Weekly News Round Up

REGIONAL

Women Journalists

“Vanitha Pathra Pravarthanam – Charithravum varthamanavum” (Women Journalists-History and Present”) penned by A.Krishnakumari of CPI(M) mouth-piece “Deshabhimani, published by Kerala Sahitya Academi was released by P.R.Rajan on 31st March at Trichur. At a time more and more women venture into the media world, this book ought to serve as an informative and inspiring one.

T.N.plea turned down

Tamil Nadu Govt’s plea to cancel empowered committee to look into the dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu before Supreme Court over the issue of Mullaperiyar dam was rejected by the Honourable Court. Now that their plea is rejected, they are they are bound to include their representative in the 5 member empowered committee. Justice K.T.Thomas was chosen Kerala’s representative earlier in the committee.

O.V.Vijayan’s death anniversary observed

Noted literatteur and internationally acclaimed cartoonist O.V.Vijayan’s death anniversary was observed at his native district Palghat. Cartoonists and artists from across the state gathered at Fort Maidan Palghat and they depicted Vijayan’s characters on a wider canvas. Later in the evening his admirers assembled at Tazrak the village from which Vijayan drew inspiration to pen his widely acclaimed novel “Khasakinte Ithihasam” (The Legend of Khasak) which won laurels in the literary world. Let’s offer our tributes to one of the great writers and cartoonists who brought fame and glory to Malayalam and to the entire world.

Film maker Sarath Chandran Wayanad no more

Film maker of National repute, whose documentary films were instrumental in drawing our attention to various contemporary realities met with a tragic accident while he was commuting from Thrissur to Ernakulam where his family is presently settled. Guruvayur-Chennai Express which was overcrowded led to his fall from the express train, which ended in the gruesome tragedy. One of his co-travellers Sebastian also met with the tragedy. An aspiring film maker’s life abruptly brought to an end. Let us share our sorrow with his bereaved family.

Laurie Baker honoured

The distinguished architect Laurie Baker who carved a niche in the field Architecture by his technical knowledge for building low-cost homes and buildings thus saving the middle class in a big way from going after expensive residences, which they can’t afford to. Himanshu Burt, Professor, College of Planning and Architecture Goa was the chief guest to observe the 3rd death anniversary of the renowned architect who came all the way from England to settle in Kerala years back. He made Kerala his home, loved its people and in exchange for the love and hospitality showered upon him by the Malayalees he helped them in building low-cost environment friendly homes. Himanshu Burte dwelt upon the maverick, unconventional architect of our times and eulogised his contributions to architecture.

Ishwaran, D.K.Pattammal’s husband died

Ishwaran, whio was instrumental in providing inspiration and encouragement to the legendary Carnatic Musician D.K.Pattammal left for his heavenly abode at the age of 95. He is survived by his two children.

NATIONAL

Narendra Modi, Chief Minister, Gujarat on March 27th appeared before the SC (Supreme Court) appointed SIT (Special Investigation Team) as per the summons to appear before the team. After nine and hours grilling by the SIT about which Modi admitted before the curious media that it was a tiresome exercise. He took the opportunity to cast aspersions on his detractors and a section of media for spreading disinformation and rumours and swore by his firm dedication to the constitutional authority as a law-abiding citizen. Good.

Stephen Park blaze High Power committee appointed

A massive fire occurred at the Stephen Court building at Park Street, Kolkata which led to the gruesome deaths of more than 43 persons, most of them charred beyond recognition which was unbearable sight to the eye-witnesses, with stench emanating from the wreckage. West Bengal government appointed a High Power committee to investigate the reasons that led to the unfortunate incident.

War of words continue between Congress and Bachachans

An imminent end to the war of words between the Congress and Bachachans is nowhere in sight with both parties not in any mood to stop washing the dirty linen in public. Amitabh Bachachan sharing the dais with Ashok Chavan on the occasion of Bandra-Worli road opening paved the way for further ignition of the ongoing ‘mud-slinging’. With Ashok Chavan put in the dock due to the simmering leaders of Congress turning against him and reporting the incident to the High Command and the High Command reportedly seeking explanation from Mr. Chavan, he flew to Marathi Literary Festival, Pune, one day in advance as Mr.Bachachan was also an invitee on the occasion.

Bachachan kin, Abhishek Bachachan who was reportedly chosen the brand ambassador of World Wide Earth Hour campaign was also a victim to the wrath of the Congress. It was alleged by his father that his son’s posters were removed and a recorded speech of Abhishek’s speech got deleted. For an already fuming Big B this incident was too much to bear. The clash between the two celebrity families grabbed national attention with political rivalries coming to the fore. As Neerja Chowdhary, Political Editor of “The New Indian Express” aptly termed Big B has turned out to be a football about to be kicked in different directions by Congress, BJP and SP elements with the spectators having funny times.

