“Short story is the seed from which all other literary forms germinated,” said DMK President Kalaignar adding poet Vairamuthu’s writings would survive the test of time for generations.
Releasing a short story collection of the poet at a function in Chennai on Oct 10, he said that he had the opportunity to release all the poetry, prose poems, epic poems and novels and he was putting forward the collection of the poet’s 40 short stories, rightfully as the lyricist called him the ‘teacher’ and he called him as his younger brother.
Short story was a linguistic form used since humanity started speaking. Short story was used as a bridge between one who listened and the other who explained something that struck in his thinking or a situation or incident that he witnesses with his eyes with the condition and development of wisdom of each. Small story was a form of all literary works. Short story is the form from which all other literary forms germinated. A creative writer, irrespective of the genre, conceived ideas in the form of characters or situations or incidents in short stories. Short stories found their expression in all other literary forms.
In world literature, American writers Edgar Allan Poe and O. Henri are said to the starting points of short stories. But Anton Chekhov is said to be the pioneer for short stories in best forms. Of course there were short stories prior to them. There is lot of short stories in the Bible, considered to be the great literary work. Prophet Mohamed preached people through short stories.
“Arignar Anna had written lot of short stories and I have also written. Brother Vairamuthu has vent his anger in the preface of this book telling ‘I condemn as fraud of criticism in rejecting very good short stories written by Arignar Anna and Kalaignar in the literary space of the Dravidian movement’” Kalaignar said.  
Kalaignar recalled what he had stated in his prologue to the book ‘Vairamuthu Poems’,

“Ϫj¡ fU¥ò kåjD¡FŸns, Ϥjid beU¥ò¥ ÃH«òfsh?

 Ït‹ f‰gid C‰W¡FŸns  Ϥjid gå kiyfsh?

 Ït‹ Ïja¥ ig¡FŸ jh‹ v¤jid  f®¥g¥ igfŸ?

  Ït‹ _is¡FŸns jh‹ v¤jid Mæu« éU£r§fS¡fhd éijfŸ?”  
(wondering “so many infernos inside this black man; so many icebergs inside his imagination spring; how many fetuses inside his heart; how many seeds for so many thousand trees inside his brain”).
About this collection of short stories, Kalaignar cited some portions of a few stories to point out the fineness of description and the force of emotions of the characters. Kalaignar cited an evidence for the imagination and writing of Vairamuthu.
When the DMK government was dismissed in 1991, the poet wrote in ‘Kungumam’ then published by him (Kalaignar) “Aye, Anarkali! After you the one who was buried alive was democracy”. After reading this Kalaignar said he rang up to the poet and said that he was profited by the dismissal of his government because he could get such a nice verse.
Kalaignar said that Vairamuthu has followed the pattern of O. Henri in some of these stories by giving a gist of the story in the last sentence. In these short stories many including from Buddha to King Rajarajan, Maha Dharma to differently abled, Poet Abdullah to mentally ill Ibrahim, lawyer Tiger Ramanujam to Eelam Tamil Kadirgaman are frequenting Paramachary shows his head, different kinds of women, different localities and different sites are narrated in the weaving of the stories.
Epics are combined effects of hundreds of stories and short stories. There are short stories in Sangam literature also. Though the lyrics of Sangam literature were not written for short stories it could not be denied that the situations narrated in them were short stories that appeal even now. For example was the Purananooru lyric in nine lines authored by Kaakkaipaadiniyar Nachchellayar, which he adopted for a poetic text seventy years back in 1945, Kalaignar said and recalled the verse.

Foirjh‹! xU òw¤Âš

       Tça ntšthŸ

tçirahŒ mik¤ÂU¡F« - ita¤ij¥

       Ão¥gj‰F« bt«gif Ko¥gj‰F«

to¤Jit¤j gil¡fy«nghš ä‹D«; äëU«

òèæ‹ Fifæåny mH»šiy -

                                                       òJika‹W!

»èÍ« bkŒ Á讥ò«

       Ñêw§F« j‹ikÍ« jiyfh£lh

khd¤Â‹ ciwél« -

                                           kwt‹ khëif!

Ïšy¤J thæèny

       »©z¤J¢ nrh‰nwhL

btšy¤ij¢ Á¿J fyªJ

       tæ‰W¡FŸ têaD¥g¥

bgh¡if thŒjid¤ ÂwªJ

       Ãoa‹d« vL¤J¥ ngh£lhŸ

bgUeiu¡ »Hé bahU¤Â,

Xo tªjh‹ xU Åu‹

``xU nr gh£o!’’ v‹wh‹.

Motªj ÁWänghš

bgU_¢R th§F»‹whŒ

M© kfdh Ú j«Ã?

_¢R¡F _¢R Ïilntis V‰gl£L«;  Ë,

ng¢R¡F¤ bjhl¡f« brŒ v‹whŸ mªj¡

                               »©lY¡F¥ ng®nghd

»H£L¤ jäH¢Á!

nto¡if neu« ÏJtšy gh£o - c‹

       tho¡if¡ nfèia é£LéL.

`koªjh‹ c‹ kf‹ fs¤Âš’

       v‹wh‹ - kd«

xoªJ ã䮪jhŸ jhŒ¡»Hé xUKiw!

``jha« MLifæš fhŒfis

       bt£LtJ©L - fsK« mJjh‹.

fha« kh®Ãyh? KJ»yh?

       fHWthŒ’’ v‹whŸ - KJ»by‹wh‹.

»Hé Jo¤jdŸ; Ïja« bto¤jdŸ;

       this vL¤jdŸ;

KHÎ xè¤j ¡if neh¡»

       KL¡»dhŸ ntf«!

``nfhiH¡F¥ ghš bfhL¤nj‹

       F¥òw ÅœªJ »l¡F«

nkhiH¡F¥ bga®

       ngh® Åudh«! K‹bghU ehŸ

ghŒªJ tªj <£o¡F¥

       gš brhšy kh®ig¡ fh£o¢

rhŒªJ »lªjh® v‹ rhfhj f©zhs®.

mtU¡F¥ Ãwªjhdh?

       mllh khdbk§nf - F£o¢

RtU¡F« ÑHhf ÅœªJ g£lh‹.

Ïka tu«Ãåny Åu« Áç¡F« - ϧF

       Åiz eu«Ãåny Ïir Jo¡F«.

mJΫ khd« khdbk‹nw xè¡F«!

       kJΫ RwhΫ c©L thG«

khdk‰w t«rkh Ú - Vlh

       kw¤ j䜡 Foæny khR öé é£lhŒ

kh®ò bfhL¤nj‹

       kfdhŒ ts®¤nj‹ -

‹W bfhG¤J¤

Âä® ghŒªj njhŸfbs§nf?

       ÂdbtL¡féšiyah? mªnjh!

ntY¡F tê brhšy tifa‰w

       nfhiHna - v‹ Åu¥

ghY¡F tê brhšthŒ!!

v‹W fj¿dhŸ

       v©gij beU§»a ViH¡ »Hé.

br‹w§F¢ brU Kidæš

       Áj¿¡ »lªj

brªj䜡 fhisfis¥

       òu£o¥ gh®¤jhŸ - m§F

eªjäœ eh£il¡ fh¡f

       Xo‰W   u¤j btŸs«!

Ãz¡Féaèny bgU_¢R

       th§f elªjhŸ!

kz¥ gªjèY« mªj k»œ¢Áæšiy - kf‹

Ãwªj nghJ« k»œ¢Á¡F

       všiyÍ©L - mt‹

ÏwªJ »lªjh‹ <£o¡F kh®ò fh£o!

       Ïij¡ f©lhŸ - Ïja§ F뮪jhŸ!

``vij¡ f©lhY« Ïå¡ ftiy Ïšiy

       v‹ kf‹ ÅudhŒ Ïwªjh‹’’ v‹whŸ.

      mW¤bj¿a ÏUªnj‹

       mt‹ Fo¤j kh®ig - mllh!

fU¤bjça¥ bghŒ brh‹d fatbd§nf?

            thë§nf! mt‹ eh¡bf§nf?’’

