Ratham Ore Niram

Sujatha's Ratham Ore Niram - a novel based on First Indian war of Independence (1857). One of the best historical novels.It doesn't blindly demonize the British.McKinsey - a cruel British captain,has no respect for women or no sentiments at all.Muthukumaran,a local guy defeats Mc Kinsey in a fight(Silambam - martial arts) and an angry Mc Kinsey kills Muthukumaran's father in confusion.Now Muthukumaran wants to take revenge against Mc Kinsey.He is on a mission.

Captain Ashley, total contrast to Mc Kinsey.He follows ethics,doesn't accept killing women and innocent people.He writes poems to express his love to Emily while Mc Kinsey directly touches her 'romantically' to get her and Emily marries Mc Kinsey while she still sympathizes Ashley.Later she realizes how cruel Mc Kinsey is and finds out some kids in a locality resembling Mc Kinsey.If am not wrong, Sujatha's Karuppu Sivappu Veluppu was stopped because of this episode.

Though this is a historical novel and based on first war of Independence,it doesn't fail to entertain us.Characters like Pooncholai and Bairagi are added mainly for entertainment.Through Ashley's character,Sujatha means,not all the Britishers were cruel and there good people like Ashley too. One need not doubt this,yes there were good people in British side too and a best example would be Lord Ripon.So Ashley's character is very much believable.The novel moves at a brisk pace and scenes like Ashley helping Muthukumaran to escape twice, Muthukumaran rescuing Sivagami(Pooncholai's younger sister) from British custody etc are typical Sujatha touch :-) . The following conversation between Ashley and Edward Mc Kinsey shows how the 1857 revolt started.When you read this novel completely,you will understand 'what caused the revolt and how it ended up'.

"இந்தச் சின்ன கொழுப்பு விஷயத்துக்காகப் பெரிய கலகம் விளையுமா?"

"இல்லை எட்வர்ட்.காரணம் இது மட்டும் இல்லை. இது கலகம் வெடிக்க ஏற்படக் கடைசிக் காரணம். முக்கியமான காரணம் வேறு." - ஆஷ்லி 

"என்ன அது?"

"நாம் இந்தியர்களை நடத்தும் விதம்."

"ஹ! அதில் என்ன குறை? கறுப்பர்களை வைக்க வேண்டிய இடத்தில்தான் வைத்திருக்கிறோம்"

"இப்போது நீ 'கறுப்பர்கள்' என்று சொல்கிறாயே அதில் இருக்கும் வெறுப்பும் ஆணவமும்தான் இன்று கலகம் துவங்கியிருப்பதற்குக் காரணம்."

What makes this novel unique is the 'balance' which Sujatha maintains in describing the atrocities of British and also the Indian rebels.While Sujatha describes the cruel nature of British through scenes like Mc Kinsey enjoying an Indian widow getting burnt alive,British army ruthlessly killing 2 children because they were wearing a rebel like dress etc etc. The narration of Bibighar massacre was so hard-hitting that even being an Indian,I sympathized for the British.120 British women and children captured by the Sepoy forces were slaughtered mercilessly and their remains were thrown into a nearby well to hide the evidence.After reading this book,some questions came to my mind - 'should we take it as all is fair in war? should we oppose wars/fights at any cost?'. On a killing spree one may kill any number of people,but that will haunt him throughout his life.

Infact, there is an important character called 'Bairaagi' (kind of monk, though not exactly..this monk is an expert in martial arts and also cracks adult jokes at times) and this Bairaagi justifies all these war cruelties and he says 'even rape is right in war'.On the other hand,he also describes about British people trapped in Kanpur.They were on losing side and they were even sure of their death in the war.Amiliya,an innocent girl once says to Emily, 'before our troupes reach Kanpur,we all will be raped' and she laughs at an old lady.And she goes on,'after we come out,first thing I would do is to buy a dress as yours'..While offered to leave by the Indians, these trapped people still carried some valuables with them and Amiliya says 'whatever happens,desires of people remains the same'..the death of the 120 people including Amiliya will move anyone to tears.

There are emotional scenes like Muthukumaran saving Emily from an Indian soldier,who tried to rape her.While Muthukumaran takes Emily with him, she emotionally thanks God for sending Muthu to save her.Finally Ashley comes searching Emily and finds her.What happens then is the climax.

I read this book only last year.Once in a while,'Ratham Ore Niram' comes to my mind and also the horror suffered by innocent people(both Indians and British). Sujatha Sujatha thaan 

smile emoticon not sure,if he was honored with any award in the field of literature,but his books will be loved by future generations too compared to some 'award winning books/novels'.  I have said this so many times 'Writer Sujatha is immortal smile emoticon '.

Rhythm - A memorable flashback

This is an age of netizens.A movie's fate can be known within minutes after its release.One need not even wait to find a computer to login and update the review,people have smart phones with 2G/3G data facilities.Infact some people have gone mad that they start posting scene by scene updates too thereby killing the mood of others who haven't watched the movie.Now I want to review a movie which released 15 years ago.I have mentioned the movie name in the title of this post - Rhythm,an Arjun starer directed by Vasanth.

