I have a deep fear that Commonwealth Games will turn out to be a disaster. That it will be so for our sportspersons is reasonably known. We will win under 10 gold medals and will finish 4th - as always. We are unlikely to do any better; though chances of finishing lower always exist.
It is the organizing of the game that I am worried about the most. Newspapers talk about every conceivable problem. A stadium leaking rain water minutes after it was opened by two senior ministers in the Indian Government, a temporary roof at a table tennis court collapsing, Chairman of the organizing committee Suresh Kalmadi unable to pull his foot out of his mouth, BCCI refusing to accede to the 'donation' request of Rs 100 crores, allegations of corruption, Indian High Commissioner in UK suggesting that a letter shown by Kalmadi may be a fake, Kalmadi's own party members attacking him... the list is endless.
Amidst the usual chaos that is so natural to India, Delhi is witness to a lot of structures coming up. How many of them will be finished on time, how many of them will be safe for the athletes and the spectators and how many of them will be useful to the people afterward?
During the World Classical Tamil Conference in Coimbatore in June 2010, Coimbatore airport was to sport a new look as thousands were expected to come from all over the world, including the President of India, Pratibha Patil. But we could see unfinished concrete blocks, jutting iron rods and an unfinished pathway through which buses full of passengers were driven through. One month after the event, the situation was still the same. Likewise, much of Coimbatore saw superficial improvements probably incapable of withstanding a few spells of rain.
Will it be the same in Delhi too?
Will it offer anything of lasting value to the residents of Delhi? Will we ensure that we will not be a laughing stock in front of the world, when the games start?
Monday, August 02, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Wikileaks, India and Pakistan
While wikileaks has embarrassed the US, Pakistan are probably the most pissed off by the leaks. It is one thing to keep saying that they are partners in the 'war against terrorism', but totally another to defend the same in the light of solid 'evidence' that the US do not trust Pakistan.
I listened to the Pakistani Ambassador to the US in BBC World News, claiming emphatically that Pakistan have spent money and lost lives in fighting the war on terrorism in Afghanistan. No one will deny that. But, at the same time, it is not easy for the Pakistani Ambassador to deny that several rogue elements in the Pakistani establishment have always colluded with the terrorists in Pakistan and Afghanistan. NY Times opinion clearly touches on this point.
As far as most of the Americans are concerned, Pakistan is destabilizing the war efforts of the US. That is why, NY Times headlined the wikileaks story as: Pakistan Aids Insurgency in Afghanistan, Reports Assert.
Can all this help India in some way? It is important for India to curtail Pakistan from easily getting military and other aid from around the world. However, it is not in the interests of India to have a bankrupt Pakistan. It will destabilize that country to such an extent that Pakistan will become a Somalia and there will be a hundred jehadi warlords roaming the country.
So, Pakistan should get aid - civilian aid. And the aid should come with a lot of strings attached. The strings should be in the hands of a global consortium. And India should join such a consortium so that it can control the rogue elements from capturing power in Pakistan. Part of the task should be to force Pakistan to cut down on its military spending. This will help India save up substantially on its military spending (focus mainly on China). Part of the job should be to de-nuclearise Pakistan (which won't be easy).
So far, Pakistan got away by saying it was the most important ally of the US in the war against terror. Now, it has been proven that such is not the case. We in India should really be looking forward to the American response to this.
One point though. The information leaked out to public only now. But the American officials knew about this all along, and hence they should have been tougher with Pakistan already. But, now the media and public will pressure the US administration to act, and act fast.
Americans should remember that some of their soldiers were killed in Afghanistan because some Pakistani elements helped Taliban.
I listened to the Pakistani Ambassador to the US in BBC World News, claiming emphatically that Pakistan have spent money and lost lives in fighting the war on terrorism in Afghanistan. No one will deny that. But, at the same time, it is not easy for the Pakistani Ambassador to deny that several rogue elements in the Pakistani establishment have always colluded with the terrorists in Pakistan and Afghanistan. NY Times opinion clearly touches on this point.