“So I started competing with brother Vairamuthu even then”, Kalaignar said amidst applause and laugher.
Referring to the author’s preface that he wished like Pudumaipithan that his creative writings should remain forever, Kalaignar told him that all his writings would stand the test of times for generations. Vairamuthu’s short stories, like his other writings, would survive the test of time, he added. Though his writings did not bother about results, Kalaignar said he wished that  Vairamuthu’s writings should produce good results.
 Actor Kamal Hassan, who received the first copy, said short story could not be confined to a particular form and it would gradually take shape depending on the creativity of the writer.
To Vairamuthu’s reaction to those who had complained that his short stories had the elements of poetry, Kamal Hassan said opinion could differ on the form of short stories.
 Vairamuthu advocated holding of literary reading classes in schools and colleges. Prof Parveen Sultana also spoke.

Kalaignar assails Centre’s ploy to privatise ports

DMK President Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi took exception to the Centre’s proposal to enact Major Port Authority Act, saying it was only a ploy to privatise all the 12 ports, including Chennai Port, in the country.
In a statement, he recalled his statement on Oct 3 on Chennai port and the hampering of Pot-Maduravoyal elevated expressway. He had said the suspension of the Chennai Port-Maduravoyal elevated corridor project had given room for suspicion that it had been done to benefit the private harbour in Krishnapattinam and a new harbour conceived by Adani group in Kattupalli. The intrigue involved in bringing down public sector units to aid a few individuals will come to light in a few days.
The declining business in Chennai Port, which is the second largest port in the country , was due to traffic chaos.“It takes several days for the cargo to reach Chennai Port. In fact, DMK government launched the elevated corridor project to set right this problem, he had said pointing to diversion of business to Krishnapatnam and Ennore ports. Chennai Port handled 61.4 million tonnes of cargo in the year 2010-11 that saw a decline in the subsequent years” he had said.
As if proving what he had said according to the recent report the Centre, in a bid to privatise 12 major ports, had decided to remove them from the purview of Major Port Trusts Act. Port workers see this as a beginning of an indirect move by the Centre to privatise the ports.
Stating that all the major ports, including the Chennai Port, had been governed under the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963, he said the Centre was trying to privatise these ports. Recalling the indefinite strike launched by the port trust workers across the country in protest against the BJP-led NDA Government’s move to privatise the ports, Kalaignar said the Centre, in a bid to privatise the ports, has decided to change the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 as Major Port Authority Act.
‘’If it was changed, all the 12 major ports in the country including the Chennai port will come under the direct control of the Central government, which in turn will easily lead to privatisation of ports in a phased manner’’, the DMK President said.
Pointing out that various trade unions have opposed this move, he said the Centre was trying to broker peace with the representatives of the trade unions. Condemning the Centre’s move, he said ‘’It will be better for the Union Government not to encourage weakening of the democratic and socialist infrastructure, instead of strengthening it. “The government may not be interested in strengthening the democratic-socialist structure of the country. But it should not take any steps that will weaken it,” he said.

Kalaignar slams Modi’s silence on writers returning awards

DMK President Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi on Oct 13 said it was highly condemnable that neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor the Centre had come out with an explanation even after so many writers across the country returned their Sahitya Akademi awards to express their protest against the killing of Kannada writer M.M. Kulburgi.  Assailing the attacks on freedom of expression and the long cherished and preserved cultural diversity of India, Kalaignar said the indifference of those wielding power to prevent them is not only injustice but will also amount to a black chapter in history.
In a statement on Oct 13, Kalaignar said on learning that Sahitya Akademi awarded Kannada writer M.M. Kalburgi was shot dead by some fanatics in August last he had condemned the attack on freedom of expression.
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh announced compensation of Rs. 45 lakhs to the family of senior citizen Akhlaq who was beaten to death by a mob for allegedly cooking and consuming beef in Dadri village. Condemning the killings of writer M.K.Kalburgi, social activist and rationalist propagandists Govind Basasare and Narendra Dabholkar, the sister of India’s first Prime Minister and first woman President of the UN General Assembly Vijyalakshmi Pandit’s daughter and famous writer Nayantara Sahgal on Oct 6 returned the Sahitya Akademi Award presented to her in 1986 for her English novel “Rich like us’ in protest against what she called the vanishing space and against unleashing of violence against those expressing contradictory views. Referring to the recent killings of rationalists and writers M.M. Kalburgi, Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare and of Dadri resident Mohammad Akhlaq, who was lynched on suspicion of consuming beef, Sahgal said: “…in this rising tide of hatred, India is being unmade, being destroyed.”  Ms. Sahgal said she was concerned at the environment in the country and it seemed to be getting “worse and worse” in the past 15 months. She criticised the government’s inaction and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence. “In all these cases, justice drags its feet. The Prime Minister remains silent on this reign of terror. We must assume he dare not alienate evil-doers who support his ideology,” she said.
Following Nayantara, former chairman of Lalit Kala Academy and poet Ashok Vajpeyi returned Sahitya Academi award accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintaining silence on the killings of rationalists and Dadri incident and the Akademi failing to protest for defending the freedom of writers.
Following them noted woman writer Shashi Deshpande resigned from the Sahitya Akademi General Council, saying she is “deeply distressed by the silence of the Akademi on the murder of Professor M M Kalburgi”.
Urdu novelist Rahman Abbas returned the Maharashtra State Urdu Sahitya Akademy Award as a mark of protest against the Dadri lynching incident.
Following writers Chandrasekara Patil, Uday Prakash, Nayantara Shahgal, poet Ashok Vajpeyi and Urdu novelist Rahman Abbas, noted Malayalam novelist Sarah Joseph said she has decided to return her Kendra Sahitya Academy award and cash prize of Rs.50,000 in protest against the ‘terror-like’ situation prevailing in the country. She had bagged the academy award in 2003 for her novel Aalahayude Penmakkal (Daughters of God, the father). Moreover, in line with three eminent writers from Punjab, Gurbachan Bhullar, Ajmer Singh Aulakh and Atamjit Singh,  Gujarat-based literary critic and author Ganesh N. Devy, Aman Sethi,
The latest string of protests took to 15 the number of writers who have returned their awards to the Akademi since Hindi writer Uday Prakash first did so last month over the killing of Kalburgi. Also, Kannada author Aravind Malagatti submitted his resignation from the Akademi’s General Council. Those who returned their awards included Hindi poets Mangalesh Dabral and Rajesh Joshi; Vadodara-based Ganesh Devy; Konkani writer N Shivdas; Kannada writer Kum Veerabhadrappa; and Gurbachan Singh Bhullar, Ajmer Singh Aulakh, Atamjit Singh and Waryam Singh Sandhu from Punjab. This list keeps growing day by day.
Former Academi secretary and poet K. Satchidanandan announced his decision to resign his membership in all committees of the Akademi as the Akademi has ‘failed in its duty to stand with the writers and to uphold freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution’.
Subhash Chandran, who had won the Sahitya Akademi award last year for his novel Manushyanu Oru Aamukham, told a TV channel that he was also thinking in terms of returning the award and would take a decision in a day or two. Short story writer P.K. Parakkadavu, member of the Sahitya Akademi General Council, said he is resigning his membership in the council with immediate effect.
Booker winner Salman Rushdie has supported writers who have returned their Sahitya Akademi awards in protest, claiming “alarming times for free expression in India”. Sixteen Sahitya Akademi award winning Tamil writers have condemned the Akademi for not adequately condemning the killing of Kannada writer M.K. Kalburgi and its failure to bring pressure on the Centre to protect freedom of expression. They are Indira Parthasarathy, K. Rajanarayanan, Ponneelan, Prabanchan, Ashokamitran, Thoppil Mohamed Meeran, ‘Kavikko’ Abdul Rahman, Vairamuthu, Erode Tamilanban, Mu. Metha, Melanmai Ponnusamy, Puviarasu, Nanjil Nadan, Su. Venkatesan, D. Selvaraj and Poomani.
“It is regrettable and condemnable that even after so many developments, there was no clarification or response statement from Prime Minister Modi or the Centre. Without thinking that there is no connection between politics and protection of freedom of expression, the Centre should conduct with the view that defence of freedom of expression is only democratic concept. It seems the administration of Sahitya Akademi believes that it would be embarrassing for the Centre if any opinion is expressed on the return of awards. However there are reports today that the emergency meeting of Sahitya Akademi would be held on 23rd. Though it was widely believed when the BJP assumed power at the Centre that they would keep away from their old Hidutva path, on witnessing the recent incidents and actions, it is very obvious for neutral people that those in responsible positions are keeping mum and indifferent even at times when they had to react. The attacks on freedom of expression and diversity of culture and the indifference of those wielding power to prevent them is not only injustice but will also amount to a black chapter in history”, Kalaignar said.

Ever-rest Chief Minister, Ever-mute Media in TN!

