In an article written ten days after Independence, the Dravidian ideologue lays bare the convergence of caste, class, and religious interests in the Golden Sceptre and its dangerous political consequences.[ Hours before Jawaharlal Nehru was to take over as the first Prime Minister of independent India, representatives of Ambalvana Desikar, the head of the Thiruvaduthurai Aaadheenam, a Saivite mutt in Mayiladuthurai district, presented a Sengol (Golden Sceptre) to him at a simple ceremony in New Delhi. A book titled Saiva Aaadheenangal (authored by Ooran Adigal, a follower of Saivite saint-poet Ramalinga Adigal) records this event like this: “Aadheenam Periya Karubaru Kumarasami Thambiran Swamigal, aadheena Odhuvar Manikka Odhuvar, and aadheena nadaswara vidhwan Thirvaduthurai T.N. Rajarathinam Pillai took the Sengol to Delhi and presented it to Nehru. As Rajarathinam Pillai played the nadaswaram and Odhuvramurthigal recited ‘Arasaalvar aanai namadhe’ [Let the king rule, this is our order], a Paasuram written by Thirugnanasambandar, Karubaru Kumarasami Thambiran handed the Sengol to Nehru greeting him with the words, “Thanga Sengol, Thangal Sengol, Thangal Sengol, Engal Aatchi Sinnam” (Golden Sceptre, It is your sceptre, it is your sceptre, a symbol of our rule).”A similar Sengol was presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a ceremony to mark the inauguration of the new Parliament Building in New Delhi recently. The heads of 19 aadheenams, transported from Tamil Nadu by a special flight by the government, were present at the ceremony. Of them, six mutt heads – Dharmapuram, Madurai, Thiruvaduthurai, Kundrakudi, Perur and Velakurichi _ were specifically asked to present the Sengol to the Prime Minister, who placed it near the Lok Sabha Speaker’s chair in the new Parliament Building.Sengol was believed to be the symbol of king’s power in feudal Tamil Nadu. Its incongruity and irrelevance in a republic governed by a modern Constitution are too obvious to be missed. So was the presence of Vaishnavite and Saivite religious heads performing rituals to inaugurate an institution that is firmly founded on the principle of secularism.What is the motive behind religious heads blessing a secular government? It has nothing to do with their love and affection for the government or patriotic sentiments. The motive is rooted in the mutts’ interest in protecting their wealth, accumulated from offerings made by unsuspecting believers and from their vast landholdings made fertile by the sweat and blood of lakhs of farmers and agricultural workers over hundreds of years. C.N. Annadurai, the rationalist protégé of E.V. Ramasamy Periyar, founder-leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its first Chief Minister, exposed the points of convergence of class, caste, religious and political interests in a largely feudal India and cautioned Nehru about the dangers of accepting it. He did this in an article he wrote in the issue of Dravida Nadu (August 24, 1947), a weekly founded and edited by him. The article written in a conversational style drips with the wit, satire and sarcasm typical of the great orator-writer and contains the seeds of the political narrative that has become part of the common sense of Tamils – a narrative that has sustained the Dravidian movement for many decades.Annadurai’s article was reproduced in the May 26, 2023 issue of Viduthalai, a Tamil daily edited by K. Veeramani, president of the Dravidar Kazhagam. Here, we present an English translation of the article by R. Vijaya Sankar, Group Editor, The AIDEM ]The head of the Tiruvaduthurai aadheenam has sent a Sengol to Pandit Nehru who has taken over as the Prime Minister of the new government.It is five feet tall, it seems! Made fully of pure gold, it seems! And that looks beautiful too, it seems! Why was the Sengol given to Nehru? As a gift? As an offering? As a share? As a licence fee? Nothing is clear.It was unexpected! Not only that! It was unnecessary too! Even it was necessary, we slowly realise that it is dangerous if we understand its deeper import.We don’t know what the Pandit thought when he looked at the Sengol. Nor we do know whether the aadheenkakarthar had sent a missive along with the Senglol.But we have something to tell Pandit Nehru. Some words to you who have received the Sengol.<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/image_2023_05_30_163209977_e1685444681131_1_d48ee49747.png" alt="image_2023-05-30_163209977-e1685444681131 (1).png"> Original article published in Dravida Nadu (1947)You know the history of many nations. And you know that a crowned king is surrounded by lords who had fattened themselves by exploiting the people’s labour and by those who use religion as capital and who enjoy the freedom and facility to to walk freely in his golden fort. You know the historical fact that these elements have to be removed for democracy to blossom. Apprehending that you might practise in your administration what you know, the aadheenakarthars would come forward to present you with a Sengol that is not only made of gold but also studded with navaratnas. For their survival and self-protection. The Sengol presented to you is not made of the divine graced obtained by singing the praises of Siva. Nor is it created by sanctifiying a piece of iron with a pinch of holy ash and transforming it into gold – a miracle similar to the one performed by a Siva devotee who transformed a fox into a horse. It is made of the labour of others. But he says it is his. Sengol! Is the name apt? Is it relevant?That Sengol – five feet tall! A piece of exquisite workmanship! Made of pure gold!The one who presented it to you is not a common man. Does he belong to the royalty? No. Something above that. Is he part of an ancient tradition? It is not important whether he belongs to an ancient tradition or is he of recent origin. What is important is, it is a disgusting tradition. It is not the tradition of the people who inhabit this earth. It is the tradition of the holy Kailash, the abode of Siva! <img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/image_2023_05_30_114759745_e1685444117562_1_2609d90391.png" alt="image_2023-05-30_114759745-e1685444117562 (1).png">Jawaharlal Nehru receiving the golden sceptre from Tiruvaduthurai aadheenam’s representativeThambi, are you asking me, “Anna, how come our aadheenakarthar is bursting with patriotism?”‘No, Anna. Isn’t the aadheenakarthar overflowing with emotions an old story? I want to ask you why the aadheenakarthar has set his holy sights on politics suddenly?”“Leave aside the reason Thambi. I am not that interested in finding out the reason. But only when I think of its consequences…”“Why? What will be the consequence?“We do make the Sengol with pure gold. And its workmanship is also going to be of a high standard. We make this, toiling day and night know!”“Alas! Should you get worried thinking of all these things? Isn’t the perspective here different from the perspective there?“It maybe so, Thambi! But isn’t desire the only reason for the different perspectives?”“Yes.”“My question is this – is it good or bad that the aadheenakarthar has set his sights on the new government? That is my fear too. It is an excellent Sengol. And it is designed intricately. But if the government is going to be run holding it…“Thambi, is the gold in it not an offering made by one who laboured without minding his own destitution, who starved day and night, who had not cheated others of their money, who toiled until his heart broke … was it not the offering made by the ones who cut down wages, who deprived farmers of their livelihoods, who earned disproportionate profits, who cheated the loan-lender by drawing a naamam (a Vaishnavite mark) on his forehead, as a means of atonement to deceive even the god and to mask their sins. Is it not that? It must be that also. If the new government assuming office receives a Sengol from those who thrive in exploiting others’ brains, and eventually exploiting their lives, will its rule be proper?”“You are real fun, Anna!”