As far as most of the Americans are concerned, Pakistan is destabilizing the war efforts of the US. That is why, NY Times headlined the wikileaks story as: Pakistan Aids Insurgency in Afghanistan, Reports Assert.
Can all this help India in some way? It is important for India to curtail Pakistan from easily getting military and other aid from around the world. However, it is not in the interests of India to have a bankrupt Pakistan. It will destabilize that country to such an extent that Pakistan will become a Somalia and there will be a hundred jehadi warlords roaming the country.
So, Pakistan should get aid - civilian aid. And the aid should come with a lot of strings attached. The strings should be in the hands of a global consortium. And India should join such a consortium so that it can control the rogue elements from capturing power in Pakistan. Part of the task should be to force Pakistan to cut down on its military spending. This will help India save up substantially on its military spending (focus mainly on China). Part of the job should be to de-nuclearise Pakistan (which won't be easy).
So far, Pakistan got away by saying it was the most important ally of the US in the war against terror. Now, it has been proven that such is not the case. We in India should really be looking forward to the American response to this.
One point though. The information leaked out to public only now. But the American officials knew about this all along, and hence they should have been tougher with Pakistan already. But, now the media and public will pressure the US administration to act, and act fast.
Americans should remember that some of their soldiers were killed in Afghanistan because some Pakistani elements helped Taliban.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Profits up, but manager in jail
Sterlite has announced an increase of 50% in net profit for the first quarter ending June 2010. But one of its vice-presidents is languishing in jail, because the management screwed up.
Varadharajan, Vice-President (Indirect Taxes) for Sterlite based in Tuticorin was arrested on Friday night on the charges of Sterlite evading excise duty to the tune of over Rs 700 crores.
One would have expected that the company will work towards getting the employee out on bail on Monday, but that has not happened. The next hearing is apparently only on Thursday.
It is unclear to me how a vice-president should be held liable for such an act. If anything, the Chief Executive or the Finance Director (in the board) should have been hauled up in front of the court. Instead, we see the CEO M.S. Mehta announcing the company results, while a lower level employee is thrown in jail.
It is time the corporate top men - full time executive directors and chief executives - take full responsibility for the acts of their companies and not get their lower level employees undergo punishments on their behalf. Any decision to pay or not to pay excise duty would have only been taken by the CEO along with the approval of the board, given that the amount disputed is over Rs 700 crores.
It is also a wake-up call for the professional managers. Never accede to what the owners and directors want you to do, if you think it is against the law. You can always quit the company and find another job. It is not worth spending even one day in a jail, for some fat cat in London to make obscene profits.
Varadharajan, Vice-President (Indirect Taxes) for Sterlite based in Tuticorin was arrested on Friday night on the charges of Sterlite evading excise duty to the tune of over Rs 700 crores.
One would have expected that the company will work towards getting the employee out on bail on Monday, but that has not happened. The next hearing is apparently only on Thursday.
It is unclear to me how a vice-president should be held liable for such an act. If anything, the Chief Executive or the Finance Director (in the board) should have been hauled up in front of the court. Instead, we see the CEO M.S. Mehta announcing the company results, while a lower level employee is thrown in jail.
It is time the corporate top men - full time executive directors and chief executives - take full responsibility for the acts of their companies and not get their lower level employees undergo punishments on their behalf. Any decision to pay or not to pay excise duty would have only been taken by the CEO along with the approval of the board, given that the amount disputed is over Rs 700 crores.
It is also a wake-up call for the professional managers. Never accede to what the owners and directors want you to do, if you think it is against the law. You can always quit the company and find another job. It is not worth spending even one day in a jail, for some fat cat in London to make obscene profits.
Nokia, Foxconn gas leak problem
News reports indicate that leaking of a noxious substance in the Foxconn factory inside the Nokia SEZ in Sriperumpudur near Chennai has resulted in several workers affected by nausea, coughing of blood and breathing problems. A Tamil website vinavu.com has a more detailed story.