All dailies in Tamil Nadu on Oct 15 published extensive and detailed reports on the arrival of Chief Minister Jayalalitha at her Kodanad Estate mansion for a sojourn for ‘few weeks’ to a ‘tumultuous’ welcome accorded by her party rank and file and officers of the government, as if she had come for some busy official schedule for making the State numero uno in the nation. For instance, the daily ‘Deccan Chronicle’ published the following report on the first page with photograph under the heading “Cheery Kodanad welcome for Jayalalitha”, as if this was the most important event for the people of the State/ country.
“The hills turned vibrant, lively, cheerful and enthusiastic as the public and ADMK party cadres accorded a rousing reception to the Chief Minister and their party supremo Jayalalitha who arrived at Kodanad in Nilgiris district on Wednesday afternoon. The Kodanad slopes wore a festive look with smiling faces and enthusiastic public and party cadres turning up in large numbers to welcome the Chief Minister as one could see people flocking to the area right from early morning. The traditional dances and music performed by the Badaga community people and Kota and Toda tribes along the Kodanad road and the staging of Kerala’s ‘chendamelam’ surcharged the atmosphere that exhibited how enthusiastic the people and party cadres were in according a cheerful welcome to the Chief Minister and to greet their leader. While public and party cadres lined along the Kodanad road raised slogans in praise of ‘Amma’ when her convoy arrived from the nearby helipad, party men and public gathered there threw flower petals to welcome their leader as her convoy moved. The Chief Minister was seen cheerfully waving back to crowd. K.R. Arjunan, Rajya Sabha MP and secretary of the ADMK in Nilgiris, C. Gopalakrishnan, MP of Nilgiris, S.Kalaiselvan, chairman of Thadco were among those who presented bouquets to the CM”. (The word ‘public’ in this report should be replaced with the words ‘hired people’ because that is how they organise crowds for her programmes.)
Almost similar reports had appeared in all dailies. If not the media barons and her fans in the media, the common people will only wonder why so much hullabaloo for the arrival of the Chief Minister of the State, who claims to be the ‘first servant’ of people, as though the executive President of another nation had arrived! Much more, she has not come for any official purpose but for taking rest for ‘few weeks’.
In the whole world, it will be only this outfit of Jayalalitha for which her ‘visit’ to her party office and visits for her rest are occasion of ostentatious celebrations with arches, banners music and dance events. They had spread red carpet for the vehicle of Jayalalitha to pass through and strewn flowers over the vehicle. Such receptions would not have been accorded even to queens and princes in kingdoms.
What were the busy schedules she had had in the last two or three months necessitating rest for a few weeks? Except for the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she did not give appointment for anybody for meeting her in her Poes Garden residence. Once in a week she used to ‘visit’ the secretariat for less than an hour when some buildings/projects were inaugurated by her though video conference facility. Even for declaring open buildings which are a few km away from her residence, that too on her way to the secretariat, like the medical college buildings in Government Estates on Anna Salai, she was not ‘strained’ to get down from her vehicle and walk a few steps. And the scores of such inaugurations on a single day were released to the media one by one for several days and the servile media would also extensively publish them trying to give false impression to the people as if she was very active.
The Assembly session was held for few weeks when she would come to the House when Question Hour was midway and as soon as she arrived all other business would be stopped and she would read out some announcements under rule no 110 followed by lauding speeches of her minion ministers and alliance party sycophants. All these shows would be over within an hour and she would leave the House. For all these she was called by people ‘one hour Chief Minister’.
As she grew tired of resting in her Poes Garden residence, she went to her Siruthavur bungalow for taking rest for about 10 days. As the ‘rest’ in that bungalow was overtaxing and tiring she has now decided to take ‘rest’ for few weeks in her Kodanad Estate mansion, away from the hurly-burly in Chennai. Now the Ministers and officials will be flying to and from Kodanad and for getting her signatures in important files. In effect there will be two secretariats of the government for some weeks.
While all these are comprehensible for even unlettered lay persons, are they not for the so-called enlightened and well-informed media (persons)? But there is most bewildering abundance of digression in the media in truthfully reporting the affairs of and the happenings in the regime of Jayalalitha.
In contrast, there is more than enough curiosity in magnifying, misrepresenting and misinterpreting the happenings in opposition parties not sparing even very small outfits in their labour to present a picture of disarray and divisions in these parties. Now there are many 24x7 television news channels in Tamil which are conducting debates on political and social affairs. They would take up subjects relating to many States and the Centre and do not spare the ruling party at the Centre and even the Prime Minister at times. Very rarely they would take up the affairs of opposition parties at the national level. But when it comes to Tamil Nadu, invariably the affairs ruling dispensation and party are spared and only those of the opposition parties are taken up for unnecessary debates for dragging through mud and show in bad light.
Are there no problems for people and is this golden period rule in Tamil Nadu? While they show extraordinary enthusiasm in ‘investigating’ even the internal affairs of opposition parties and debating about them for hours and devoting pages to discredit them, the print and visual media conveniently closed their eyes and ears to all the frauds on people committed by the ADMK regime. The Chief Minister has made 184 announcements under rule 110 in the Assembly which were given wide publicity by the media. Have they ever attempted to verify how many of them were really implemented? They have all the means to verify the claims of investments said to have been attracted by this regime, but they are willingly playing second fiddle to all these hoax committed by the regime.  
The media is said to be opinion makers. Responsible political leaders sometimes have more influence than the media, primarily because leaders are seen as trustworthy and non-purposive. People are more inclined to accept a political message from someone they know, rather than the media, who they now feel is attempting to manipulate them. Moreover, they learn more by experience than by reading newspapers and viewing perverted debates on TV channels.
If the media in the State do not report drinking water scarcity or power cut problem or price rise or unemployment problem, are the people not aware of those issues? If the media keep approving and applauding the regime and the ruling dispensation, do not the people know that right from the Chief Minister to the ADMK ministers, ruling party M.Ps, MLAs down to councilors are inaccessible without money and do not attend to their problems?
In history, dictators and tyrants were thrown out by people by their own experience. In recent history, though the media was muzzled with censorship during the Emergency in 1975-76 the people threw out the regime. Now in Tamil Nadu with the self-imposed censorship of the media, it is certain that the people of the State will throw out the ADMK regime and give permanent rest for its Chief Minister!   r

“Support efforts to install Tiruvalluvar statue in Allahadad, set up Tamil Chair in Harvard”

DMK President Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi has sought Tamil Nadu government’s ‘support’ for efforts to install Tiruvalluvar statue in Allahabad, name a six km stretch on the “West bank” of Yamuna river in Uttar Pradesh as Tiruvalluvar Marg as a tribute to the saint poet and establish Tamil Chair in the prestigious Harvard University.
In a statement on Sept 7, Kalaignar said that at a time when indirect efforts to remove statues already installed by adducing some reason with ulterior motive, that a demand for installing Tiruvalluvar statue at Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh. A detailed report about this had been published in ‘The Hindu’ (Tamil) today. In that report it is stated that it was a long pending demand of the people there to name six km stretch on the West bank of Yamuna river as “Tiruvalluvar Marg”, install Tiruvalluvar statue and plant tree saplings along the stretch so that the couplets could be written along with Hindi translation; Kalaignar said.
 Furthermore, the DMK chief quoted one Chandra Mohan Bhargava as saying to the daily that it was the dream and demand of founder and general secretary of Basha Sangh, late Krishna Chand Gowd, to erect a statue for Tiruvalluvar in Allahabad in 1990, but he died due to cancer before his dream got fulfilled. However the efforts to install the statue continued.
 The Sangh had turned down the UP government’s offer to have the statue of the saint poet erected at Hindustan Academy and insisted on having it only at Triveni Sangam, Kalaignar said, urging Tamil Nadu government to take steps in the matter.
Similarly, another issue has been published in this week’s ‘Anandavikatan’ weekly. Vaidehi Herbert, an American, has translated eighteen Sangam Literature books. When a relative of DMK general secretary Prof K. Anbazhagan and serving in US as cardiologist Dr Janakiraman met her and what he could do in his lifetime for Tamil language, Herbert has told him that there was no Chair for Tamil in Harvard University and if one is established it would add glory to Tamil language and people. The two NRI Tamil doctors, Janakiraman and Thirugnanasambandam, had received approval from the Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, to set up a Tamil Chair.
While the total amount needed is $6 million (about Rs.40 crore) which had to be mobilised within two years, the duo had promised to fund $1 million. The Tamil community needs to collect the remaining $5 million. An effort has been made to reach out to the Tamil community.
He said that Harvard has two Chairs for Ukranian spoken by 30 million people and even when there was a Chair for Celtic spoken by 1.5 million and the university has Chairs for Hebrew, Sanskrit among other languages. Therefore, it is necessary to have a Tamil Chair at Harvard as it is the language of over 80 million people across the world, Kalaignar said.
Hence, Kalaignar asked the State government to help and encourage the efforts of the interested persons for installing Tiruvalluvar statue in Allahabad and of Tamil community in the United States to set up a Harvard Tamil Chair. When this government is prepared to spend a huge sum of Rs.100 crore for conducting a meet of investors at a time when the tenure of the regime is about to end, should also indulge in such good works for spreading the greatness of Tamil, Kalaignar urged.

