The quintessential Dravidian ideologue!!!

Patriarch of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

5 times CM. 6 Decades of Political Career. Titan of TN Politics.

Dravidian Pride!!!

டாக்டர் கலைஞர் மு.கருணாநிதி!

From Independence To Emergency, Nehru To Modi, Mandal To Hindutva, He Saw It All. Till the end, wrote his own script.

From being groomed by the iconic social reformer, Periyar E.V. Ramasamy in Dravidar Kazhagam to taking over Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam from "Anna" C.N. Annadurai, Karunanidhi had marched along success all the way. 

The DMK by then had already made significant reforms and even at that time allowed for monotheism. With Karunanidhi at the helm, the DMK entered a new phase: the party that shaped him would, in turn, be shaped by him. The rest is history.

Someone who dedicated all of him to his people and Tamil till his last breath. Tamil literature has had a massive contribution thanks to him and the epic writings he has left behind will make him immortal. Never has there been a confident and sensible Orator who has truly meant to change lives of people like he has. A great Administrator and a progressive thinker who always stood for oppressed people. The very reason of Tamilnadu's industry & IT boom. The legend who fought all his life.

He may have left us, but not without making a defining impact. His legacy will stay on forever.

RIP.

- DC

Cauvery - "UniteForHumanity"!

The Cauvery dispute began in the year 1892, between the Madras Presidency (under the British Raj) and the Princely state of Mysore (as Karnataka was known then) when they had to come to terms with dividing the river water between the two states. Since then, Cauvery river water has been a bone of contention between the two states with Tamil Nadu asking for it's fair share (or so it may seem from the initial agreement) and Karnataka claiming what's rightly theirs. 

There has been intervention from both the governments in what's likely to favor each of their respective states. Yet, there has been contempt of Supreme Court order in the part of Karnataka government most times. But not to judge who is right or wrong just yet. Perhaps, it's the people's welfare that these governments hold priority for (or at least we believe so). 

Karnataka does not seem to be happy with setting up Cauvery Management Board for monitoring water availability and it's use as part of the SC verdict. Also, the Union government is not comfortable with the SC verdict to form the Cauvery management board within the stipulated period. We may start to believe that the upcoming elections has its say in this but we do not know it for certain just yet. Only time will tell.

After all this protest from Tami Nadu (most of which where staged by Politicians to up their political mileage), things do not look good. But of course, with the amazing response and the support shown from Karnataka people over STR's noble idea "UniteForHumanity", we may well hope for a better resolution. Indeed, it's love and humanity that helps us all survive. Let's just hope! :)

Let's hope for more rain. Let's hope for farmers' lives to get better. For if that happens, ours will be better too!

- DC

P.S. Time we started looking at options to save water. Be it at home or elsewhere Let's not waste water. Let's try rain water harvesting. Let's plant more tress. Let's plea to state government and concerned authorities to streamline drain passage and come up with a fool proof way of saving and sustaining water levels.

Cauvery Timeline!

The Cauvery dispute began in the year 1892, between the Madras Presidency (under the British Raj) and the Princely state of Mysore (as Karnataka was known then) when they had to come to terms with dividing the river water between the two states.

Since then, Cauvery river water has been a bone of contention between the two states.

According to the 1892 and the 1924 agreements the river water was distributed as follows: 75% with Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, 23% to Karnataka and the remaining with Kerala.

The 802 kilometres (498 mi) Cauvery river has 44,000 km2 basin area in Tamil Nadu and 32,000 km2 basin area in Karnataka. The inflow from Karnataka is 425 TMC ft whereas that from Tamil Nadu is 252 TMCft

Based on inflow Karnataka is demanding its due share of water from the river stating that the pre-independence agreements are invalid.

Through the 1960s, Tamil Nadu strongly objected to Karnataka buildings two dams on the Cauvery river but the latter went ahead anyway.

By this time, Tamil Nadu had also built the Mettur dam. The state had become heavily dependent on the Cauvery river after they developed millions of agricultural land around the river.

In 1972, the Centre agreed to appoint a committee to study the water usage by these states. It was found that Tamil Nadu used 566 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet), Karanataka used 177 tmcft.

19 September 2012, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is also the Chairman of the Cauvery River Authority, directed Karnataka to release 9,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu

Karnataka fails to oblige stating failed monsoon.

24 September 2012, Tamil Nadu govt filed petition in Supreme Court

28 Sep 2012, the Supreme Court slammed the Karnataka government for failing to comply with the directive of the Cauvery River Authority

Left with no other option, Karnataka started releasing water which led to wide protests and violence in Karnataka.