“There is not much fun, Thambi. It is more of a pain. Those who made a lot sengols would not have spoken like this. But this thought would have crossed their minds. <img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/image_2023_05_30_124301415_265x300_2_7ab6d7d4f2.png" alt="image_2023-05-30_124301415-265x300 (2).png">C.N. AnnaduraiA conversation like this would have happened at the aadheenam:Iyer [Brahmin]: Ahaa. This is praiseworthy! It is a pioneering effort.Everyone will praise it.Aaadheenakarthar: The height of the Sengol?Iyer: It is five feet… made of gold, they say.. your glory will grow fivefoldAaadheenakarthar: Even the newspapers will…Iyer: Leave them aside… they will carry photos… they write stories praising you. But big, big people will come… even from foreign countries… places like America… Europe… They will be stunned to see the Sengol.Aaadheenakarthar: The bhakts have really designed it beautifully…Iyer: Leave alone the craftsmanship. That will be good too. But the visitors woudn’t notice even that. No big rajas of Baroda, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mysore even thought of it! Won’t everyone keep talking endlessly and praising the aadheenam for having shown this kind of affection, concern and respect? They may talk about the Sengol for two or three minutes. But won’t they talk about you throughout the day or not?Aadheenakarthar: Yes. What do you think of my idea?Iyer: Who else could have thought of this? What the raja has in his hand is a Sengol. And who gave it to him? The aadheenam. Every one will say that the new government started working only after the aadheenam blessed it, permitted it and gave his stamp of approval. Not only now. Even in the future.The Sengol was made of pure gold infused with god’s graceAfter praying to our great god Sivato save this government from any troubleand receiving his grace!Who did this? The aadheenam!A poet would have sung like this. But this song of praise would not have satisfied a Saivite devotee. He woud have got angry, with a reason.Saivite: You are singing the Vaishnavite paasuram, with palm leaf manuscripts in your hand. You are doing this not for one or two years. You’ve been doing this for thousands of years. In all these years only your stomach is swollen like ripe pumpkin but there is no poesy in you!The poet: Is there a problem in the poem?Saivite: If that is the problem, I’d have tolerated it. It is no guesswork! Why do you sing the paasuram?The poet: To explain the distinction of the aadheenamSaivite: The distniction of the aadheenam? Is not the making of the Sengol and sending it to the government the additional distinction of the aadheenam today? Isn’t the poem meant for that?**The poet: ** YesSaivite: If that is so, how have you explained it in your poem? Where are the details of the Sengol, such as its weight, height, and beauty? Are they not important here? Only then the greatness of the event would become clear. Correct your poem first. Then your mind.The poet:It is five feet tallMade of pure goldIts workmanship is splendidThe world will praise this dayForever.“Not bad, go now,” saying so, the Saivite would have sent the poet off and presented his poem to the devotees. This is one way of recording the event’s glory.Among the group that came to present the Sengol, you would have noticed a fair-skinned man with artistic eyes playing nadaswaram in a mesmorising manner. What would those who had seen him be talking?Who is this?Nadaswara vidhwan.Oh! Why has he come here?The aadheenakarthanr has sent him here to present the Sengol. How does the Sengol-presenting aadheenakarthar look like?Like a trueblue Saivite.What is his job?Running the aadheenam.How?Shall I say it loudly or softly?Why?Because there are two things to be said in two different voices.They would have spoken like this, laughing.It looks beautiful to the eye.Look at the Sengol again, more intently.What is seen on it is not only the bull. Even the poor who toil like bulls would be visible on it.<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/image_2023_05_30_152543792_169x300_2_9506edf717.png" alt="image_2023-05-30_152543792-169x300 (2).png"> Sceptre with bull on topWhat is not seen is not only the way the Sengol is burnished. One can also see the shine that has been imparted to the toiler’s body in the process of sucking out his labour power. One can see on it the thousand-acre land and the image of the toiler who leads a life of tears after tilling and toiling. One can see the hut in which he leads a life of suffring. And the poverty that has been thrust on him by the Sengol. One can see the feudal lord. And his motor and bungalow. One can see the gold plate in the bungalow and the white dust on it. One can see the dizzy eyes and fatigued bodies of the farmers. One can see the sweat and the blood that has been shed. One can see the image of a man whose mind is confused like churned curd.One can see the mutt – and the Saivite body there. One can see the jewels on that body – and the disease inside that.One can see the garden and the pond in which the aadheenakarthar bathes. And hear the little little stories that the pond might narrate if it can speak.One can see Saivam, and the ones who came up in life using its divine grace.Sparkling rings, oscilating ear buttons, golden footwear, doting devotees – such sights and more would be visible off and on… if you look at the Sengol again and again.One can see on the Sengol the aadheenam’s visitors saying formally, “Aaha! Excellent! Excellent! It is our good fortune that the aadheenam is happy.” This will brighten the faces of the devotee even if they don’t feel happy inside. Many such things will be seen. But one should look beyond the height, beauty and the craftmanship of the Sengol. Even little kings and nobles might feel jittery wondering whether the people’s anger would turn against them. But the Sengol shows that these aadheenams sit on their thrones as the scared people fall at their feet, governments provide them security and the rich offer them all they want. So, the Sengol is not an offering. It is an appeal. It is not a symbol of love. Nor is it a symbol of patriotism. It is an appeal.This is the time when a group that claims to have learnt sundry things says that these aadheenams, which have accumulated unparalleled fame and wealth by making people prostrate before them, have to be dissolved. On the other hand, the aadheenalarthar says that we are very innocent and we have great love for you. If you have any doubt, look at the Sengol once again – five feet tall, great workmanship! Please ensure that our aadheenam is not subjected to abuse by the ones who seek novelty. Grant me the boon of immortality. My God. My great god Nehru! Give me immortality. Grant me immortality at least for the next 20 years. This is the appeal of the aadheenalarthas, the Saivite disciple of Siva. By presenting this Sengol, he wants to delude common people into believing that there is love between him and the new government. The aadheenakarthar, who is already a fan of Siva, has now become the fan of the Nehru government. So, this will make the common man believe that the aadheenam’s dominance will not diminish.All of this is gold! It is a very very small scrap in the huge wealth controlled by the aadheenakarthar who is the legatee of sages who had given up worldly possessions completely.In the aadheenam, navaratnas are kept in decorated containers.The aadheenam has under its rule fertile fields yielding paddy that is superior to the navaratnas. The toilers, the real jewels of humanity, are being tortured there.As cheats hail these aadheenakarthas as Siddha sages, a small portion of the money offered by the cheated living under illusions has come to you in the form of Sengol. The things that have taken the shape of ear buttons, ear rings and anklets are more in number.You can see there a mountain of gold – the gold that is the stuff of the Sengol presented to you with an appeal to grant the boon of immortality. If the wealth of such aadheenams and religious institutions are confiscated, you can make a Sengol that is not only as ornate as the one presented to you but also capable of enriching and enhancing the lives of the people of this country. We request you to look keenly at such a Sengol off and on and learn the lessons it would offer.Source: Dravida Naadu, 24-08-1947<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;display:inline !important;float:none;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">Read this article in <a style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(255, 53, 36);display:inline-block;font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;transition:all 0.4s ease 0s;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://theaidem.com/hi-tamilnadu-cm-annadurai-sengol-and-jawaharlal-nehru/">Hindi</a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;display:inline !important;float:none;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">, <a style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(255, 53, 36);display:inline-block;font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;transition:all 0.4s ease 0s;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://theaidem.com/ml-tamilnadu-cm-annadurai-sengol-and-jawaharlal-nehru/">Malayalam</a>