Humanism of Periyar

All the services that Periyar rendered to humanity for seventy five years had taken their origin from his essential humanism. Ramalinga Adikal had expressed his sympathetic essence when he said that whenever he saw a drooped plant, he felt a drooping within. Periyar’s sympathies were by no means of a lesser magnitude.
Periyar’s humanism was by no means lesser in extent than that of either Ramalinga Adigal or Gandhi or other Indian spiritual seers.
His services towards social reforms in Tamil Nadu and the spreading of Communism were but humanitarian missions. Had he not been a great person with a humanistic heart, he would not have had to endure verbal attacks on him.
It is an absolute truth indeed that if he had not been a man of humanism, he would not have had sacrificed great wealth and a life of luxury and indulgence.
Periyar’s humanism was not the humanism of throwing alms at an appeal from a hunger struck beggar.
The humanism raised its voice in the interest of all those who had been kept suppressed throughout the world.
Periyar had such humanism that made him dedicate his entire life to the welfare of the backward classes, most backward classes and the scheduled classes in Tamilnadu and throughout India who had been stamped the sudras by the Aryans.
We should refer to instances wherein his humanism had made him extend a sympathetic help to individuals and societies.
Anna had once remarked that if there was a hole through which the cat could pass, the kitten could as well pass through the same hole.
Similarly there is no necessity to refer to instances of Periyar’s humanistic services to individuals since he had been humanistic towards the whole of the Tamil community . Yet let me take the liberty of referring to a few instances.
When Periyar was young, a battalion of soldiers travelled by train from somewhere in the North to the southem districts. As the train reached Erode junction, they left the train and started attacking the public and the shopkeepers there for some reason. Periyar had then been to the railway station on private business. He prevented the soldiers from attacking the poor people. A few soldiers pulled him into the compartment. He was caught inside the compartment. However, he was brave enough to wriggle out pushing the soldiers off.
A crowd had gathered. The police also arrived. The train left after a little while.
Periyar might have kept himself away from the trouble had he not been bothered about the troubles of others. But he confronted what he considered an unjust act. He was both physically and mentally strong enough for such an upright deed. If Periyar had the strength of will and body while young to rise against the troubles caused to a few, it was but natural that he rose against the cruelties practised in a society as a whole when he became middle aged and thereafter.
Swami Kaivalyam was a friend of Periyar. He was a few years elder to Periyar. He had compared Periyar to the Priest of the gods, Brahaspathy. His description had been very apt indeed.
The abode of the gods had degenerated and Brahaspathy taught atheism to Brahma and changed conditions there. So degenerated was the state of affairs in our country too. People were subject to alien imperialism. They had been exploited.
They had lost their ability to think and their sense of honour. They lacked unity. They were eternally wedded to the disgrace attributed in the name of religion and caste.
They had no control over their own life. They did not understand that their very future had been mortgaged in the name of the scriptures of Manu. Periyar’s labour and speeches were spent on making our people realise their own objectivity and work a way out of superstitions.

Let’s continue self-respect journey without falling prey to conspiracy!

Dear brothers and sisters,
I had written an epistle to you in ‘Murasoli’ on 23.10.2012. All through yesterday I once again read that epistle under the heading ‘Whether water drift by the bang of water?’ because there was a necessity for me to read it.
I sat for lunch when the party’s Principal Secretary Duraimurugan came to meet me after completing Assembly works. His face was not proper and I enquired while eating. ‘The Times of India’ English daily published on the first page a report on the interview given by T.K.S. Elangovan. “Reporters are waiting to ask questions about it. As reporters asked Treasurer M.K. Stalin remaining in the Assembly about it at the secretariat, he sent me to consult Thalaivar”, he said. Immediately a called Organising Secretary R.S. Bharathi, asked his to issue a statement on behalf of the headquarters and laid on the bed. But I couldn’t get sleep. As scheduled I did not go to a wedding reception in the evening. My mind was disturbed. What was the reason? It was then I happened to again take and read the epistle I wrote in 2012. Some portions of that epistle are as follows:-
“I have repeatedly said one thing; pointing out that Thanthai Periyar used to press for it. That if of the three watchword of the DMK ‘duty, dignity and discipline’ only ‘discipline’ is important. Our Perasiriyar only reminded that in Villupuram Mupperum Vizha and spoke in detail. DMK might have been defeated many times in elections and might have won many times. At anytime, we had never been jubilant or felt crest fallen on victory or defeat respectively. But if discipline is disrupted or damaged nobody could save the party! I and Perasiriyar are working without rest since our student days till now. There are none to question if we take rest and do not come to party office. Still we are coming to party office. DMK is not ruling party now. In the elections in 2011, we suffered defeat to the extent of not even emerging as principal opposition. Have I got exhausted due to it? Have I stopped doing party work? Even at this age why should I write daily? Whether I take breakfast or not how many dailies do I read? As you cannot buy and read all of them, after reading all those dailies/journals, I compile all the news that you should know- searching for those that you will have to explain people, reports and criticisms about the ruling dispensation, the observations and strictures made about these rulers in the Supreme Court and High Court and take strain to inform tirelessly.
But the dailies in Tamil Nadu, half-heartedly just for registering and show their independence publish my view in two or three columns. Than the rulers, our journalists are more interested and concerned that if they are published in full and those opinions spread the influence of DMK might increase. But at the same time, if the reports are against the DMK, they come forward to publish them without leaving out even a sentence and giving as much importance as possible, what is the reason? Than the aversion for us, it is their focus to protect the rulers”.
The condition I said in 2012 persists now also. If they get even a ‘crumb’ like report against us the English dailies blow up them to the size of ‘pillar’ and publish them. The spokesman in party headquarters T.K.S. Elangovan is the dear son of Thanjavur T.K. Srinivasan, who was appreciated by us as ‘philosophical scholar’. He is well educated. But if it is press report or interview he is interested. That is why as he liked we appointed him as party’s communications secretary from his earlier assignment as organizing secretary. But for all there is limit which should not be exceeded. Only because ‘The Times of India’ which published the report knew that he has exceeded the brief that they have published it widely on the first and eighth pages. That English daily has published it in a big way the information that has to be released after convening and consulting party’s executive committee very casually said or not by T.K.S. Elangovan. Is it not enough for our media! They cornered all party frontline functionaries. His interview in television. His interview in ‘Malaimalar’. Even after we issued statement in the afternoon itself yesterday disowning that interview as wrong, the prominently published report on the first page in ‘Dinamalar’ daily with the photograph of Elangovan was “Clash breaks out in DMK over alliance bargain! Karunanidhi angry over the interview of Stalin supporter”. Can’t we understand the level of their acrimony for us?  
Similarly, in the name of opinion poll some release reports. Nothing happens because of them. I don’t believe them. In fact, they release it just like buying clash for price. For instant, it is only proper for those who took opinion poll to find out who would get the Chief Minister office- the DMK or ADMK or DMDK. For who is Chief Minister, after releasing the name of Jayalalitha for ADMK, instead of DMK they mentioned two names Karunanidhi and Stalin in the same party and release report of support for each so as to create problem. Did they ask the support for Jayalalitha and Panneerselvam in ADMK? Why should they point two names for DMK alone and assess support? Is the intention of the opinion pollster to create confusion in DMK? That too why they try to create such confusion even before the election is approaching? When we in the DMK are not concerned about who is the Chief Minister why this concern for opinion pollsters? Due to it how much delicacy for Stalin? He is working day and night for the DMK as his breath and why they are causing pain to him like this?
That too some reporters with more concern, learning when the flight taken by my son M.K. Alagiri  expelled from the party, reached Chennai go to the airport itself and if they ask about this opinion poll, why this sudden interest for them? If some dailies publish that interview giving importance, is it because of the interest in him? What is the use in him too due to his anger for his younger brother, praising me? It gives room to opponents. It becomes giving room for those trying to enter in between them and create confusion in the party. If ‘Dinamalar’ daily prominently publish the interview of T.K.S. Elangovan and M.K. Alagiri, do you understand the extent of their animosity for us?
Once, in a public meeting held at Tiruchy after the demise of Anna, Thanthai Periyar spoke. When Periyar categorically said, “As Annadurai said it, Karunanidhi and those in that party frequently say that duty, dignity and discipline should be safeguarded. I will say not only to Karunanidhi but to workers and comrades of the party led by Karunanidhi that you may forget duty, give up fostering dignity but never give up discipline”.
Because, only if discipline is maintained all can together act even without dignity. This is Periyar’s logic. Even slip from duty if we are disciplined none could do anything. Only because we follow the word categorically stated by Periyar that the DMK could not be shaken by anybody. The DMK today stands like banyan tree to the height of skies.
We are conducting this incomparable movement to safeguard the nomenclature of the race ‘Dravidian’- protect ‘race consciousness’- despite the suffering we encounter. Whatever conspiracies deployed by opponents, we are continuing our self-respect journey considering those conspiracies as ‘small waves smashing against rock and falling’, we will continue further!
Affectionately,
M.K.

