China’s India War & Timid Congress Response

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           MAY 07 , 2013           08.30 P.M.

China’s India war of 1962 is still fresh in my memory land . Humiliation of my country is yet to get obfuscated in my sub-conscious mind . Deep scars of Chinese slap is yet to get healed in my psyche . Memory of insulting invasion of our motherland refuses to go away from my being . And again almost after 50 years same hegemonic China enacted second part of the same act in 2013 .

India China Border – Conflict Zone

India & China – Areas of Conflict

China , on April 15 , 2013 , intruded 19 km. into Ladakh . She is showing her ugly , belligerent and bellicose face once again . Once again Ladakh is facing the brunt of Chinese hegemony . Chinese are as brazen as ever . And the ruling party of our country , the Indian National Congress , is as pliant , as subservient , as ever . Like its tallest leader Jawahar Lal Nehru , present – day leaders of Congress are again ready for genuflection . Sovereignty of India is being compromised unabashedly .

Chinese Tents in Ladakh’s Daulat Beg Oldie

Chumar in Ladakh

Daulat Beg Oldie

Battleground Ladakh

Raki Nala Ladakh

Daulat Beg Oldie and Chumar are the latest flash points . Chinese soldiers  entered into our territory , erected tents and refused to return to their earlier position . And it is not a minor incursion . Their intrusion is 19 km deep into our Ladakh .

Daulat Beg Oldi is in northernmost Ladakh. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Minister for External Affairs , Shri Salman Khurshid , is ambivalent as usual . Government of India and our Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh is stoic as usual . Something is being cooking up behind our back . All of a sudden news came that Chinese withdrew from Ladakh and the face off ended . Government Of India spokesperson is saying that Chinese withdrawal from our territory is unconditional . That they voluntarily returned to the pre April 15 position . But it seems that Congress , the Indian National Congress , is playing a dirty and dangerous game .

The buzz is that our government agreed to dismantle the infrastructure in Daulat Beg Oldie sector of Ladakh . They have compromised Chumar post . This particular post overlooks Karakoram Pass . The Karakoram Pass and the Karakoram highway is the lifeline of Pakistan for Pakistan Occupied Kashmir [ POK ] . Indian army can keep vigil on troop movement and clandestine arm supply and on any Sino-Pak nefarious designs . That is the reason for the latest face off .

It is widely believed that to force India to dismantle the bunkers and Chumar watch tower , China sent her soldiers to squat on Indian soil . She showed audacious belligerence and timid Congress succumbed to the pressure and agreed to compromise Chumar post .

China withdrew from Indian soil on May 06 , 2013 . But saddest part is that India also withdrew from Indian soil . If needed , China can come again . It is not the question of China’s intrusion or withdrawal . It is question of India’s genuflection . It is question of our leaders betrayal . Since the days of HINDI CHINI BHAI BHAI  , to the day of present day economic cooperation , nothing has changed in the belligerent attitude of China or the subservient attitude of our leaders of Congress .

China has a problem with all her neighbours . Be it India in the south , be it Indo – China in south – east , be it Taiwan in the east , be it Japan in north – east or be it Mongolia in the north . China’s thirst for land and more land is unquenchable .

War Zone India

War Zone South China Sea

Jawahar Lal Nehru betrayed India in 1962 . His descendents are doing the same now . According to Nehru ,  Aksai Chin was the barren area . He infamously said , ” not a blade of grass grows there .” After 50 years his party’s foreign minister says about the Chinese tents , ” it is like acne .” Nehru’s party’s incumbent prime minister says , it is a local problem . “

1st Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sonia Gandhi, President of the Indian National Congress and the widow of former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi , grandson of Nehru (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We have to be careful . We have to be vigilant . Congress has history of not protecting our motherland . They are compulsive liars . They can go to any length for protecting their throne , but not the country .

According to me we should engage Japan , Mongolia , Taiwan , Vietnam and Philippines in this war against China’s hegemony and her territorial invasions .

I , on behalf of all the students and staff of VIDUR Acting Institute , which is known as Vidur’s Kreating Charakters   denounce China , her bellicose and belligerent leaders and also the spineless leaders of Congress .

Once upon a time there was a sardar known as Maharaja Ranjit Singh , who conquered Ladakh .

Alas ! Now there is a sardar known as prime minister Manmohan Singh , who compromised Ladakh .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

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Related articles

• Did India agree to remove a bunker to end standoff with China? (ibnlive.in.com)
• China ends Ladakh standoff, troops pull back – Hindustan Times (hindustantimes.com)
• India-China pullback: what happened behind the scenes (ndtv.com)
• China ends stand-off, pulls out troops from Daulat Beg Oldi sector (thehindu.com)
• India, China end Ladakh stand off (thehindu.com)
• China-India stand-off at Ladakh ends, armies withdraw: Press Trust of India (ndtv.com)
• ‘China-India standoff in Ladakh ended after diplomatic level talks’ (ibnlive.in.com)
• No deal was struck with China to end Ladakh face off: Sources (ibnlive.in.com)
• India and China do diplomatic system restore (southasia.typepad.com)
• Work in progress (thehindu.com)

125 Years of K. M. Munshi

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           FEBUARY 14 , 2013           11.25 P.M.

When in the beginning of January 2013 , President of India Pranab Mukherjee went to Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan headquarters in Mumbai and paid tribute to K. M. Munshi , I suddenly realized that my favourite icon , a freedom fighter and an extraordinary litterateur of India has completed 125 years of his existence .

K. M. Munshi

I have read Hindi translations of almost all his novels . I particularly love his historical and mythological novels like ; Jai Somnath and Bhagwan Parashuram . During my adolescent years I was enamoured by his personality . His role and contribution in the re-construction of Somnath Temple is unparalleled . It speaks volumes about his character and determination that he could achieve this feat , though Jawaharlal Nehru was dead against the idea .