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In an article written ten days after Independence, the Dravidian ideologue lays bare the convergence of caste, class, and religious interests in the Golden Sceptre and its dangerous political consequences. 

Sengol: Annadurai’s appeal to Nehru

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I have not experienced the trauma of  Partition directly. The partition story I discovered through archival research, was a memorable Odia tale called, ‘They Too are Humans’ by an obscure author named Sushila Devi. Such creative work in the province has not been many: Odisha, is not a frontier province.

Partition 75 – Memories, Identities and Lessons

<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital (KNMH) is a not-for-profit hospital established as the last wish of Kamala Nehru, wife of Jawahar Lal Nehru, in Allahabad. Originally started under the leadership of Kamala Nehru as a modest nursing room to treat the wives of the freedom fighters, this hospital has grown into a Regional Cancer Centre and an excellent speciality healthcare institution. Bridging history and the ethos of equality that the freedom struggle embodied, this hospital caters to the poor and the rich without discrimination.<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">To see this report in Malayalam, <a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(255, 53, 36);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:0px;transition:all 0.4s ease 0s;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://theaidem.com/ml-kamala-nehru-memorial-hospital-an-enduring-tradition-of-care/">click here</a>.<hr><h4 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.2;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">Subscribe to our channels on<a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(247, 168, 16);display:block;margin:0px;padding:0px;text-decoration:none;transition:all 0.4s ease 0s;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/c/THEAIDEM">YouTube</a>&amp;<a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);display:block;margin:0px;padding:0px;text-decoration:none;transition:all 0.4s ease 0s;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://chat.whatsapp.com/ELqD1D1bImgAP6MrG8jskq">WhatsApp</a></h4>

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Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital (KNMH) is a not-for-profit hospital established as the last wish of Kamala Nehru, wife of Jawahar Lal Nehru, in Allahabad. 

