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13 DMK Councillors In Tindivanam Municipality Walk Out, Submit Resignation Over Unresolved Issues

By
The Commune
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In a surprising turn of events, 13 councillors belonging to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in the Tindivanam Municipality walked out of a municipal meeting held on 1 September 2023, expressing their deep dissatisfaction and embarrassment over their inability to address the basic needs of their Wards. The councillors announced their intention to resign from their positions, highlighting a lack of support and unresolved issues plaguing their responsibilities.

The meeting, convened under the leadership of City Council Head, Nirmala Ravichandran, took an unexpected turn as the DMK councillors began questioning Municipal Commissioner Tamizhchelvi about their inability to provide essential amenities to their constituents.

One councillor articulated their collective frustration, stating, “The City Council appears to be operating under external pressures, limiting our ability to fulfill our duties. We have lost confidence in the Council, and it has become increasingly challenging for us to carry out our responsibilities.”

During the meeting, one councillor emphasised that issues such as garbage collection, inadequate lighting, and water-related problems remained unresolved, leading to a sense of shame when facing their constituents.

“We have garnered significant respect from our constituents, which is why we were elected in the first place. However, the City Council’s inaction has left us feeling ashamed, ineffective, and distressed,” one councillor remarked.

Expressing their intention to meet with the Chief Minister and tender their resignations, the disillusioned councillors subsequently left the meeting.

Speaking to the press later, the councillors revealed that they had repeatedly raised these issues with the City Council through various channels but had received no satisfactory response or resolution. They noted that the Municipal Commissioner had been changed four times, and despite presenting their concerns during meetings, no concrete actions or follow-ups had occurred. The absence of permanent solutions and ineffective implementation of schemes further added to their discontent.

The councillors informed reporters that they had submitted their resignation letters to the Council and were prepared to meet with the Chief Minister, should he call for such a meeting. 

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Rajinikanth Allegedly Gets ₹100 Cr Cheque And BMW Car From Kalanithi Maran For Jailer Success While Temple Featured In The Film Languishes

By
The Commune
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Following the success of the Rajinikanth-starrer Jailer at the box office, Kalanithi Maran, the founder and Chairman of the Sun Group, and also the son of Murasoli Maran and grand-nephew of former DMK chief K Karunanidhi, decided to reward the Tamil superstar. He gifted the actor a brand new BMW X7, valued at approximately ₹1.25 crores. Apart from this, Maran, as the owner of Sun Pictures, which has produced the film, presented the actor with a cheque rumoured to be for ₹100 crores. This meeting took place on the evening of 31 August 2023.

Film trade analyst Manobala Vijayabalan posted on social media platform X that the envelope given to Rajinikanth by Maran contained a single profit-sharing check worth ₹100 crores from the City Union Bank’s Mandaveli branch in Chennai. Prior to this, Rajinikanth had already allegedly received a remuneration of ₹110 crores for his role in the movie. With a total earning of ₹210 crores for ‘Jailer,’ Rajinikanth now held the title of India’s highest-paid actor, as pointed out by Manobala.

However, it’s worth noting that despite this financial success, the temple featured in the same movie remains in a state of disrepair. The Commune had witten about the dilapidated Sanjeevi Rayar Temple which is shown in the opening scene of the film. The temple traces its origins to the Vijayanagar Empire period.

Many have raised concerns whether Rajinikanth will use the money earned to do his bit for the restoration of the ancient temple, as he openly embraces Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) and discusses spiritual politics.

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How Congress Betrayed The People Of The Telugu States

By
Shivani
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A recent tweet by former Union Minister and current General Secretary in-charge Communications, Indian National Congress, Jairam Ramesh set thousands of true-blue Telugu tongues wagging across the states of Andhra and Telangana. Many cracked jokes, on the bloated, self-image of the Congress, implying itself to be trustworthy and reliable. He had tweeted that even though Indira Gandhi and NT Rama Rao were bitter rivals politically, she invited him to be present at Sriharikota after the launch of the SLV-3-D2 in April 1983. He quoted this from a book by Ved Prakash Sandlas titled, “The Leapfroggers”.

