The ‘Atal Tinkering Lab’ (ATL), which aims to enhance creativity and research potential of rural students, was inaugurated yesterday at Isha Vidhya School, Coimbatore. Bharathiyar University Vice Chancellor Shri. Kaliraj who participated as a special guest, inaugurated the laboratory.
The laboratory aims to make science exciting for students and cultivate interest, creativity and imagination in their minds. It is designed as a platform to understand science, technology, robotics, physics, mathematics and engineering and explore new avenues in these streams. More than a thousand rural students studying in Isha Vidhya, Coimbatore, will benefit from the lab.
Excited students and their parents visited the laboratory soon after its doors were opened.
The Central Government is implementing the Atal Tinkering Laboratory project with the aim of promoting science-based research methods in schools to encourage students to explore and experiment. The laboratories are set up in select schools across India with financial assistance from the Central Government.
This is an official press release from Isha Foundation. The Commune was not involved in creating this content.)
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India has demonstrated greater will to stand up against bully China since the April 2020 Ladakh military conflict, as the Galwan clash galvanised the nation to reset the Sino-Indian ties, BJP National Vice President Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda has said.
At an international online event over the weekend to release the Hindi version of a study report on ‘Mapping Chinese Footsteps and Influence Operations in India”, Panda said India’s steps during the Ladakh conflict were those no other nation had ever dared to take against China, including banning of China-made mobile applications and facing the military threat with matching force-levels.
Panda, who has been a Member of Parliament from both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, said he has been involved in Track-2 diplomacy with China for years, but the kind of revelations brought out by the New Delhi-headquartered think-tank Law and Society Alliance on the deep influence Communist China wields among the academia and research institutions have shocked him.
“This is a shocking, must-read study report,” Panda said, releasing the Hindi version, alongside senior China experts from India including Centre for China Analysis and Strategy Jayadeva Ranade, Chennai Centre for China Studies Director General Commodore R. S. Vasan (Retired), and policy commentator Arun Anand.
Sharing his experience of handling Chinese diplomats during Track-2 engagements, Panda said they were the only ones during such interactions, who never went off the script of their Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Panda highlighted the existence of ‘debt-trap diplomacy’ through Communist China’s Belt and Road Initiative to increase its influence all over the world, from Sri Lanka to the African nations.
“China has used and abused its freed trade opportunities in a manner where the balance of trade always favoured China. This has resulted in many nations across the world being in debt to China,” Panda said.
But, in recent years, more and more nations have become wary of Communist China and have called out Beijing through litigations in international fora, and there have been regional groupings created with the main goal of tackling China, like the Quad in the Indo-Pacific region, he said.
The report touches on topics that have been discussed superficially in India, and does the very important task of actually documenting examples of the Chinese activities of influence in the country. “The examples listed in the report are truly worrisome, especially those Chinese operations where Beijing has focused on academia, and media and is focusing on the entertainment industry,” Panda said.
He said it came as no surprise when the report revealed that China had laid out a budget for working with journalists. “China also does this for several Asian and African countries. This is something that needs to be taken cognizance of.”
Panda said India’s capabilities to deal with such influence operations are improving and the current government’s diplomacy is appreciated. “India’s rise is being celebrated while China’s rise was viewed with suspicion.”
The Law and Society Alliance’s report was first brought out in English a year ago, making India’s security apparatus to take note of its contents, and the strategic affairs community worldwide to mull the deep penetrations among the academia, think-tanks and media that Communist Party of China had achieved over the years.
“The main aim for the Hindi version was to ensure that the report reached a larger audience in India and also to update and enhance several points within the report,” Law and Society Alliance chairman N. C. Bipindra said.
Jayadeva Ranade, in his address, said the report should sensitise Indian population to Chinese efforts to increase their influence, specifically referring to the CCP’s United Front Works Department and how it is a secretive, subversive and effective party intelligence organisation.
“Since the ascension of Xi Jinping, China took up a more aggressive policy against those that Beijing does not consider friends. The United Front Works Department has always had two people in the Chinese embassy here in India with the sole goal to target the Tibetans residing here,” Ranade said.
He said China has stepped up their activities in all nations, especially in India, to target young politicians, journalists, academics, businessmen and government officials to bring them into their sphere of influence.
The former Additional Secretary in India’s Cabinet Secretariat said every Chinese company operating overseas had a Chinese intelligence official embedded in it, something explicitly mentioned in the study report.
“The Chinese have been actively targeting Bollywood by using their access to the Chinese market as a bargaining chip. In the same way, the Chinese manipulate young academics by giving them free access to China. There are various ways that the Chinese try to influence India.”