Kamala Nehru Memorial Hospital: An Enduring Tradition of Care Built on The Last Wish of a Freedom Fighter

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How NCERT Cripples the Idea of India

<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/IMG_20240720_WA_0012_770x470_970911e623.jpg" alt="IMG-20240720-WA0012-770x470.jpg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_IMG_20240720_WA_0012_770x470_970911e623.jpg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_IMG_20240720_WA_0012_770x470_970911e623.jpg 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_IMG_20240720_WA_0012_770x470_970911e623.jpg 750w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><div class="post-body clearfix single-blog-header single-blog-inner blog-single-block blog-details-content" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(85, 85, 85);font-family:Manjari;font-size:17px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;"><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="box-sizing:border-box;counter-reset:footnotes 0;margin:0px;padding:0px;">R. Rajagopal, the Editor at Large of The Telegraph, continues his close observation and analysis of the Indian media space and the manner in which mainstream newspapers covered serious developments such as the tragic fate of Rahim Ali, a resident of Kashimpur village in Assam’s Nalbari district, whose Indian citizenship was recently reinstated by the Supreme Court without knowing that he had died in his village two and a half years ago, in December 2021 at the age of 58. Ali was branded a foreigner and his citizenship was revoked by the Foreigners Tribunal in the State in 2012. In this analysis, Rajagopal also pays a tribute to EP Unny, Chief Political Cartoonist of The Indian Express (IE), highlighting the cartoon he drew on this issue. The IE editorial too is specially mentioned in this important media critique written by one of the tallest newspaper editors of the country. The AIDEM has sourced this from R Rajagopal’s social media posts.<hr>Ruthlessness is the irreplaceable sidearm of cartooning. But every once in a while, the merciless craft drops the snub-nosed weapon and picks up the feather to offer a healing touch. EP Unny does so in The Indian Express, making Calvin pay graceful tribute to Rahim Ali, whose first name means compassion, something that was denied to him in life.<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:329px;" id="attachment_29032" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29032"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_2024_07_20_T173700_4832_300x243_d936ec5b72.jpeg" alt="images-2024-07-20T173700.4832-300x243.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_2024_07_20_T173700_4832_300x243_d936ec5b72.jpeg 193w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-29032">Rahim Ali</figcaption></figure>But Unny does not forget to wield the scalpel, referring to the risk that can be faced by those who, unwittingly or otherwise, showed compassion to Ali. The Express has a strong editorial also. I leave it you to find out which other newspapers followed up one of the most important stories after the general election.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:25.2%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:undefined/undefined;" src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/IMG_20240720_WA_0005_195x300_71211f9358.jpg" alt="IMG-20240720-WA0005-195x300.jpg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_IMG_20240720_WA_0005_195x300_71211f9358.jpg 101w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"></figure>The other day, I had told a sceptical friend that this is too big a story to be ignored by the rest of the media. I think I have largely been proved wrong. Calvin’s compassion reminds me of the farewell cartoon to Nehru by Rajinder Puri (which I am attaching below from Unny’s Twitter account). Puri was kind enough to treat me to coffee and scones (I heard the word first from him) and his vision of journalism at the Embassy Hotel (or was it the Ambassador? Delhi overdoses on diplomatic jargon) in Connaught Place when I gatecrashed his idyllic haunt when I was a student.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:undefined/undefined;" src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/IMG_20240720_WA_0008_768x851_3162e7e51a.jpg" alt="IMG-20240720-WA0008-768x851.jpg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_IMG_20240720_WA_0008_768x851_3162e7e51a.jpg 141w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_IMG_20240720_WA_0008_768x851_3162e7e51a.jpg 451w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_IMG_20240720_WA_0008_768x851_3162e7e51a.jpg 677w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"></figure>Unny unfailingly pays tribute with his craft to many people when they pass away or cross milestones. I am particularly touched by his tributes to artist Namboodiri and actor Irrfan Khan. I also recall now a cartoon that made me cry when Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated. Ungratefully, I cannot recall where I saw it or who drew it. Was it on Sunday magazine? It was a full-page cartoon showing Rajiv, who was a pilot, steering a flight to the skies, with the immortal words of Shakespeare: “Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”If my friend Sumit, who was with Sunday, confirms and clarifies whose cartoon it was, I will let you know. 33 years later, Unny’s cartoon has done to me what I felt in 1991 when the cartoonist I cannot recall borrowed from Hamlet and Horatio. “Good night, Sweet Prince” would also have been the most apt headline I could not think up when Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi died.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:undefined/undefined;" src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/IMG_20240720_WA_0007_768x805_41aca38d07.jpg" alt="IMG-20240720-WA0007-768x805.jpg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_IMG_20240720_WA_0007_768x805_41aca38d07.jpg 149w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_IMG_20240720_WA_0007_768x805_41aca38d07.jpg 477w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_IMG_20240720_WA_0007_768x805_41aca38d07.jpg 716w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"></figure>Deepayan Chatterjee, the wizard with words who passed the baton to me, told Sumit about that unwritten headline later. I was deeply affected by Pataudi’s death although I have been merciless when he was arrested in the hunting case. Technically, only technically, he was my colleague for three years because he was the editor of Sportsworld which was owned by the same management I worked for and located a floor below the newspaper I was with then although I have never met him.The coverage of Pataudi’s death was also one of the first instances that informed my mentors that something is wrong with me — a reckless gene that runs amok once in a while — in the sense that I can get carried away by news events, unlike poker-faced editors who revel in affecting the inscrutable visage.<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:361px;" id="attachment_29033" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29033"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_2024_07_20_T174125_041_5399f7bca3.jpeg" alt="images-2024-07-20T174125.041.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_2024_07_20_T174125_041_5399f7bca3.jpeg 104w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_2024_07_20_T174125_041_5399f7bca3.jpeg 334w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-29033">Rajinder Puri</figcaption></figure>Shocked by the display, a journalist I respect the most told me the next day, poker-faced of course and the upper lip as stiff as Modi at that rare media conference: “I thought the Prime Minister died.” It was his polite way of suggesting I went overboard. I leave you with some of the farewell cartoons of Puri and Unny. I still harbour the hope that other newspapers will follow up the Ali story until the executive and judicial leadership takes note and puts in place checks and balances.</div></div>

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Calvin Cares, But Others...