“Lead all-party delegation to Delhi to pressurize PM”

Noting that just writing letters to the Prime Minister was not enough, DMK President Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi on Sept 6 urged Chief Minister Jayalalitha to lead an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prevail upon him to immediately constitute the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee and get Cauvery water for Tamil Nadu.
In the wake of the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamaiah’s refusal to release Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu, Kalaignar, in a statement said that as usual Chief Minister Jayalalitha has written a letter to the Prime Minister asking him to advise Karnataka government to release the balance of 27.557 tmc ft water as per the final award of the Cauvery Tribunal.
As Karnataka water was not available vide the Tribunal award and the State government failing to demand and obtain it, water was not released from the Mettur reservoir for Kuruvai cultivation on the due date of June 12 this year also and released only on Aug 8.
Even now as rains slowed in Cauvery catchment area water flow to Mettur reservoir continues to come down. The water level at 90.05 ft on Sept 3 came down to 87.15 ft i.e., lowered by 2.90 ft in three days.
According to the president of the coordination committee of all Farmers Association P.R. Pandian, Samba paddy crops directly planted were drying as Cauvery water has not reached Vedaranyam tail end irrigation area and farmers were distressed over inability even to cultivate one season Samba crop.
It is an indescribable sadness that farmers have reached the periphery of dejection with the failure of Kuruvai cultivation in delta districts during the last three years after the ADMK came to power.
In the meanwhile, Karnataka Irrigation Minister M.P. Patil has said that water to be released to Tamil Nadu as per Tribunal award was released without deficit till Wednesday last, TN government has not asked for release this year, but still respecting the award of the Tribunal Karnataka released water. This makes it clear that TN government did not at all demand release of water.
It is sad for the people of TN that the State government did not even place demand to Karnataka for water, the essential need of farmers. Will the problem of farmers get solved by just writing letter to the PM and getting it publicized without demanding it from Karnataka?  
All party leaders of Karnataka have raised voice against releasing water to TN and In Karnataka, the State government assumes responsibility by leading an all-party delegation consisting of leaders, Ministers and MPs to meet the PM and raise unanimous voice the needs of the State but in Tamil Nadu, it is a shame and painful that the ADMK government fails to even convene a meeting of all parties.
In particular, former Karnataka Chief Minister, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and one of the senior leaders of the BJP Jagadish Shettar has said, ‘as there was no sufficient rain in Cauvery catchment area the four dams have not been filled and hence there is scarcity of water. In view of the condition of farmers of both States Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and TN Chief Minister should consult and solve the issue and the TN Chief Minister writing directly to the PM thereby harming friendly relations between the two States has caused dissatisfaction’.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamaiah has told reporters that Karnataka was undergoing severe drought in forty years and the Tribunal award states that the two riparian States should cordially hold talks and resolve in such drought conditions.
Stating that four major reservoirs in Karnataka had storage of 74.23 tmcft on Sept 5, Kalaignar  said the State should depute PWD Minister O Panneerselvam to meet Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and appraise him of the pro-rata distress sharing formula laid out by the tribunal and seriously try to obtain water so as to secure at least the standing samba crop in the delta region of Tamil Nadu.
Kalaignar urged Chief Minister Jayalalitha to urgently lead an all-party delegation, including MPs, and Union Ministers from Tamil Nadu, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and exert pressure on the Centre to release Cauvery water and set up the Cauvery Management Board, and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee without further delay and apprise the severity of Mekadattu dam issue and not be complacent with just writing letters to the PM.

Push for lasting solution to Tamils’ issue in Lanka

Against the backdrop of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to New Delhi on September 14, DMK President Kalaignar M Karunanidhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to push Colombo for a speedy and lasting solution to the Lankan Tamils’ problems.
With Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena expected to visit India a month later, the Centre has an opportunity to get a commitment from Colombo, he said.
In his letter on Sept 8 to the Prime Minister, Kalaignar stated:
“On the eve of the forthcoming visit of Thiru Ranil Wickremesinghe, the newly-elected Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to New Delhi,I am sending this Letter.   According to the Media reports,  the visit of Thiru Ranil, during the middle of this month is going to be followed by the visit of His Excellency, the President of Sri Lanka, Thiru Maithripala Sirisena during the month of October.
You are aware that the D.M.K., of which  I am the President, has been  continuously voicing  its concern right from the year 1956  for finding a  lasting solution to the problems of Eezham Tamils, who are the inhabitants  of the Island - Nation from time immemorial.   Therefore an important duty is cast on me to represent the genuine grievances of Eezham Tamils whenever necessary at the appropriate forum and hence this Letter.
I wish to draw your kind attention to my Letter dated 13-2-2015 addressed to you,  wherein I have stated as follows :
“Thiru Sirisena was able to win the Presidential Elections mainly due to the massive support of the Sri Lankan Tamils.  The Tamils willingly voted for him as they ardently believed that Thiru Sirisena would bring to an end the long-drawn chapter of unconstitutional discrimination and unchecked inhumanity meted out to them in a very crafty and calculated manner by the erstwhile regime of the Island-Nation.   They also earnestly relied on the promises made to them by Thiru Sirisena and his electoral alliance.   They were convinced beyond doubt that the Army posted in the Tamil Areas would be withdrawn, the lands and houses forcibly occupied by the Army and the Sinhalese would be returned to the Tamils, they would not be treated as Second Class Citizens anymore and that all necessary steps would be taken for their peaceful living ensuring dignity and self-respect and that the 13th Amendment, which has been put on hold for nearly three decades, would be implemented in letter and spirit.”
Though more than six months have passed  since Thiru Sirisena  took over as the President of Sri Lanka,  there is very little or nil progress on the promises Thiru Sirisena had made to the Tamils.   This is not the first time that the Sri Lankan Tamils have been disappointed  over the non-fulfilment  of promises made to them by the Sinhala Leaders.   Thiru Maravanpulavu K. Sachidhanandan, Central Committee Member of the Sri  Lanka Tamilarasu Party,  has written about  fourteen agreements with the Tamils,  which have not been honoured and in fact which have been grossly violated  by the Sinhalese in the last 100 years.
Thiru Ranil Wickremesinghe, after having been sworn-in as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, for the fourth time,  while addressing the Press in Colombo has said that “After the final War with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eezham was over in 2009,  only now a congenial atmosphere has evolved to  politically  resolve the problem of Sri Lankan Tamils.”   A day after he assumed office,  Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has given an interview (to Thiru Ram, former Editor-in-Chief of “The Hindu”)  published on 24-8-2015, in which he has spoken  on a wide range of issues including (a) How to make  the Provincial Councils really work (b) Powers exercised  by both the Centre and the Provinces and concurrent powers (c) The real issue in the North and the East being resettlement of people who got evicted from their land (d) The Provincial  Council  must have a say in the Law and Order situation (e) The formula which was accepted by India also regarding the 13th amendment  and  (f) Domestic Investigation within the four corners of the Sri Lankan Constitution.
When all the promises of Thiru Ranil relating to the Tamils in Sri Lanka are fulfilled,  it will make a good beginning  in arriving at  a lasting solution to the innumerable problems  afflicting  the Tamils for several decades.   The diaspora Tamils have not forgotten the fact that Thiru Ranil Wickreme Singhe, as Prime Minister in 2002,  after talks with the L.T.T.E.,  in Oslo of Norway had agreed  for two States in the United Sri Lanka  -  one for the  Sinhalese and the other for the  Tamils.
The D.M.K. has been advocating a “Referendum” to be conducted among the Sri Lankan Tamils living all over the world,  under the supervision  of the UNO,  to enable them to choose a political solution, they desire.   We firmly believe that this political solution of the choice of the Tamils will alone put an end once for all to the problems of Sri Lankan Tamils.
You are aware of the unending sufferings of the Tamil Nadu Fishermen going out for fishing in the Sea at the hands of the Sri Lankan Navy and Sinhala Fishermen.   I will be grateful if you could kindly discuss with the Sri Lankan President and the Prime Minister for arriving at a lasting solution very early to the problems of the Tamil Nadu Fishermen.
It is widely reported in the Press that the USA is going to bring in a totally revised   resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Council   suggesting domestic enquiry in Sri Lanka into the War Crimes and Human Rights Violations, contrary to their earlier stand for an independent  international  Enquiry, when Thiru Mahinda Rajapaksa was the President of Sri Lanka.    It is believed that Thiru Ranil has been mobilising  support for the American Resolution and he may like India to support the  revised  resolution of America.  We and the diaspora Tamils  are opposed to this  sinister move.   History will not forgive if India yields to this crafty  design.  
I appeal to you to have all these dimensions in your mind, objectively analyse  the latest developments  in Sri Lanka and take all necessary  steps to fulfil  the long-felt  aspirations of the Sri Lankan Tamils.   We, the people of Tamil Nadu  and diaspora Tamils will be grateful to you for a very sympathetic and positive approach  to wipe out the disgrace and  dishonour suffered by the Tamils of Sri Lanka, a great and distinct  National Race in the History of the World.   We, very earnestly, expect encouraging results from your talks with the President and the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka”.