This is a distressing news. Nokia should also be pulled in to deal with this problem. Foxconn is a dedicated manufacturing facility for Nokia's mobile handsets. It has subsequently come to the light that Foxconn does not have certain necessary approvals for re-opening the plant. This plant was not functional for a few months because of low orders and was restarted only recently.
Nokia should come out with a report of its own about what caused this problem and what measures are being taken to avoid recurrence of such a problem.
Further, Foxconn and Nokia should jointly announce reasonable compensation and that too immediately. Nokia cannot shirk away its responsibility in this case.
Looking through vinavu.com's website, it is shocking to find that the employees take home a paltry Rs 3,270 for working 26 days. For factory work, this is horribly low!
What is the minimal wage law in India? Something has to be done to increase this to a reasonable level.
It is because of instances such as this that capitalism gets a very bad name.
This is a distressing news. Nokia should also be pulled in to deal with this problem. Foxconn is a dedicated manufacturing facility for Nokia's mobile handsets. It has subsequently come to the light that Foxconn does not have certain necessary approvals for re-opening the plant. This plant was not functional for a few months because of low orders and was restarted only recently.
Nokia should come out with a report of its own about what caused this problem and what measures are being taken to avoid recurrence of such a problem.
Further, Foxconn and Nokia should jointly announce reasonable compensation and that too immediately. Nokia cannot shirk away its responsibility in this case.
Looking through vinavu.com's website, it is shocking to find that the employees take home a paltry Rs 3,270 for working 26 days. For factory work, this is horribly low!
What is the minimal wage law in India? Something has to be done to increase this to a reasonable level.
It is because of instances such as this that capitalism gets a very bad name.
$35 Indian notepad
When I saw the announcement from HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, I couldn't believe it. As usual, newspapers heralded the announcement. Then came the skeptics with their clear arguments. The bill of materials comes to nearly $50.
That is what I thought too. A 2 GB RAM, wi-fi connectivity, around 32 GB storage space, a touch screen, a processor and so on, cannot be given away for $35 (of which half is a subsidy from the Government, we are told).
What India needs is realistic goals. Not this kind of nonsense. Our students need cheap computers and decent Internet connectivity. We need enough manufacturing companies to produce these devices.
Even in poor households, if one can demonstrate the use of such a device, people will be ready to buy it for anywhere up to $150.
These devices need sufficient processing power to play audio, video and flash animation - minimum requirements for educational purposes. Linux OS with Indian language Unicode fonts and software keyboard for all the Indian scripts should be present.
Let us hope that we will have some such under Rs 10,000 devices out in the market in less than an year, than what this vague announcement offers.
That is what I thought too. A 2 GB RAM, wi-fi connectivity, around 32 GB storage space, a touch screen, a processor and so on, cannot be given away for $35 (of which half is a subsidy from the Government, we are told).
What India needs is realistic goals. Not this kind of nonsense. Our students need cheap computers and decent Internet connectivity. We need enough manufacturing companies to produce these devices.
Even in poor households, if one can demonstrate the use of such a device, people will be ready to buy it for anywhere up to $150.
These devices need sufficient processing power to play audio, video and flash animation - minimum requirements for educational purposes. Linux OS with Indian language Unicode fonts and software keyboard for all the Indian scripts should be present.
Let us hope that we will have some such under Rs 10,000 devices out in the market in less than an year, than what this vague announcement offers.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Muralitharan 800
I have watched Murali bowl from his debut Test. He used to be an ordinary bowler. I can't remember when he transformed himself into a match winning bowler. If one goes through statsguru, one should be able to figure out that critical timepoint.
Even after he became a matchwinner, Indian batsmen handled him quite comfortably. Until Murali developed his doosra into an art. A wild spinning off break, or a power packed top spinner can be handled well, if you can estimate the spin in the delivery. But doosra makes you so confused.
My biggest disappointment was that my favourite batsman Dravid could never deal with Muralitharan properly.