K. M. Munshi was born on 30 December 1887 in the town of Bharuch in Gujarat, and educated in Vadodara , where he excelled in academics. One of his teachers at Baroda College was Sri Aurobindo Ghosh who had a profound impression on him. Munshi was also greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Bhulabhai Desai, and Mohammed Ali Jinnah. After acquiring his degree in Law from the University of Bombay, he enrolled himself as an advocate in 1913 . About this time his first novel was being serialised in a Gujarati weekly.

Under Sri Aurobindo‘s influence, Munshi was attracted to armed rebellion against the British. He even learnt to make bombs, but when he moved to Bombay in 1915, he drifted towards the Home Rule Movement, and was later elected member of the Subjects Committee of the Indian National Congress in 1917. He started the movement for a Parliamentary wing of the Congress, and later became Secretary of the Congress Parliamentary Board in 1938. The same year he founded the well-known Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and Institute of Agriculture at Anand, Gujarat.

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan – Mumbai

Munshi was an active participant in the Indian Independence Movement ever since the advent of Mahatma Gandhi. He joined the Swaraj Party but returned to the Indian National Congress on Gandhiji‘s behest with the launch of the Salt Satyagraha in 1930. He was arrested several times, including during the Quit India Movement of 1942. A great admirer of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Munshi served in the Central Legislative Assembly in the 1930s.

After the independence of India, Munshi was appointed diplomatic envoy and trade agent (Agent-General) to the princely state of Hyderabad, where he served until its accession to India in 1948. Munshi was on the ad hoc Flag Committee that selected the Flag of India in August 1947, and on the committee which drafted the Constitution of India under the chairmanship of B. R. Ambedkar. He and Purushottam Das Tandon were among those who strongly opposed propagation and conversion in the constituent assembly. He was also the main driving force behind the renovation of the historically important Somnath Temple by the Government of India just after independence.

Munshi served as the Governor of Uttar Pradesh from 1952 to 1957. In 1959, Munshi separated from the Nehru-dominated Congress Party and started the Akhand Hindustan Movement. He , along with Chakravarti Rajagopalachari , founded the Swatantra Party, which was right-wing in its politics, pro-business, pro-free market economy and private property rights. The party enjoyed limited success and eventually died out. Later, Munshi joined the Jan Sangh.

Being a prolific writer and a conscientious journalist, Munshi started a Gujarati monthly called Bhargava. He was joint-editor of Young India and in 1954, started the Bhavan’s Journal which is published by the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan to this day. Munshi was President of the Sanskrit Viswa Parishad, the Gujarati Sahitya Parishad, and the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan.

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Apart from founding Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Munshi was instrumental in the establishment of Bhavan’s College, Hansraj Morarji Public School, Rajhans Vidyalaya, Rajhans Balvatika and Panchgani Hindu School (1924). He was elected Fellow of the University of Bombay, where he was responsible for giving adequate representation to regional languages.

Besides being a politician and educator, Munshi was also an environmentalist. He initiated the Vanmahotsav in 1950, when he was Union Minister of Food and Agriculture, to increase area under forest cover. Since then Van Mahotsav a week-long festival of tree plantation is organised every year in the month of July all across the country and lakhs of trees are planted.

Works

Munshi was also a litterateur with a wide range of interests. He is well-known for his historical novels in Gujarati, especially his trilogy Patan-ni-Prabhuta (The Greatness of Patan), Gujarat-no-Nath (The Ruler of Gujarat) and Rajadhiraj (The Emperor). His other works include Jay Somnath (on Somnath temple), Krishnavatara (on Lord Krishna), Bhagavan Parasurama (on Parshurama), and Tapasvini (The Lure of Power) a novel with a fictional parallel drawn from the Freedom Movement of India under Mahatma Gandhi. Munshi also wrote several notable works in English.

Munshi has written mostly based on fictional historical themes namely

1. Earlier Aryan settlements in India (What he calls Gaurang’s – white skinned)
2. Krishna’s endeavors in Mahabharata kaal
3. More recently in 10th century India around Gujarat, Malwa and Southern India.

K.M. Munshi’s novel Prithvi Vallabh was made into a movie of the same name twice. The adaptation directed by Manilal Joshi in 1924 was very controversial in its day: Mahatma Gandhi railed against it for excessive sex and violence. The second version was by Sohrab Modi in 1943.

List of works

Novels

In Gujarati & Hindi languages :-

• Mari Kamala (1912)
• Verni Vasulat (1913) (under the pen name Ghanashyam)
• Patanni Prabhuta (1916)
• Gujaratno Nath (1917)
• Rajadhiraj (1918)
• Prithvivallabh (1920)
• Svapnadishta (1924)
• Lopamudra (1930)
• Jay Somanth (1940)
• Bhagavan Parashurama (1946)
• Tapasvini (1957)
• Krishnavatara (in seven volumes) (1970)
• Kono vank
• Lomaharshini
• Bhagvan Kautilya
• Pratirodha (1900)
• Atta ke svapana (1900)
• Gaurava kā pratīka (1900)
• Gujarat ke Gaurava (1900)
• Sishu aura Sakhi (1961)

Dramas

• Brahmacharyashram (1931)
• Dr. Madhurika (1936)
• Pauranik Natako

Non-fiction

• Ketlak Lekho (1926)
• Adadhe Raste (1943)

Notable works in English

• Gujarat and Its Literature
• Imperial Gujaras
• Bhagavad Gita and Modern Life
• Creative Art of Life
• To Badrinath
• Saga of Indian Sculpture
• The End of An Era
• President under Indian Constitution

• 

  It is important that today’s youngsters should know about these great personalities and should admire their contributions . So I thought it prudent to write a  blog on the occasion of 125th Anniversary of Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi for the students of my institute ,  Vidur’s Kreating Charakters . They should know and respect the chapters of our glorious past .

• [ I have taken some important aspects of K. M. Munshi's life and relevant dates from Wikipedia . I am indebted . ]
• VIDUR
• MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA
• www.vidur.co.in
• www.kreatingcharakters.net
• www.facebook.com/VidursKreatingCharacterswww.vidurfilms.com

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Related articles

• President pays tribute to freedom fighter, educationist (vancouverdesi.com)

50 Years of ” Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo “

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           FEBRUARY 10 , 2013           00.20 A.M.