Many argue this hasn’t been the case since Nehru and his family took over the reins of the party in the post-Independence years, taking away its credibility after sidelining Gandhi, Vallabhbhai Patel, Ambedkar, and many other tall leaders of the pre-Independence era.

A South Indian state that took the brunt of the Congress party’s deceptive politicking and suffered because of its subservient local political leaders, was Andhra Pradesh which lagged behind the other South Indian states for a long time, in terms of per capita income, education standards, the standard of living, job creation, job opportunities, and industrialisation.

Andhra was the one South Indian state that the central Congress leadership could always count on for votes in return for personal favours to its self-centred local leaders. The people of Andhra had no strong political opposition/political will in the state and even when a handful of thinkers did take a stand on important matters, the shrewd local and central Congress politicians would engineer a coup or create conditions in which sincere intentions for the welfare of the state could never be fulfilled.

The Congress party reaped rich dividends from a state it exploited heavily – politically, socially, and economically. It took undue advantage of a state that asked little to nothing in return for voting it to power, the most number of times in the South. Yet, ironically, this ungrateful party enabled the split of the larger state into Andhra and Telangana for its own selfish electoral gains and perceived electoral advantages. To the party’s surprise, the Telugu people have finally woken up to the truth of the party and have rejected it in both states over the last decade. The bitter fruits of its ill intentions/improper decisions for the Telugu states seem to have finally caught up with the Congress party.

The strong reaction of the Telugu people to Congress leader, Jairam Ramesh’s recent tweet implying his party’s supposed goodwill and actions towards the Telugu people, is a clear indication of the common man’s mistrust of the Congress party in the Telugu states and the people’s lack of respect for the party’s biased decisions and actions in the Telugu states. The people have plenty of questions for the party and called out its blatant half-truths taken out of context! They questioned the information stated in Jairam Ramesh’s tweet and applauded the fact-based information stated in the BJP’s (Amit Malviya) tweet, which was a firm reply to the earlier Congress tweet.

Here is a list of facts, indicative of the Congress’s disgraceful and distasteful treatment of the aspirations of the Telugu people, its opportunistic attitude towards the larger, united state of Andhra Pradesh, and its politically motivated role in the bifurcation of the state into Telangana and Andhra.

1. Potti Sreeramulu’s Hunger Strike And Tragic Passing – 1950s: Potti Sreeramulu, known for his association with Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle, embarked on a hunger strike in 1952, seeking a separate Telugu-speaking state. The Congress government initially ignored his protest but eventually relented, albeit with significant delays. Unfortunately, Sreeramulu lost his life during the fast. It’s worth noting that Prime Minister Nehru’s announcement of a separate Andhra Pradesh came three days after Sreeramulu’s passing, leaving questions about whether prompt action might have saved his life.

2. Deception Against Neelam Sanjiva Reddy – 1969: The year 1969 witnessed a significant incident where the Congress, led by Indira Gandhi, displayed a lack of regard for Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, a prominent figure from Andhra Pradesh. Despite Indira Gandhi’s initial support and even accompanying Reddy during his presidential nomination filing, she later tacitly encouraged Congress members to vote against him, resulting in his defeat, a clear case of political deception.

3. The Era Of Instability – 1950s to 1980s: The Congress party’s practice of frequently changing state leadership, often without regard for stability or public aspirations, was evident in Andhra Pradesh from 1956 to 1983. During this period, the state witnessed more than ten Chief Ministers, including three in the year 1982 alone.

4. Insult To Tanguturi Anjaiah By Rajiv Gandhi – 1982: In 1982, Rajiv Gandhi, who had recently assumed the role of Congress General Secretary, publicly humiliated Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister T. Anjaiah upon his arrival at Begumpet airport. This incident left Anjaiah visibly upset, underscoring the apparent disregard the Congress party had for Telugu leaders.