Commodore Vasan, who has served in the Indian Navy for 34 years, said the study report was truly shocking, as there were people within India who have been letting down India. “With friends like these there is no need for enemies.”
He suggested that the study report of Law and Society Alliance needs to be made mandatory reading material for all parliamentarians, as the revelations are eye-openers on the Chinese covert and over operations.
“India has to be very careful, as China is very free with its money and has committed billions of Rupees to influence the country’s intellectual space. Unfortunately, China has managed to infiltrate multiple sectors in India, from media to academia and politics.”
Arun Anand lamented that Indian journalists are not very well versed on the topic of China, and broadly on the topic of geostrategic affairs. “Without basic knowledge, journalists are also not aware if they are falling into a Chinese trap.”
Anand said the publication of the Hindi version of the study report was important in that there was a dearth of knowledge on China among the Hindi media persons, and China focuses on the Hindi media for its influence operations due to the wide reach this media can provide to their messaging.
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Popular Front of India – Whenever this name is in news, one can be sure that something terrible has happened somewhere in the country. Such is the legacy of this outfit.
According to its website, Popular Front of India claims to be working for establishing an egalitarian society where freedom, justice and security are enjoyed by all.
Often, its members can be seen swearing by the Indian Constitution calling for upholding ‘secular’ ideals and democracy.
However, in reality, PFI is a radical Islamic extremist organization whose members have indulged in crimes from murders to rioting.
It shares close links with banned Islamic terrorist organisation Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).
After SIMI was banned in 2001 in light of the 9/11 Twin Tower attacks in USA, members of the outfit formed what was called the ‘National Development Front’. In 2006, PFI was founded by many former members of SIMI along with Manitha Neethi Passarai (MNP) in Tamil Nadu and Forum for Dignity (KDF) which is based in Karnataka.
Many former leaders of SIMI are part of PFI and even hold positions in the outfit.
Abdul Rahiman, the former Chairman and current Vice Chairman of PFI was a former All India General Secretary of SIMI.
Abdul Hameed, the state secretary of PFI, was one of the state secretaries of SIMI.
Thus, it is the SIMI which has rechristened itself as the PFI.
While the PFI masquerades itself as a minority rights group, in reality, it is nothing but a terrorist organization.
Indian intelligence agencies have reported the role of the PFI in several attacks and communal clashes.
PFI’s Role In Riots
In August 2020, violent mobs descended down the house of a Congress legislator in Bengaluru and then proceeded to attack 2 police stations over a Facebook post about Prophet Mohammaed by the MLA’s newphew. The violence left four people dead and 60 police personnel injured. The NIA arrested 17 persons belonging to the PFI and SDPI, the political wing of the Islamist organization.
PFI also played a direct roled in instigating the Delhi Riots in 2020 which came to light when Delhi Police arrested 3 members of PFI – Mohammed Danish, Parvez Ahmed and Illiyas.
Illiyas who was the secretary of the PFI had contested in the 2020 Delhi Assembly polls on a SDPI ticket. The Enforcement Directorate has already registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against PFI for instigating and funding the Delhi Riots.
In 2015, PFI staged a rally in Karnataka’s Shimoga district during which stones were thrown on vehicles and three people riding a bike were stabbed by fanatic PFI members.
The controversy over wearing of hijab in Karnataka was fomented by Campus Front of India, a student outfit of PFI. Even the recent communal clashes during Ram Navami processions in different states supposedly has the hands of PFI.
PFI’s Role In Murders
Sanjith, a 27-year-old RSS Swayamsevak was hacked to death in Kerala’s Palakkad district when he was travelling with this wife and child. An office-bearer of the PFI and another from SDPI were arrested in connection with this murder.
Members of SDPI had taken out a rally in Kozhikode, on the same day to celebrate Sanjith’s murder.
In another incident, SDPI members brutally murdered an ABVP worker in Kerala’s Kannnur district.
In the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Ramalingam, a cadre of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) who resisted Islamic conversion in his locality, was brutally murdered near Kumbakonam by members belonging to PFI and SDPI.
In 2010, one Mohammed Ali belonging to the PFI chopped off the hands of a Malayalam Professor T.J. Joseph at Newman College over false allegations of blasphemy. Joseph had framed a question paper for B.Com second semester examinations in which he used the word ‘Mohammad’ to refer to writer P.T. Kunju Mohammed. However, a section of Muslim fundamentalists believed that he used the word Mohammed intentionally to insult the Prophet.
