About my PhD in Medicinal Chemistry

நாய் வேஷம் போட்டாச்சு!
குரைத்து கொண்டிருக்கிறேன்!!

About Tamils in Sri Lanka

They are Us!
We are Them!!

தாமரைதாசன் - கவிஞர் தாமரைக்கு தாசன்

சூரியன் கதிர்கள் பட்டு
மெல்லிதழ் மொட்டு விரிந்து
பூபாலமானது தாமரை!

தாமரை வார்த்தை தெறித்து
தமிழுணர்வு பெருத்து
தாமரைதாசனாய் மாறினான்
இந்த பூபாலன்!!

Can We Mix Art and Politics?

The Sri Lanka Government’s attempt to host the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) 2010 ceremony went futile as was predicted early by many political observers. The real reasons for organizing this event in Colombo were enshrouded in mystery and you will know it when you read this blog.

What is IIFA’s mission?
In order to promote Indian cinema in foreign countries, as well as to entertain the Indian Diaspora distributed across the globe, IIFA routinely conducts a performing arts and awards presentation ceremony by partnering with countries that has “exotic” locations. Various cine artists are honored for their outstanding performance for their putative roles.
(Note: IIFA should be renamed as IBFA – International Bollywood Film Academy. Why misuse the word “Indian” when it is all about “Bollywood”?)

Why Sri Lanka this time?
Because the ruling Governments of Sri Lanka and India enjoy Symbiotic relationship in various “strategic businesses” and also because ruling India wants to join Sri Lanka to proclaim to the world community that the little island is no longer a dangerous place for tourists.

What’s wrong in conducting IIFA-2010 in Colombo, Sri Lanka?
This is what the rest of the blog is all about. The role of ruling India during Eelam War-IV (EW4) has been widely acknowledged by both Indian and Sri Lankan rulers. Indian assistance in the form of arms, ammunitions, cluster bombs, chemical weapons, radars, fighter planes, RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) officers in disguise, and even Army Chiefs was sought by Sri Lanka to stand up against the battle with LTTE. Not just the help from ruling India, the Sri Lanka Government has openly agreed that it sought help from 20 different countries to win this battle against LTTE. Whether the mission of “Flushing out the LTTE” was accomplished or whether innocents Tamilians were extensively decimated is left to the curiosity and the ‘sixth-sense’ of the readers. Protests from various Human Rights agencies across the world put a lot of pressure on the United Nations (UN) which acted as a mute spectator for the GENOCIDE to finish, but later publicly announced that it will launch an independent probe to investigate the war crimes that were committed during the EW4. To impede the progress of UN even today, the “accessory-to-the-criminal”, ruling India, used its “Chanakyan-type” skills. Not only that, it also made sure that countries like US, UK and Australia do not come up strong against Sri Lanka. (A loyal accessory, indeed!) Even when Sri Lanka publicly announced that LTTE organization is decimated, ruling India tried hard to come up with reasons so as not to lift the ban on LTTE in India.

How the fate of innocent Tamilians in the little island is linked to IIFA-2010?
To project a positive vibe to international tourists about visiting Sri Lanka, ruling India decided to use its powerful “scapegoat” – the BOLLYWOOD FILM INDUSTRY. The Bollywood stars’ journey to Sri Lanka was believed to send a strong message to the rest of the world about the present “serene security situation” of the island nation. Not only that, this also gives an “expensive” opportunity for the murderers to remove their blood-stains from their respective hands.

The Cascade of Events
The role of people in Tamilnadu in creating awareness about the mystery that enshrouds the IIFA 2010 in Colombo is extremely laudable. Various film/TV artists associations in South India publicly announced their decision to stay away from this politically motivated drama. Veteran and most popular actors such as Kamal Hassan, Mamootty and so many other actors expressed their unwillingness to participate. The Tamil movie industry icon “Rajnikanth” went a step above when he turned down accepting even the invitation. Public awareness created by Lyricist Thamarai and various others who are a part of Tamilnadu movie industry as well as political parties deserves more than a pat on the back. Activists of “Naam Tamilar Group” even staged various soft protests against Amitabh Bachan to express their sentiments and solidarity. Amitab’s decision to step down as an ambassador of IIFA-2010 definitely puts the ruling India to “shame” as other actors such as Shah Rukh, Abishekh, Aishwarya, Katrina, Priyanka, etc. followed Amitab’s footsteps.