5. Betrayal of NTR – 1984: Following his historic electoral victory, Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR) faced a treacherous move orchestrated by the Congress. This involved his removal from the Chief Minister’s office in a coup led by Nadendla Bhaskara Rao, a member of NTR’s own cabinet. The Indira Gandhi-led government dismissed NTR’s Telugu Desam government, aided by a pliant Governor, triggering a revolt within the regional party. This incident allowed Congress-supported dissidents an opportunity to purchase the allegiance of MLAs before the assembly session, a clear departure from established norms. The sight of an ailing NTR being wheeled to the President, accompanied by 161 supporting MLAs, remains etched in the memory of the Telugu people.

6. Disrespect Towards PV Narasimha Rao – After 1991: The Congress party, particularly its dynastic leadership, appeared to harbor animosity toward individuals outside their family who achieved prominence. PV Narasimha Rao, a grassroots politician who rose to become Prime Minister, initiated critical economic reforms. However, even in death, he faced disrespect from the Sonia Gandhi-led Congress party. His remains were denied entry into the Congress party office for tributes and were turned away on the road. This incident underscored the perceived lack of respect that the Congress had for the Telugu people.

(Shivani is a freelance writer based in Vijayawada)

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Notice Served To DMK Union Committee Member For Alleged Land Grabbing Near Kalpakkam

By
The Commune
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Since the DMK party assumed power, concerns about law and order have been on the rise in the state, with allegations of land grabbing and other mischievous activities. The latest scandal involves Pachaiyappan, a DMK functionary and the Union Committee Vice President for Thirukkalukkunram, whose involvement in an alleged land encroachment case has sparked outrage among local residents and officials.

Pachaiyappan, a member of the DMK party, originates from Meyur situated in Chathurangapatnam, adjacent to Kalpakkam. He currently holds the position of Vice President in the DMK Union Committee for the Thirukkalukkunram region. Pachaiyappan possesses a parcel of land covering a few acres near the Thirukkalukkunram area, precisely in Keerappakkam, which is in close proximity to Chengalpattu road.

Reportedly, Pachaiyappan had entrusted this land to another DMK functionary, Jayapal, who serves as the 11th ward DMK councilor within the same union committee. This arrangement was put in place some years ago, with the intention of Jayapal selling the land for residential development on a commission basis.

Trouble began when the land was converted into a housing complex, and it was reported that a portion of the complex encroached upon government-owned barren land. This encroachment became a point of contention, leading local residents to lodge a formal complaint with the Thirukkalukunram Tahsildar. Following this complaint, an inspection was carried out, confirming the encroachment on government property.

Subsequently, a notice board was erected at the site, warning potential trespassers of legal consequences. However, this warning was blatantly disregarded by DMK leaders, who removed the board, further escalating the dispute.

Notably, it is also alleged that the drinking water borewell in the nearby Irular (SC/ST) residential area was damaged, along with underground pipes. A formal complaint was lodged with the Village Administrative Officer and Thirukkalukkunram Police, leading to the registration of a CSR.

Repeated requests were made to Pachaiyappan by the Revenue officials to remove the encroachments, but the encroached area remained untouched. Subsequently, Pachaiyappan filled the area with soil and elevated the land using machinery, prompting local residents to protest and halt the work. The incident was reported to the taluk administration.

In light of these developments, Tahsildar Rajeshwari of Thirukkalukunnam issued a formal notice to Pachaiyappan. The notice reads, “The perimeter wall and road erected on Plot No: 94B – 1C1 Government barren land, occupying an area of 20 acres – 69 cents, shall be removed within 15 days as per the Encroachment Act 1905. In case of failure to remove, it will be removed directly in the presence of revenue department officials under police protection.”

This notice has been prominently displayed on the perimeter wall of the encroached area, underscoring the seriousness of the situation. As this legal battle unfolds, local residents, officials, and concerned citizens eagerly await the resolution of this contentious land encroachment case involving a DMK functionary.