It was holiday time for me when I watched this movie.I watched it in New Cinema Theater( Sri Krishna Palace) in Tindivanam.I went with an expectation of watching some fun-filled action entertainer.I ended up with Rhythm.I had no patience as the reaction of the audience influenced me too.I felt its a painfully slow boring movie.The main reason for watching this movie was songs.A R Rahman was at his peak when this movie got released and Vasanth said in some interviews that there are 5 songs representing the 'pancha boothas(Five prime elements of nature)' - land,water,air,sky and fire.This created an expectation in me and I went to theater.After few months I watched the same movie in sun tv - alone. I understood the movie and fell in love with it.Let me explain this sequence later in this article, now my focus shifts to movie.

Movie starts with the song for water - 'Nadhiye nadhiye'.The main characters involved are Arjun,his parents,Meena,her son and actress Lakshmi.The hero-heroine meets are so natural.At the beginning,Arjun initiates chats with Meena,ofcourse naturally and Meena avoids him.Later on they become friends.This sequence is too natural that we can feel as if its happening in our day to day life.One fine day, Meena requests Arjun and his family to take care of her son for few days as she wants to go out of Mumbai for few days due to some work.Now a strong bonding develops between Arjun and the boy. In between there is a flashback for both Arjun and Meena and the twist is Arjun is a widower while Meena is a widow.Arjun's wife Jyothika and Meena's husband Ramesh Aravind,both died in the same train accident.After knowing all this, Nagesh, Arjun's father asks Meena if she was ready to marry him and she says no immediately.That ends the friendship between Arjun and Meena.

Ours is a society where women has lot of restrictions.Vasanth takes on all the social restrictions imposed on women.He doesn't preach the audience with 10 page dialogues that women are this and that and we should worship them,celebrate them,bla bla bla..Meena's husband is shown as someone belonging to a wannabe orthodox Brahmin family.His ambition was to adopt an orphan kid and wants his wife to consider that kid as their first child.His mom,Lakshmi,an old fashioned traditional mom is not ready to accept this.She neither accepts her son's love.Ramesh Aravind and Meena marries without the permission of Ramesh Aravind's parents.Fate plays its part and hours after the marriage Ramesh goes to meet his mom hearing that she is ill.Lakshmi refuses to meet him and sends him out without even blessing him a happy married life.Ramesh travels back in train.

The other flashback shows as Arjun working in bomb squad and he loves his profession so much.He loves his wife like anything and while watching the movie one may feel that Karthik and Aruna(Arjun and Jyothika) are the happiest couple.Even the impatient audience in that small theater enjoyed the Arjun-Jyothika sequence.One day Jyothika expresses her fear about her husband's job to Ajay Rathnam,Arjun's close friend.She doesn't want to say anything about it to her husband,because she knows how much he loves that job and she loves her husband even more.Again fate plays its role here.Ajay gets brutally injured while diffusing a bomb and he conveys the fear expressed by Jyothika to Arjun.He understands it and immediately resigns his job.He loves his wife more than his job.He doesn't want his wife to be worried.He informs Jyothika about his resignation through a phone call.Jyothika was in her friend's marriage.On hearing this from her husband,out of excitement she immediately leaves to Chennai to meet Arjun.She gets into a train.

Now both the trains clash with each other and Ramesh and Jyothika dies.Meena adopts a kid from the orphanage(Shivananda Gurukulam) where Ramesh was serving and names him Shiva as a token of love and respect for her husband.She gets her husband's bank job.Her in-laws refuse to accept her and she takes care of the kid all alone.Shiva became too close to Arjun.The society is not only with good people.It has its own share of selfish, bad,ugly and cruel people too.One such person is living in Meena's neighborhood.

In our society young/middle-aged widows and divorcees are soft target for men.They want to exploit the biological emotions of these women.They will not marry these women but are ready to do everything else.When you talk about marrying them,you will get all the lectures of tradition,culture etc etc etc.Now,the neighbor attempts to rape Meena and she escapes from him.There is a scene following this like Arjun fighting with the neighbor and this fellow migrates with his family from his residence.This scene is added keeping Arjun's action hero image in mind.But thats just 5 minutes and its alright.Meena meets a priest who seems to be her well-wisher.She openly expresses her fear of being alone.The attempt-to-rape incident has created a sense of fear in her.She has a responsibility with her in the form of Shiva.The priest advises her to marry again.Director speaks through this priest.A short but powerful conversation.

He says,"you should marry again,if not for you,atleast for your kid.Why are you not accepting for another marriage?Do you think its a betrayal to your husband?If your husband loved you really will he be happy to see you suffering like this throughout your life?Those days when my grandfather died,they burnt my grandmother as well along with him.Doesn't it appear foolish now?Likewise things has to change.Just because someone we like has died, it doesn't mean our life is over with them.Death is not the end".This the director is not advising to Meena,but to the society.He asks the society to treat women equally through these dialogues.