PFI – A Terror Outfit
In 2017, India Today conducted a sting operation on one of PFI’s founding member which exposes the true intentions of PFI – which is to establish an Islamic State.
To achieve its goal, the organization has been radicalizing the youth from different states mostly from Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Many of them have even gone on to join the ISIS in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan.
The masterminds of the 2019 Sri Lankan Easter bombings that killed over 300 people were also reportedly radicalized by the PFI.
Recently, two Muslim men belonging to PFI were arrested in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly planning to conduct terror attacks, with the police recovering weapons and explosives from the accused.
The NIA had stated that the murder of the PMK leader Ramalingam was an act of terrorism aimed at inciting communal tensions.
The PFI is also accused of brainwashing Hindu women and marrying them off to Muslim men in order to change the demogrgaphy of the country.
In 2012, the Kerala Government had informed the state High Court that PFI’s activities are inimical to the safety of the country and that it is “nothing but a resurrection of the banned outfit SIMI in another form”.
Former Kerala CM Achuthanandan had on record said that PFI is aiming to convert Kerala into a ‘Muslim country’.
CPI (M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had said “SDPI is affiliated to the PFI and is a terror outfit engaged in divisive tactics and is a threat to Kerala’s secular society.”
Though several states have either recommended a ban or put PFI under surveillance, considering its trackrecord and the treat it poses to national security, it is high time that the rabid outfit is banned just like its predecessor.
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Imagine someone born in a quaint village along the foothills of the Western Ghats, struggling for a square meal, having no support of any kind, and yet defies all odds through his talent to achieve unimaginable heights.
That’s R. Gnanathesikan, revered world over as ‘Isaignani’ (musical genius) Ilaiyaraaja whose music continues to heal souls.
Yet, today the man is at the receiving end of the vitriol spewed by ‘Dravidian Stockists’ and ‘Ambedkarites’ who mouth about ‘self-respect’ and ‘social justice’.
And what was Ilaiyaraaja’s crime that he has to face music from these elements?
Expressing his views. Ilayaraaja had just expressed his views.
Ilaiyaraaja has written the foreword for a book titled ‘Ambedkar & Modi – Reformer’s Ideas, Performer’s Implementation’ in which he has appreciated several initiatives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi especially those concerning empowerment of disadvantaged communities and women.
He lauded the setting up of National Commission for Backward Classes, banning of Triple Talaq, and the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ initiative of the Modi Government saying that these have brought in social transformation, something that Dr. Ambedkar would have been proud of.
In his foreword, Ilaiyaraaja also drew parallel between Dr. Ambedkar and PM Modi saying “Both these striking personalities succeeded against odds that people from socially disempowered sections of the society face. Both saw poverty and stifling social structures from close quarters and worked to dismantle them, but both are also practical men who believe in action rather than mere thought exercises.”.
However, this foreword written by Ilaiyaraaja for the book has irked the supporters of the ruling regime in Tamil Nadu.
Those who identify themselves as ‘Dravidian Stockists’, ‘Periyarists’ and ‘Ambedkarites’ have been cancelling the musical maestro and even abusing him.
Head of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) Thol. Thirumavalavan who is portrayed in Tamil Nadu as the sole voice of the Dalit community implied that Ilaiyaraaja might have been under pressure, robbing him of his agency to express his opinion.
‘Savukku’ Shankar, a self-proclaimed ‘journalist’ and a rabid rabble-rousing ‘Periyarist’, supportive of the DMK government in Tamil Nadu, dehumanized Ilaiyaraaja by calling him a ‘kuppai’ meaning ‘dirt’ or ‘trash’ in Tamil.
Former Lok Sabha MP and Tamil Nadu Congress leader E.V.K.S. Elangovan abused Ilaiyaraaja making casteist remarks saying “There are certain elements in Tamil Nadu today claiming themselves to be ‘king of music’. Everybody knows who is the king of music. Not everyone who plays the tabla can become a music composer”.
“Those who accepted the Communist ideology when they had no means to afford food and were living below the poverty line are today, after getting money and fame, are considering themselves to be upper castes. You know who I am referring to.”, the Congress leader said referring to Mr. Ilaiyaraaja.
It is pertinent to mention that Elangovan is the grandson of E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker (known as ‘Periyar’ by his followers).
Spokesperson of the ruling DMK cited a summon notice from GST authorities in an attempt to tarnish the ace composer’s image.
This is the treatment meted out by the so-called champions of free speech, democracy, and social justice, to a celebrated icon of music who had brought laurels to Tamil society.