(with inputs from Oredesam)

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India’s GDP Grew 7.8% In First Quarter Of 2023-24

By
The Commune
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The National Statistical Office (NSO) data, released on Thursday, reveals that India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded by 7.8 percent in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2023-24. This growth rate exceeds the 6.1 percent growth of the previous quarter but is notably lower than the 13.1 percent growth recorded in the same quarter of the fiscal year 2022-23.

India maintains its status as the fastest-growing major economy, outpacing China’s GDP growth of 6.3 percent for the April-June period. The government explained that the Quarterly Estimates of GDP are based on indicators and use a benchmark-indicator method, projecting quarterly estimates from the previous year using relevant performance indicators.

According to NSO data, the agricultural sector saw a growth of 3.5 percent, an improvement from the 2.4 percent recorded in the corresponding period of the fiscal year 2022-23. However, growth in the manufacturing sector slowed to 4.7 percent in the initial quarter of the current fiscal year, down from 6.1 percent in the same period last year.

After the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in August, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) projected a 6.5 percent growth rate for the entire fiscal year, with 8 percent growth anticipated for Q1. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) adjusted its GDP growth outlook for India in 2023 to 6.1 percent. Similarly, Fitch Ratings revised its forecast for India’s economic growth in fiscal year 2023-24 to 6.3 percent from the earlier prediction of 6 percent, as of June.

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Seven Including DMK Functionary Arrested For Tirunelveli BJP General Sec Murder, TN BJP President Annamalai Warns Of Consequences

By
The Commune
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In a tragic incident that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape of Tamil Nadu, a case has been registered against seven individuals, including a DMK executive, following the brutal murder of a local BJP leader. Jagan Pandian, the Tirunelveli BJP general secretary known for his active participation in public affairs and real estate ventures, was hacked to death near his residence in the Moolikulam area, adjacent to Palaiyankottai in the Nellai district.

The unfortunate incident took place yesterday (30 August 2023) as Jagan Pandian was returning home on his two-wheeler after concluding his daily work. After parking his vehicle near his residence, he was standing beside a nearby canal when unidentified assailants attacked him, inflicting fatal injuries before fleeing the scene. Neighbors who rushed to the spot upon hearing Jagan’s cries discovered him lying lifeless in a pool of blood.

Responding to the incident, the local police arrived at the crime scene, recovered the body, and dispatched it to the Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination. A murder case was registered, and investigators began reviewing CCTV footage from the vicinity. In an effort to gather evidence, a sniffer dog named Barani was brought in to aid the investigation. Over a hundred police personnel were deployed to ensure security while a comprehensive probe into the incident was launched.

Tamil Nadu BJP Annamalai took to his Twitter handle to condemn the incident and cautioned that the DMK’s endeavor to hinder the BJP through violent means would be ineffective. He also mentioned that any effort to help the criminals including DMK members responsible for the incident from legal accountability would result in serious repercussions.

“I was taken aback upon learning the news of the unfortunate demise of Jagan Pandian, the general secretary of the BJP youth wing in Tirunelveli North, due to a brutal attack carried out by elements associated with criminal activities. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family. I want to assure everyone that the party stands united in offering support to Jagan Pandian’s bereaved family, and I am determined that those responsible for this heinous act will face legal consequences,” expressed Annamalai through his Twitter account.

In sharp criticism of the ruling DMK, Annamalai remarked, “These anti-social elements, unable to tolerate Jagan Pandian’s tireless efforts in public service and the positive reputation he was building among the masses, resorted to this malicious deed.”

“I’ve come to know that a person named Moolikulam Prabhu, associated with the DMK and reportedly close to Palayamkottai MLA M Abdul Wahab, is named in the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the police. Currently evading law enforcement, it seems the DMK is making efforts to shield him. I want to make it clear to DMK members that any attempt to shield criminals from legal accountability will not be allowed. The DMK’s strategy of using violence to suppress the BJP’s voice will not achieve success,” he asserted.