50 years ago on January 27 , 1963 , a cold day in Delhi , Lata Mangeshkar rendered a song and created history. No Indian can ever forget that song and apart from our National Anthem and National Song , this song became the third most revered song in the history of independent India . Till date no live concert of Lata Mangeshkar ever got completed without rendering this song . The song in question is ” Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo , Zara Aankh Me Bhar Lo Paani …….. “

Lata Mangeshkar as a young woman (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo“  is a Hindi patriotic song written by Kavi Pradeep and composed by C. Ramchandra commemorating Indian soldiers who died during the Sino-Indian War of 1962 . Kavi Pradeep was reportedly moved to compose the song by accounts of casualties of the war.

Noted Hindi Poet and lyricist, Kavi Pradeep, (1915-1998), in late 1930s. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This song was performed live by Lata Mangeshkar at the National Stadium in the presence of 1st Prime Minister of India  Jawaharlal Nehru at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on account of Republic Day , 26 January , 1963 , just two months after the end of the war. The song  moved Nehru to tears. Almost entire Hindi film industry was present on that occasion .

Republic Day (Photo credit: Doddamalluraprameya)

Jawahar Lal Nehru (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Eminent film producer and director Mehboob Khan came with the idea and requested Kavi Pradeep to write a song for the occasion . Kavi Pradeep wrote the song and C. Ramchandra was entrusted to give the music . Lata Mangeshkar was the only obvious choice as a singer . She initially declined the song because she was not on good terms with the music director C. Ramchandra . Later on she was persuaded to sing the song and the rest is history .

All of the artists and technicians involved with the song — including singers, musicians, music director, lyricist, recording studio, sound recordist — and later, lyricist Kavi Pradeep pledged the royalty of the song in perpetuity to the War Widows Fund.In 2005, the Bombay High Court asked the music company HMV to indicate a lump sum payable to the Army Welfare Fund from the song’s royalty proceeds.

I am producing the full Hindi song in Devnagari script .

लता मंगेशकर

============================

ऐ मेरे वतन के लोगों तुम खूब लगा लो नारा
ये शुभ दिन है हम सब का लहरा लो तिरंगा प्यारा

पर मत भूलो सीमा पर वीरों ने है प्राण गँवाए
कुछ याद उन्हें भी कर लो जो लौट के घर ना आए
ऐ मेरे वतन के लोगों ज़रा आँख में भर लो पानी
जो शहीद हुए हैं उनकी ज़रा याद करो कुरबानी

जब घायल हुआ हिमालय ख़तरे में पड़ी आज़ादी
जब तक थी साँस लड़े वो फिर अपनी लाश बिछा दी
संगीन पे धर कर माथा सो गए अमर बलिदानी
जो शहीद हुए हैं उनकी ज़रा याद करो कुरबानी

जब देश में थी दीवाली वो खेल रहे थे होली
जब हम बैठे थे घरों में वो झेल रहे थे गोली
क्या लोग थे वो दीवाने क्या लोग थे वो अभिमानी
जो शहीद हुए हैं उनकी ज़रा याद करो कुरबानी

कोई सिख कोई जाट मराठा कोई गुरखा कोई मदरासी
सरहद पर मरनेवाला हर वीर था भारतवासी
जो खून गिरा पर्वत पर वो खून था हिंदुस्तानी
जो शहीद हुए हैं उनकी ज़रा याद करो कुरबानी

थी खून से लथ-पथ काया फिर भी बंदूक उठाके
दस-दस को एक ने मारा फिर गिर गए होश गँवा के
जब अंत-समय आया तो कह गए के अब मरते हैं
खुश रहना देश के प्यारों अब हम तो सफ़र करते हैं

थे धन्य जवान वो अपने
थी धन्य वो उनकी जवानी
जो शहीद हुए हैं उनकी ज़रा याद करो कुरबानी
जय हिंद जय हिंद की सेना
जय हिंद, जय हिंद, जय हिंद

This iconic patriotic song completed its Golden Jubilee on January 27 , 2013 . I was traveling on that day and thus missed the chance to post my blog on that historic day . After my return to Mumbai , I was engulfed in the vortex of activities and thus lost few more days . But I am happy that I would be posting the blog today .

In my institute Vidur’s Kreating Charakters , I always try to keep my students posted with such anecdotal facts of Indian cinema . It is one thing to claim to be the best acting school of Bollywood or to be the best acting academy of India but trying to be the same is very taxing . And so – called best acting classes of Mumbai fail on this account .

Today as I am posting this blog , I vividly remember the fervour this song created in those dark days of India’s history . This song came as a morale booster for the battered and bruised nation called India . Lata Mangeshkar , poet Pradeep , music director C. Ramchandra and the entire team behind this song shall always be remembered by this grateful nation . And yes , we shall also remember the flawed utopian ideology of Jawahar Lal Nehru and his Congress for the humiliating and inglorious chapter of our country’s history .

[ Some portions of this blog is taken from Wikipedia . My thanks . ]

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

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Related articles

• 50 Years of Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon (indiatimes.com)
• Iconic patriotic song turns 50 (gulfnews.com)
• Patriotic song ‘Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon’ turns 50 (ndtv.com)
• I had declined ‘Ae mere watan ke logon’: Lata Mangeshkar (vancouverdesi.com)

Latest Game of Paid Media & R.S.S.

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           JANUARY 06 , 2013           11.15 P.M.

Congress , the Indian National Congress commands enviable sway over the Indian media . During olden days , when print media ruled the country , they always had their way . And gullible masses knew nothing about it . These days , when electronic media has become all – powerful and has almost become omni – present , Congress has devised a new strategy . It is alleged that a vast section of electronic media is getting paid and thus to oblige their masters they have become a mere tool in their hands .

The game started in the newly independent India . Jawahar Lal Nehru and later on his daughter Indira Gandhi , both used print media to malign R.S.S. [ Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ] . I have followed political scenario of the country since the days of Jawahar Lal Nehru , the first Prime Minister of India . Shri Golwalkar a.k.a. Guru Ji was demonized by him and the sycophant print media helped him to accomplish his nefarious goals . His designs went unnoticed because of the gullible public of those nascent days . Same was the case during Indira Gandhi’s regime . She always maligned R.S.S. and the 3rd Sarasanghachalak Shri Madhukar Dattatreya Deoras a.k.a. Bala Saheb Deoras and no one got the hint because the people of freshly independent country were still naive .