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<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/IMG_20240930_WA_0007_770x470_d5062615d1.jpg" alt="IMG-20240930-WA0007-770x470.jpg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_IMG_20240930_WA_0007_770x470_d5062615d1.jpg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_IMG_20240930_WA_0007_770x470_d5062615d1.jpg 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_IMG_20240930_WA_0007_770x470_d5062615d1.jpg 750w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><div class="post-body clearfix single-blog-header single-blog-inner blog-single-block blog-details-content" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(85, 85, 85);font-family:Manjari;font-size:17px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;"><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="box-sizing:border-box;counter-reset:footnotes 0;margin:0px;padding:0px;">Communication is an art that many struggle with, but few realize it can be learned. Whether you’re talking to a friend, colleague, family member, or stranger, mastering this skill is within reach. Ever struggled to start a conversation or keep it going? Finding common topics of interest can be tricky, and navigating differing social or political views can feel like a minefield. But with the right approach, you can turn any interaction into a meaningful exchange.&nbsp;How do you find the right approach? More importantly, can you learn the required skills?“<a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(255, 53, 36);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:0px;transition:0.4s;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.charlesduhigg.com/supercommunicators">Supercommunicators</a>,” written by Charles Duhigg, is a book that teaches you to learn the skills to convert a conversation into a connection. It distills the art of conversation, any conversation, including the ones with your friends and family, into actionable steps that you can readily practice and improve.<a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(255, 53, 36);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:0px;transition:0.4s;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.charlesduhigg.com/">Charles Duhigg</a> is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist and author of bestselling books. I read his first book, “The Power of Habit,” which is a constant presence in many bookstores, and liked it. I read it in 2013, and it convinced me about the importance of habits. Last year, I read his <a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(255, 53, 36);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:0px;transition:0.4s;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/12/11/the-inside-story-of-microsofts-partnership-with-openai">article</a> on the ChatGPT saga and liked it for its reporting breadth and depth.<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:629px;" id="attachment_30055" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30055"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/811bz_Oshn5_L_AC_UF_10001000_QL_80_F_Mwebp_7ad3ac888f.webp" alt="811bzOshn5L._AC_UF10001000_QL80_FMwebp_.webp" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_811bz_Oshn5_L_AC_UF_10001000_QL_80_F_Mwebp_7ad3ac888f.webp 98w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_811bz_Oshn5_L_AC_UF_10001000_QL_80_F_Mwebp_7ad3ac888f.webp 314w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_811bz_Oshn5_L_AC_UF_10001000_QL_80_F_Mwebp_7ad3ac888f.webp 472w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-30055">Cover of the book ‘Supercommunicators’</figcaption></figure>This book starts by breaking down every conversation into three types: Analytical, Emotional, and Social. Every conversation is essentially one of these three types. In analytical talk, the conversation is a transaction where facts and details matter. In emotional talk, the conversation is all about the feelings. In social talk, the conversation is about an identity. Now, listing the types helps in nothing. You still need to know what to do with this information.Suppose you argued with your father in the morning over a trivial issue. You reach the office and share the incident with your friend. Are you looking for a solution? Do you want to be listened to intently, get advice on who was wrong, or would just a hug do ? Suppose you differed with a colleague about a work issue. Another colleague, a friend, was listening. What do you want to hear from your friend? Advice or silence or just a hug? Suppose you hear about the sudden death of a friend’s loved one. What do you say to your friend? Advice or listen or a hug? As situations differ, so does the conversation, hence the importance of its type.After breaking the communication into its types, Charles goes on to break it into a step-by-step process of turning every conversation into meaningful, often joyful interactions, and in some cases, less stressful ones, even with a person with contrasting views. He uses psychological studies and instances of experts’ communication to establish the rules of effective communication.Stories form the backbone of narration and writing style, making it easy for everyone to understand, relate, and remember the content. Charles has used his recommendation to write the book as the writing oscillates between personal anecdotes, stories, and facts, often combining all three. As you turn the pages, you gradually get convinced about the process.<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:767px;" id="attachment_30056" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30056"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/high_rez_duhigg_headshot_20160720afmduhigg0082_thumb_1536x1536_1_53a5660a0f.jpg" alt="high-rez-duhigg-headshot-20160720afmduhigg0082-thumb-1536x1536-1.jpg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_high_rez_duhigg_headshot_20160720afmduhigg0082_thumb_1536x1536_1_53a5660a0f.jpg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_high_rez_duhigg_headshot_20160720afmduhigg0082_thumb_1536x1536_1_53a5660a0f.jpg 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_high_rez_duhigg_headshot_20160720afmduhigg0082_thumb_1536x1536_1_53a5660a0f.jpg 750w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-30056">Charles Duhigg</figcaption></figure>If you have read books on personal growth, they tend to follow a pattern. Every chapter makes a proposition supported by academic research or theories, followed by a story that establishes the usefulness of the proposition. Stories of failures are not part of this scheme. This book is no exception to this formula. However, this conformance should not take away the usefulness of this book.A few days after finishing the book, I took a train journey to New Delhi. The train starts at 6 in the morning from Varanasi, requiring me to get up at 4 AM. I always travel with a book, sometimes 2. If it is a mid-noon journey, I prefer reading books to talking to a co-passenger. But, early in the morning, I like a slow warmup to come to my full senses before picking a book. Opening a conversation with a co-passenger who is perhaps also in the same state has always been a nervous affair. But I had read this book, so at least I knew a theory I could test.<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_2024_09_30_T164448_607_ee3a11384b.jpeg" alt="images-2024-09-30T164448.607.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_2024_09_30_T164448_607_ee3a11384b.jpeg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_2024_09_30_T164448_607_ee3a11384b.jpeg 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_images_2024_09_30_T164448_607_ee3a11384b.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined">Charles suggests starting a conversation with a question that doesn’t have a 1-word answer. He calls them Deep questions. For example, instead of asking questions like, “Where are you going?” or “Are you from Varanasi?” you may ask, “What do you like about early morning train journeys?”. I started with a similar question. However, a few minutes into the conversation, the person said, “I do not like the Congress party (India’s principal opposition party).”Now, I like the Congress party. Had I not read the book, I would have gone on to list several reasons to prefer the Congress party. I would have given one argument after another, countering his response with facts and figures. I would have transformed myself into an evangelist, on a mission to reform this man and make him fall in love with the Congress party. After a few minutes of conversation, he would have silently waited for me to drain all my energy and stop. We would have withdrawn into our shells for the rest of the journey, talking only to ask for a way to leave the seat. Thankfully, I had read this book, and none of this happened.I instead said, “They give many reasons to people to dislike them.” It opened him up to offer his reasons for this blanket statement, which allowed me to steer the conversation to his upbringing, parents, childhood, values, work, motivations, etc. When I shared about my organization’s work with school children from economically underprivileged families, he shared his wife’s efforts of sheltering orphaned street dogs. We agreed on several issues, including the complete failure of the current central government, despite opposing political preferences. Neither did I contradict his personal experiences, nor did he contradict mine. Moreover, we agreed that our experiences shape our views, which are bound to change if we remain open.<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_2024_09_30_T164615_165_ec71a30e5a.jpeg" alt="images-2024-09-30T164615.165.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_2024_09_30_T164615_165_ec71a30e5a.jpeg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_2024_09_30_T164615_165_ec71a30e5a.jpeg 500w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined">“Supercommunicators” book taught me to treat every conversation as a learning opportunity. It taught me not to approach a conversation as a right vs wrong battle but to connect by sharing stories and anecdotes more than the facts. Ultimately, you can convince a person more by listening than by speaking. In a world getting more polarised, we all need to learn to talk to each other and listen better. Thankfully, we have this book.</div></div>