A disturbed Meena thinks about this.Though she refused to marry Arjun,somewhere deep inside her mind she too wants someone like Arjun to take care of her.She wants someone who understands her well,someone who will consider her son as his son.In short she wants to marry someone for whom love is more than just love-making.There is a scene which shows the boy crying to meet Arjun. Now Meena decides. She says,"will you be happy if we all - you,me,Karthik sir(Arjun) and his parents live in the same house?" and the boy happily says yes.Had Arjun married Meena with this scene,the movie might have ended soon and the audience might not have complained about the length.But that would have been incomplete.So there is more. Meena calls Arjun and asks him to meet her.Now she is all set to propose him and convey the decision about marriage.She blushes again.There is a beautiful song for this situation - 'thaniye thannanthaniye naan kaathu kaathu nindren'.

Meena comes back.She is in for a shock.Her mother-in-law,Lakshmi is sitting inside the house with Shiva.She is shocked.That's it.She doesn't show anyother emotion on her face. She does not angrily push her mother-in-law out of her house.She casually greets her. Serves her food with total respect.After eating Lakshmi cries loud.She says because she refused to meet Ramesh on that fateful day,he met with an accident and she killed her own son.She is moved by her daughter-in-law's gesture to serve food and treat her with respect. She asks her to quit the job and come to her native to live together.The old lady feels she was not fortunate to live with her son for a long time and she wants to spend her remaining life with her grandson and daughter-in-law.Meena with a heavy heart agrees to it.She leaves with Lakshmi and Shiva,gets into train.Meanwhile Arjun is waiting for Meena.He is waiting. She notices him.She cares for him.She wants to get down and explain her situation to him. But something restricts her.She feels it awkward to do so infront of her mother-in-law.With tears in her eyes she leaves without even informing him.Arjun is still waiting.He waits for a long time.

Thank God Vasanth didn't end the movie like this to show Meena as a woman who has not deviated from the so called tradition.There is more.Meena is not selfish.She wanted to marry Arjun not only for security reasons,but also out of love.Her love was true too.The news about a bomb blast in Mumbai Indian Express office (Arjun works for Indian Express) sends a chill down her spine.She immediately makes a phone call to the Indian Express office and inquires about Arjun.She is relieved after knowing that he is fine.

Now Arjun meets Meena in Ooty, this is mere coincidence.Lakshmi learns about how Arjun's wife died and invites him to her home.Arjun agrees to it.Finally Arjun and Meena gets the much needed privacy as Lakshmi has gone to school to pick up Shiva. Now Meena makes a confession.She explains everything to him.She says she called him to say yes to the marriage and the events that followed has brought her here.Finally she says,even now if I don't say this,you will never ask,because you are so good (ipo kooda naanaa idha sollalanaa neenga idha kettirukka maatinga,ennaa neenga romba nallavar :-) ). Finally Lakshmi comes to know about the marriage plan through Shiva. She requests Arjun to marry Meena and says she is not an outdated woman(pazhaya panchangam) atleast in this matter. Meena needs someone like you to take care of her throughout the life. The movie happily ends with Meena and Arjun walking having Shiva in between them.

I used to wonder what made me like this movie after 6 months.Till now I haven't found a convincing answer for this.Probably I should have watched the movie patiently without getting influenced by the activities of people around.What went wrong with this movie that it failed in box office?Some charismatic actor instead of Ramesh Aravind might have worked out.Someone like Mounaragam Karthik.Otherwise no complaints about this movie at all. Vasanth has beautifully explained the feelings of a woman. The poetic love sequences with a lovely music makes this movie one of my all-time favorites :-). By the time am publishing this post,it will be February 14 - Valentine's day.Yes this is a Valentine's day special.

I could have written some usual girl-boy-love related stuff.But I wanted to attempt something different.I wanted to write something so that the misogynistic boys/men understands the feelings of girls/women.I want to strongly express my opinion that love is more than love-making.Love is much more than kissing on road.I know you all have watched Rhythm so many times in KTV.Still I wanted to use this movie as a medium to convey certain things.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Freedom of Expression and Protests

This is not a new topic,I have written some articles in this blog about freedom of expression and protests that followed.When there were protests against Thuppakki,Viswaroopam I posted an article in this same blog.Now this 'freedom' has gained more importance.

Perumal Murugan - a Tamil writer is the latest to get attention in the name of freedom of expression. Now the protests are against his novel - 'Maadhorubhaagan' which was published few years ago.I don't know what he has written as I haven't read that book.I was not even aware of that book. Thanks to all protesters,now I came to know about Perumal Murugan and his Maadhorubhaagan. The protesters claim is that the author has insulted people of Tiruchengode by projecting their lifestyle in bad light. It seems the author has written something like men and women had sex with anyone they wanted to have with during Thiruvizhas(kind of festival).