Annamalai called upon the state police to promptly apprehend all those truly responsible for Jagan Pandian’s tragic death and to ensure rigorous legal action is taken. He emphasized that the ruling party (DMK) should not permit criminals to escape justice. “I also feel compelled to caution that the BJP will not stand by idly if there are any efforts to release the actual perpetrators from the clutches of the law,” Annamalai concluded.

(with inputs from News18 Tamil)

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Dinamalar Puts Objectionable Headline About TN Govt Breakfast Scheme; Stalin, DMK & Dravidianists Target Hinduism And Brahmins

By
The Commune
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Tamil news daily, Dinamalar is in the news for an objectionable headline in the 31 August 2023 edition. The headline of the article on the front page of the newspaper critiquing the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme read “Breakfast Scheme – Double meals for the students” and a byline that said, “Toilets in schools overflowing”. 

The Dinamalar article implied that the introduction of the new breakfast program, in addition to the existing mid-day meal initiative, has led to an increase in students’ restroom usage due to having consumed an excessive amount of food.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin hit out at the newspaper article by posting about it on social media platform X. He however chose to bring Sanatana Dharma and Brahmins into the picture.

He posted, “One race to do the hard work, one race to do the eating and fattening – at a time when Manuvadhis were ruling, the great Dravidian party was formed to bring in social justice in the form of “everything for everyone”. ‘Whatever you give the Shudras, never give them education’ – this idea was smashed and the education revolution was created by the Dravidian movement regime. In an era when we are launching the Chandrayaan to the Moon, if Sanatanam can publish such a headline, then what kind of games would it have played 100 years back? What would have been the condition of the poor? The malice has not disappeared yet! I strongly condemn #Dinamanu!”

MK Stalin’s son, DMK Youth Wing Secretary and Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development, Udhayanidhi Stalin took a dig at “Aryans” saying, “The Dravidian model will observe if education is overflowing. The Aryan model will observe if toilets are overflowing.”

In Tamil Nadu, Brahmins are equated with Aryans and are derogatorily addressed as Aryavandheri Papaan meaning Aryan Brahmin immigrants/settlers.

As if waiting for an opportunity to criticise Hinduism and take potshots at Brahmins, a huge number of DMK supporters also posted distasteful tweets targetting Brahmins. Some of them are quoted below:

This tweet says, “If Mother F***** brahmins are feeling the heat/feeling jealous, this scheme is a historic success. This breakfast scheme will speak about the achievements of the Dravidian movement for centuries. The measure of our success is directly proportional to the level of jealousy of the Brahmins.”

In another tweet that quotes the Editor/Founder of Dinamalar who posted a condemnation note about an objectionable article. The tweet says “The one word that is “their” favourite is sorry.” Here the one who has posted it has used the term “Avaa” which is a derogatory term for Brahmins and is like a slur used against them. 

Kalaignar News handle was found having a field day and made several distasteful posts. Here are a few:

“Why does Dinamalar feel jealous when poor children eat?”

In this tweet captioned, Action Reaction, the picture on the left is a screenshot of the news article by Dinamalar on the Breakfast Scheme, on the right, there is a toilet roll with a morphed news article that reads “Let’s protect the sanctity of the poonol/janeu” with a byline “Today on the occasion of Avani Avittam, Sacred thread changing ceremony was held at Sringeri Math, near Bypass Road, Madurai.”

In another tweet captioned “Strong condemnation of Dinamalar who criticised the Chief Minister’s breakfast plan!”, the image shared in the tweet reads, “The “Iyer” who eats at his home, doesn’t eat the Puliyodharai given at the temple”. The language used in the image mocks “Iyer bashai” – the language/dialect of Tamil spoken by Tamil Brahmins. .

https://twitter.com/Kalaignarnews/status/1697167339513356766

The auspicious occasion of janeu changing – Avani Avittam, performed by several communities (other than Brahmins) in Tamil Nadu has been mocked in this post. While Dinamalar did carry an article about the festival, the photo and other information cannot be corroborated.