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Navigating Difficult Dialogues: How 'Supercommunicators' Can Help in a Polarised World"

<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_34_770x393_796d24e9a6.jpeg" alt="images-34-770x393.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_34_770x393_796d24e9a6.jpeg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_34_770x393_796d24e9a6.jpeg 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_images_34_770x393_796d24e9a6.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><div class="post-body clearfix single-blog-header single-blog-inner blog-single-block blog-details-content" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(85, 85, 85);font-family:Manjari;font-size:17px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;"><div class="entry-content clearfix" style="box-sizing:border-box;counter-reset:footnotes 0;margin:0px;padding:0px;">Prolific documentary filmmaker R.P Amudhan’s body of work is unique and striking, especially in the manner in which his creations address issues and concerns of the marginalised sections of society. He is known as a media activist too. Hailing from Madurai, in Tamil Nadu, he founded the Marupakkam Media Activist Group (MMAG) in in his home district. The MMAG produces documentaries, screens films, and conducts workshops. He has over 20 documentaries to his credit. His films primarily focus on caste and labour issues. In this Interview with poet and writer Rashida Nasriya, filmmaker Amudhan RP discusses his craft, concerns and challenges.&nbsp;Rashidha Nasriya: What do you consider as the most significant challenge you have faced during the making of your documentaries?Amudhan RP: The biggest challenges I have faced in documenting the kind of social issues I have chosen to film are threefold. First, identifying a crucial topic which requires in-depth understanding and sufficient data to substantiate the narrative. Once I have a clear understanding of the topic, I would conduct thorough research and convince people, that is the characters in my film and their kith and kin. This has been my approach from my very first film, Leelavathi, a documentary on a Communist Party of India (Marxist) – CPIM- cadre killed in Madurai in 1997. I was relatively young at that time and the task of persuading her family and the district CPIM committee took a lot of effort. I finally did get their consent. It was a difficult task to get their trust.The second challenge – although a joyful one – is researching and gathering credible information, while the third is securing funding. As a solo filmmaker, I have learned to be self-sufficient. But still finding funds is a challenge. Any filmmaker would go through these challenges in varying degrees.<img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_35_721e230496.jpeg" alt="images-35.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_35_721e230496.jpeg 208w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_35_721e230496.jpeg 500w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined">Nasriya: Did your activist background influence your decision to become a filmmaker?Amudhan: During my MA studies, I attended a workshop in Madurai organised by Center for Development of Instructional Technology (CENDIT), an organisation based in New Delhi. Here, I was exposed to several powerful documentary films. This experience opened my eyes to the significance of political documentaries. I was introduced to the concept of using film as a tool for social change, and I immediately knew I wanted to become a documentary filmmaker and an activist. This workshop sparked my passion for creating and screening films that inspire critical thinking and trigger meaningful conversations. It was a turning point that led me to merge my interests in social activism and filmmaking, ultimately shaping my identity as an activist-filmmaker. Activism and filmmaking are deeply intertwined for me – they’re two sides of the same coin. My filmmaking is an extension of my activism, and vice versa; the two are inseparable.Nasriya: Your film “My Caste” examines the intersection of caste, hegemony, and consensus in Indian society. What has driven your focus on caste in your activism and filmmaking?Amudhan: I wanted to take on the Caste issue from the perpetuator point of view rather than from the victim’s or survivor’s point of view. I wanted to get into the minds of the people who either follow or negotiate or negate caste in their lives. I wanted to know what happens in people’s minds when they deal with caste matters. That’s why I made the film ‘My Caste’ ‘recording the views of various people on caste related questions.<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:951px;" id="attachment_30033" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30033"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/IMG_20240927_WA_0021_d0a7a9b78c.jpg" alt="IMG-20240927-WA0021.jpg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_IMG_20240927_WA_0021_d0a7a9b78c.jpg 154w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_IMG_20240927_WA_0021_d0a7a9b78c.jpg 495w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_IMG_20240927_WA_0021_d0a7a9b78c.jpg 743w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-30033">Amudhan speaking at an event</figcaption></figure>Nasriya: Can you give some details on how you investigated labour exploitation in Tirupur’s garment industry for your documentary “Dollar City”?Amudhan: Many of my films focus on labour issues, with a considerable number exploring labour practices. For my trilogy on hegemony and consensus, I chose Tirupur as a case study. This city exemplifies how consensus is manufactured to prioritise the industry’s interests.In Tiruppur, a tacit understanding exists among industries, trade unions, workers, NGOs, and political parties to protect the industry at all costs. The prevailing narrative is: ‘Without the industry, we cannot survive.’ This consensus leads to widespread compromise and adjustment, perpetuating the exploitation.