GIM- Isn’t it manipulation in view of election?

Dear brothers and sisters,
There is a saying in villages “Leaving the rope and holding the tail (of bull)”. Similarly having slept over for four years and now suddenly waking up announcing Global Investor Meet to attract investments, they are staging a drama. All dailies which reported the conference did not fail to note the prancing of ADMK cadre, the traffic congestion all over the city and the resenting murmurs of the public. Some years back, the ADMK rulers made huge publicity of having invited investors, signed MoUs for several hundred crores and creating jobs for several hundred persons. But neither investments came not employment opportunities were created. When the MoUs entered into then have not been realized constructively, will there be any value for the MoUs they enter into, on their way out? Hence even the investors who have come now have informed very carefully that they have planned to invest so many crores in the next three and five years. In spite of the publicity that investors from various countries have descended for the present GIM, no foreign investor seems to have addressed during the inaugural. I will briefly narrate what these ADMK rulers did in the last four and a half years for industrial investment and what was the result.
In the budget presented in the Assembly by Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam on 13.2.2014 it was stated that “this government would conduct a GIM in the coming October month at Chennai to encourage industrial potential and infrastructure in our State, for which the Budget provides Rs.100 crore”. This is an announcement read out last year! But as announced by the Minister the investor meet was not held in October last. This is the fate of the announcement made in the budget itself!
When asked about it, they made a gigantic announcement that on a single day in 2012 MoUs were signed with 12 firms through which 36,855 would get jobs and industries with investment of Rs. 20,925 crore would be started, and again announced signing of MoUs with 16 firms for Rs. 5,081 crores; what happened to those announcements? Did the assured investment come? After that, forgetting the announcements already made, the informed anew that MoUs worth total investment of Rs. 26,625 crore was signed following which investment of Rs.10,660 crore was made creating additional employment opportunities for 10,022 persons.  
Later, Panneersevam announced that the GIM would be conducted in May 2015. That was also not held. Speaking at Coimbatore, Chief Minister Jayalalitha said that in her three year regime MoUs with 33 Indian companies and MNCs had been signed for investment of Rs. 31,706 crore. MoUs can be entered into with many firms but only if they translated into starting of industrial units that the State will be benefitted. But what is the real situation? Not me but what the common weekly ‘Ananda Vikatan’ wrote?
“It is said that the expansion of Hyundai car factory function in Tamil Nadu will be set up in Rajasthan and Gujarat. ‘Isuzu’ firm has gone to Andhra. The Rs.1000 crore expansion unit of ‘Saint Gobain’ glass manufacturers functioning in Chennai has gone to Rajasthan. Tamil Nadu-based Ramco Cements has obtained approval of Andhra Pradesh to set up its 2.5 million ton cement factory in Ongole. The Industries Ministry has not focused even on retaining these units. According to statistics industrial investment in Tamil Nadu has come down by about Rs. 50,000 crores. As there are several obstacles in industrial sector, multi-national/domestic companies are hesitant to invest in Tamil Nadu. The Industries Ministry is latent without capacity to even to conduct a meet to attract investors toward TN. Industrialists could not even meet the Industries Minister. As there is no industry-friendly atmosphere in TN with power cut, administrative difficulties and increasing costs, many multi-national companies are focusing to shift their units to other States”, this is the certificate issued by ‘Ananda Vikatan’ to the Industries department of Jayalalitha regime.
‘Faxconn’ industry functioning in TN has entered into an agreement for Rs.32,000 crore to shift to Maharashtra. At least the industries running here were retained? The Tuticorin Spic industry already running in TN and Madras Fertilizers Ltd are on the verge of closure. Tamil Nadu Petro-products Ltd, Tiruchy Distilleries and Tuticorin Alkaline Chemicals Ltd,are already closed. When production in the Nagarjuna Petro Chemical Industrial Complex, Cuddalore started three years back with several thousand crore investment will start is not known. Spinning mills are sickening due to many problems; cracker manufacturing industry is crushing due to indirect encroachment; and handloom and power loom sector is shrinking.  The situation obtaining now is like losing what was in store in the thought of the seeking something illusionary.
In the meet prelude to the GIM proposed to be held in May last on 13.2.2015 huge publicity was made that MoUs with 7 firms for Rs.18,000 crore would be signed but is it not a shame that the prelude meet did not take place?
The State’s Industries Minister openly said that the Andhra Pradesh government invited industries offering land at cheaper price and tax concessions. Similarly whenever the AP Chief Minister visited Chennai he invited our industrialists and make offers. This made clear the position of TN. These rulers should feel ashamed if the CMs of other States come here, convene meetings and make direct appeal to industrial investors.
We did not imaginarily say that the Karnataka Chief Minister arranged a meeting at Coimbatore and invited industrial investors. ‘Dinamalar’ is not a DMK daily but it is highly critical of DMK. The heading of a report in that daily on January 22 last was “TN pushing, Karnataka attracting-investment of Rs 12,000 crore lost”.
In the meanwhile there was a report that Panneerselvam held talks with UK Minister for Commerce on companies of England investing in TN and with the Governor of South Carolina State of the USA for more investments in TN. We don’t know what happened to it.
It was announced that the GIM would be held on May 23 and 24 and there were reports that officials went to other countries to conduct road shows. The Industries Minister said that number of foreign investors would participate in the GIM in Chennai and there were chances of getting investment of over Rs. One lakh crore. In a few days after the announcement the government announced further postponement of the meet. A consultation meeting for inviting local industrialists was reportedly held at Salem in which the Industries Minister, Highways Minister and special secretary to Industries department participated and the Ministers said the GIM would be held in May. But even without their knowledge, the meet was postponed and it was announce in Chennai that it would be held in September.
With the heading that nobody need panic on reports that investment of several thousand crore and investors would come to Tamil Nadu through GIM, a e magazine has provided lot of details. The ‘Times of India’ daily says that MoUs for investment of Rs. One lakh crore would be signed. ‘The New Indian Express’ informs that totally the investments would exceed Rs 2.5 lakh crore with over Rs. One lakh crore in power sector alone. When not even one paisa of investment had come through largely exaggerated claims of investments, reports are coming exaggerating agreement on paper. How these MoUs are to be translated into deeds? When will they come into operation? Has any time limit been fixed for it? Do the TN government and the investors who enter into MoUs have the basic means to implement the assurances given by them? Will the industrial policy of the government and government officials approve and cooperate without delay for the execution of industrial projects? It is natural that all these questions arise in the minds of all who read these reports. The most important question is how many of the MoUs signed will truly come into execution! Before searching for the answer for this question, we should know what sort of progress has been achieved in TN in the last four years relating to industrial investments.
In 2011, MoUs for investment of Rs 73,298 crore were signed, of which investment of only Rs.235 crore has reached TN. Everybody should feel ashamed that the investment that came in fact was just 0.3 percent.
In 2012, MoUs for investment of Rs. 21,253 crore were signed but investment of only Rs. 524 crore has come into operation. That is only 2.4 percent came into operation.
In 2013, MoUs for investment of Rs.27,380 crore were signed but only Rs. 2292 crore that is 8.3 percent came into operation.
In 2014, MoUs for investment of Rs. 14,596 crore was signed but investment of only Rs.2,500 crore has reached TN, that is just 17 percent.
In 2015 up to June, MoUs for investment of Rs. 17.412 crore and works for investment of only Rs.41 crore was carried out. It is shameful that only 0.2 percent of investment came into execution.
In ADMK regime, the investments that have come into operation from June 2011 to July 2015 is only 5.64 percent. The reasons for the gap between MoUs entered into and those coming into execution are the basic infrastructure like electricity, water and transport facilities are not to the level of necessary quantity and quality, the industrial policy of the government and power structure not adopting industry friendly approach. Without following any appropriate method to attract industrial investments in the last four years, after meeting very big defeat in attracting investments, what results will happen by making tall claims at the eleventh hour just for 2016 election publicity?
Affectionately,
M.K.

