poverty alleviation is our prime concern"
    3. "Children are our future leaders"
    4. "We will preserve communal harmony"
Before my patience drains out, please declare independence to West Bengal - கொசு தொல்லை தாங்க முடியல 


Saturday, July 21, 2012

Ambedkar a patriot, really ?

Like all true blue Indians educated in the 'secular' traditions where it is considered impolite to state the obvious and therefore behave in a docile manner and eulogize people that you really know to have done nothing for the betterment of the society, I have often been pushed to the corners where I have had no other option but to speak the obvious but with pinches of salt. These have led to some friends getting annoyed and have gotten me into many arguments that were either a waste of time or energy or both. In the process many have chosen not to respond to mails and have even avoided being seen with me in public lest they be ostracized from the 'secular' and 'elite' society.

The 'secular' and 'elite' society comprises of people who shall brook no disrespect to one or more of  the following :

  1. Ramaswamy Naicker ( called as 'Periyar' - பெரியார்   )
  2. Anna Durai
  3. Ambedkar

While I have not meant dis-respect to any of the above, I have often tried to show the 'other'side of these personnel that is not normally visible to the public. It is not that these personnel have ensured that their other sides are not visible, but their 'devotees' have made it an agenda not to bring out the aforementioned's multiple dimensions.

For example recently there was this Ambedkar controversy wherein some worthies 'discovered', after 50 years, that a sacrilege had been committed by way of a cartoon dating back to the 1950s. The argument was  that a 'nationalist' and a ' freedom fighter' and the 'architect' of the constitution of India had been insulted by means of a 50 year old cartoon. That triggered a soul searching in me that led to the discovery of some incidents recorded in the annals of history.

Well, publishing these events, speeches et al would result in further depletion of some of the readers. But they are not to be blamed. They have been educated in the staple diet of 'social justice', 'secularism', 'class struggle' etc. Hence what they have been fed, they have come to believe in. They know not that there is always another aspect to ones' learning at school. Mark Twain asked us not to let our schooling interfere with our education - meaning that schooling is to learn the basic and essential stuff to educate ourselves from then on. But alas, we have stopped learning and that has resulted in our knowledge repository shrinking to the prescribed texts and their associated explanatory notes.

We come to know that Ambedkar was never jailed even once by the British for participating in the national struggle as he never took part in that ( we worship him as a freedom fighter ) . We also come to know that Ambedkar took active part in destabilizing the fasts undertaken by Gandhiji, was responsible for the near-death scenario of Gandhiji ( Gandhiji undertook a fast-unto-death in Yerawada prison to stop the 'communal-award' that Ambedhar was espousing. Later there was this Poona Pact that ended Gandhiji's long fast during which he almost died ). We also come to know the behavior of Ambedkar at the Round Table Conference that was in line with what the British had wanted and how it was in direct contrast to what Gandhiji espoused. Incident after incident goes on to prove the complete support that Ambedkar provided to the British for their continuance in India. It is another matter the Ramasamy Naicker also espoused British rule in India, but about that in another article.

Let me stop my ramblings and let history speak for itself.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr.Ambedkar, 2-Sep-1953, Rajya Sabha Speech :

"People always keep on saying to me:'O, you are the maker of the Constitution'. My answer is I was a hack. What I was asked to do so, I did much against the will... Sir, my friends tell me that I have made the Constitution. But I am quite prepared to say that I shall be the first person to burn it out.."

British Viceroy of India to The Cabinet mission, 05-Apr-1946 :

"He ( Ambedkar ) thought that if India became independent it would be one of the greatest disasters that could happen.."

British Secretary of State for India to the Governor of Madras : 24-Sep-1933 :

" During the last two or three years I have seen a great deal of Ambedkar,and, like most of my friends, I have been impressed by his ability and his manifest desire to support the British influence in India..."

British Secretary of State to the Viceroy of India, 28-Dec-1932 :

" Ambedkar has behaved very well at the (Round Table ) Conference, and I am most anxious to strengthen his hands in every possible way .."

But there is a more serious and damning revelation that is sure to cause some consternation in us. For long, we have been taught that Ambedkar was the 'architect' of the constitution and we know that the Constituent Assembly was formed with the express intention to write the constitution. Here is the view of Ambedkar on the Constituent Assembly.



Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar, All India Scheduled Class Federation, Bombay, 6-May-1945 :


"I must state that I am wholly opposed to the proposal of a Constituent Assembly. It is absolutely superfluous. I regard it as a most dangerous project... I do not see why a Constituent Assembly is at all necessary.Indians are not in the same position as the Fathers of the American Constitution were".
"So much of the Constitution of India has already been written out in the Government of India Act, 1935"

"It is my considered opinion that the proposal of Constituent Assembly is more dangerous than profitable and should not be entertained".
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The above quotes are taken verbatim from Ambedkar's own writings, Published letters of Winston Churchill and 'Worshipping False Gods' by Arun Shourie. Hence there is nothing that I have 'invented' in these passages above. There is more ammunition in the archives of the "Proceedings of the Constituent Assembly of India". But that is a matter for a PhD thesis.


A logical question : Why don't we see these in our text books ? Why don't we get to know the history in the real sense of the word ?