Can we mix Art & Politics?
This is a million dollar question – can we mix Art & Politics? As Lyricist Thamarai once nicely said in an interview (and I rephrase here): “Art is not for artists but for people. If people’s lives are at stakes who cares about the art”. This is exactly the underlying reason for the failure of IIFA-2010. When all sorts of military assistance was provided, when scores of people were murdered, when independent investigation was prevented, when lakhs of civilians were put in a refugee camp by its own Government without proper food and shelter, when journalists (local and foreign) were denied access to these refugee camps, when the security of women are at highest risks, when people live their everyday life without knowing whether their parents or their kith and kin are live, when people are not sure whether they will be alive or not when they woke up, should we not expect Tamilians to express their express solidarity for their fellow Tamils in Sri Lanka? And when that happens, should we not expect the Tamil Film Industry to back up this protest movement? And when that happens, should we not expect fellow movie stars from neighboring states to join us to stand up against the ruling SL/India Government for a “REAL CAUSE”? And when that happens, should we not expect the other citizens in India and across the globe to take some time to think about the situation instead of “jumping-to-a-conclusion” too fast? When the entire Mumbai was in a state of deep shock during the 9/11 attack, we the Tamilians joined their sorrow and expressed our solidarity. When we the Tamilians were stuck by a huge blow about the prevailing situations in Sri Lanka, how can the Mumbai stars do not heed to our sentiments, but decided to perform some item numbers to entertain the island nation? Who do I turn into to get answers for these questions?

What IIFA-2010 means to Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka was assured that it will make tons of money by hosting IIFA-2010. A reported 500 to 1000 million rupees was spent to organize this extravagant ceremony. While the majority of dailies in Sri Lanka already predicted and pointed out the fate of this poorly-orchestrated and worst-ever IIFA event, some of the magazines (sympathesizers of Rajapakse’s government) and the organizers of IIFA-2010 embarked on an attempt to fool the citizens. To make things even worse, President Rajapakse did not even attend this IIFA-2010 event and rumor has it that the poor representation of Bollywood movie artists was the reason. As nicely pointed out by a magazine, “IIFA-2010 is a wedding party without a bride and groom”.

Did the ruling governments of India/Sri Lanka learn lessons this time?
Only time can answer!

Ps: I am an Indian. This does not necessarily mean I have to abide by my ruling Government’s reckless foreign policies and procedures. Also, the ruling parties perform various acrobatic stunts and dramas to keep up the power, but my patriotic feeling for India will be "UNPERTURBED" because it is "pure and unbiased".

கண்கள் இரண்டால்..(சுப்ரமணியபுரம்)

"..கரைகள் அண்டாத, காற்றும் தீண்டாத மனதிற்குள் எப்போது நுழைந்திட்டாய்
உடலும் அல்லாத உருவம் கொள்ளாத கடவுளைப்போல் வந்து கலந்திட்டாய்"

என்ன ஒரு வரிகள்... வாழ்க கவிஞர் தாமரை! வளர்க அவர்களின் தமிழ்த்தொண்டு!!

A request to International Indian Film Academy

(This source letter can be obtained from http://www.naamtamilar.org/beta/textnews_detail.php?id=799. Please sign at the bottom and send it to iifa@iifa.com)
----------------

Dear IIFA Directors/Sponsors/Concerned,

I am in an enormous shock to see such a dignified forum is planning

to have its prestigious award ceremony in a land that is accused of

war crimes and genocide. People from across the globe are condemning

the Human rights violations of Srilankan government.

And civilized society is fighting hard to establish the justice to

the tamils. Killing of nearly 1,40,000 innocents, war crimes,

ongoing slaughter on the journalists, moderates, reformists, artists

and having opposition leader behind the bars make the Srilanka as a

criminal and a failed state.

People’s Permanent Tribunal found Srilanka guilty of war crimes and

Genocide.

UN’s Human Rights Chief is critical of Lankan government Human rights

records.
US human rights report accused Lankan rulers for the Human Rights

violations.

I urge you to change the venue of your event; else this will

strengthen and encourage the government that is involved in the

human rights violations. It will be too ugly and gory to have the

favorite stars to dance in the Tamils’ graveyard.

This is the high time for you to respect not just the sentiments of

Tamils across globe but more importantly respecting the human rights.