4 October 2012, the Karnataka government filed a review petition before the Supreme Court seeking a stay on its 28 September order 

8 October 2012, the Supreme Court of India announced the release of 9,000 cusecs had to be continued by Karnataka. Karnataka stops release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

9 October 2012, Tamil Nadu govt. files a contempt petition against the Karnataka government for flouting the verdict of the Supreme Court.

19 March 2013, Tamil Nadu moves Supreme Court to give directions to Water Ministry for constitution of Cauvery Management Board.

22 August 2016, Tamil Nadu approached Supreme Court, seeking direction to Karnataka to release 50.052 TMC ft Cauvery water 

2 September 2016, Supreme Court asked Karnataka to consider Tamil Nadu's plea on humanitarian grounds and release water and advised both states to maintain harmony. 

5 September 2016 Karnataka informed the Supreme Court that it can release 10,000 cusecs per day, while Tamil Nadu demanded 20,000 cusecs per day.

Supreme Court ordered Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs per day to Tamil Nadu for next 10 days till 16 September 2016.

9 September 2016, the state of Karnataka observed a bandh and protested against the release of water to Tamil Nadu. 

12 September 2016, Supreme Court slammed Karnataka for citing law and order problem and modified the 5 September order, directing Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water till 20 September 2016.

20 September 2016, Supreme Court directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water from 21 to 27 Sep 2016 and directed the Central Government to set up the Cauvery Management Board in order to provide a permanent solution for the dispute.

23 September, Karnataka Legislative Assembly passed a resolution to not release water to Tamil Nadu, hence defying the Supreme Court's order.

27 September, the Supreme Court ordered Karnataka to give 6000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 3 days which was again not carried out.

30 September, the Supreme Court gave Karnataka a "last chance" and ordered 6,000 cusecs of water to be released during the first 6 days of October. The Court asked the Central Government to set up the Cauvery Water Management Board by 4 October 

1 October 2016, Karnataka filed for review petition over Supreme Court's latest order

4 October, Supreme Court directed Karnataka to release 2,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu from 7 to 18 October. 

16 February 2018, Supreme Court passed a final verdict which directed Karnataka to release only 177 tmc of water to Tamil Nadu for next 15 years. 

The verdict also mandated to formally constitute the Cauvery river management board by the union government within 40 days for implementing strictly the tribunal award and its verdict.

Karnataka does not seem to be happy with setting up Cauvery Management Board for monitoring water availability and use as part of the SC verdict. Also, the Union government is not comfortable with the SC verdict to form the Cauvery management board with in the stipulated period.

Tamil Nadu left with facing drought and opportunists using the situation for political leverage.

Unlike rivers such as Ganga, Indus and Brahmaputra, which originate from glaciers, Cauvery is a rain-fed river supported by tributaries flowing into it, according to Outlook. During heavy monsoon, the region experiences excess water flow in the river. When there is a lack of rainfall, inducing a drought-like situation, both states start fighting for whatever little water the Cauvery offers at the time. This affects agriculture and farmers' livelihood as well.

Republic Day!

Significance:
Inception of Constitution of India

Republic Day honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950
with a democratic government system, completing the country's transition towards becoming an independent republic.

‘Independent Sovereign India’ were the words which were part of the Rules of Procedure drawn up by a Committee, suggested by Jawahar Lal Nehru, in the first few sittings of the Constituent Assembly. The word ‘Republic’ had no role to play by then and on the fifth day of the sitting, Nehru passed a resolution to insert the term which, had to be read as, This Constituent Assembly declares its firm and solemn resolve to proclaim India as an Independent Sovereign Republic and to draw up for her future governance a Constitution.

Why 26 January?

Since it was on this day in 1930 when Declaration of Indian Independence (Purna Swaraj) was proclaimed by the Indian National Congress as opposed to the Dominion status offered by British Regime.

Celebration:
Parades, distribution of sweets in schools, speeches and cultural dances

- DC

P.S.
A republic (Latin: res publica) is a form of government in which the country is considered a "public matter", not the private concern or property of the rulers. The primary positions of power within a republic are not inherited, but are attained through elections expressing the consent of the governed.

Set Priorities Right!

Bullet Train at a cost of Rs. 80,000 crore

Shivaji statue at Rs. 3600 crore

Vallabhai Patel statue at Rs.2989 crores 

... and many other projected spending that doesn’t seem the need of the hour!