The old tactic of maligning and demonizing R.S.S. [ Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ] is still continuing unabated with the help of pliable , sycophant and ready – to – help allegedly paid media .

Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar – 1st Sarasanghachalak of R.S.S. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Guruji Golwalkar – 2nd Sarasanghachalak of R.S.S. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Madhukar Dattatreya Deoras – 3rd Sarasanghachalak 0f R.S.S.

Rajendra Singh – 4th Sarasanghachalak 0f R.S.S.

Kuppahalli Sitaramayya Sudarshan – 5th Sarasanghachalak of R.S.S. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dr. Mohan Madhukar Bhagawat – 6th Sarasanghachalak of R.S.S. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mohan Madhukar Bhagawat , the 6th Sarasanghachalak of R.S.S. , unwittingly became the latest whipping boy of paid media . Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was never their favourite but to take innocuous line from a speech and twisting it to further their nefarious designs is deplorable . It is unfortunate .

But now the days are changed . All – pervading , all – encompassing electronic media can’t be a tool of only the Congress . Through internet and various forums of social media people can know the truth and can educate others also . Gone are the days of servile media , which was always ready to help their masters . Now public can know and verify the truth . So within hours of the statement of Shri Mohan Bhagawat , paid media twisted and misquoted it to help their Congress masters , who were facing worst crisis because of the deplorable case of Delhi girl child . So Shri Mohan Bhagawat became the target . But it backfired .

People watched the speech on YouTube and twitter – handles were used to remove the misinformation . You can go through the tweets of eminent journalist Kanchan Gupta and can yourself decide . I am re – tweeting the relevant tweets :

Tweets

4h Kanchan Gupta ‏@KanchanGupta

1. Just spoke to impeccable top RSS source. Story on Mohanrao Bhagwat’s alleged comment on marriage and role of man/woman total fabrication.

2hKanchan Gupta ‏@KanchanGupta

2. Mohanrao Bhagwat was speaking on differences between Western and Indian concepts of marriage.

 

2hKanchan Gupta ‏@KanchanGupta

3. Mohanrao Bhagwat pointed out in West marriage is a ‘social contract’. In India it is a ‘sacred institution’.

 

2hKanchan Gupta ‏@KanchanGupta

4. Mohanrao Bhagwat explained man-woman role per ‘social contract’ and NOT per Indian experience or institution of marriage.

 

2hKanchan Gupta ‏@KanchanGupta

5. A studio-edited bite has been used by TimesNow and HT to create false impression that Mohanrao Bhagwat spoke in Indian context.

 

2hKanchan Gupta ‏@KanchanGupta

6. Top RSS source: “The RSS does NOT believe women should stay at home and do household chores.”

 

2hKanchan Gupta ‏@KanchanGupta

7. There is a concerted move by media to deliberately misquote Mohanrao Bhagwat and shift focus away from real issues that hurt Congress.

 

1hKanchan Gupta ‏@KanchanGupta

8. Top RSS source: This is a malacious and motivated attack. Media trying to forge anti-RSS discourse by taking recourse to fabrications”.

 

1hKanchan Gupta ‏@KanchanGupta

9. I am told RSS has pointed out to Arnab Goswami that byte on TimesNow is studio-edited to mislead viewers on what Mohanrao Bhagwat said.

 

1hKanchan Gupta ‏@KanchanGupta

10. Canard and calumny about RSS nothing new. Old trick of Congress to raise bogey whenever in trouble. Media complicit partner.

 

I am posting above mentioned facts for the politically conscious students of my acting academy Vidur’s Kreating Charakters . Many Acting schools of Mumbai are blowing their own trumpet and declaring themselves as the best acting school / best acting institute / best acting academy of India / Mumbai / Bollywood . I don’t want to join the chorus . I don’t wish to declare my acting institute as the best acting school / best acting institute / best acting academy of India / Mumbai / Bollywood . I wish and want my students to become a better citizen of India . I want them to be a socially conscious citizens of this country .

Thus I keep on posting blogs on different topics .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

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Related articles

• Facebook takes a bigger bite out of paid media (greatfinds.icrossing.com)

Ah ! Captain Saurabh Kalia , We Are Ungrateful

Captain Saurabh Kalia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           DECEMBER 31, 2012           05.00 P.M.

Very few people in India remember Captain Saurabh Kalia or even know about him . It is shame , but it is true . Captain Saurabh Kalia was captured by Pakistani army during Kargil war of 1999 and was mercilessly murdered after brutal and inhuman torture . He was just 22 years old at the time of his death .

I have nothing new to say on Captain Saurabh Kalia’s case . I am re-tweeting some relevant tweets about Captain Kalia’s case from the twitter handle of Andhra Pradesh BJP IT Cell . I hope , for discerning and nationalist people , it will be a gentle and tearful reminder about the martyr . For heartless and emotionless brutes , nothing matters . For Congress , the Indian National Congress , the next election is more important and Captain Kalia can’t assure them victory . So for them he is not that important .

Andhra Pradesh BJP IT Cell , in fact , tweeted the verses of Venki . I was moved while going through the lines .