Source -

http://tamil.oneindia.com/news/tamilnadu/author-perumal-murugan-has-died-hounded-hindutva-groups-218934.html

Now the offended people wants to show their protest.This made intellectuals, progressive thinkers,communists, cynics etc angry.As usual they started,"the Hindutva organizations, saffron camp has crushed the freedom of expression in India.There is an emergency like situation in India". But these gentlemen missed out something here.Strong protests have come from the Kongu Vellalar community.Their protests were even severe than the Hindutva outfits.This is not my imagination or story,this is what Mr.D Ravikumar,belonging to VCK(Viduthalai Chiruthaigal) had to say. You can find the details in the Hindu link given below :

"இந்துத்துவா அமைப்புகளைக் காட்டிலும், மாநிலத்தின் மேற்குப் பகுதியில் வாக்கு வங்கியில் முக்கியப் பங்கு வகிக்கும் கொங்கு வெள்ளாளர் பிரிவைச் சேர்ந்த மக்களே பெருமாள்முருகனுக்கு எதிராக போர்க்கொடியை அதி தீவிரமாக உயர்த்தியுள்ளனர் என்பது கவனிக்கப்பட வேண்டியது."

http://tamil.thehindu.com/opinion/reporter-page/%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%9F-%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%A3%E0%AE%BF-%E0%AE%8E%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A9/article6788072.ece?widget-art=four-rel

While all these gentlemen showed their boldness and expressed their solidarity by condemning the Hindutva/saffron camp,not a single person pointed out about the caste outfit involved.So now we can understand what these gentlemen are pissed-off with.They are fine with the outrage against freedom of expression.But that outrage should not come from Hindutva groups.This is a brilliant logic.

Now coming to Mr.Perumal Murugan, this is what he had to say after the talks with protesters :

"“Perumal Murugan, the writer is dead. As he is no God, he is not going to resurrect himself. He also has no faith in rebirth. An ordinary teacher, he will live as P. Murugan. Leave him alone,” he has posted on his Facebook account."

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/perumal-murugan-gives-up-writing/article6784745.ece

Not sure what this man is trying to do.For me,this looks like a publicity stunt.If he quits writing, who is going to get benefited?Anyway I don't want to discuss about it.

There was an author.He started writing a historical novel.After some 3 episodes were published in a leading Tamil weekly,there were threats to the writer.The complaint was that he had insulted a community.To my knowledge,no rationalist,progressive thinker,communist,cynic etc raised their voice in favor of the writer.Only the editor of the weekly offered him support and suggested to continue with the story.Ofcourse,there may be cheap reasons for their silence then. The editor was ready to publish the remaining episodes.But the writer took a wise decision.

He said,'it seems one particular community feels I have insulted them.Now even if I explain them that the motive of the story is something different,they will not be in a position to understand.Moreover they are threatening to cut my right hand.Then I have to practice to write using my left hand.So let us stop this'.He concludes saying,'after this incident I understood certain things. There is an unwritten rule in the world of Tamil literature that only some people can write certain stories.I felt protesting or fighting for this is so childish'.After few months, he fine tuned the story and published it in another name in the same magazine.This time the protesters didn't care about it and this novel is regarded as one of the best historical novel in Tamil literature.

The novel is 'Ratham Ore Niram' and the author as you all know is none other than the genius Mr.Sujatha.Initially it was titled as 'Karuppu Sivappu Veluppu'. Kumudham published some 3 episodes and its editor Mr.S A B suggested Sujatha to continue Karuppu Sivappu Veluppu and not to care about the protestors,that he was ready to publish the story.Here it is in Tamil :

நான் இதுவரை இரண்டு சரித்திர நாவல்களை எழுதியிருக்கிறேன். ‘ரத்தம் ஒரே நிறம்’, ‘கந்தளூர் வசந்தகுமாரன் கதை’. ‘ரத்தம் ஒரே நிறம்’ கதைக்கே ஒரு சிறிய சரித்திரம் உண்டு. முதலில் அது ‘கறுப்பு சிவப்பு வெளுப்பு’ என்ற தலைப்பில் குமுதத்தில் தொடர்கதையாக அட்டகாசமாகத் துவங்கியது, மணியம் செல்வனின் அழகான சித்திரங்களுடன். மூன்று வாரங்கள் சிறப்பாக வந்த பின் எதிர்பாராத ஓர் எதிர்ப்பு அதற்கு நாடார் இனத்தவரிடமிருந்து வந்தது. நான் அப்போது பெங்களூரில் இருந்தேன். எனக்கு ஏகப்பட்ட மிரட்டல் கடிதங்கள் வந்தன. தமிழில் புதுப்புது திட்டுவார்த்தைகள் எல்லாம் எனக்கு பாடமாயின. தொலைபேசியில் கொலை பேசினார்கள். குமுதம் இதழைக் கடையில் எரித்தார்கள். அதன் ஆசிரியருக்கு நாடார் சங்கத்தைச் சார்ந்தவர்கள் கதையை உடனே நிறுத்தும்படியும் மன்னிப்புக் கேட்கும்படியும் வற்புறுத்தினார்கள்.

ஆசிரியர் ஏ.எஸ்.பி. எனக்கு போன் போட்டு ‘நீங்கள் என்ன சொல்கிறீர்கள்?’ என்று கேட்டார். நான் ‘ஓர் இனத்தின் மனத்தைப் புண்படுத்திவிட்டதாகத் தெரிகிறது. அவர்களின் தற்போதைய கோபத்தில் கதையின் நோக்கம் அதுவல்ல, அடுத்துவரும் அத்தியாயங்களைப் படித்தால் தெரியும் என்று என்னதான் விவாதித்தாலும் உணர்ச்சிபொங்கும் இந்தக் கணத்தில் யாரும் ஒத்துக்கொள்ளப் போவதில்லை. மேலும் தொடர்ந்து எழுதினால் என் வலது கையை வெட்டுவேன் என்று சொல்லியிருக்கிறார்கள். எனக்கு இடது கையால் எழுதவேறு பழகவேண்டும். நிறுத்திவிடுங்கள். அடம்பிடித்து மரணத்துடன் விளையாட இது ஒன்றும் பிரெஞ்சுப் புரட்சி அல்ல’ என்றேன். கதை நிறுத்தப்பட்டது.