What we don’t want is Criminal negligence;

…like the Elphinstone Bridge Stampede incident which took the lives of 23 and injured many

…like the Gorakhpur & Farrukhabad tragedy where over 100 kids died due to lack of oxygen

… like the recent Train derailments in UP or the ever increasing farmers death and lack of attention to it!

What we do need is

… The best education

-      need to improve education standards for coming generations 

-      India ranks 92 in education among 145 countries

… The best Healthcare

-      need to have increase access to quality healthcare for everyone

-      India ranks 154 in global healthcare  

… The best Safety

-      need to make the country safer for women and the likes of everyone

-      India ranked 101 & 141 on Safety Index & Global Peace Index respectively among 163 countries  

The whole point is not to go against bullet trains or statues or whatever, rather about setting priorities right. Isn’t Education, Healthcare, Safety and likes make the basic need for people.

Shouldn’t a people’s government be willing to spend and act on satisfying this before spending lavishly elsewhere???!

Hope it does for the betterment of people and the country.

Jai Hind!!!

- DC

Happy Independence Day!

From being a country of 14 provinces in 1947 to a country of 29 States and 7 Union territories, mother India has come a long way. 

But why has our patriotism invariably become seasonal is for everyone to wonder. Republic Day and Independence Day are when our patriotism strikes high. We can do something about it, to remember our soldiers who fight day in and day out, even die in the battle to protect our country and us. Let's just take a couple of minutes everyday to salute them, thank them just as most us do to their loved Gods, for these are men who are gods in disguise. 

And it's time we all knew what our National flag symbolizes. The tri-color stands for courage and sacrifice, peace and truth, faith and chivalry which are apparent traits to be good men and women. Let's stick to it. 

Independence is a state of being and for what may seem the right to it, can only be accomplished when there is no one who gets to sleep hungry and when the society turns corrupt free and when the country itself becomes a safer place for our women. 

Indo-Pak, India-China and what not. There's no mean way to change neighbors, let's work towards peace, tolerance and love. Let's hope. Let humanity prevail!

In dependence with each other, let's sustain!

Happy Independence Day!!!

Respect Women. Voice against sexual violence!!!

Most women are victims of several social stigmas every day. Some of them are crimes of most heinous nature. India ranks number 3 in top 10 countries that reported rape in 2015. As if this wasn't shameful enough, the fact that 98% of the cases reported were committed by someone known to the victim, is. An average of 2~3 rapes happen every hour in India according to The National Crime Records Bureau. And yet we still need to hold protest for justice. They say, "Justice delayed is Justice denied". Why can't there be a better system in place for timely justice!!! How many Nirbhayas before our government did something on this!!!

In our world, more often than not, women are blamed for whatever reason and the Society disregards every atrocity they have been forced to go through. Over and over again, the issue of abuse, sexual assault and rape is twisted inside out. Women are told not to walk alone or wear the "wrong" clothing, or they are inviting a sexual attack. In the aftermath of rape too, women are questioned about what they wore, whether they were drunk and what they did to "provoke" their attacker. In the legal system, they're questioned about whether they fought hard enough or whether they sent "mixed signals." The message in this and so many other cases is that the burden is on women to prevent rape, rather than on men to not rape. 

The way they dress has nothing to do with these crimes. Women get raped. Even infants, 1 year old, 2 years old. There exists psychopaths and perverts among us. Period. 

"Was it because of me?", asked the Short Skirt.
"No it happened with me too", replied the Burkha.
The diaper in the corner couldn't even speak.
- Darshan Modkar

Women are not to be blamed for it but our system. Men don't rape and those who do are no better than evils. "De Wallen, the most notorious red light district in the world, yet one of the safest places on earth", written by a woman herself tells the story. I don't think we should be telling women anything. Rather, we should be telling men and start the conversation there. Start with our kids. Teach them at school. Teach them at home. Teach them at all places. Just one thing. That women need to be respected. 

Let them be known to respect one and all and of course to stand for one another at all times. If you come across domestic violence. Stop it. If you see a women being harassed at work, in a mall, in a cinema, in a bus stop or anywhere. Stop it.

If we want to stop sexual assault, it will take a fight against the entrenched sexism and victim-blaming atmosphere of such institutions. And beyond that, it will take a fight against a society that instills into the minds of young men that they are entitled to access women's bodies. Let's raise our voice against sexual violence. Let's make our women feel safe. 

"If you are a man who respects women… her rights, her dignity, her independence, her mind, her body, her life… you are a #MARD” - Farhan Akthar 
(MARD/ Men Against Rape and Discrimination )

- DC