Stalin to launch ‘Namakku Naame’ campaign in Kanyakumari on Sept.20

To redeem Tamil Nadu from the destructive path of ADMK regime and to render constructive change with a difference, on the advice of Thalaivar Kalaignar, DMK Treasurer Thalapathi M.K. Stalin will launch his Statewide Namkku Naame campaign in Kanyakumari on September 20 and he would cover the State in three phases. In the first phase he will tour 12 districts and completes in Tiruchy on Oct 2.
According to a party headquarters release, with the noble intention of creating a change for ‘development, employment opportunity, economic progress and transparent administration’ and as per the advice of Thalaivar Kalaignar, Stalin will begin the journey on 20.9.2015 at 5.30 p.m at Nagercoil in Kanyakumari district.
In the five year ADMK regime, the people of the State only witnessed distress and rusted government. Moreover it was a ‘regime sans farsightedness’ ‘regime which did not create employment opportunities’ and ’regime which did not start any new industry’ and as a whole the ADMK presented a dysfunctional regime in all respects to the people who voted with trust.
In the State which had had full time Chief Ministers with dedication,  people witness ‘a powerless interim Chief Minister’ and now one hour Chief Minister’, that too on video conference. People are incensed over the government administration conducted like an ‘entertainment’.
On witnessing such a regime afflicting them like summer heat people are yearning for DMK rule which was responsible, working in the interests of people, striving for the progress of the State and preserving democracy in the Assembly. They are in anticipation of the Assembly elections. This ‘Namaku Naame’ campaign for redemption of the dawn of Stalin is for meeting people directly. He will hold consultations with various sections of people and listen to the suggestions of all sections including youth. He undertakes this journey as a great people’s movement for removing the ADMK regime which pushed the State into darkness in the last five years and redeem welfare.
The details of the second and third phase of the campaign will be informed later.
The DMK has produced a documentary featuring party’s treasurer M.K. Stalin ahead of his Statewide Namkku Naame campaign slated to begin on September 30. The 20-minute documentary titled Mudiyattum Vidiyattum will be screened one day in advance in all places where Stalin will meet the people. “A campaign van equipped with an LED TV will tour the State and screen the documentary,” said a party leader associated with the making of the film. “We have called the tour programme Namakku Naamey, since we cannot expect the State government to fulfil the expectations of the people,” he said.

“Withdraw petition against promotion for SC/STs”

DMK President Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi on Sept 13 urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take steps to withdraw the review petition filed by the Centre in the Supreme Court seeking to dispense with the reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in promotions in higher grade level officers in public sector banks.  “It will go against Modi’s declaration that the next decade is of Dalits,” Kalaignar said replying a question.
Dismissing the petitions of five nationalized banks against quota in promotions for SC/ST category, the Madras High Court on December 9, 2009 delivered a verdict in favour of those sections and the Supreme Court also upheld the verdict on January 9, 2015. The banks filed a review petition in the apex court against this ruling. ‘The Economic Times’ has reported that the Centre also filed a review petition through its Attorney General and the two petitions are to be heard next week.
The reservation in promotions for SC/ST was in vogue since 1955. But the Supreme Court on 16.11.1992, in a case relating to Mandal Commission, held that reservation would apply only at the stage of appointments in government services and not for promotions. In this context, on 17.6.1995 the Constitution was amended for continuing with the system of reservations in promotions and hence the latest review petition filed by the BJP regime at the Centre was not only against the Constitution, but would severely affect job opportunities and promotions for SC/STs, Kalaignar said.
There was no connection and meaning between this review petition filed by Modi regime and his election speech that the next decade was that of Dalits and also become a historical mistake, he said urging the Centre to withdraw the review petition and protect social justice for Dalits.
Rajinikanth on judiciary: Kalaignar also welcomed actor Rajinikanth’s speech at a meeting that it would not augur well for the country if courts were not functioning properly.
Judiciary is the last resort of people. If it gets polluted it will lead to pollution of the entire nation, cautioned actor Rajinikanth. Addressing the birth centenary celebrations of iconic judge P S Kailasam, former judge of the SC, in Chennai on Sept 12, the superstar said common people and politicians could mend their ways even after they get misled. It is not so in the case of judicial officers, who could not undo the damage caused by their indiscipline, he said.
Kalaignar said this speech was not only very meaningful but also very appropriate in the present context. In recent times, negative opinions about courts ad judges have started emanating from all sections of the society. The situation that the rich and influential people could achieve anything was developing and evidences for that also were growing. However severe the cases might be, they could be protracted for any long at will using the loopholes in law; slowly dilute the dictum that all are equal before law; that the correct answer in additions and multiplications are only one could be revised and each could give one type of answers; even the loans obtained by one could be considered as income and remove the difference between loans and income; the verdicts already delivered by the Supreme Court in various cases could be suitably altered according to according to the need of time and situations; “when such opinions by default are fast spreading, this view openly expressed by Super Star Rajinikanth is welcome for all those believing in democracy and Indian Constitution”, Kalaignar said.
Dismissal of nurses: 3,000 nurses working on contract basis during the last 2 ½ years in government, municipal, corporation and PHCs had been suddenly dismissed. Only on 7th last Chief Minister Jayalalitha issued appointment orders for newly recruited nurses through Medical Services Recruitment Board and within few days, 3,000 nurses who were already serving have been sent home leaving their families in distress. Unlike treating Makkal Nala Paniyalargal, the woman CM of TN should show compassion and concern for woman nurses, withdraw their dismissal and reinstate them in government hospitals, Kalaignar urged.
Kalaignar also condoled the death of many people in the mishaps at big mosque in Mecca and in a hotel in Madhya Pradesh and conveyed sympathies to the bereaved families.