<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;clear:both;display:block;height:auto;margin:15px auto;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:739px;" id="attachment_30028" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30028"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/images_36_2e37ef3154.jpeg" alt="images-36.jpeg" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_images_36_2e37ef3154.jpeg 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_images_36_2e37ef3154.jpeg 500w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-30028">During production of Amudhan’s documentary</figcaption></figure>I want to capture this complex dynamic in my film, highlighting how Tiruppur’s industry-centric consensus affects labor rights and social justice.&nbsp;Nasriya: How did you approach exploring the complex and sensitive topic of manual scavenging in your film “Pee (Shit)”?Amudhan: I wanted to make a Tamil version of Lesser Humans – a documentary on Manual Scavenging in Gujarat by Stalin K. Although I wanted to make a similar comprehensive film about Tamilnadu, my encounter with Mariamma, a sanitary worker in Madurai convinced me to make a short documentary which practically covers every aspect of the work.I realised a shorter format could powerfully convey the urgency of this issue, making a compelling argument against manual scavenging. This inspired me to create the film titled ‘Pee’ (Shit) [Watch Below], highlighting the harsh realities of manual scavenging.<div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a0eWOHAvVn4" title="Shit - a documentary by Amudhan R.P." frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>&nbsp;Nasriya: What inspired you to create a documentary about Mercury pollution in Kodaikanal?Amudhan: The film ‘Mercury in the Mist’ was initiated by workers from the Kodaikanal thermometer factory, who had been fighting against the company’s harmful practices. They sought my help to create a documentary supporting their cause, highlighting the devastating health effects of mercury exposure and their ongoing court battles. It was partially funded by the workers and their well wishers like Nityanand Jayaraman and others.&nbsp;Nasriya: Do you think the documentary can contribute to the border understanding of the challenges facing Indian democracy?Amudhan: Documentary watching is, in my opinion, one of the most engaging and intellectually stimulating activities. It offers a unique blend of education, art, and social awareness, empowering individuals to become responsible citizens. By watching documentaries, we gain perspectives on the world around us, exercising our right to informed decision-making and participatory governance. Through my screenings, I aim to create opportunities for social and political education, fostering a culture of critical thinking and civic engagement. Documentaries provide a valuable platform for raising awareness on critical issues, making meaningful conversations and inspiring social change.&nbsp;Nasriya: How crucial is creative freedom in documentary filmmaking for fostering critical thinking and public debate?Amudhan: In documentary filmmaking, merely reporting or recording is not enough. It is an opportunity to critically examine any subject, sparking meaningful discussions. We must be courageous enough to ask difficult questions, amplify marginalized voices and confront uncomfortable truthsUnlike commercial cinema, documentary filmmakers must take risks, challenging the status quo and pushing boundaries. By doing so, we humanize overlooked stories, Inspire critical thinking and foster empathy and understanding.&nbsp;Nasriya: How did your initiative “Marupakkam” come about…?Amudhan: Marupakkam is a network of people collaborating to promote documentary filmmaking and social change. We invite participation from individuals across India in various capacities, including funding, research, topic development, filmmaking, screening, and documentary workshops.&nbsp;<figure class="wp-caption alignright" style="border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;display:inline;float:right;height:auto;margin:5px 0px 20px 20px;max-width:100%;padding:0px;vertical-align:middle;width:1080px;" id="attachment_30029" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-30029"><img src="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/Screenshot_20240927_1713542_bec309fa73.png" alt="Screenshot_20240927-1713542.png" srcset="https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/thumbnail_Screenshot_20240927_1713542_bec309fa73.png 245w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/small_Screenshot_20240927_1713542_bec309fa73.png 500w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/medium_Screenshot_20240927_1713542_bec309fa73.png 750w,https://strapi.bangalore2.com/uploads/large_Screenshot_20240927_1713542_bec309fa73.png 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="undefined" height="undefined"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing:border-box;display:block;font-size:15px;line-height:20px;margin:0px;padding:12px 0px 0px;text-align:center;" id="caption-attachment-30029">Homepage of Marupakkam [Visit <a style="background-color:transparent;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(255, 53, 36);display:inline-block;margin:0px;padding:0px;transition:0.4s;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://marupakkammadurai.blogspot.com/?m=1">Here</a>]</figcaption></figure>Our activities involve screening documentaries, researching social issues, making films on relevant topics, teaching documentary filmmaking, and showcasing films made by others. Through these efforts, we aim to foster a community that inspires social change through documentary filmmaking.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nasriya: As a prolific documentary creator what advice would you give to emerging filmmakers?Amudhan: To young and upcoming filmmakers, I say: read widely, travel extensively, and cultivate an open-minded perspective. Listen to diverse voices, even in everyday settings like markets, where numerous perspectives converge. If you don’t have an open mind, you will only hear the voices that confirm your existing views. But with an open mind, you will identify and appreciate the varied voices, even within the same marketplace.</div></div>