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

Lets Hang our head in shame while we read these Verses by Venki about Capt Saurab Kalia’s Sacrifice 1/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

They didn’t just pluck your eyes out, Capt Saurabh Kalia, They gouged out ours too. 2/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

Or would we have been blind to your father’s agony, His cry for ‘justice’ for all these years? 3/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

They didn’t just pierce your eardrums, Capt Kalia, They poured hot oil in ours too. 4/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

Or would we be deaf to your mother’s fitful sobs And her pitiful cry of anguish? 5/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

They didn’t just burn your chest, Capt Kalia, They carved out our bleeding hearts too. 6/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

Or would we, as a nation, have been so heartless As to forget our Kargil war hero? 7/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

They didn’t just mangle your private parts, Capt Kalia, They castrated an entire nation. 8/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

Or would we be so impotent that we yearn for aman While they plot yet more jihadi crimes? 9/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

When they ambushed you in the Kargil heights, Capt Kalia, They waylaid every one of us. 10/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

But you died so that we may live Our shameless, ungrateful lives. 11/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

We sent you to war at age 22, Capt Kalia, Which is no viable diable age. 12/15

 

28 Dec AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

And yet, we have failed to honour you The way your father sought. 13/15

 

AP BJP IT Cell ‏@AP_BJP_IT_Cell

Shame on us – and , Mother India, That you would send your son to war And yet not collect his martyred ashes Or even shed a silent tear. 14/15

It is shameful that we have almost forgotten Captain Saurabh Kalia , a 22-year-old captain of our army and a martyr of 1999 Kargil war .

I have been often asked , why I keep on writing about matters other than actors , acting and acting institute ? My simple answer is that I want my students to know , apart from films , about our great nation , about the history of India and about the struggle of our national heroes . I am unable to think only about the next batch of my acting school or the coming films of my acting students .

I want my acting students to know about Captain Saurabh Kalia , a martyr , who sacrificed his today for our better tomorrow . On behalf of all the students and staff of Vidur’s Kreating Charakters  , I pay my homage to the brave son of Bharat Mata .

Alas ! we have almost forgotten him .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

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www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

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Longest Serving Chief Ministers of India

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           DECEMBER 30 , 2012           11.57 P.M.

After Narendra Modi‘s emphatic and 3rd consecutive electoral victory in 2012 Gujarat assembly elections , I came across a very startling fact through news papers . Times of India reported that including Narendra Modi , at present we have 6 serving Chief Ministers in various states of India , who have won 3 consecutive terms .

Map of India (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here is the list of 6 serving Chief Ministers , who have won 3 consecutive terms .

1 – Sheila Dikshit = Delhi – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 1998 - to date ]

2 – Manik Sarkar = Tripura – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 1998 - to date ]

3 – Naveen Patnaik = Odisha - 3 Consecutive Terms [ 2000 - to date ]

4 – Tarun Gogoi = Assam – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 2001 - to date ]

5 – Okram Ibobi Singh = Manipur – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 2002 - to date ]

&

6 – Narendra Modi = Gujarat – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 2002 - to date ]

It is very interesting to note that out of these 6 Chief Ministers ; 3 belong to Congress [ Indian National Congress ] , and 1 each to CPM [ Communist Party of India - Marxist ] , BJD [ Biju Janata Dal ] & BJP [ Bharatiya Janata Party ] .

Till date , there are only 13 Chief Ministers , who could win 3 or more than 3 terms consecutively . Here is the list :

1 – Jyoti Basu = West Bengal – 5 Consecutive Terms [ 1977 - 2000 ]

2 – Mohanlal Sukhadia = Rajasthan – 4 Consecutive Terms [ 1954 - 1971 ]

3 – Gegong Apang = Arunachal Pradesh – 4 Consecutive Terms [ 1980 - 1999 ]

4 – B. C. Roy = West Bengal – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 1948 - 1962 ]

5 – K. Kamaraj = Tamil Nadu – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 1954 - 1963 ]

6 – Vasantrao Naik = Maharashtra – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 1963 - 1975 ]

7 – M.G. Ramachandran = Tamil Nadu – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 1977 - 1987 ]

8 – Sheila Dikshit = Delhi – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 1998 - to date ]

9 – Manik Sarkar = Tripura – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 1998 - to date ]

10 – Naveen Patnaik = Odisha - 3 Consecutive Terms [ 2000 - to date ]

11 – Tarun Gogoi = Assam – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 2001 - to date ]

12 – Okram Ibobi Singh = Manipur – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 2002 - to date ]

&

13 – Narendra Modi = Gujarat – 3 Consecutive Terms [ 2002 - to date ]

If you dissect the list further , out of these 13 Chief Ministers ; 8 belong to Congress [ Indian National Congress ] , 2 belong to CPM [ Communist Party of India - Marxist ] and 1 each to AIADMK [ All India Anna Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam ] , BJD [ Biju Janata Dal ] and BJP [ Bharatiya Janata Party ] .

I think in next assembly elections due in 2013 , this scenario is definitely going to change . 2 more BJP Chief Ministers are poised to win their 3rd consecutive term . They are , Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Raman Singh , the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh respectively .

2013 assembly elections are going to unfold interesting chapter in the history of India .

It would be an interesting political story to share with my acting students of my acting institute  Vidur’s Kreating Charakters .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

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www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

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Death of Delhi’s Girl Child : ” A Candle In The Wind “

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           DECEMBER 29 , 2012           05.00 P.M.

Woke up today to the sad news of the death of  the unfortunate girl , who got gang raped in Delhi in a moving bus . She battled for her life for few days and finally succumbed to her wounds , physical and mental both .

I became numb . Shame and guilt engulfed me . In our religion we worship 51 SHAKTIPEETHAS , temples of goddess Durga , yet this happened . In our country even rivers and animals are called MATA , yet this happened . In our literature women are eulogized , yet this happened . Eons ago Manusmriti eulogized women as :

यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते , रमन्ते तत्र देवताः ,

यत्रैतास्तु न पूज्यन्ते , सर्वास्तत्रा  क्रिया अफलाः ।।

[ That house becomes abode of Gods , where women are worshipped . Everything fails in the place , where they get insulted . ]

Jay Shankar Prasad , a Hindi poet , also wrote about women in his epic book ” Kamayani ” :

नारी तुम केवल श्रद्धा हो , विश्वास रजत नग पगतल में ,

पीयूष स्रोत सी बहा करो , जीवन के  सुन्दर समतल में ।।

Durga puja at Burdwan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But it all seems in vain . Women are , in their daily life , subjected to rape , insult , verbal abuse and teasing . Their whole existence is at stake at their working places . In public transport they have to face leery looks of lecherous men .Voyeurism is prevalent in our culture and we do take voyeuristic pleasure while gaping at women . We eulogize women as Goddesses but the reality is pathetic .