Somehow, Murali's 800 wickets seem so unreal. Next time I see his picture in a newspaper or a TV, I am unlikely to remember his 800 wickets. The only picture in my mind is him strapped to some biomechanical probes, wanting to prove that he is not a chucker. I can only remember the pain in his eyes.
The Australians dealt with him in the most unfair manner. That includes Darrell Hair as well. But the Aussie fans were incorrigible. Right through that tough period Sri Lankan cricket machinery stood firmly behind Murali. And in particular Arjuna Ranatunga.
For that unflinching faith the Sri Lankans had in Murali, he has delivered back, more than his share.
Good bye Murali!
Even after he became a matchwinner, Indian batsmen handled him quite comfortably. Until Murali developed his doosra into an art. A wild spinning off break, or a power packed top spinner can be handled well, if you can estimate the spin in the delivery. But doosra makes you so confused.
My biggest disappointment was that my favourite batsman Dravid could never deal with Muralitharan properly.
Somehow, Murali's 800 wickets seem so unreal. Next time I see his picture in a newspaper or a TV, I am unlikely to remember his 800 wickets. The only picture in my mind is him strapped to some biomechanical probes, wanting to prove that he is not a chucker. I can only remember the pain in his eyes.
The Australians dealt with him in the most unfair manner. That includes Darrell Hair as well. But the Aussie fans were incorrigible. Right through that tough period Sri Lankan cricket machinery stood firmly behind Murali. And in particular Arjuna Ranatunga.
For that unflinching faith the Sri Lankans had in Murali, he has delivered back, more than his share.
Good bye Murali!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Nimbus Retains Indian Cricket Telecast Rights
Read my detailed article on BCCI and Cricket Rights.
Nimbus has retained the Indian cricket telecast rights for the next four years. The current rights were due to expire in March 2010. This is the first time in the last several years where the rights have simply been retained by Nimbus, without going through a bid process. Nimbus had the right of first refusal and exercised it and the board also pegged the price reasonably.
It is also the first time over the several years, where the revenue is going down. The original deal for the last four years was $612 million. This was brought down to $549 million because of (a) Government ruling that ODIs to be shared with Doordarshan (b) Radio rights to be given to All India Radio (c) England tour cut short because of Mumbai terrorist attack.
Now, the fee is further revised down, and on current exchange rate comes to only $431 million. The reason suggested is the upcoming World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and its impact on the number of Test and ODIs India will play at home.
However, there is another important reason. It is that, the value of the ODIs have gone down tremondously. The TRP ratings have fallen. The advertisement revenue has fallen. This is the effect of T20 on cricket telecast and rights fee.
The biggest fall out will be for countries such as New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and England, when ESPN-Star Sports look out to renew their rights.
The cricket righs have reached a plateue - at least for now.
Cricinfo news
DNA report quotes an unnamed BCCI official saying that web streaming rights for Indian cricket can fetch up to $100 million. The BCCI official is foolish. This is simply not possible. The IPL web rights holder cricket.com simply vanished, after promising millions of dollars. These numbers are unsustainable.
Nimbus has retained the Indian cricket telecast rights for the next four years. The current rights were due to expire in March 2010. This is the first time in the last several years where the rights have simply been retained by Nimbus, without going through a bid process. Nimbus had the right of first refusal and exercised it and the board also pegged the price reasonably.
It is also the first time over the several years, where the revenue is going down. The original deal for the last four years was $612 million. This was brought down to $549 million because of (a) Government ruling that ODIs to be shared with Doordarshan (b) Radio rights to be given to All India Radio (c) England tour cut short because of Mumbai terrorist attack.
Now, the fee is further revised down, and on current exchange rate comes to only $431 million. The reason suggested is the upcoming World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and its impact on the number of Test and ODIs India will play at home.
However, there is another important reason. It is that, the value of the ODIs have gone down tremondously. The TRP ratings have fallen. The advertisement revenue has fallen. This is the effect of T20 on cricket telecast and rights fee.
The biggest fall out will be for countries such as New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and England, when ESPN-Star Sports look out to renew their rights.
The cricket righs have reached a plateue - at least for now.