And none from the Tamil film industry have even bothered to voice out in support of Ilaiyaraaja or atleast condemn the attack on him. Not even ‘Superstar’ Rajinikanth. Probably he is busy shooting for his next film with Sun Pictures.
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan whose film career too is inseparable from Ilaiyaraaja’s music may be apprehensive of coming out in support of Ilaiyaraaja given that Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Red Giant Pictures has acquired the theatrical rights of his next venture ‘Vikram‘.
Such is the stronghold of the ‘Gopalapuram gang’, that even self-made giants are not able to come out and defend one of their own.
If this is not fascism, what is?
But the Ilaiyaraaja episode reveals something that none of the ‘social justice warriors’ will talk about – the true nature of the ‘Dravidian Model’ of ‘social justice’.
Ilaiyaraaja faces vicious attack from ‘Dravidian Stockists’ because they know that none would come to his rescue as he hails from a disadvantaged community.
However, this shouldn’t come as a surprise given that the father of ‘Dravidian Stockists’ and the DMK have a history of perpetuating violence against Dalits.
When 44 agricultural labourers belonging to the Dalit community were burnt to death in the Keezhvenmani Massacre, the so-called ‘Periyar’ justified the violence saying wage is not something that can be demanded, but fixed by the market.
It is pertinent to note that the perpetrators of the massacre were from the dominant Naidu caste and the prime accused was one Gopalakrishna Naidu. E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker was a Balija Naidu.
The erstwhile DMK government on the other hand left in lurch the victims of the massacre for the sake of votes from the dominant communities.
A similar incident happened under Karunanidhi’s watch when labourers from the tea estates of Manjolai (mostly Dalits) were hunted down.
There are several such incidents that stands testimony to the anti-Dalit mindset of Dravidian Stockists.
M.C. Rajah, a leader from Dalit community, severed ties with Justice Party over its treatment of Dalits. Back then, the Justice Party was dominated by Naidus, Mudaliars and Chettiyars. Even today, these non-Brahmin ‘forward castes’ form the core vote bank of the DMK.
Dalit woman leader Sathyavani Muthu left the DMK due to continuous harassment and humiliation. Former MP, the late C. T. Dhandapani was publicly insulted on the basis of his caste by the then local minister Pongalur Palanisamy and his wife both of whom belonged to the Kongu Vellalar Gounder community.
Dalit leaders like Parithi Ilamvazhuthi who ironically defeated Sathyavani Muthu in 1984 elections quit the party in 2013 and joined the AIADMK citing lack of respect in the party. V.P. Duraiswami who is now with the BJP quit the party citing DMK’s treatment of Dalits.
Thus, the attack on Ilaiyaraaja is just another episode that exposes the anti-Dalit mindset of Dravidian Stockists.
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Chief Justice of India, Justice NV Ramana, while speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of a new administrative block in the Madras High Court said that the “language of the court should not be like Mantras in a wedding which most of us don’t understand”.
He said “The common citizen of this country cannot understand the language of the court. The parties must understand developments in their case, the language of the court should not be like Mantras in a wedding which most of us don’t understand.”
The event also saw the participation Supreme Court judges Justices Ramasubramanian and MM Sundaresh, Chief Justice of Madras High Court Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari, and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
Justice Ramana also said “I have been a strong advocate of Indianisation justice delivery system. By Indianisation I mean making judiciary suit the needs of people of India.”
It is noteworthy to mention that DMK chief MK Stalin back when he was an Opposition leader had on multiple occasions made similar remarks on Hindu wedding mantras.
Once while speaking at a Muslim wedding function said that if one were to look at the meaning of the mantras chanted during Hindu wedding ceremonies, it would turn out to be ‘disgusting’.
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Ever since music composer ‘Isaignani’ Ilaiyaraaja’s praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he has been at the receiving end of the venom spewed by sympathizers of the ruling regime in Tamil Nadu.
In continuation of that, former Lok Sabha MP and Tamil Nadu Congress leader E.V.K.S. Elangovan has abused the musical maestro making casteist remarks.
Speaking at an event organized by Dravida Kazhagam in Erode, the Congress leader in an indirect reference to Mr. Ilaiyaraaja said “There are certain elements in Tamil Nadu today claiming themselves to be ‘king of music’. Everybody knows who is the king of music. Not everyone who plays the tabla can become a music composer”.
“Those who accepted the Communisti ideology when they had no means to afford food and were living below the poverty line are today, after getting money and fame, are considering themselves to be upper castes. You know who I am referring to.”, the Congress leader said referring to Mr. Ilaiyaraaja.