Beggar Girl at one of New Delhi’s busy Metro Rail Stations. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is unfortunate . Whatever happened was very unfortunate . But more unfortunate was the behaviour of our ruling oligarchs . Sheila Dikshit , the woman Chief Minister of Delhi , looked helplessly . Sonia Gandhi , the Chairperson of UPA and President of Congress made a pretence of meeting protesters . It is now alleged that they were members of NSUI , the student wing of Indian National Congress . Youth icon Rahul Gandhi is maintaining stoic silence . He does some drama of going to villages and eating and sleeping in the houses of Harijans whenever elections are round the corner . But a 23 old girl’s plight couldn’t move him . Most unfortunate behaviour came from Sushil Kumar Shinde , the Home Minister . He is a Dalit but was unable to empathise with the other weaker section , the hapless girl . President Pranab Mukherjee’s son is another nut case . His very unfortunate remark about some “  …..dented and painted ……. women coming for few second’s fame ” is deplorable . Sanjay Nirupam also came to chip in . His remarks against Smriti Irani shows his male chauvinism .

Sheila Dikshit , Chief Minister of Delhi (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sonia Gandhi, president of the Indian National Congress (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Rahul Gandhi . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Pranab Mukherjee, current President of India (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sanjay Nirupam , Congress MP (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Though the girl wanted to live , she is now dead . The ruling oligarchy is trying every trick in the book to save their skin . Delhi has become a war zone . India Gate is beyond reach of common people . Members of Congress are shedding copious tears . But everyone knows that these male chauvinist are just trying to gain time . Public memory is short and elections are still 2 years away . These morons know that by the time next general election is announced , this hapless girl child will be a forgotten news .

Today , when I was reading all the comments about this girl , I suddenly remembered Elton John’s song ” A Candle In The Wind ” . He had originally made it in 1973 for Marilyn Monroe  . He re – wrote the song in 1997 for Princess Diana . I am giving the original version . Words are still relevant , even though 39 years have passed and it was written for another person and in totally different circumstances :

Goodbye Norma Jean
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your name

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did

Loneliness was tough
The toughest role you ever played
Hollywood created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid
Even when you died
Oh the press still hounded you
All the papers had to say
Was that Marilyn was found in the nude

Goodbye Norma Jean
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
Goodbye Norma Jean
From the young man in the 22nd row
Who sees you as something more than sexual
More than just our Marilyn Monroe

These ominous words still haunt you . They are still relevant . I end my blog with agony , pain and head bowed in shame .

Good bye , young one ! You were destiny’s unfortunate child …….

And it seems to me , you lived your life

Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in

I have nothing more to say . If you stand for a girl child , I know what you can face . Whole system will gang up against you . Male chauvinist , their accomplices and their pathetic factotum , sycophants and fawning parasites will try to muzzle your voice . And voyeuristic India will only look with glee and sadistic pleasure . None will come forward to help . It will become a lonely , personal fight , an uneven , unequal battle .

But without caring for male chauvinist , I will try to inculcate these views of mine among the students of my acting school ,  Vidur’s Kreating Charakters . So that , if needs be , they could be of some help to a girl child and just won’t be a moot spectator .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

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www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

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Tamil Nadu : 25 Years Without M. G. R.

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           DECEMBER 28 , 2012           05.35 P.M.

Marudhur Gopala Ramachandran or M. G. Ramachandran or simply M. G. R. needs no introduction in Tamil Nadu . Though he died 25 years ago , still his popularity refuses to wane . I always knew about his phenomenal sway over the masses in Tamil Nadu but I personally experienced it during my recent visit to the state .

MGR (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One morning when I came out of my room in Subam Lodge , Vaitheeswaran Koil , I noticed that arched are being erected on the streets and photos of M. G. R. are being garlanded everywhere . Old hit songs of the films of M. G. R. were being played . People in large number were queuing in front of his photos and paying respect .

On 25th Death Anniversary , MGR Being Remembered in a Village of Thanjavur

I was astonished . I was astounded by the fact that it is his 25th death anniversary and still people are remembering him . To know the height of his popularity , please go through the description of his death scene , which I am quoting from Wikipedia :

” M.G.R. died on December 24, 1987 after his prolonged illness. He was 70. His death sparked off a frenzy of looting and rioting all over the state of Tamil Nadu. Shops, movie theatres, buses and other public and private property became the target of violence let loose all over the state. The police had to resort issuing shoot-at-sight orders. Tamilians from Bangalore rushed to Madras in trains to see the mortal remains of MGR. Govt had announced free train facility for this visit. The violence during the funeral alone left 29 people dead and 47 police personnel badly wounded. This state of affairs continued for almost a month all over the state of Tamil Nadu. Around one million people followed his remains, around 30 followers committed suicide and people had their heads tonsured.

After his death, his political party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, split between his wife Janaki Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa; they later merged in 1988.

In 1989 Dr. M. G. R. Home and Higher Secondary School for the Speech and Hearing Impaired was established in the erstwhile Residence MGR Gardens, Ramapuram, in accordance with his will dated January 17, 1986. His official residence at 27, Arcot Street, T.Nagar is now MGR Memorial House and is open for public viewing. His film studio, Sathya Studios has been converted into a women’s college. “

New emblem for All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Party, designed by B. Balamanigandan email:bbm@drmgr.org (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Now non – Tamil people can understand his impact and popularity among the masses . It was well – crafted image with the help of his films . He was the first major film star of India , who became Chief Minister of any state and won 3 consecutive elections in 1977 , 1980 and 1984 . He became Chief Minister in 1977 and remained in office till his death in 1987 . In 1984 assembly elections , though he was in the hospital for treatment and could not participate in electioneering , still he led his party to unprecedented victory . His images , from his hospital bed in the U.S.A. , were broadcast through cinema halls . And his party A.I.A.D.M.K. got 56% of assembly seats .