Cricinfo news
DNA report quotes an unnamed BCCI official saying that web streaming rights for Indian cricket can fetch up to $100 million. The BCCI official is foolish. This is simply not possible. The IPL web rights holder cricket.com simply vanished, after promising millions of dollars. These numbers are unsustainable.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
IIT eligibility
[Update: Minister Kapil Sibal says this whole thing was misquoted or wrongly reported.]
All newspapers are reporting Kapil Sibal as stating that students should get at least 80% marks in class XII exams in addition to qualifying and getting a high enough rank in JEE. Apparently, the current eligibility is 60% in class XII.
The 60% rule itself is surprising to me. In 1987, when I went to IIT Madras, no such eligibility rule existed. We were expected to pass the class XII exams conducted by an approved board. That was it. The IIT administration asked for my mark sheet to take a cursory look. That was it.
What is the need for introducing this 60% and 80% rule, if the JEE is considered to be a comprehensive test of the fundamentals? (That JEE itself needs massive improvement is another issue.) It is another matter that getting 80% in class XII should not be difficult for any of the top 5000+ rank holders in IIT JEE. But the very demand seems ridiculous.
Sibal has a tough problem in hand, dealing with the educational mess in the country. He should not waste his time on small matters such as this.
All newspapers are reporting Kapil Sibal as stating that students should get at least 80% marks in class XII exams in addition to qualifying and getting a high enough rank in JEE. Apparently, the current eligibility is 60% in class XII.
The 60% rule itself is surprising to me. In 1987, when I went to IIT Madras, no such eligibility rule existed. We were expected to pass the class XII exams conducted by an approved board. That was it. The IIT administration asked for my mark sheet to take a cursory look. That was it.
What is the need for introducing this 60% and 80% rule, if the JEE is considered to be a comprehensive test of the fundamentals? (That JEE itself needs massive improvement is another issue.) It is another matter that getting 80% in class XII should not be difficult for any of the top 5000+ rank holders in IIT JEE. But the very demand seems ridiculous.
Sibal has a tough problem in hand, dealing with the educational mess in the country. He should not waste his time on small matters such as this.
Friday, October 16, 2009
M.A in Kalainjar Thought
In a first of its kind move, Madras University has decided to introduce a two-year masters level program called M.A in Kalainjar Thought. For the uninitiated, Kalainjar is the honorific for the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi. The masters program will explore the body of work written by the serving Chief Minister.
As far as I know, there are no such courses run by Madras University for Darwin Thought or Newton Thought. I am not even sure whether Madras University is offering any such program on Gandhian Thought. Or about Thiruvalluvar Thought!
Needless to say, this is the stupidest move I can ever think of. The other two courses, one on Periyar Thought and the other on Anna Thought, are also dodgy courses. A course on Dravidian Movement and its impact on social, political and cultural landscape in Tamil Nadu is a better idea.
News from The Hindu
As far as I know, there are no such courses run by Madras University for Darwin Thought or Newton Thought. I am not even sure whether Madras University is offering any such program on Gandhian Thought. Or about Thiruvalluvar Thought!
Needless to say, this is the stupidest move I can ever think of. The other two courses, one on Periyar Thought and the other on Anna Thought, are also dodgy courses. A course on Dravidian Movement and its impact on social, political and cultural landscape in Tamil Nadu is a better idea.
News from The Hindu
Saturday, May 09, 2009
A confusing election and the Sri Lankan question
As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, the current parliamentary election is nothing short of confusing to the voters. The one overpowering issue is Sri Lankan Tamil crisis, something that does not directly affect the lives of the people of Tamil Nadu. However, the emotional ties between the Tamils of Tamil Nadu and that of Sri Lanka, and the suffering the Tamils of Sri Lanka have undergone in the last 3 decades have moved almost all the people of Tamil Nadu, except a minority.
This has forced almost all the political parties to take a stance on this issue. That is what confuses the people. To start with, some parties distinguish between the suffering Tamil masses and the armed revolutionary group LTTE. Some others do not distinguish the two and believe that the hope of Tamils lie entirely with the wellbeing of LTTE and its leader Prabakaran.