“Raja and that too ‘Ilaya’ Raaja it seems! He must be inching over 80 years of age and they call him ‘Ilaya’ Raaja”, the senior Congress leader said making personal caustic remarks about the ace music composer.
Elangovan also said that Ilaiyaraaja has become a ‘bakthimaan‘, a devout person, due to greed for more money and fame.
The senior Congress leader objected to Mr. Ilaiyaraaja comparing Prime Minister Modi with Dr. Ambedkar in the foreword written by him for a book.
“Tomorrow they might equate Modi with Periyar saying both had long beard”, Elangovan said who is also the grandson of E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker (known as ‘Periyar’ by his followers).
He also said that if Mr. Ilaiyaraaja wanted to draw comparisons for Modi he might do so with Hitler and Mussolini.
The senior Congress leader also resorted to bodyshaming Union Home Minister Amit Shah calling him a ‘kulla kathirikai‘ (short brinjal).
Spewing further vitriol against Mr. Ilaiyaraaja, Elangovan said “I think Ilaiyaraaja facing music one time is not enough. This Ilayaraaja is the man who denied scoring music for the film on Periyar. He thinks himself as a ‘Sankaracharyaar’.”
In a veiled threat, the Congress leader said “We live in times when even the Sankarachaarya himself was put in jail.”.
The Congress leader also said that if such persons (referring to Ilaiyaraaja) had to be eradicated, hands of people like K. Veeramani, the head of Dravida Kazhagam and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
Netizens are now lashing out at the senior Congress leader for his derogatory comments.
தபேலா அடிப்பவனெல்லாம் இசைஞானி ஆகமுடியாது , காசு வந்துவிட்டால் நீ உயர்சாதி ஆகிவிடமுடியாதுன்னு காங்கிரஸ் கட்சியின் இளங்கோவன் இளையராஜாவை சொல்கிறார் , ஒருபய இந்த சாதி வன்ம பேச்சை கேள்வி கேட்கல pic.twitter.com/ke33QoiJ8p
Alarm bells are ringing in the South Pacific after the government of Solomon Island signed a framework agreement on security cooperation with China. This is big news in the geostrategic circles. However, it seems the world is still obsessing over Ukraine and Russia and this unnecessary preoccupation is now costing America and its Southern Hemisphere allies in their own backyard.
Bejing calls the agreement between the Solomon Island and the People’s Republic of China, an agreement that seeks “social stability and long-term tranquillity in the Solomon Islands and is not targeted at any third country. The agreement states that China will help maintain social order, protection of the safety of people’s lives and property, humanitarian assistance, and natural disaster response,”.
However, the West fears that China once it has control of these islands, that is not far from Australia or the strategic US state of Hawaii islands which is also home to its Pacific fleet, will begin to strengthen its capacity building in that region which can transmute into political and military flashpoints in the future.
The security cooperation signed by the Soloman Island with China was long in the making and the String of Pearlshypothesis which was proposed against India is now slowly becoming a reality in the South Pacific. In 2012, When Xi Jinping was new to the top job of the communist party, Xi had said, “The vast Pacific Ocean has ample space for China and the United States. We welcome a constructive role by the United States in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. We also hope that the United States will fully respect and accommodate the major interests and legitimate concerns of Asia-Pacific countries.”.
This diplomatic statement was made right before Xi embarked on an official trip to the United States when Barack Obama was President and was in awe of China and in that process, left Japan high and dry on certain security issues.
American laxity
However, in the last ten years, the United States has failed to counter Chinese ambitions in the South-West and South Pacific which is part of its Indo-Pacific strategy. The US has completely failed in recognizing the strategic importance of the Solomon Islands which played such a crucial role during the Second World War as a springboard to launch operations against Japan.
Over the years, China has filled the vacuum of instability in many countries with its debt-trap diplomacy and the US effectively failed to respond to the problems faced by the Solomon Islands and had outsourced the policy-making to Australia which also failed. The policy of “strategic oversight” extended to two regional Five Eyes partners, Australia and New Zealand is now a clear failure and has compromised the free and open Indo-Pacific.
The shortsightedness displayed by the West has now come too close to the home to roost because the Solomon Islands is key to the important Sea Lanes of Communication connecting the US, Australia, and the rest of Asia and the ultimate aim for China will be to use this strategic sea lane to disconnect the US from the rest of the Southwest and the South Pacific or most likely use it as a powerful bargaining chip in the South China sea.
If that happens, Taiwan will be in big trouble because China has been using all its economic leverage to isolate Taiwan diplomatically, by courting (bribing) Solomon Islands politicians with grants and aid to drop Taipei and become part of its Belt and Road Initiative, like its Pacific island neighbours of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu.