How he created this larger – than – life political image ? You can watch the song  “…….. neenga nalla irukkanum ……… ” of his film ” Idhayakkani ” [ 1975 ] . In the  ……neenga nalla irukkanum ……… song , he pays homage to his mentor Annadurai , whose image is clearly visible on the screen . His party flag is also fluttering in air and you could see that in the song itself his screen character is doing his philanthropic work . ” Idhayakkani “ was released 2 years before he became the Chief Minister . His last released film was ” Madurai Meeta Sundara Pandian ” [ 1978 ] .  This was his 136th film .  It was released 1 year after he became the Chief Minister . So through his 136 films , he created this kind of image , which is unheard of anywhere in the world . After becoming CM , the ongoing project ” Anna En Theivam “ was stopped and later on it was released by Bhagyaraj with modified story in which Bhagyaraj was the hero.

Apart from M.G.R. , no one in India or in world could replicate this kind of success . He was the first and till date only actor turned politician , who got this kind of mass popularity and could generate mass hysteria of this magnitude . N.T.R. or Nandamoori Tarak Ramarao was also an actor in Telugu film industry and he did succeed in Andhra Pradesh but his success was short – lived as he was soon toppled by his own son – in – law . President of U.S.A. , Ronald Reagan was also an actor in Hollywood but he was not a major star.

On my previous visit to Chennai in 2011 , I visited memorial of M.G.R. at Marina Beach to show my respect . In December 2012 , when I visited Chennai again , I was again able to pay respect to him on his 25th death anniversary .

At MGR Memorial , Marina Beach , Chennai

With Poster of MGR in a Small Town

It is sad that he died when he was only 70 . And 70 is not the age to leave the world . Had he been alive he would have been a formidable Prime Minister of India . In these days of coalition politics it would have been a real possibility .

Alas ! We lost him too early and too soon .

I think it would be fascinating to tell his story to all the students of my acting academy , Vidur’s Kreating Charakters . Who knows ? They might replicate M.G.R. story in their lives also .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

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www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

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Understanding Tamil Nadu – [ 4 ]

CHENNAI – TAMIL NADU – INDIA           DECEMBER 26 , 2012           11.55 P.M.

 

The political state of Tamil Nadu in India was created in 1969 when erstwhile Madras State was renamed (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

After four days stay , I left Vaitheeswaran Koil in the afternoon and reached Chennai in the night . Sitting in the room of my hotel Golden Tower , I am writing the 4th installment of ” Understanding Tamil Nadu ” .

In my last 3 blogs I have tried to explain some of the misconceptions about Tamil Nadu , its leaders and general public . For the large sections of North Indian people the image of Tamil Nadu of 1965 is hard to forget . I think I have explained everything in detail about Tamil Nadu of 1965 .

Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai , Muthuvel Karunanidhi , Marudhur Gopal Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa Jayaram have dominated the Tamil Nadu scene since 1967 . They all jointly left Dravid Kazhagam led by Erode Venkata Ramasamy Naicker ” Periyar ” a.k.a. E. V. Ramasamy Naicker ” Periyar ” and formed Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam a.k.a. D.M.K. in 1949 .

 

M. G. Ramachandran, K. A. Mathialagan, C. N. Annadurai, C. Rajagopalachari, M. Karunanidhi at a private function in Jan 1968 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai a.k.a. C. N. Annadurai led D.M.K. to victory in 1967 elections and became the first non – Congress leader to form a majority government in any Indian state . He left Dravid Kazhagam and formed a new party because he was not willing to be part of anti national forces . He was against vivisection of India and was in favour of fighting elections under Indian Constitution . Atheism and anti – Hindi sentiments were the only two things which he accepted and borrowed from Dravid Kazhagam . He was instrumental in dropping the demand of independent Dravid Nadu of Periyar and berrying it forever in the pious land of Tamil Nadu .

C. N. Annadurai’s House in Kanchipuram

Anna Durai Memorial at Marina Beach

After his death in 1969 the post of chief minister went to Muthuvel Karunanidhi a.k.a. M. Karunanidhi . He followed almost same principles of C. N. Annadurai and atheism and anti – Hindi rhetoric still continues to be his credo .

But he has participated in the N.D.A. as well as U.P.A. governments of centre and his earlier bellicose attitude does not exist any more . A five time chief minister of Tamil Nadu is not the same M. Karunanidhi of yore . He is a changed man .

M. Karunanidhi, ex Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In 1972 Marudhur Gopala Ramachandran a.k.a. M. G. Ramachandran split the D.M.K. and formed Anna D.M.K. It was later on rechristened as All India Anna Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam a.k.a. A.I.A.D.M.K. He is the only chief minister of Tamil Nadu , who holds the record of winning three consecutive terms as the chief minister . Though he followed atheism initially , but he was a practising Hindu and a follower of Bhagawan Muruga . During his regime , animosity towards North India disappeared and he followed a policy of no confrontation towards centre .

MGR Memorial

His successor Jayalalitha jayaram is a Hindu Brahmin and though she has not said anything openly but she is not an atheist . She is the only leader of prominence from Tamil Nadu , who can speak fluent Hindi . In my personal opinion she is only leader from Tamil Nadu who is capable of becoming the Prime Minister of India . I must say that she could , rather she should become the Prime Ministar of this nation . That day will be a red-letter day in our history and it will be a final blow to some of the misguided policies of E. V. Ramasamy Naicker ” Periyar ” .

Jayalalithaa , Incumbent Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Thus in Tamil Nadu of today a different picture emerges these days . Gone are the days of unnecessary bellicose attitude of Tamil politicians . Credit for this goes to Bharat Ratna M. G. Ramachandran . Again a personal opinion , but I think he would have been an excellent Prime Minister of India . But alas he died young . 70 is no age to go .

I will again say that Tamil Nadu is changing fast . Or it has already changed ?

I am waiting to narrate these findings to all the current students of  my acting school Vidur’s Kreating Charakters .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

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Understanding Tamil Nadu – [ 3 ]

VAITHEESWARAN KOIL – TAMIL NADU – INDIA           DECEMBER 25 , 2012           10.55 P.M.