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Amudhan’s Craft, Concerns and Challenges

<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">The victory of Marxist leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Presidential election in Sri Lanka has been described as a political Tsunami by international politicians and observers. Sri Lanka based Independent policy analyst and writer Amita Arudpragasam analyses the context of the results in detail and points out that it was the economic mismanagement and corruption of earlier, dynasty oriented, regimes as well as Anura’s clean image that propelled significant sections of voters towards the Leftist JVP leader.<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">She also points out that while the victory does indeed signify the emergence of new hopes in the country, it would be too early to predict dramatic policy and ideological shifts, including in the island nation’s orientation towards India and China. Watch the interview here.<hr><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">ഈ വിഷയത്തിൽ പരിസ്ഥിതി പ്രവർത്തകനും എഴുത്തുകാരനുമായ കെ സഹദേവൻ എഴുതിയ കുറിപ്പ് ചുവടെ നൽകുന്നു:<h2 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:25px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.2;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">അദാനിയും ശ്രീലങ്കയിലെയും ബംഗ്ലാദേശിലേയും ഭരണ വ്യവസ്ഥയിലെ വമ്പൻ മാറ്റങ്ങളും</h2><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">ശ്രീലങ്കയിലെയും ബംഗ്ലാദേശിലെയും എന്തിന് ഓസ്‌ട്രേലിയയിലെപ്പോലും രാഷ്ട്രീയ ഭരണമാറ്റത്തിന് പിന്നിലെ പൊതുഘടകത്തെ കണ്ടെത്താൻ ശ്രമിച്ചാൽ ഗൗതം അദാനിയിൽ ചെന്ന് മുട്ടും. ഉഭയകക്ഷി ബന്ധങ്ങളെ വ്യവസായി താൽപ്പര്യങ്ങൾക്കായി ഉപയോഗപ്പെടുത്താൻ ഭരണകൂടങ്ങൾ തുനിഞ്ഞിറങ്ങിയാൽ അതിന്റെ അനിവാര്യഫലമെന്നത് ആ രാജ്യത്തിന്റെ സാമ്പത്തിക സുസ്ഥിരത തകർക്കപ്പെടുക എന്നതായിരിക്കും.<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">ബംഗ്ലാദേശിന് വൈദ്യുതി വിൽക്കുന്നതുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട കരാർ അദാനിക്ക് ലഭ്യമാക്കുന്നതിന് ബീഗം ഹസീനയ്ക്ക് മേൽ സമ്മർദ്ദമുയർത്താൻ നരേന്ദ്ര മോദിക്ക് യാതൊരു മടിയുമുണ്ടായിരുന്നില്ല. 2015ലെ മോദിയുടെ ബംഗ്ലാദേശ് സന്ദർശനത്തിന്റെ മുഖ്യ അജണ്ടതന്നെ അദാനിക്ക് വൈദ്യുതി വിതരണക്കരാർ നേടിയെടുക്കുക എന്നതായിരുന്നു.<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">ഇന്ന് ബംഗ്ലാദേശ് ഭരണകൂടത്തിന്റെ മുന്നിലുള്ള പ്രധാന അജണ്ട അദാനിയുമായുള്ള കരാറിൽ നിന്ന് എങ്ങിനെ രക്ഷപ്പെടാം എന്നതാണ്. ശ്രീലങ്കയിൽ 400 മില്യൺ ഡോളറിന്റെ ഗ്രീൻ എനർജി പ്രോജക്ടുകളാണ് അദാനി നേടിയെടുത്തത്. 225 മെഗാവാട്ടിന്റെ കാറ്റാടിപ്പാട നിർമ്മാണ പദ്ധതി നേടിയെടുക്കുന്നതിനും നയതന്ത്ര ബന്ധങ്ങൾ ഉപയോഗപ്പെടുത്തപ്പെട്ടു.<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">ഇതിനുപുറമെ 700 ദശലക്ഷം ഡോളറിന്റെ കണ്ടൈയ്‌നർ തുറമുഖ പദ്ധതിയും നേടിയെടുക്കാൻ അദാനിക്ക് സാധിച്ചു. ഈ രണ്ട് പദ്ധതികളും ശ്രീലങ്കയുടെ ദീർഘകാല താൽപ്പര്യങ്ങൾക്ക് വിരുദ്ധമാണെന്ന ആരോപണം പാർലമെന്റിലും പുറത്തും ശക്തമായി ഉന്നയിക്കപ്പെട്ടുകൊണ്ടിരിക്കുകയാണ്.<p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(39, 39, 39);font-family:Manjari;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;line-height:1.7;margin:0px 0px 15px;orphans:2;padding:0px;text-align:left;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">ഓസ്‌ട്രേലിയയിൽ അദാനി നേടിയെടുത്ത കാർമൈക്കൾ കൽക്കരി ഖനന കരാറും ഇതേരീതിയിൽ അതിശക്തമായ രാഷ്ട്രീയ എതിർപ്പ് ക്ഷണിച്ചുവരുത്തിയ ഒന്നാണ്. ഒരു ദശകക്കാലത്തെ കൺസർവേറ്റീവ് ഭരണത്തിന് അറുതിവരുത്തിക്കൊണ്ട് ലെഫ്റ്റ് ചായ്വുള്ള ആന്റണി അൽബനീസ് ഗവൺമെന്റ് അധികാരക്കസേരയിലെത്തിയതിന് പിന്നിലും ഗൗതം അദാനിക്കെതിരായ പ്രതിഷേധത്തിന്റെ വേരുകൾ കണ്ടെത്താൻ കഴിയും…

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What Next in Sri Lanka After Leftward Shift in President Polls?

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The Incandescent Lights Of “Kishkindha Kaandam"

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