It is a sad irony that the Americans do not even have a permanent diplomatic mission in the Solomon Islands that saw the US battle the Japanese forces in the battle of Guadalcanal where so thousands of American soldiers gave their lives in some of the most brutal combat that took place during the war. Not having any diplomatic presence on Solomon Island has definitely played its role in not allowing policymakers actionable recommendations to safeguard American interests and strategic requirements.
But what is astonishing is that the US has still not learned from its mistakes and has not yet worked on the modalities of establishing its diplomatic presence in the Pacific and working towards building strong, independent bilateral relations with each independent Pacific Island by funding, personnel, and institutional support and address the needs of Honiara (Solomon Islands), Port Vila (Vanuatu), Tarawa (Kiribati), and Nuku’alofa (Tonga).
AUKUS, a nonstarter
Though the ink is not dry on the agreement signed between China and the Solomon Island, if necessary actions are not taken, the entire region in the next decade could become a flashpoint of confrontation and AUKUS is a nonstarter and China knows this.
The AUKUS, which China calls the “Obsolete cold war zero-sum mentality and narrow-minded geopolitical concepts” looks good on paper but it will take decades to bear fruit because it is one thing to agree to transfer cutting-edge nuclear submarine technology and another to actually build it. For Australia which will head for the general election in May 2022, enhancing its cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and additional undersea capabilities will take time.
Already China is calling for AUKUS as a replacement for ASEAN and has said that it contravenes and exploits the loopholes in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguard mechanism.
Meanwhile, China with its vast albeit under the stress industrial complex would have significantly augmented its capability in the Pacific region and that is why the by-standing days of Australia and New Zealand that has for a long time enjoyed its geostrategic location must step up to the plate and take responsibility.
Solomon Island is very far away from the Indian Ocean Region but the growing influence of China in the Pacific region must be seen as a challenge to protecting India’s interests. Distance is an ally as long as it is not exploited by the enemy and the attack on Pearl Harbour must be a reminder for all.
The article was originally published in Samvada World and has been republished here with permission.
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“Ensure that the world speaks about soil because soil is the basis of pure water, (clean air and) the basis of the very life that we are,” said Sadhguru, Founder-Isha Foundation, in his Earth Day message. Conveying his “best wishes to all the Earthlings” from the Seriban capital city, Belgrade, on day 33 of his 100-day, 30,000 km lone motorcycle journey as part of the Movement to Save Soil, Sadhguru said that the planet “could be in serious peril in the next 30-40 years’ time” if the world failed to act immediately and decisively to initiate global policy reforms to save soil from extinction. “We, as a generation, if we make up our minds, we can turn this around in the next 8-12 or maximum 15 years’ time,” he said referring to rapid soil degradation leading to an annual extinction rate of 27,000 microbial species.
Speaking about the potent power of rich soil which is not only responsible for a fertile earth but also water security and clean air, Sadhguru urged citizens around the world to “take this commitment on Earth Day” to “be a source of inspiration (and) a source of galvanizing this Movement. Ensure that the world speaks about soil.”
Referring to the impact of human footprint on soil, Sadhguru said that in the last thousand years, “the area of photosynthesis in the world has come down by 85%”. Photosynthesis is the phenomenon which ensures that the earth’s atmosphere is rich in oxygen and the soil is rich in carbon to keep it alive and thriving with microbial activity. Only green cover makes both possible. “We need to make policies in every nation to ensure the land must either have crops, cover crops, bushes or trees – something green – which is doing this miracle called photosynthesis which both enriches the soil and the atmosphere: soil with carbon sugars, atmosphere with oxygen,” he explained.
United Nations’ bodies such as United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have warned that soil extinction poses a global threat to food and water security and could result in brutal civil strife around the world. It could also set off unprecedented migratory exodus, threating national security of every country.
Sadhguru launched the global Movement to Save Soil last month. His journey through Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East to build global consensus for urgent policy reform will culminate in the Cauvery river basin in June. The river basin is ground zero for Isha’s Cauvery Calling – an ambitious ecological movement initiated by Sadhguru to showcase the river basin as a demonstrable model for restoration of soil health and water bodies in tropical regions.
(This is an official press release from Isha Foundation. The Commune was not involved in creating this content.)
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An old woman named Devaki living in Madhamangalam near Bandalur in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris district was in shock when she received an electricity bill of ₹25,071.
The house in which the lady lives has just 3 bulbs.