Another handle whose bio suggests that she is Deputy District Co- ordinator (south) Coimbatore DMK IT wing, tweeted, “Why should a slave have blood in his body”, these are the lines of Poet Kannadasan. Some people who are in the highest position of journalists are slaves to the fascist forces and are doing such despicable things. Their downfall is not far off.”

The image shared in this tweet portrays the news daily as one run by Brahmins as indicated by the janeu and the shikha. This use of imagery has been written about extensively in this article which shows how the Dravidians use Nazi-style propaganda to spread vitriol about Tamil Brahmins

Another DMK supporter named Arockia Edwin wrote “Thread has been and will be a threat always” vilifying those wearing the sacred thread (Brahmins).

Dravidar Kazhagam President K. Veeramani said “‘Dinamanu’ is the mirror of Agraharam (Brahmin locality). A reflection of Brahmin mindset”.

While many have condemned Dinamalar for the objectionable headline about a noble scheme, the episode has been twisted by DMK and other Dravidianists to spew venom against Hinduism and Tamil Brahmins. An X handle named anbudan Bala pointed out how problematic it is to equate Dinamalar with the entire Brahmin community and whether it would be right in violently abusing the perpetrator caste of the Vengaivayal incident.

https://twitter.com/AmmU_MaanU/status/1697200694980473170

Who Founded Dinamalar?

Dinamalar was founded by TV Ramasubbaiyer in 1951. The fact that the founder was a Tamil Brahmin was enough for the Dravidoids to start spewing venom against Tamil Brahmins as always.

https://twitter.com/gowri74/status/1697168821025681867

Clarification Issued

The news daily has issued a clarification from the Editor K Ramasubbu saying the said news was not published in the Dinamalar editions of Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Pondicherry, Tirunelveli, and Nagercoil that are edited by Mr. K. Ramasubbu. This only appeared in the Dinamalar Erode and Salem editions of the newspaper edited by Mr. R. Sathyamurthy. 

Protests By DMK Supporters

The followers of the Dravidian ideology do not leave any stone unturned to mock, abuse, and spew venom at the Brahmins of the state and this is one such instance. The founder of the ideology, EV Ramasamy Naicker established the Dravidian ideology whose base or foundation is Brahmin hate. They also make it a habit to launch verbal assaults against Hinduism and Hindus.

The members of the DMK burnt copies of the newspaper in protest and have warned of further protests at Dinamalar offices in the coming days. 

Advertisement hoardings of the news daily have been torn down by supporters of the DMK.

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Unveiling The Literary Extravaganza: Pondy LitFest 2023’s Exciting Lineup

By
The Commune
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The eagerly anticipated schedule for Pondy LitFest 2023 has been unveiled, promising an exciting lineup of events spanning three days. Set to take place from 15 September to 17 September 2023, at the elegant Hotel Atithi in Puducherry, this literary extravaganza is sure to captivate book enthusiasts and thinkers alike.

Day 1 – September 15, 2023:

The festival kicks off at 4:30 PM with a grand inauguration ceremony, followed by the formal book launch of Anand Ranganathan‘s bestseller, “Hindus of Hindu Rashtra.” The occasion will be marked by a stimulating discussion with the author himself, joined by Vishnu Shankar Jain, Meenakshi Jain, and Ratan Sharda. Alo Pal will moderate this engaging discourse.

Day 1 will also witness the presentation of the prestigious SMaRT-Swarajya Awards.

Day 2 – 16 September 2023:

Day 2’s proceedings commence bright and early at 9:30 AM, with Vikram Sampath taking center stage to explore “Veer Savarkar and the Early Revolutionary Movement in India” in the festival’s first programme of the day.

