VVS

  Rajini and Politics. Yesterday(29.12.2020) Rajini had at last expressed his inability to jump into the political arena and stated that he had given up his intention to start a political party citing health reasons thus putting an end to the intense speculation and political calculations that followed soon after his announcement on 3 rd Dec.2020 that he would announce the date of starting a political party on 31 st Dec.2020. Looking back one can trace Rajini’s political aspirations to the year 1996 when he first proclaimed soon after the release of his much acclaimed film Basha that even God cannot save Tamil Nadu if Ms. Jayalalithaa the then Chief Minister was reelected thereby underlying the rampant corruption during her regime. At that time he was backed by Mr. G.K.Moopanar who started his own political party Tamil Manila Congress after breaking away the Indian National Congress which was in alliance with the DMK. Rajini’s proclamation had its effect. Ms. Jayalalithaa was rou

  Ms Sagarika Ghose has written an article in the Sunday Times dt.29.11.2020 wherein she had criticized the recent promulgation of an ordinance that criminalises Hindu-Muslim marriages. That promulgation has since become law after the Governor has given assent. She has argued for inter-caste marriage stating that criminalising it leads to infringement of personal freedom and is ultra vires of Article 21 of the Constitution. She has cited a number of celebrity cases who married outside their caste. Her argument is true. But what had to lead to this legal enactment is the fact in the lower and middle classes the marriages lead to conversion. In most of the cases where Hindu Muslim marriages take place, it is the Hindu boy or a girl who converts to Islam and not the other way round. In the upper strata of society when such marriages take place the married individuals have the liberty to practice their own religion. Unless all people have the maturity to respect the freedom of other indivi

  S.P.Balasubrahmanyam fondly known as SPB to all passed away on 25.9.2020 after battling with his health set back due to Covid-19 for 50 days at the age of 74. His demise is a great loss to Indian Cinema in general and all the music lovers across the world. He had sung over 40000 songs in 16 Indian languages and has won six national awards. Despite being not trained in proper Carnatic music he astonished everyone with his songs in the Telugu film Sankarabaranam a musical film based on Carnatic music. He has sung for all the music directors including the younger ones and ruled the roost for nearly 50 years. Despite reaching great heights he was always humble. Even when he was a judge in the reality shows he never used to give any adverse comments on the young singers and encouraged them and egged them on to do well. When the news of his death started trickling huge crowds gathered at the hospital, his residence and also at his farm house at the outskirts of Chennai where he was laid

In Tamil Nadu, all parties cutting across party lines have rejected the New Education Policy 2020 stating that it aims at imposing Hindi. Opposition to Hindi in Tamil Nadu dates back to 1962 when protests erupted across the State. From then on any education policy mooted by the Central government met with opposition from the State Government. In the present Education Policy also the political parties in Tamil Nadu see a conspiracy to impose Hindi language and they swear by the two language policy ie English being the link language and Tamil. Actually, the New Education policy does not aim to impose Hindi. It has clearly stated that the local language would be the medium of instruction up to class 5 and it can be extended up to class 8 at the discretion of the State Government. If in fact there are many states which do not have Hindi as their local language. They’re also three language formula is being adopted. In fact even in Tamil Nadu in the CBSE schools or in the ICSE schools and Ke

A committee on education was constituted by the Govt of India in June 2017 under the Chairmanship of Shri K. Kasturirangan former Head of ISRO.  It submitted a draft report in 2019. Certain changes were suggested, the final report has been submitted in July 2020 and the same was approved by the Cabinet two days back.  A great policy change in education has been effected after 34 years.  Let us now see the salient features of the National Education Policy 2020: 1.      It aims at Universal access to early childhood care and education. 2.      Universal access to education at all levels 3.      New pedagogical and curricular structure of school education is given as  (5+3+3+4): 3 years in Anganwadi/pre-school and 2 years 1st and 2nd classes totalling to five years. Then preparatory stage 3rd class to 5th class totalling to three years. Then middle stage 6th to 8th classes—three years and then the secondary stage 9th class to 12th class—four years. 4.      10+2 pattern has been done away

As July 31 nears the government of Tamil Nadu is faced with the Hamletian question whether to continue with the lockdown or unlock completely. The Govt. of West  Bengal has announced lockdown up to 31st August 2020. The cases in Tamil Nadu are continuously on the rise. But on the economic front, the picture is dismal.  Manufacturing and production have taken a hit. The businesses are dull. The companies are announcing a salary cut for their employees.  The purchasing power of the people is low.  In this grim situation, the government may be compelled to open up. But opening up has its problems. There are not enough beds to treat the infected patients if there is a surge due to unlocking. But in this situation, the government has to take a decision in favour of unlocking. The buses have to be made to run. Lockdown cannot go on forever. Life of the people is more important than the disease. Dying of hunger is crueller than dying of infection. Whenever there is unlocking cases would defin

A new kind of virus CORONA has stuck the entire world. At the time of this post those affected by this virus has crossed 22 lakhs world over. In India alone the number has crossed 13000. It has become a pandamic. It is being told that the virus first started at the end of December 2019 in WUHAN in China. It is said that it has spread to the people of the District from bats.  Being a contagious disease it has spread from the people of WUHAN  who travelled to other parts of the world have been instrumental in spreading this virus.  Initially China had the most affected. At the time of this post China has successfully contained the spread of this Virus but other  countries like USA, Italy, Spain, France have recorded more number of affected cases.  USA is the top of it all. The symptoms of this virus are cough, breathlessness, fever.  Till date there is no remedy for this Virus. It is said that to find out a vaccine it would take at least 18 months. Various theories are floated as