Special Articles Tamil Nadu

Dravidian Model: TN DIPR Peddles False Info About EVR And Computer, Changes Statement After BJP TN Head Annamalai Calls Out Error, Netizens Ask “Where Is Mission Director?”

January 15, 2024
The Commune

The DMK government’s tendency to claim credit for achievements it hasn’t accomplished is not a new phenomenon. In its latest attempt to do so, it has inadvertently peddled false information.

Chief Minister MK Stalin took to his social media to boast about Tamil Nadu having introduced Artificial Intelligence modules in the state government schools through Microsoft’s TEALS programme.

Technology Education and Learning Support (TEALS) is an initiative by Microsoft Philanthropies designed to establish enduring computer science (CS) programs within high schools. In July 2023, the school education department in Tamil Nadu entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft for the introduction of TEALS. Subsequently, the program was initiated as a pilot project in 14 schools throughout the state. Through this, over 38,000 students enrolled in grades 6 through 9 across 100 government schools will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.

However, it is not like the Government of Tamil Nadu thought about this on its own and introduced it in schools.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has recommended introducing contemporary subjects like Artificial Intelligence in curriculum, at relevant stages. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced Artificial Intelligence as a subject in class IX from session 2019-2020 and in Class-XI from session 2020-2021 in their affiliated schools.

This was pointed out by BJP Tamil Nadu Head K. Annamalai on his social media page.

He issued a statement in his X handle expressing his gratitude to the state government for incorporating Artificial Intelligence into the curriculum for government school students and partnering with Microsoft Inc. which aligns with CBSE’s decision to introduce AI for Class VI to VIII, following the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Further stated that the Tamil Nadu BJP is pleased to observe the DMK government’s efforts in aligning with the NEP 2020 introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and anticipating for the consideration of the 3-language policy.

 

DMK Govt’s Own Information & Public Relations Department Peddles False Info

In a swift response, the DMK government displayed its stance hastily with the Tamil Nadu Department of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) sharing a statement in which it mentioned about its ideologue EV Ramasamy Naicker (hailed as ‘Periyar’ by followers) visiting Guindy Engineering College (now Anna University). However, there were inaccuracies in the official press release of the DMK government.

It stated that EVR visited Anna University on 16 July 1920 instead of 16 July 1970. Furthermore, another error was noted in the report concerning EVR’s birthday, which is 17 September 1879, falling on a Wednesday. However in the statement, it was stated that computer-generated information indicated his birthday as a Saturday.

Here’s what the official press release of the Tamil Nadu government said:

“Tamil Nadu has a unique history and tradition in the field of Information Technology. On 16 July 1920, Thanthai Periyar was invited as the chief guest for a Tamil forum held at College of Engineering, Guindy (today’s Anna University). Periyar who went there was informed by a few professors that a new computer has been brought for the college and he expressed his interest in seeing it. Even though he was unable to climb the stairs due to his old age, he asked people to lift him and take him to the first floor and saw the computer. At that time, the name ‘kanini’ was not kept for the computer. It was a 1620 model IBM computer. When he professors told Periyar that the computer can give the exact day of a particular date, Periyar mentioned a few dates and checked if the computer was giving the correct day. He mentioned his birthday and the computer rightly told it was a Saturday.”

The DIPR release also said “At that time itself, Periyar predicted about today’s cell phones saying that in future everyone will have a communication device in their pocket.”

The Truth

The IBM 1620 computer was first used in July 1963 at IIT Kanpur. In August 1963, IIT Kanpur received delivery of an IBM 1620 computer. The computer center at IIT Kanpur featured a central processor equipped with a core storage capacity of 40,000 digits (IBM 1620), along with three 7330 magnetic tape units, a 1622 card input-output device, twenty key-punch machines, and an IBM 407 accounting machine that served as a printer. This information has been recorded by V. Rajaraman based on the report authored by Norman C. Dahl in ‘Revolution on the Ganges: A Report on the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur’, published in Tech Engineering News in April 1967.

College of Engineering got a IBM 1620 computer in 1963 too and not 1920 as mentioned in the DIPR release.

Also, contrary to the information given in the DIPR release, EVR was born on a Wednesday and not on Saturday.

And the quote about cell phones attributed to EVR was originally said by the famed scientist and inventor Nikola Tesla.

BJP Tamil Nadu Head Calls Out Dravidian Model Of ‘Stickering’

Tamil Nadu BJP chief highlighted the errors in his statement on 14 January 2024 pointing out inaccuracies in the official press release of the state government. 

In sarcastic and jibe-laden X post, Annamalai said “It is not a big surprise that lately, all the reports that should be published in the name of the DMK party are published in the name of the Information & Public Relations Department of the Tamil Nadu Government. In a few days, DMK party’s internal affairs like suspension of a DMK executive who quarreled at a biryani shop, may be informed to the public through the public relations department of the Tamil Nadu government. Abuses of power by DMK are not new to Tamil Nadu.”

Annamalai further added “I don’t see the need to issue a report in such a hurry without even noticing that there are so many errors in the report. The use of artificial intelligence was announced as early as 2018, mentioned in the Draft National Education Policy for 2019, and then included in the new National Education Policy released by the Central Government in July 2020. However, the policy of Tamil Nadu government in this regard was published only in the month of September 2020. It has been proved that the statement that Tamil Nadu formulated a policy for this before the National Education Policy was formulated is a lie. Have you thought that if you hide the month by not mentioning it in your report, you can deceive people?”

He further said “Another error in the report is that Periyar went to Guindy College of Engineering in 1920 instead of 1970. An IBM 1620 computer was purchased for the Guindy College of Engineering in 1963. Does the DMK claim that the computer was brand new until Periyar went seven years later in 1970? Periyar’s birthday was September 17, 1879 on a Wednesday. Another error in the report is that the computer said his birthday was Saturday. In 1967, the then Bombay, and then in the late 1990s, many cities including Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad started developing in the IT sector. Tamil Nadu is progressing in this sector through the talented youth of Tamil Nadu. But it is ridiculous that DMK has issued a statement that other states do not know what information technology is. On behalf of BJP Tamil Nadu, I would like to request the DMK government not to issue a statement with false information in an emergency for fear of coercion, and once again thank you for conveying the aspects of the new education policy to the students of Tamil Nadu.”

 Following the release of his statement on X handle, Sun News and TN DIPR promptly deleted their posts and corrected their statements.

 This spurred a celebratory atmosphere among the internet users associated with the Tamil Nadu BJP cadre, leading to the mocking of DMK.

Another user humorously mocked that Sun News would release a statement, Annamalai will point out inaccuracies, and then Tamil Nadu DIPR would step in to correct the mistakes and re-release it.

Where Is Mission Director?

The MK Stalin-led DMK government recently formed a “Fact-Checking Unit” allegedly in violation of established norms. Many called it as an attempt to muzzle voices critical of the government in social media.

One Dravidianist porpagandist Iyan Karthikeyan, a former YouTuber who ran a self-styled “fact-checking” website called YouTurn has been appointed as the Mission Director of the so-called “Fact-Checking Unit” who draws a salary of 3 lakhs per month of taxpayer’s money.

This blatant peddling of misinformation and the major embarrassment to the DMK government has led many to ask about the point of having a “Fact-Checking Unit”.

Many on social media asked what is the “Mission Director” doing when the government itself was peddling false information.

 

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