The principal parties AIADMK, DMK have queered the pitch a lot in the run up to the election. AIADMK's Jayalalitha, until recently, was not bothered about the Sri Lankan problem at all. She was vehemently anti-LTTE and vowed to drive them out of whatever little presence they had in Tamil Nadu. Though Karunanidhi's DMK was not seen as an overt friend of LTTE, the party was also not seen as an out and out enemy of LTTE like Jayalalitha was.
However, DMK is a partner of Congress in the centre and depends on that party for survival in the state legislature. Congress party hates LTTE and Prabakaran for their part in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. As far as the Congress headed Central Government is concerned, LTTE is a proscribed organization in India and Prabakaran is a proclaimed offender in the Rajiv Gandhi murder case.
Parties such as MDMK, PMK and VC in Tamil Nadu accuse Congress government of openly supplying arms, logistical support and diplomatic support to the Sri Lankan government and military in their war efforts to crush and demolish LTTE. In the last 6 months the Sri Lankan army has successfully destroyed the hold of LTTE and now LTTE is restricted to a mere 3-4 square kilometres, with Prabakaran on the run.
However, the unfortunate Tamil people have suffered endlessly in tha hands of the Sri Lankan military. 'Collateral damage' or wanton destruction of lives, several thousand Tamils have been killed and even more maimed for life.
At the other end, the Tamils took up the liberation struggle because they were subjugated, their rights curtailed and a federal structure was denied to the people. Several decades of peaceful struggle yielded nothing. Sinhalese majority is authoritarian, narrow minded and contemptuous of the minority. While it is understandable that the Sinhalese despise LTTE, it is difficult to see Sinhalese intellectuals talking openly about a sensible federal political solution. One or two Sinhalese journalists who were critical of the Government's approach have been bumped off by unidentified gunmen.
A victorious Sinhalese army and government will exact their revenge. Tamils will be vanquished, their rights further curtailed and the poor people forced into deadly concentration camps. The world powers will cry for a while and move on.
In the last few decades, nowhere in the world, minority struggles have succeeded by way of peaceful negotiations.
In this background, Indian parliamentary elections appeared to take a specific direction in Tamil Nadu. It looked as if a lot of people will vote out the DMK-Congress combine. The pro-Tamil, PMK and MDMK now partner AIADMK. Jayalalitha herself changed her stance and started talking about getting a separate Eelam in Sri Lanka for the Tamils (a promise she certainly cannot fulfill). She undertook a fast.
Perturbed by this, Karunanidhi also undertook a sudden fast, and several other Government sponsored agitations. The drama continued and it was announced that because of Karunanidhi's fast, the Indian government extracted a 'ceasefire' in Sri Lanka. The reality was that Sri Lankan army merely announced cessation of heavy arm fire on civilians. However, world media reported heavy shelling even after the drama of a fast. But with the help of pliant Tamil Nadu media - two TV channels are controlled by Karunanidhi's family - we were all informed that there is no more fighting in Sri Lanka and people are safe, thanks to Karunanidhi's fast!
Other issues have simply vanished in this confusion. To be honest, other issues have to do with governance at the state level and they should not be issues to be discussed in this election. The sorry state of electricity in the state should be reflected in the next assembly election. Corruption is taken for granted, but by both DMK and AIADMK. So one cannot distinguish the parties on that basis (Unlike a Lalu Yadav - Nithish Kumar fight in Bihar).
***
For the first time in the last few elections, I am personally confused about who to vote in my constituency. I will probably remain undecided till the 13th morning, as I walk down 100 metres from my home where my polling booth is located. I will probably be undecided until I reach the electronic voting machine. My vote is certainly not for DMK's Dayanidhi Maran. It may not be to AIADMK's Jinnah. Perhaps some poor independent candidate may get a vote from me this time.