Monday, July 16, 2012


கொள்கையோ என்ன எழவோ இந்த அளவுக்கு அந்தர் பல்டி அடிச்ச பெரிய மனுஷன் வேற யாரும் இல்லை. 

Shri.Karunanidhi-ji, the eternal leader of the Tamils of the World, said on 01-May-2012 that Tamil Eelam was the only solution and that was why TESO was being founded again ( euphemism for stopping the infighting between Stalin and Azhagiri ).
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article3371666.ece

Shri.Karunanidhi-ji, the eternal leader of the Tamils of the World, said on 16-Jul-2012 that there was no plans to call for Tamil Eelam during the TESO conference  ( Chidambaram met Karunanidhi-ji yesterday and probably 2G would have figured in the 'talks').

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article3645577.ece?homepage=true

அனால் இவரோட குரு அதான் ஈ வே ரா அடிச்ச பல்டி இத விட பெருசு. இதுனால தான் இவரு "நான் பெரியார் வழிலே நடக்கறேன் ", ன்னு சொல்றாரோ என்னமோ. இதெல்லாம் பகுத்தறிவு சமாசாரம், நமக்கு புரியாது.   





Sunday, April 1, 2012

Mid-year Performance Appraisal -- Nov'11 to Mar'12


Appraiser :  An Indian who speaks Tamil
Appraised : Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

Overall Rating : .4.0/10 ( Needs improvement )

Tasks Assigned : 
  1. Provide a government to the state
Tasks Performed : 
  1. Koodankulam Correction
  2. Grabbing of land grabbers ( DMK Ministers )
  3. Uniform Education Scheme Retreat 
  4. Freebie Raj
  5. Continuation of  Anna Library conundrum
  6. Mullaiperiyaar Stands
Achievements : 
  1. Massive By-election victory
  2. Principled stand on Mullaiperiyaar
  3. Sasikala Dacoity Gang removal ( as of this writing )
  4. Retirement to Karunanidhi
Anti-National Acts Performed : 
  1. NA
Unnecessary Tasks Performed : 
  1. Too much importance to comedy actor Vijaykanth
  2. Continuation of Cut-out Culture 
Appraiser Comments :
  1. I am not interested in what Karuna did or did not do when in power. I am interested in what you have done especially to address the power supply issue. I know that you support 'going green' and observing the 'Earth hour' by switching-off lights. But that cannot be done for 12 hours per day.
  2. Appreciate your principled stand in Mullaoperiyar Dam issue. I know that the Center is the major hurdle in this. Hence I support your fight in upholding the state's rights,
  3. Addressing the election manifesto items is your prerogative. But that cannot be at the cost of developmental works and you cannot cite the election manifesto to not concentrate on developmental issues that are of importance to me, the common man.
  4. I have come to believe that the Taliban would find Chennai more habitable than Afghanistan as the roads in Chennai are more crater ridden than those in Afghanistan. Yes, Karuna did the damage but you are here to repair.
  5. You have changed your ministers more often than Karuna would have changed his policies on Tamil Eelam. Appointing ministers is your prerogative but do exercise due care while appointing them so that they need not have to be changed like diapers.
  6. Yourself and your ministers should subject themselves to debates on regional TVs first and then graduate to national TV later. This is the only way to make yourselves known to the general public than smile down from cut-outs and banners which are a national waste much like the Mayawati elephants.
  7. Movie Production is an industry like any other industry. Why should you exempt them from paying service tax while any other industry like Manufacturing is mandated to pay the same ? Is Movie production a national activity ? You are here to provide governance and not to follow your predecessor. You could ignore this at your own peril.
  8.  How different are the killers of Rajiv from the three guys convicted in the Dharmapuri bus burning incident? If you want clemency for Rajiv killers, why not demand the same to all the other killers in and out of jail ?  Your predecessor did these tricks and you know where he is now.
  9. The only way to answer the Koodankulam hoodlums is to open more of such reactors. An Abdul Kalam can be trusted than a Manmohan Singh. And there is no harm in implementing the suggestions made by Kalam. Probably name the schemes after Anna Durai or EVR and the 'rationalist' zealots wouldn't open their mouths. Probably an Ambedkar could be used in good measure to shut-up the Thirumaas and the other Verumaas. 
  10. And the best way to make fun of the DMK is to allow Stalin to speak in the Assembly. He will ensure that the DMK becomes the butt of ridicule all by himself.
  11. The way to tackle the anti-nationals and other LTTE types like Vaiko, Nedumaaran and Ramdoss is to continue to ignore them. They will talk their way to obscurity all by themselves. They are adepts at that - the way they finished off the LTTE by 'talking' for them is a case in point.
Suggestions for Improvement :
  1. As per the earlier assessment, please refer to the Gujarat Model of Governance and you could probably stand a chance to appear in the cover of 'Time' magazine as well.
General Remark :
  1. The 'Sasikala' removal and re-induction drama is your family problem. That does not fall under the ambit of this appraisal. However if the re-induction drama results in a 'return to the old ways' of governance, then you would have to accompany Karuna in watching Tom and Jerry either in your house or in Tamil Nadu House a.k.a. Tihar.