ஆசிரியர் ஏ.எஸ்.பி ஆறுமாதம் கழித்து கோபம் அடங்கியதும் இதே கதையை தலைப்பை மாற்றி வெளியிடலாம் என்றார். ‘கருப்பு சிவப்பு வெளுப்பு’ அதேபோல் ஆற அமர ‘ரத்தம் ஒரே நிறமாக’ வெளிவந்தது. சிப்பாய்க்கலகத்தைப் பற்றிப்படித்தபின் அதில் ஒரு தமிழன் கலந்துகொண்டால் எப்படி இருந்திருக்கும் என்பதைக் கற்பனை செய்து பார்த்த கதை இது.

இப்போது இதைப்படிக்கும்போது எதற்காக இதை எதிர்த்தார்கள் என்ற கேள்வி உங்களுக்கு எழலாம். அதை மறுபடி கிளற எனக்கு இஷ்டமில்லை. ஆனால் இந்த சம்பவத்தில் எனக்குப் பல விஷயங்கள் புலனாயின. தமிழ் சமூகத்தில் சில கதைகளை சிலர்தான் எழுதலாம் என்ற எழுதப்படாத ஓர் விதி இருக்கிறது. அதை மீறினதால் வந்த வினை என்பது இப்போது புரிகிறது. எழுத்தின் மேல் பிடிவாதம் இருப்பதோ, எழுதினது வேதவாக்கு, அதை யாராவது வழிமறித்தால் உயிருள்ளவரை போராடுவேன் என்பதெல்லாம் விஞ்ஞானச் சூழ்நிலையில் வளர்ந்த எனக்கு சிறுபிள்ளைத்தனம்.

எல்லாப் போராட்டங்களும் அலுத்துவிடுகின்றன. புதிய காரணங்கள் தேடப்படுகின்றன. ‘ரத்தம் ஒரே நிறம்’ மீண்டும் வந்தபோது முதலில் அதை எதிர்த்தவர்கள் யாருமே அதைக் கண்டுகொள்ளவில்லை. இந்தப் புதியபதிப்பை சிறப்பாக வெளியிடும் உயிர்மை பதிப்பகத்தார்க்கு என் நன்றிகள்.

-சுஜாதா (18.12.2005)
courtesy : http://kiruthikan.blogspot.in/2009/07/blog-post_204.html

Here Perumal Murugan is getting threats years after he has published the novel and this only shows there is some motive behind these protests.I don't want to blame any outfit just like that and show my self as a progressive thinker.But there are some points which I would like to mention here.

Whenever there is a product(a book,a movie or a song) in store which criticizes religion(any religion), a group starts their protests against it.If its a movie there is a censor board to verify the content and issue certificate.Protesting against a movie even after passing through censor is atrocious. I don't know if there is a censor-like-body for books.But you have a court.File a case against the author referring to the offensive content.Prove your point and get a ban legally.Vandalizing cinema theaters(protests against PK),burning a book,threatening an author etc are not the qualities of civilized people.Encouraging these activities will do more harm to our future generations.

If I say violent protests are wrong, selective condemnations are nothing short of a crime.Where were all these intellectuals hiding when The Da Vinci Code was banned by the then DMK govt?Did they not support Christian missionaries and organizations then?Did these people raised their voice against the ban on Kamal Hassan's Viswaroopam? When you are not ready to condemn the caste outfit involved in these protests,you should not condemn the Hindutva outfits as well.If you don't have guts to speak against one group,then speaking against another group will not make you a warrior. Till now neither the DMK nor the ADMK has made any statements about this issue.Being a state govt, ADMK has more responsibility as this is a law and order issue.I believe none of these parties will make a statement on this fearing the votebank.

It will be great if the creators avoid vulgarity in the name of freedom of expression.In this case of Perumal Murugan,as mentioned in the Tamil Hindu link shared above,it is upto him to come out in open and what has actually happened.Simply making stunts like 'I will quit writing,the writer in me is dead' and all will do no good to him.He may get some publicity,otherwise these stunts are not worthy at all.

P.S. : I would like to repeat again, I haven't read Perumal Murugan's book,so I can't comment about it.The reference to caste and religious outfits in this article are based on the sources shared.

Gharwapsi - Conversions - The Counter Point

The hashtag #Gharwapsi was trending in top 2 places for more than 3 days in twitter.What is Gharwapsi?If we translate literally,it means homecoming.But the context in which Gharwapsi is used here is returning to the religion from which one got converted to.This Gharwapsi includes people whose ancestors got converted before 400-500 years too.The allegation is that pro-Hindu outfits like Bajrang Dal offered ration cards and money to convert Muslims as Hindus.While these charges doesn't have any concrete evidence,whats really funny is the voice of secular parties against conversions.