The political state of Tamil Nadu in India was created in 1969 when erstwhile Madras State was renamed (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After going through my two previous blogs on ” Understanding Tamil Nadu ” , I think that E. V. Ramasamy Naicker ” Periyar ” and his various steps , which he took during his movements , would be properly understood out of Tamil Nadu also . His rationalism , espousal of self-respect , advocacy for women rights and eradication of caste system is epoch – making and has everlasting effect on Tamil people and Tamil Nadu .

A Young E. V. Ramasamy Naicker Periyar (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

His works among weaker sections of Tamil Nadu , his efforts for the uplifting of lower castes , long subjugated by Brahmins , would be always held in high esteem and would be considered exemplary .

His untiring efforts for the uplifting of women bears indelible marks on the social psyche of Tamil society . Widow marriage , in my opinion , is his most colossal work .

He tirelessly worked for the eradication of child marriage . He espoused inter – caste marriages and opened many educational institutions for the weaker section of society .

It is not for nothing that UNESCO citation in 1970 described Periyar as ” the prophet of the new age  , the Socrates of South East Asia , father of social reform movement and arch enemy of ignorance , superstitions , meaningless customs and base manners .”

His blind opposition of HINDI , HINDU , HINDUSTAN somewhat darkens his other exemplary and far – reaching social works . It is this aspect of his personality and work that brings suspicion and doubt in the minds of large sections of North India . To understand Tamil Nadu better , let us take all the three causes of Periyar , one by one .

HINDI : I closely followed politics since my Allahabad days . I went to Allahabad in 1967 and it was the year when anti – Hindi agitation started in Tamil Nadu . I read many wicked stories published in the Hindi newspapers and magazines of those days . One story said that if you are lost and approach a Tamil speaking person for asking the right route , you will be unable to get an answer if you ask in Hindi . Even if  a Tamil speaking person knows Hindi , he won’t answer and will go away saying ” HINDI ILLAI ” .

I found this story false during my recent forays in the hinterlands of Tamil Nadu . If I approach a person for asking something and even if I ask the question in Hindi , I was not spurned . I get the answer in broken Hindi and that too with smiling face . Sometimes if the person genuinely doesn’t know Hindi , instead of running away , he tries to explain everything in fluent Tamil with lots of hand movements and facial expressions .

If Tamil people think that Tamil is an ancient language and it is older than Hindi , I think that we have to respect the sentiment . Tamil is used in every sphere of Tamil Nadu and you will hardly find signboards in Hindi but in my opinion that is absolutely fine . A particular language should be respected and should be used in the land of its origin . That’s the basis for the formation of linguistic states , which has been agreed by all the political parties .

HINDU : E. V. Ramasamy Naicker ” Periyar ” was atheist for sure . Through his organization Dravid Kazhagam , he started denouncing Hinduism . It started with denunciation of Iyers and Iyengars , Brahmins of Tamil Nadu and culminated in processions , where idols of Ram , Sita and Lakshman were garlanded with slippers .

I can understand his dislike for Brahmins . I am willing to fathom his opposition of Sanskrit language also . I am willing to accept his credo of atheism . We in India have accepted Charvak , the first atheist , as a saint . But you can’t force your belief of not believing in religion on others .

He organized a procession to the Marina beach in 1956 , to burn pictures of Rama , the God . His followers broke idols in the temples , banished Brahmins from the every section of tamil society and organized Ravan Leelas .

But in my recent visits to the state , I found to my surprise that in every temple of Tamil Nadu  a serpentine queue of devotees are visible . It has to be seen to be believed . People come in very large numbers and they pray and worship . Temples are well maintained in Tamil Nadu and I can vouch that Hinduism is thriving in the state much vigorously . Dravid Kazhagam is now a smaller force and Tamil Nadu is as religious as any part of India . In following the tenets of Hinduism they are much ahead and dogmatically strict . On EKADASHI , I found people thronging the temples . I am yet to see same enthusiasm on EKADASHI in North India . Moreover the Tamil Nadu state emblem tells it in a more fitting way .

Emblem of the State Government of Tamil Nadu used by the state government for public notices in the press and for publicity purposes. The emblem of India is the image used on the India Wikipedia article. தமிழ்: தமிழ் நாடு அரசின் சின்னம். (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Burning effigies of Bhagawan Ram and other Hindu Gods and the days of celebrating Ravan Leelas are over . Atheism can be accepted , as Charvak was accepted in olden times and he was even called a RISHI .

HINDUSTAN : One of the most disturbing legacy of Periyar was to give a call for Dravid Nadu . He wanted to unite all the four provinces of South India and wanted this entity to be an independent Dravid Nadu .

But majority of his supporters revolted against this demand . In the leadership of C. N. Annadurai , they formed Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam and fought elections . Since 1965 either D.M.K. or A.I.A.D.M.K. rules the state and the demand of so-called Dravid Nadu is thrown somewhere in the trash bins of history .

But demand for separation from India is there in Jammu & Kashmir and all the provinces of North East India . They are more palpable . In fact these provinces are waging armed struggle against the nation . Then why to blame only Tamil Nadu ? There was just a demand and that too by just one organization , Dravid Kazhagam . And today Dravid Kazhagam is not a major force .

A very interesting fact of Tamil Nadu and Dravid politics is that Periyar was himself a Kannada speaking Kannadiga . One of the most successful chief ministers of Tamil Nadu , M. G. Ramachandran was a Kandy , Sri Lanka born and Malayalam speaking actor turned politician . current chief minister Miss Jayalalithaa Jayaram is also a Kannadiga and the irony of the situation is that she is a Brahmin . And she speaks fluent Hindi . Present day superstar Rajanikant , incidentally , is a Maharashtrian .

Jayalalitha , the current Chief Minister of , Tamil Nadu (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So the fort of atheism and anti Hindi these days is held by Muthuvel Karunanidhi only . But even his family members have changed . M. K. Stalin and Kannimozhi are not that dogmatic .

K. Karunanidhi, the ex Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So I am stating with all my knowledge accumulated during this visit that Tamil Nadu is changing . Or it has already changed ?

After my return , I would love to share these findings with all the current students of my acting institute Vidur’s Kreating Charakters .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

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