The day’s agenda includes several captivating book launches and subsequent discussions:

  • “This is Sanatan Dharma” by Gautam Chikermane, featuring Partho Sanyal as a contributing moderator.
  • “Vedas Made Simple” by Pariksith Singh and Dushyanth Sreedhar, followed by an in-depth discussion.
  • A thought-provoking lecture by Swapan Dasgupta.

Other enriching discussions of the day encompass diverse topics such as:

Indian Knowledge Systems and the Perpetuity of Civilization – Featuring Prafulla Kelkar (Contributing Moderator), Sandeep Balakrishna, Sampadananda Mishra

Godi Media – Supine, Constructively Critical or Pointlessly Combative? Featuring Abhijit Iyer Mitra (Contributing Moderator), Shehzad Poonawalla.

Civilizational Memory Validated: The Case for Mathura and Kashi featuring Vishnu Shankar Jain and Meenakshi Jain, moderated by Alo Pal

Resurgent Indic Narratives featuring Arun Krishnan, Shivakumar GK, Abhinav Agarwal (Contributing Moderator)

Chandrayaan and Beyond: India’s Space Race featuring Aloke Kumar and Gautam Desiraju

India’s Neighbours: Pakistan, China and the Seas featuring Srikant Kesnur, Anil Chopra and moderated by Shiv Aroor

Domestic Politics and Strategic Autonomy featuring Rahul Shivshankar, Rashmi Samant, Ashok Chowgule and moderated by Ratan Sharda.

Day 3 – 17 September 2023:

The final day of Pondy LitFest 2023 promises an equally riveting lineup, including:

  • A compelling speech on “India’s Strategic Autonomy and Air Power” by Air Marshal Anil Chopra.
  • An exploration of “Revisiting Ganga-Jamni Tehzeeb” by historian Meenakshi Jain.

Engaging discussions on Day 3 include: 

  • History, Narratives and Research featuring Disha Ahluwalia, Prasenjit Basu, Vijayalakshmi Vijaykumar, Vikram Sampath, and Nandini Sengupta (Contributing Moderator)
  • Breaking News Into Pieces: What Ails The Media – featuring Shiv Aroor, Rahul Shivshankar, Monika Halder, Abhijit Majumder, moderated by Deep Halder.
  • India’s Soft Power featuring Lalitha Kumaramangalam, Swapan Dasgupta and Abhijit Iyer Mitra (contributing moderator)
  • India’s Neighbours: Looking East featuring Sandeep Unnithan, Deep Halder, Srikant Kesnur and Abhijit Iyer Mitra (Contributing Moderator)
  • Is India Witnessing Amrit Kaal? Featuring Gautam Desiraju, Prasenjit Basu, Ashok Chowgule, and Monika Halan (Contributing moderator)
  • Tackling Neglected Diseases- Indian Healthcare Breakthroughs featuring Anand Ranganathan and Shailja Singh
  • 26/11: 15 Years On – featuring Sandeep Unnithan and Shiv Aroor
  • Is the Indian State Designed To Fulfill Our Strategic Goals -featuring Prafulla Kelkar, Abhijit Iyer Mitra, Abhijit Majumder, and Anand Ranganathan (Contributing Moderator)

The festival will also see the book launch of “The Never Dying Fire” and a discussion featuring Devdip Ganguli and Rakhal Venet on 17 September 2023.

Pondy LitFest 2023 promises to be a stimulating and thought-provoking event, bringing together a diverse array of voices and ideas in the beautiful setting of Puducherry. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to engage with some of the brightest minds of our time.

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Hindu Munnani Criticizes DMK Govt For Imposing Dravidian Ideology on Students During Karunanidhi Centenary Celebrations

By
The Commune
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The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government’s initiative to commemorate the centenary function of the late Chief Minister Karunanidhi through various competitions for school and college students under the banner ‘Kalaignar 100′ has sparked controversy. Critics argue that the programs are subtly designed to influence students with the party’s ideology, leading to concerns about the politicization of education.