A library for every home - Arignar Anna

We are living in times where an incident occurring due to some reason somewhere in the world affects other parts of the World. A war is going on in Palestine and there is a heated discussion over that war at Palayamkottai. An election is to be held at Italy and discussions take place here about which party shall win in that election. Hence, we are living in times where the relations with the outside world increased and also steadily getting growing.
Living means not by giving the great responsibility of enriching the life of our country and the lives of its people to someone who came from a far away country. Not by giving to someone whose head is adorned with bejewelled crown or to someone whose hand holds a sharp sword. Now the situation is that the people have taken over the ruling power and proclaim they are the rulers of the country. The world too knew it very well. In order to draw the attention of the world towards us, we had spoken about the speciality of this country and its power that too in a poetic language.
Moreover we were proud enough to declare our country as a golden country which has no parallel in the world. We were singing aloud that we have high and mighty Mountains touching the sky, perennial rivers, fertile lands, great gardens which produces sumptuous fruits. We have pearls in our seas and gold in our earth. All this is OK. But if someone asks us about the condition of our education, we are in such a condition that our heads bow down in shame. We may say there are Vedic scholors, philosophers, and divine persons in our country. Still some are repeating this for the umpteenth time. But if we ask Kannan whether he can put his signature, he moves his head in the negative way. Muthan says he forget how to sign. Muniyan of course put his signature. But except the first and the last letters, the remaining letters are nothing to do with his name. Majority of the people in our country are in such a condition. A sharp sword; a powerful shield; brave enough chest. But his eyes are with less vision. Such a situation will not enhance the prestige of the country or lead it to a good rule. Our Country’s situation should develop in proportion to world situation. To achieve this, the condition of the house should be changed.
The goal of Library for every home is the basis for the plan to change the situation of the country. World will not respect a country with its mountains, rivers or its treasures. It will respect only upon the mental wealth of its people. So, mental health is the basic requirement to achieve this goal. That too it has to be done very quickly. Illiterates are a majority in our country. This is the greatest curse. But is there enough mental health among the literate?  Are their homes cultivating good qualities to give enough strength and beauty to the country? Are their homes gardens which produce good ideas to the country? But a long pause will be the answers to these questions. If we don’t want to hide the reality, if the world has to respect the conditions of our country, this situation should be changed. If we try harder, we can surely implement the plan of ‘A Library for every home’ and enrich the mental resources of our country. Unlike our predecessors, we have more resources before us. In their times, beside a forest, beside a river, beside a hermitage while the students are sitting under the shade of big banyan tree, their Guru (Teacher), after finishing his morning ablutions will teach them. It was a time writing in palm leaves with a sharp instrument. Now is the time world is coming into homes and shows its beauties. Now I am speaking and all of you are listening. In between there are many miles. Either I or you are not hermit. We are speaking and listening is not because of some boon. It is an instrument brought forth by the science. We have got it. In the period of our predecessors there is no such instruments.
Despite such advanced instruments, why there is very less mental health among us? Because, there is no effort on our part to increase it within our homes or to safeguard it. We are not searching for such avenues.
Take most of the structure of our present day houses. There will be a hall. Beside that there will one or two rooms usable for special occasions in the home. One of them will always be locked. In the other room there may be a cradle. The child sleeping in that may be disturbed by some other child. The elder child may go to mother and complain about this. She will reply “go to puja room. Your father will be there. Tell him about this.” But he will not be there. He may be taking rest near the cattle shed in the backyard. Our houses are more or less like this only. It may have Puja Room, secluded room, Bed room, Kitchen etc. But if you search for a room exclusively for books or reading it will be difficult to find. In many of the houses, books may be kept beside windows, above the pillars and even inside the Pillaiyar Madam (A hallow place within a wall to keep a lamp in the evenings). If you ask the owner of the house whether he had any library in his home, a benign smile will come up on his lips. The meaning of such smile is this is a house. Are you mad asking for a library here?
There may be table, chairs, bureaus. silver plates various kinds of utensils, Panneer sprayer may be kept in those almirahs. It may even hold brass utensils. There may be clothes like a small shop. Even medicines may be there like a tiny hospital. Even in houses such as this, you may not find a library. Such a thought never occur to them and no necessity develops for it.
They may point out that this brass pot was purchased at Srirangam. Other one was purchased at Tirupathi when went to attend the wedding of Deva. This plate was purchased when we went to see the bride at Bellary. This carpet was bought during the Karthigai Deepam Festival at Tiruvannamalai. This was purchased during the Arudhra festival at Chidambaram. Likewise they may point out many pieces of utensils with details when and where they were bought. But they won’t point out any books mentioning the time and details of its purchase.
Like giving attention to the decoration of our houses, to the implements used during festival days, attention should be paid to build a library in every home even if it is a small one. While we are living at a time where knowledge has become the weapon, not giving attention to this is indeed an act of treason committed in an indirect manner.
Every home should have a library. After the basic necessities of life, the next place shall be given to library. Instead of paying attention to decorative pieces, items of enjoyment, library should be given attention next to the essential needs of life. Food and clothing is the basic needs. After fulfilling those needs the first place should be given to a library at home.
How much it will cost? Where is the money for that? Some may raise such questions. Many of them may not be able to buy books as required. To fulfil such needs, Government, Municipalities, public welfare organisations should arrange public libraries. However, homes should have a method of collecting books necessary to improve basic knowledge.
Besides acquiring new knowledge, we need many books to remove or forget some pieces of knowledge acquired already by  people. They already knew about the sceneries of Kailash, the impact of Vaikundam, the significance of Varalakshmi vradam, Thumbru of Narada, Mridangam of Nandi, the notebook of Chitragupta, about Naragalogam, the benefit of moksha, the beauty of Indralogam, the ethereal beauty of Menaka who dance there. They knew Arumugham. They also knew about the peacock ride by him. They too knew about the tussle between Valli and Devayani, the wives of Muruga. They have acquired knowledge about all these and more.
If you ask where is Nandidurga Hills? What is the name of our Finance Minister? They will not answer. The birth place of Cauvery? Will not bother. Why there is no water in Palar? Unable to utter a word. How many textile factories? Don’t know. How long the river Thamirabharani is flowing? Mum’s the word. What is their District’s dimension? They don’t know. What is the income of the city? They don’t know and won’t try to know. But they know Hunuman prabhavam. They can utter the effect of going around Papal tree. They can describe in detail stories on Vedhal, voodoo. They don’t know who had invented the train in which they are travelling. But they can blabber that water touched upon by feet of Karunananda Swamigal, whom they will have darshan after getting down from the train, will cure many illnesses.  
This is the mental strength of our people. They are the majority. Our present day world is taking up research on the destructive power of atom bomb and on the creative power racing towards the Moon. Our country is part of this world. Is it correct one? Those who believe in the future of our country will not say it is correct. They will also say, it is not correct. But what to do? To dispel such mirages from the minds of the people, every home should have a library. Knowledge about our world should be instilled in their minds. It should hold books to know about their country; to know about our world. Not specialised books. Some books which provide basic truth of our time.
Those who have some wealth should create a habit of collecting book on the occasion of some special functions in their homes; while returning from a place as a momento; while awarding prizes for best efforts; Such moves will result in building up a library very easily.
While collecting books for our homes enough attention should be paid not to include those books which sustain unnecessary and harmful thoughts already crept in the minds of the people. If included mind will not be strengthened; instead it will become a marshy land. It will be mired with old and regressive thoughts.
Planning for a library at home will not be successful if it consists three types of Panchangams, an old bundle of panchangams, Pavalakodi malai, Panchamirtha Sindhu, Bold type Vikramadiyan Story, the story of Vedhal, Harichandra’s Burial Ground chapter etc. The mental strength we aspire through a library cannot be attained through such collections. It will be like making the country suitable enough for the scoundrels.  
Books which provide knowledge of the world, knowledge of useful activities should be collected. Collecting books which instill old ideas and methods and naming it as a library will result in a comical situation where the blind will be collected in a place and christening it as the abode of Pathfinders.
In a library developed after getting enough in life, first place in the library of every home should be given to the history of our country, books on various countries in the world. Generally the library should have books which will give its readers clarity in their knowledge, improve their courage and strengthen their discipline in place of books which proclaim our living place as unlivable one, introducing Maya in their minds and obstruct their self confidence or books which ridicule women and instill a belief in fate.
A library should have an Atlas, not Panchangam.
In this basic issue we should show our honesty and will power. Then only building a library in every home will pave the way for the clarity of our thoughts and our mental strength. It will also sustain our country. We cannot invite a tiger to tie-up a garland and we cannot expect a sandal flavor in muddy water.
Out geographical knowledge showed fourteen logas. During those days our philosophy justified even the necessity of human sacrifice. Our historical knowledge said that a king ruled for 10,000 years. On the rights of women, it proclaimed about a good natured wife took her husband in a basket to a brothel house. Our scientific knowledge said about a river of fire and a bridge made of hair upon that river.
Getting books which instill those thoughts into our library at this time will really harm the interest of our country.
To give us an insight of the world we should have geography and history books. In order to instill honesty, discipline and path for our living every home should have a copy of Thirukkural.
Likewise we should have books on Sangam Literature written in a readable manner to know the specialty of our Tamil Nadu. At the minimum, books which provide information about many scientific inventions and to help the growth of the people and their life style.
Life histories of those who laid their lives during the independence struggle, those who have purified the minds of people, those who have visited far off countries and those who were great warriors.  
If we are able to build a library in every home on this basis, it will enrich the country beyond measures. Yes. Every home needs a library. But it should contain books which remove our ignorance and lead us to the path of progress. r
(Transcipt of a talk delivered through All India Radio, Trichy.
Published by Muththamizh Nilayam, Chennai. First Edition: October 1949)