What were you all doing all these years?Were you all blind or deaf? In 2002,the then Tamil Nadu govt led by Ms.J Jayalalithaa,enforced the anti-conversion law which banned forceful conversions. The moment that law was introduced the minority groups were jumping to earth and sky as if some anti-minority law was introduced.Schools run by Christian missionaries declared holidays to show their protest against this law.Several processions were taken by these schools involving the children studying in their schools.Not a single secular party or news channel condemned this.One or two newspapers and magazines, which has guts,like The New Indian Express and Thuglak alone condemned it.

Now DMK Chief Mr.Karunanidhi says Modi govt should protect secularism.Let me explain what this great man did when he was in power.After the ADMK lost all the 40 seats(TN and Pondicherry) in 2004 Lok Sabha elections ,Jayalalithaa issued orders cancelling the anti-conversion law.The law was cancelled in 2004 itself.But after Mr.Karunanidhi came to power in 2006,he again brought a resolution in assembly to cancel the anti-conversion law which was already cancelled.So this man ensured that forceful conversions doesn't get banned at any cost.What will Karunanidhi do? He is afterall a political actor who would do anything to get votes.The great Pope John Paul - II condemned the anti-conversion laws and said there is no religious freedom in India.Ofcourse the iron-lady of Tamil Nadu,the then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa gave a fitting reply to Pope.

Pope Paul John II has no authority to speak on the law enacted by democratically elected governments

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2003-06-14/news/27521068_1_anti-conversion-laws-religious-conversions-bjp-s-tamil-nadu

The media then projected Jaya as anti-minority face.The stand of minority sympathizers and wannabe secular media is laughable.They are constantly branding BajrangDal as some terrorist organization.BajrangDal may be an extremist Hindu group,but neither the TV channels nor the activists expose the reality behind the activities of BajrangDal.There was a Hindu saint Swamy Lakshmanananda.He was offering help to tribal Hindus.The Christian missionaries which works day and night in tribal areas were not happy with him.There were 9 attempts to kill this Swamy by Maoists/Naxalites.Finally one day he was killed.The conversions started happening without any difficulty.The BajrangDal started reconverting those who were converted by the missionaries.And the trouble starts here,converting someone by offering jobs,money etc etc is fine with our intellectual society but reconverting the same people by following the same approach is a crime.This happened way back in 2008-09. I am bringing this incident to justify my stand that the media is always biased.

There were issues of Hindu girls getting converted to Islam and it was termed Love Jihad.Media says its false propaganda by Hindu outfits.Then what would you call the case of Tara Shahdeo? I can show so many examples of marriage conversions in India.May be the word Jihad was used for a reason by some pro-Hindu groups. That is a different topic to be discussed in detail, am not going into that now.Let me stick to 'marriage conversions'.If a Hindu boy falls in love with a Muslim/Christian girl,the boy will get converted to Islam/Christianity. If a Muslim/Christian boy falls in love with a Hindu girl,again the girl will get converted to Islam/Christianity.So what should we call this?Ofcourse am not denying the fact that there are liberals in all religions.There are couples who follow their respective religions even after marriage - agreed.But very less in number.What I wrote above me branded as my opinion,that is why I mentioned Tara Shahdeo's name. 

"After marriage Tara Shadeo, claimed, she had found that Kohli's real name was Raqibul Hasan Khan. She said in her complaint that she was tortured for over a month to accept her husband's religion. "

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Love-jihad-National-shooter-Tara-Shahdeos-husband-arrested/articleshow/40942634.cms

Those who are protesting against the Gharwapsi, never bothered to condemn these activities.The hue and cry against Hindu outfits is purely opportunistic and atrocious.Just go through the below link.

Neither the Indian press nor the western correspondents bothered to write about what made Hindus angry in Karnataka: Newlife, one important westernfunded missionary centre ( http://www.newlifevoice.org), began making conversions in and around Mangalore by accosting poor people in market areas, or in bus stands, befriending them and then taking them to churches to introduce them to the father.

Upon introduction they were paid Rs 2,500 per person and then taken to the Velankanni shrine, in Tamil Nadu, where they would get another Rs. 3,000.

When they finally converted to Christianity by changing the name, they got an incentive of Rs 10,000 onwards.

Newlife would then give them instructions to abandon wearing tilak on forehead, not to visit and offer prayers at the Hindu temples, replacing the photos and idols of Hindu gods and goddesses with a Cross, etc.

But what really angered local Hindus was when Newlife went one step further and published a book in Kannada — Satya Darshini — which was widely distributed by its missionaries. Here below is the translation of some of the most abusive passages:

“Since Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva were themselves victims of lust, it is a sin to consider them as Gods. (page 39).

When the Trinity of Hinduism (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) are consumed by lust and anger, how can they liberate others? The projection of them as Gods is nothing but a joke. (page 39). God, please liberate the sinful people of India who are worshipping False Gods. (Page 39).”

In Tripura, there were no Christians at the time of independence. There are 1,20,000 today, a 90 per cent increase since 1991. The figures are even more striking in Arunachal Pradesh, where there were only 1,710 Christians in 1961, but 1.2 million today, as well as 780 churches! In Andhra Pradesh, churches are coming up every day in far-flung villages and there was even an attempt to set up one near Tirupati.