Hindu Munnani State President, Kaadeswara Subramanium, has issued a press release strongly condemning what he perceives as the DMK’s attempt to indoctrinate students with their political views through school and college events.

Kaadeswara Subramanium said, “The school education department has announced competitions for school and college students on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of former Chief Minister Karunanidhi. It is reported that the District Collectors are forcing the government staff to conduct these events. It is to be noted that the topic chosen for these competitions looks like the topic given to DMK training camps, which has shocked parents and educators. ”

In addition, he remarked, “In schools, we observe the birthdays of different leaders. For instance, Karmaveer Kamaraj’s birthday is commemorated as Education Day, and former President Radhakrishnan’s birthday is celebrated as Teacher’s Day. There is typically no political dimension to these occasions. However, the direct imposition of Dravidian ideology through the events by the DMK government is unacceptable. Doing so is reprehensible. DMK dares to do such activities thinking that students as slaves of the state government.”

Kaadeswara Subramanium further said, “The government headed by Chief Minister Stalin is constantly focusing on his father Karunanidhi’s centenary celebrations and taking various measures which make people frown. DMK under MK Stalin is attempting to create historical markers for their family lineage. However, the act of imposing Dravidian ideology onto students’ minds, in this pursuit, can be viewed as contradictory to democratic principles.”

He expressed, “Within school textbooks, their images have been coercively integrated into the curriculum, accompanied by inaccurate narratives about Dravidian leaders. Fabrications such as the claim that Dravida Kazhagam president E. Ve Ramasamy received South Asia’s Socrates award from UNESCO have been incorporated into Tamil Nadu’s educational materials. Despite the falsehood of these assertions, students are compelled to both read and reproduce them as responses in examinations conducted by the Tamil Nadu government. This, in turn, risks instilling incorrect information into the minds of students. Despite the Tamil Nadu government acknowledging these inaccuracies within the syllabus, the school education department appears reluctant to rectify them. It’s noteworthy that certain media outlets, which are disseminating misleading information, have refrained from addressing this issue.”

Subramanium went on to say, “Hence, the Tamil Nadu government should discontinue these authoritarian endeavors of advancing their ideology under the guise of Karunanidhi’s centenary commemorations. On behalf of Hindu Munnnani, we earnestly beseech the school education department to disallow any endeavors to propagate Dravidian ideology, even if undertaken by private entities. Swift and appropriate measures should be promptly taken by the Tamil Nadu government to rescind the competition announcement. We implore you to avoid any delays that might trigger student protests.”

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Modi Govt’s Employment Generation Initiative Surpasses Target

By
The Commune
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India's Job Crisis: Balancing Growth with Employment

The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY), an innovative employment incentive program by the Central Government, has exceeded its original goals for job creation, demonstrating its effectiveness in promoting employment growth and recovery amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Launched on October 1, 2020, the ABRY was formulated to encourage the emergence of fresh job opportunities by providing financial aid to employers of businesses registered under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). This initiative aimed to motivate the hiring of unemployed individuals, including those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. It covered both the employee and employer contributions (24% of wages) for establishments with up to 1000 employees, while larger establishments received coverage only for the employee’s EPF contributions (12% of wages) concerning new hires.

Initially open for registration until March 31, 2022, the ABRY had a target to benefit about 7.18 million workers throughout India. However, by July 31, 2023, the program had already enrolled over 7.58 million new employees, surpassing its initial target for job generation.

So far, a total of 152,380 establishments have taken advantage of the ABRY scheme, employing 6,044,155 new workers. Meeting all eligibility criteria, these establishments and employees have received benefits totaling Rs. 9,669.87 Crore under the program. The scheme ensures that benefits are disbursed based on specific eligibility conditions, met by beneficiary businesses and employees on a monthly basis.

The program has significantly contributed to the revival of the job market, highlighting its pivotal role in driving economic recovery during these trying times.

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