Please change the venue to a different country. It will honor you.

For your reference i am attaching the website
(http://www.tamilsagainstgenocide.org/) which provides more details about
the war crimes committed against the Tamils in Sri Lanka.


Yours Truly,

Boobalan Pachaiyappan

Ratan Tata - Human, Institution or God???

What Ratan Tata did for the Mumbai victims.... what every Indian should know!

Ratan Tata is the chairman of Indian Hotels who own the Taj Mahal Hotel Mumbai, which was the target of the terrorists on 26/11/08.

Hotel President a 5 star property also belongs to Indian Hotels.

The following is really touching.

What Ratan Tata did for the Mumbai victims.... Don't miss!!!!!!

SALUTE TO MR. RATAN TATA

A. The Tata Gesture

1. All category of employees including those who had completed even 1 day as casuals were treated on duty during the time the hotel was closed.

2. Relief and assistance to all those who were injured and killed

3. The relief and assistance was extended to all those who died at the railway station, surroundings including the “Pav- Bha ji” vendor and the pan shop owners.

4. During the time the hotel was closed, the salaries were sent by money order.

5. A psychiatric cell was established in collaboration with Tata Institute of Social Sciences to counsel those who needed such help.

6. The thoughts and anxieties going on people’s mind was constantly tracked and where needed psychological help provided.

7. Employee outreach centers were opened where all help, food, water, sanitation, first aid and counseling was provided. 1600 employees were covered by this facility.

8. Every employee was assigned to one mentor and it was that person’s responsibility to act as a “single window” clearance for any help that the person required.

9. Ratan Tata personally visited the families of all the 80 employees who in some manner – either through injury or getting killed – were affected.

10. The dependents of the employees were flown from outside Mumbai to Mumbai and taken care off in terms of ensuring mental assurance and peace. They were all accommodated in Hotel President for 3 weeks.

11. Ratan Tata himself asked the families and dependents – as to what they wanted him to do.

12. In a record time of 20 days, a new trust was created by the Tatas for the purpose of relief of employees.

13. What is unique is that even the other people, the railway employees, the police staff, the pedestrians who had nothing to do with Tatas were covered by compensation. Each one of them was provided subsistence allowance of Rs. 10K per month for all these people for 6 months.

14. A 4 year old granddaughter of a vendor got 4 bullets in her and only one was removed in the Government hospital. She was taken to Bombay hospital and several lacs were spent by the Tatas on her to fully recover her.

15. New hand carts were provided to several vendors who lost their carts.

16. Tata will take responsibility of life education of 46 children of the victims of the terror.

17. This was the most trying period in the life of the organization. Senior managers including Ratan Tata were visiting funeral to funeral over the 3 days that were most horrible.

18. The settlement for every deceased member ranged from Rs. 36 to 85 lacs [One lakh rupees tranlates to approx 2200 US $ ] in addition to the following benefits:

a. Full last salary for life for the family and dependents;

b. Complete responsibility of education of children and dependents – anywhere in the world.

c. Full Medical facility for the whole family and dependents for rest of their life.

d. All loans and advances were waived off – irrespective of the amount.

e. Counselor for life for each person

B. Epilogue

1. How was such passion created among the employees? How and why did they behave the way they did?

2. The organization is clear that it is not something that someone can take credit for. It is not some training and development that created such behaviour. If someone suggests that – everyone laughs

3. It has to do with the DNA of the organization, with the way Tata culture exists and above all with the situation that prevailed that time. The organization has always been telling that customers and guests are #1 priority

4. The hotel business was started by Jamshedji Tata when he was insulted in one of the British hotels and not allowed to stay there.

5. He created several institutions which later became icons of progress, culture and modernity. IISc is one such institute. He was told by the rulers that time that he can acquire land for IISc to the extent he could fence the same. He could afford fencing only 400 acres.

6. When the HR function hesitatingly made a very rich proposal to Ratan – he said – do you think we are doing enough?

7. The whole approach was that the organization would spend several hundred crore in re-building the property – why not spend equally on the employees who gave their life?

This is NOT COVERED BY Any NEWS CHANNELS !

I Salute Mr. Ratan Tata..

(Source: http://smallstrokes.blogspot.com/2010/05/what-ratan-tata-did-for-mumbai-victims.html)