 Christians in India like to say that they are only two per cent and can do no harm. But it is a sham: in the Tamil Nadu coastal belt from Chennai to Kanyakumari, there must be now 10 per cent Christians posttsunami and the same may be true in other parts of south India.

http://francoisgautier.me/tag/satya-darshini/

What was written in that book is widely preached in some non-Hindu religious places.They call Hindus as Kafirs. They say Hindus follow the practice of idol-worship and it is superstition.They openly print pamphlets stating Hindus are sinners and only their religion can save people from idol worship.Post Tsunami, the number of churches and Christians has increased to a great extent in Tamil Nadu.How can this happen?Well, such pamphlets were also distributed in Tirumala Tirupathi.Just read this news.

The proselytise menace has raised its ugly head at Tirumala yet again the holy abode of Lord Venkateswara as an ‘Evangelism at Tirumala,’ a video footage went viral on Wednesday. A video footage named ‘Christian Missionaries active in Tirumala and also converting kids’ sent shockwaves not only among millions of devotees of Lord Venkateswara, worldwide, but also the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams which administers the Tirumala temple, considered the most sacred pilgrim centre of Hindu worship in the world.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/141030/nation-current-affairs/article/video-%E2%80%98evangelism-tirumala%E2%80%99-goes-viral

What were all the Television channels doing when these incidents happened?Why did they not raise their voice against forceful conversions and inducements? 

Don't read this article only on religious perspective alone.There are Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians in India. How come Islam and Christianity have 'Dalits'?The SC quota applies to only Hindu Dalits not to the converted.The missionaries and Islamic leaders convert Dalits by referring to the caste system followed in Hinduism.They claim there is no such discrimination in Islam/Christianity and the Dalits will be taken care properly in their religions.Then why do you demand SC quota?The SC quota was provided for the upliftment of Dalits whose rights were crushed by some so-called upper caste people.We all know how Dalits were treated in olden days. They were not allowed to enter temples,they were not provided proper education etc.Even today considerable level of discrimination exists. It was for their upliftment the SC quota was introduced and am very much in favor of reservation to these people but not to the converted Dalits. Providing reservation to converted dalits will increase conversion and at one point of time Hindus will become minorities(or may become history) in India.

Are the converted people ready to give in writing that they don't want any quota and are ready to compete in open general category?

Having said this,I am totally against converting anyone.I would be glad if the Modi sarkar brings an anti-conversion law to ban all the forceful conversions.More importantly we need a strong law to check the source of funds to all religious organizations.If a religious body fails to provide proper documents for the funds received, the govt should seize the funds and ban the religious body right away.I know all those shouting against this Gharwapsi will not accept this at all.If this bill is introduced,they will again shout.

I am only against selective news reporting and anti-Hindu activities in the name of secularism and not against any religion.

Dec 6th - Other Side of the Coin

Its Dec 6th,today morning some Muslim outfits were conducting meetings against the mosque demolition incident which happened 23 yrs ago..the media,tv channels and all our secular intellectuals easily antagonize BJP for this..Vaiko may even say Modi govt was responsible for the mosque demolition..but the below information never gets importance in papers and tv channels..so what,today is Dec 6,so for my part I am sharing something..these are all facts,not my assumption or imagination..know about secular Rajiv Gandhi and Congress party..

A small flashback.

"Shah Bano, a 62 year old Muslim woman and mother of five from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, was divorced by her husband in 1978. The Muslim family law (marriage, gifts, inheritance, adoption and a few other civil laws are under the purview of personal laws in India - they are different for Christians, Muslims and Hindus) allows the husband to do this and not the wife: the husband just needs to say the word Talaq (meaning divorce) three times before two witnesses for a valid divorce.

Shah Bano, because she had no means to support herself and her children, approached the courts for securing maintenance from her husband. When the case reached the Supreme Court of India, seven years had elapsed. The Supreme Court invoked Section 125 of Code of Criminal Procedure, which applies to everyone regardless of caste, creed, or religion. It ruled that Shah Bano be given maintenance money, similar to alimony.

Some Muslims felt threatened by what they perceived as an encroachment of the Muslim Personal Law, and protested loudly at the judgment. Their spokesmen were Obaidullah Khan Azmi and Syed Shahabuddin. They had formed an organization in 1973 known as the All India Muslim Personal Law Board devoted to upholding what they saw as Muslim Personal Law." - source wiki

Targeting the minority votebank,Mr.Rajiv Gandhi,passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act,which diluted the secular judgement of the Supreme Court.This triggered a huge debate all over India.Later on in 1989,Rajiv ji allowed the 'shilanyas' to be held at the disputed site in Ayodhya.This was seen as a green signal for the construction of Ram temple in the disputed site.This he did to get the Hindu votes.The damage was done by Rajiv Gandhi..There was an inquiry commission(Manmohan Singh Liberrhan commission) set up to probe this incident..the probe went on for 17yrs(In these 17 yrs,1st 4yrs it was a Congress govt,then a govt backed by Congress for 2 yrs..then BJP govt for 6 yrs..then Cong govt for 5 more years)..The commission could not provide any concrete evidence against Advani..