The lady had received the bill as SMS in her mobile phone. Her son had complained to the electiricity board office in Serampore. However, no action was taken for days. Other residents of the area too had lodged complaints upon which an investigation was carried out by the authorities.
It was revealed that the man who comes to take the ‘reading of the meter’ named Ramesh had calculated the readings without visiting the houses.
Residents in Tamil Nadu took to reminiscing the erstwhile DMK government of 2006-11 as simultaneous power outages were reported in several parts of Tamil Nadu.
Power cuts were reported from different districts since 8 pm on Wednesday (April 21, 2022). In some areas, the power outage laster for more than 2 hours.
In Cuddalore district, power was cut off from 8 pm in several areas including Nellikuppam, Panruti and Virudhachalam.
Power outages lasted for more than an hour in Karaikudi, Devakottai and Tirupattur areas.
In Karur, Puliyur, Gandhigramam and Vengamedu power cut lasted for 45 minutes. Elsewhere in Karur, power outages lasted for 1-1.5 hours.
In Tiruvannamalai district, several villages in Arani Town and surrounding areas including Sevur, Gunnathur, Kannamangalam and Kalampur power was off for 2 hours. There were similar power outages in Vandavasi, Seiyar and Polur.
The power outage lasted for 2 hours in various parts of Kanyakumari district including Nagercoil, Konam and Parvathipuram.
Many on social media pointed out that the power outage is typical of the DMK regime in Tamil Nadu and started the trend #Powercut_DMK.
— Venk At (Modi Ji Ka Parivaar) (@VenkaTweetesh) April 21, 2022
ஒரு லட்சம் விவசாயிகளுக்கு புதிய மின் இணைப்பு கொடுத்ததாக அளந்து விடும் மின்வெட்டு முன்னேற்றத்துறை அமைச்சர், அதற்கான மின்சார உற்பத்தியை அதிகரித்தாரா ?#Powercut_Dmk
Popular political satire handle Indha Vaainko had even come out with a song taking a jibe on powercuts being a hallmark of the DMK government.
Facing backlash from the public, the Electricity Minister V. Senthilbalaji blamed the Central Government for the powercuts.
He said that about 750 MW of power that was to come from the central grid to the southern states was suddenly cut off last night.
“To overcome the power shortage in some places, the production capacity of the Tamil Nadu Electrcity Board was increased and action was taken to purchase power from private players. Thus the situation in the urban areas was immediately rectified. Measures have been taken to improve the situation in rural areas in the next 15 minutes.”, he had tweeted.
இன்றிரவு மத்திய தொகுப்பில் இருந்து தென் மாநிலங்களுக்கு வழங்கப்படும் மின்சாரம் சுமார் 750 MW திடீரென தடைபட்டது.
இதன் காரணமாக சில இடங்களில் ஏற்பட்ட மின்பற்றாக்குறையை சமாளிக்க நமது வாரியத்தின் உற்பத்தித்திறனை உடனடியாக அதிகரித்தும் (1/2)
Last time when power cuts in the state made news, the DMK Minister blamed squirrels Electricity Minister Senthil Balaji gave a shocking response that squirrels that run over electric lines are to blame to blame for the frequent power outages.
Tirade Against Ilaiyaraaja Tells A Lot About ‘Dravidian Model’ Of ‘Social Justice’
Imagine someone born in a quaint village along the foothills of the Western Ghats, struggling for a square meal, having no support of any kind, and yet defies all odds through his talent to achieve unimaginable heights.
That’s R. Gnanathesikan, revered world over as ‘Isaignani’ (musical genius) Ilaiyaraaja whose music continues to heal souls.
Yet, today the man is at the receiving end of the vitriol spewed by ‘Dravidian Stockists’ and ‘Ambedkarites’ who mouth about ‘self-respect’ and ‘social justice’.
And what was Ilaiyaraaja’s crime that he has to face music from these elements?
Expressing his views. Ilayaraaja had just expressed his views.
Ilaiyaraaja has written the foreword for a book titled ‘Ambedkar & Modi – Reformer’s Ideas, Performer’s Implementation’ in which he has appreciated several initiatives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi especially those concerning empowerment of disadvantaged communities and women.
He lauded the setting up of National Commission for Backward Classes, banning of Triple Talaq, and the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ initiative of the Modi Government saying that these have brought in social transformation, something that Dr. Ambedkar would have been proud of.
In his foreword, Ilaiyaraaja also drew parallel between Dr. Ambedkar and PM Modi saying “Both these striking personalities succeeded against odds that people from socially disempowered sections of the society face. Both saw poverty and stifling social structures from close quarters and worked to dismantle them, but both are also practical men who believe in action rather than mere thought exercises.”.