This has forced almost all the political parties to take a stance on this issue. That is what confuses the people. To start with, some parties distinguish between the suffering Tamil masses and the armed revolutionary group LTTE. Some others do not distinguish the two and believe that the hope of Tamils lie entirely with the wellbeing of LTTE and its leader Prabakaran.
The principal parties AIADMK, DMK have queered the pitch a lot in the run up to the election. AIADMK's Jayalalitha, until recently, was not bothered about the Sri Lankan problem at all. She was vehemently anti-LTTE and vowed to drive them out of whatever little presence they had in Tamil Nadu. Though Karunanidhi's DMK was not seen as an overt friend of LTTE, the party was also not seen as an out and out enemy of LTTE like Jayalalitha was.
However, DMK is a partner of Congress in the centre and depends on that party for survival in the state legislature. Congress party hates LTTE and Prabakaran for their part in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. As far as the Congress headed Central Government is concerned, LTTE is a proscribed organization in India and Prabakaran is a proclaimed offender in the Rajiv Gandhi murder case.
Parties such as MDMK, PMK and VC in Tamil Nadu accuse Congress government of openly supplying arms, logistical support and diplomatic support to the Sri Lankan government and military in their war efforts to crush and demolish LTTE. In the last 6 months the Sri Lankan army has successfully destroyed the hold of LTTE and now LTTE is restricted to a mere 3-4 square kilometres, with Prabakaran on the run.
However, the unfortunate Tamil people have suffered endlessly in tha hands of the Sri Lankan military. 'Collateral damage' or wanton destruction of lives, several thousand Tamils have been killed and even more maimed for life.
At the other end, the Tamils took up the liberation struggle because they were subjugated, their rights curtailed and a federal structure was denied to the people. Several decades of peaceful struggle yielded nothing. Sinhalese majority is authoritarian, narrow minded and contemptuous of the minority. While it is understandable that the Sinhalese despise LTTE, it is difficult to see Sinhalese intellectuals talking openly about a sensible federal political solution. One or two Sinhalese journalists who were critical of the Government's approach have been bumped off by unidentified gunmen.
A victorious Sinhalese army and government will exact their revenge. Tamils will be vanquished, their rights further curtailed and the poor people forced into deadly concentration camps. The world powers will cry for a while and move on.
In the last few decades, nowhere in the world, minority struggles have succeeded by way of peaceful negotiations.
In this background, Indian parliamentary elections appeared to take a specific direction in Tamil Nadu. It looked as if a lot of people will vote out the DMK-Congress combine. The pro-Tamil, PMK and MDMK now partner AIADMK. Jayalalitha herself changed her stance and started talking about getting a separate Eelam in Sri Lanka for the Tamils (a promise she certainly cannot fulfill). She undertook a fast.
Perturbed by this, Karunanidhi also undertook a sudden fast, and several other Government sponsored agitations. The drama continued and it was announced that because of Karunanidhi's fast, the Indian government extracted a 'ceasefire' in Sri Lanka. The reality was that Sri Lankan army merely announced cessation of heavy arm fire on civilians. However, world media reported heavy shelling even after the drama of a fast. But with the help of pliant Tamil Nadu media - two TV channels are controlled by Karunanidhi's family - we were all informed that there is no more fighting in Sri Lanka and people are safe, thanks to Karunanidhi's fast!
Other issues have simply vanished in this confusion. To be honest, other issues have to do with governance at the state level and they should not be issues to be discussed in this election. The sorry state of electricity in the state should be reflected in the next assembly election. Corruption is taken for granted, but by both DMK and AIADMK. So one cannot distinguish the parties on that basis (Unlike a Lalu Yadav - Nithish Kumar fight in Bihar).
***
For the first time in the last few elections, I am personally confused about who to vote in my constituency. I will probably remain undecided till the 13th morning, as I walk down 100 metres from my home where my polling booth is located. I will probably be undecided until I reach the electronic voting machine. My vote is certainly not for DMK's Dayanidhi Maran. It may not be to AIADMK's Jinnah. Perhaps some poor independent candidate may get a vote from me this time.
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