Had there been a uniform civil code,this Dec 6th would have been no special from Dec 5th or 7th. Even after this, the pseudo-secular media is not ready to support uniform civil code.Unfortunately they still want to follow the divide and rule policy. Ok, by sharing this information again and again, atleast we can avoid sensible people falling prey to this act of pseudo-secular media, fanatic religious outfits and opportunistic casteist parties.

If pro-congress media and outfits still wants to antagonize BJP for this,let them do.anti-Congressis will also share the other side of the coin.

I have already mentioned this in one of my previous posts,but there are people with short term memory, for such people we should keep reminding this.Its important to know our history.

Time to help Andhra Pradesh

Earlier it was Kashmir,then it was Assam,now it is AP.People have suffered a lot due to cyclones and floods this year.Every natural disaster teaches us some lessons,the most important one is 'power of unity'.During Gujarat earthquake,whole nation shared the grief and contributed as much as possible for relief works.During Tsunami too,we stood united.Infact,those days there was no social network. Still the entire nation contributed.Today,with these many advancements,we should contribute even effectively.  Even during the recent Uttarakhand and Kashmir floods,people never hesitated to help.

This is what the Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar says,

கேட்டினும் உண்டோர் உறுதி கிளைஞரை
நீட்டி அளப்பதோர் கோல்.

Explanation : Even in ruin there is some good; (for) it is a rod by which one may measure fully (the affection of one's) relations.

Its time to help Andhra Pradhesh.Already people of AP were upset with the bifurcation of their state. Now the nature too has not spared them.The AP Chief Minister,Mr.Chandrababu Naidu is doing a great job by spending most of his time in organizing the relief works.The PM has announced Rs.1000 cr as relief fund.AP still needs help.It was sad to see people fighting for food.As I used to say always, our contributions,collectively,can be of great use.There is no compulsion though.Those who wish to contribute can refer to the below link.

A.P. opens SBI account for donations

Andhra Pradesh Government has opened a current account in the State Bank of India to enable people give their donations to the victims of ‘Hudhud’ cyclone in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and East Godavari districts.

The SBI in a release in Hyderabad said that the name of the account is ÁP Chief Minister’s Relief Fund Receipts’, SBI, Gowliguda branch, Code No.2724, Account No. 34243087405, IFSC Code – SBIN 000 2724, Swift Code – SBININBB315, Email Id: SBI02724@SBI.CO.IN

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/ap-opens-sbi-account-for-donations/article6509293.ece

Kashmir Calls - An Opportunity to Contribute

As we all know, there are floods in Kashmir.Already 250 people were confirmed dead and still hundreds of people or even thousands of people are trapped.The Indian Army is doing a great job to rescue them all.Some arrogant victims are throwing stones at them.The army has patiently ignored this and said they want to rescue everyone trapped in the floods.It will cost a lot for rehabilitation.The Prime Minister has visited the floods and declared this as national disaster.A responsible newspaper, The New Indian Express(TNIE) has provided an opportunity for all of us to contribute.The New Indian Express has started by donating 2.5 lakhs.It has also urged its readers to contribute.Every single rupee matters. One individual may not contribute in lakhs.But together we can make a difference.If 1000 people can contribute 100 each,it becomes 1 lakh.If we contribute even 1 rupee,that will be of great help.Our contributions may be too small like a small drop but together we can make it as large as an ocean. 

TNIE is the best daily in India and am sure the funds will be sent to PM relief fund. Don't stop with just transferring an amount,share this information.Spread this to as many people as possible. I believe people from any country can contribute.

If you wish to contribute,go through the details below.I believe almost all the netizens will be having a bank account with online banking facility.Transferring the amount online will not be a difficult task for sure.

More than 250 people are confirmed dead in the flood fury that has devastated Kashmir. Tens of thousands of men, women and children are displaced, their lives shattered, their future thrown into disarray. Never in living memory has such an overwhelming tragedy overtaken the state. Kashmir weeps.

The rest of us in India need to rush to the aid of our fellow citizens caught in what the Prime Minister described as a national disaster.

We have started a New Indian Express Kashmir Relief Fund with an initial contribution of Rs 2.5 lakh by the NIE Group. It is easy for you to join this initiative:

• Cheques drawn in the name of The New Indian Express Kashmir Relief Fund may be handed over to any office of the NIE Group in any city.
• Contributions in cash may be given to any NIE office and a receipt obtained on the spot.
• Online contributions may be sent directly to Indian Bank Current Account No.6260119197, in the name of The New Indian Express Kashmir Relief Fund, SWIFT-Code:IDIBINBBPAD/IFSC Code:IDIB000P001.  The details of the contributions made may be sent to kashmirrelieffund@newindianexpress.com.

All contributions will be acknowledged in the columns of the paper. The Fund will eventually be handed over to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund for use in Jammu & Kashmir.

Kashmir is in distress. It's our duty to help.

Manoj Kumar Sonthalia

Chairman & Managing Director

http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/From-Kashmir-A-Call-For-Help/2014/09/09/article2422409.ece

The same matter is given in Tamil.

http://www.dinamani.com/india/2014/09/11/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B7%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%80%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%89%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%80%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D/article2425531.ece