However, this foreword written by Ilaiyaraaja for the book has irked the supporters of the ruling regime in Tamil Nadu.
Those who identify themselves as ‘Dravidian Stockists’, ‘Periyarists’ and ‘Ambedkarites’ have been cancelling the musical maestro and even abusing him.
Head of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) Thol. Thirumavalavan who is portrayed in Tamil Nadu as the sole voice of the Dalit community implied that Ilaiyaraaja might have been under pressure, robbing him of his agency to express his opinion.
‘Savukku’ Shankar, a self-proclaimed ‘journalist’ and a rabid rabble-rousing ‘Periyarist’, supportive of the DMK government in Tamil Nadu, dehumanized Ilaiyaraaja by calling him a ‘kuppai’ meaning ‘dirt’ or ‘trash’ in Tamil.
Former Lok Sabha MP and Tamil Nadu Congress leader E.V.K.S. Elangovan abused Ilaiyaraaja making casteist remarks saying “There are certain elements in Tamil Nadu today claiming themselves to be ‘king of music’. Everybody knows who is the king of music. Not everyone who plays the tabla can become a music composer”.
“Those who accepted the Communist ideology when they had no means to afford food and were living below the poverty line are today, after getting money and fame, are considering themselves to be upper castes. You know who I am referring to.”, the Congress leader said referring to Mr. Ilaiyaraaja.
It is pertinent to mention that Elangovan is the grandson of E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker (known as ‘Periyar’ by his followers).
Spokesperson of the ruling DMK cited a summon notice from GST authorities in an attempt to tarnish the ace composer’s image.
This is the treatment meted out by the so-called champions of free speech, democracy, and social justice, to a celebrated icon of music who had brought laurels to Tamil society.
And none from the Tamil film industry have even bothered to voice out in support of Ilaiyaraaja or atleast condemn the attack on him. Not even ‘Superstar’ Rajinikanth. Probably he is busy shooting for his next film with Sun Pictures.
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan whose film career too is inseparable from Ilaiyaraaja’s music may be apprehensive of coming out in support of Ilaiyaraaja given that Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Red Giant Pictures has acquired the theatrical rights of his next venture ‘Vikram‘.
Such is the stronghold of the ‘Gopalapuram gang’, that even self-made giants are not able to come out and defend one of their own.
If this is not fascism, what is?
But the Ilaiyaraaja episode reveals something that none of the ‘social justice warriors’ will talk about – the true nature of the ‘Dravidian Model’ of ‘social justice’.
Ilaiyaraaja faces vicious attack from ‘Dravidian Stockists’ because they know that none would come to his rescue as he hails from a disadvantaged community.
However, this shouldn’t come as a surprise given that the father of ‘Dravidian Stockists’ and the DMK have a history of perpetuating violence against Dalits.
When 44 agricultural labourers belonging to the Dalit community were burnt to death in the Keezhvenmani Massacre, the so-called ‘Periyar’ justified the violence saying wage is not something that can be demanded, but fixed by the market.
It is pertinent to note that the perpetrators of the massacre were from the dominant Naidu caste and the prime accused was one Gopalakrishna Naidu. E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker was a Balija Naidu.
The erstwhile DMK government on the other hand left in lurch the victims of the massacre for the sake of votes from the dominant communities.
A similar incident happened under Karunanidhi’s watch when labourers from the tea estates of Manjolai (mostly Dalits) were hunted down.
There are several such incidents that stands testimony to the anti-Dalit mindset of Dravidian Stockists.
M.C. Rajah, a leader from Dalit community, severed ties with Justice Party over its treatment of Dalits. Back then, the Justice Party was dominated by Naidus, Mudaliars and Chettiyars. Even today, these non-Brahmin ‘forward castes’ form the core vote bank of the DMK.
Dalit woman leader Sathyavani Muthu left the DMK due to continuous harassment and humiliation. Former MP, the late C. T. Dhandapani was publicly insulted on the basis of his caste by the then local minister Pongalur Palanisamy and his wife both of whom belonged to the Kongu Vellalar Gounder community.
Dalit leaders like Parithi Ilamvazhuthi who ironically defeated Sathyavani Muthu in 1984 elections quit the party in 2013 and joined the AIADMK citing lack of respect in the party. V.P. Duraiswami who is now with the BJP quit the party citing DMK’s treatment of Dalits.
Thus, the attack on Ilaiyaraaja is just another episode that exposes the anti-Dalit mindset of Dravidian Stockists.
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