Nalini’s plea rejected

Nalini, one of the prime elements involved in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi must contend with her ordeal in prison since her plea for premature release was rejected by Tamil Nadu Govt. Nalini, who was sentenced to death upon intervention of Sonia Gandhi was saved from the gallows.

Sonia appointed NAC, Chairperson

Sonia Gandhi, UPA Chairperson who quit the post of Chairperson, National Advisory Committee (NAC) in 2006 on the Office of Profit controversy is back again in the same post. Sonia will have a level playing field in various policies and programmes of the country further.

Education becomes Fundamental Right

The Right to Elementary Education came into force on April 1st. Children aged between 6-14 should undergo compulsory education in future. Finance Commission has allotted Rs.25000 crore and in 2010-11 Rs.15000 crore has been earmarked. To enable the act meaningful and fruitful a number of urgent steps need to be implemented. Poverty is the worst culprit and we are all aware that more than crores of children are forced to do child labour to earn a living for them and to their starving families. Another indispensable factor is the lack of housing facilities and due to untimely floods and droughts, people are forced to migrate to various parts of the country. Lack of nutrition, safe drinking water, proper sanitary facilities all contribute to their burden. More than 657 million people of India are living without sanitary facilities. To make the right to elementary education more effective 92 million more teachers are to be recruited and they must be provided with proper training facilities. Mid-day meal schemes to children should be strictly implemented. The govt. of the day need to take all these urgent needs seriously and move along these lines, without having a strong foundation a strong building cannot be constructed and if it is not attended to in right earnest the building is certain to collapse and it is quite natural.

Shoaib-Sania Nikkah

Pak cricketer Shoaib Malik is slated to wed Sania Mirza, the ace tennis player (thus we say) on April 15th as per the latest reports. Gossips, rumours, controversies still abound. Sania’s engagement with Zurab Mirza, her childhood friend was solemnize with much fanfare and religious rites attended by celebrities across the spectrum. Later it dawned upon that Sania was “incompatible” with Zurab. Whose enlightenment it was, no idea. These are enlightening times after all. They got separated and in came the cricketer Shoaib like the proverbial Prince riding a horse from across seven seas in search of his Princess.

INTERNATIONAL

Who will form Govt in Iraq

With elections over in Iraq coming to an end now Iraq watchers are busy weighing the prospects of a Govt. about to be formed in June. Eyad Allawi whose alliance Iraquia emerging with 91 seats entertains the hopes of forming a govt. How far he is going to succeed is a mute question. The incumbent Prime Minster Noori Al Maliki whose State of Alliance has emerged second with a close 89 seats. His plea for a recounting of votes was spurned by the election authorities Iraqui National Alliance, Sadrist alliance with 70 seats might turn up king maker in the run-up to the formation of a govt. Kurdista owing allegiance to Kurds has bagged 31 seats has a vital chance to play in the formation of a govt. A National Unity govt. consisting of all alliances under Eyad Allawi seems a probability. In the world of politics only possibilities are counted.

Moscow Bombings – 38 killed

In the peak hours of 29/4, two women suicide bombers with high intensity explosives strapped around them, triggered explosions in a Moscow Metro one at Lubyan Ko killing 26 on the spot, injuring many and one at Park Turkey killing 12 and injuring many. The unexpected suicide bombings jolted Moscow sending shockwaves across Russia and the world over prompting President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin vowing to crsushing terrorism by giving more teeth to anti-terrorist laws. The explosions were reportedly triggered by Chechnian terrorists apparently in retaliation to Moscow launching an attack on their terrorist havens sometime back.

Bing Bang replicated

Replicating conditions preceding the Big Bang in the Large Hydron Collider beams of protons were brought to collision releasing high intensity energy, thus creating an impact of which would pave a new path to study the impact and its after effects by analysis and to find out any clue about the elusive ‘God Particle’ declared the scientists of ERN (European Nuclear Energy Research Organisation).

Rana - not to plead guilty

Tahavvur Rana, the alleged accomplice of David Coleman Headley charged with the 26/11 Mumbai carnage has decided not to plead guilty. Recall the reported decision of David Headley to plead guilty before a court of law.

LITERATURE

Neel Chowdhary, a Post graduate in film and television studies from Warvickshire, his main pre-occupation is drama, has walked away with Metro Plus Award for his script based on Satyajit Ray’s story ‘Taramandal’ . The award was instituted by ‘The Hindu’. Mr. Chowdhary, aged 29 hails from New Delhi. Congrats to him.