Chennai political events and......
Hello everybody,
Feb 13, 2017
Happy spring season or 'Basant Panchami'. Like Arab spring which happened about 4 years ago, the spring movement is going on in Tamil Nadu. For the past one year, Tamil Nadu, especially Chennai, has been one of the most happening places 'nature-lly' and politically. Nature has not been very kind to the people of Tamil Nadu, especially Chennai-ites, in the last 2 Decembers. The incessant rains during December 2015 drowned Chennai and it was brought back to its feet by the goodwill of the ordinary citizens who rose up to become extraordinary to save Chennai. Politicians were frowned upon for not coming forward, the ordinary man became hero!
Feb 24, 2017
I started this article when Chennai was politically burning and the events which would beat even the best movie scripts all over the world. But some commitments kept me away from this space and I could not complete this during that time. Now that it looks passe, it makes less sense to write about it. It is like cold coffee. But when we look back, the drama started to unfold rapidly towards the end of January when Sasikala, Jayalalitha's longtime friend and confidante, announced her decision to take over the reins of the state by pushing the interim Chief minister O. Panneerselvam down. The dramatic move of Panneerselvam, who decided to come out of Sasikala's hold, after meditating in front of Amma's memorial took the whole of Tamil Nadu by storm. Panneerslevam, on whom endless jokes and trolls were circulated in the social media, became a hero overnight. Sasikala is seen as a schemer, bad woman, worse than a witch, the lady who 'killed' amma, is everybody's nightmare. She belongs to the Thevar community and brought in her family members to control the reins of existing/non-existing business firms and pull the strings of the party. Panneerselvam, who fought with the center to bring the Jallikkattu back, was seen as the most favoured man. Though Sasikala tried all the theatrics which included packing off the MLAs to a resort, she could not become the Chief Minister, as the case of disproportionate assets verdict went against her. Panneerselvam's hopes were dashed when the MLAs decided to stick to Sasikala's camp. Though she is in Bangalore jail, she remote controls the State through E Palaniswami, much to the chagrin of the general public. I was expecting a general uprising and protests similar to the Jallikattu movement, but nothing much seems to be on the move. Are the people just tired or resigned to the fate hanging over their heads? Where is the passion, anger, unity that was visible a few days back? There was even the talk of amending the constitution, when the crisis like this shows up! And then, nothing happened. Panneerselvam is left with nothing, though he won the hearts of Tamilians. And then there is Deepa Jayakumar, whose appearance very much resembles her departed aunt, but has to prove her mettle to go up the political ladder. What will happen in the next four years of EPS's rule/Sasikala's rule? Will the fire which is burning inside the hearts of Tamilians come out again? We are all forced to wait and watch.
On the personal front, I finished 11 KM in Bangalore Runners Unity Run (BRUR). My husband is a marathon runner, and it was only a 'long matter of time' that I got into the groove. I did not compete with anybody, but with myself. There were no medals, certificates, but that did not matter. It was a personal up gradation for me. Something which looked mightily impossible to me a week before the run, now looks possible. If I can finish 11K, then why not half marathon or 21K. That is next on my bucket list. I feel more confident, a renewed self , possibility of exploring new horizons. Many things are possible if one has determination. And with this renewed confidence and determination, I sign off for now.
Deepa.
Feb 13, 2017
Happy spring season or 'Basant Panchami'. Like Arab spring which happened about 4 years ago, the spring movement is going on in Tamil Nadu. For the past one year, Tamil Nadu, especially Chennai, has been one of the most happening places 'nature-lly' and politically. Nature has not been very kind to the people of Tamil Nadu, especially Chennai-ites, in the last 2 Decembers. The incessant rains during December 2015 drowned Chennai and it was brought back to its feet by the goodwill of the ordinary citizens who rose up to become extraordinary to save Chennai. Politicians were frowned upon for not coming forward, the ordinary man became hero!
Feb 24, 2017
I started this article when Chennai was politically burning and the events which would beat even the best movie scripts all over the world. But some commitments kept me away from this space and I could not complete this during that time. Now that it looks passe, it makes less sense to write about it. It is like cold coffee. But when we look back, the drama started to unfold rapidly towards the end of January when Sasikala, Jayalalitha's longtime friend and confidante, announced her decision to take over the reins of the state by pushing the interim Chief minister O. Panneerselvam down. The dramatic move of Panneerselvam, who decided to come out of Sasikala's hold, after meditating in front of Amma's memorial took the whole of Tamil Nadu by storm. Panneerslevam, on whom endless jokes and trolls were circulated in the social media, became a hero overnight. Sasikala is seen as a schemer, bad woman, worse than a witch, the lady who 'killed' amma, is everybody's nightmare. She belongs to the Thevar community and brought in her family members to control the reins of existing/non-existing business firms and pull the strings of the party. Panneerselvam, who fought with the center to bring the Jallikkattu back, was seen as the most favoured man. Though Sasikala tried all the theatrics which included packing off the MLAs to a resort, she could not become the Chief Minister, as the case of disproportionate assets verdict went against her. Panneerselvam's hopes were dashed when the MLAs decided to stick to Sasikala's camp. Though she is in Bangalore jail, she remote controls the State through E Palaniswami, much to the chagrin of the general public. I was expecting a general uprising and protests similar to the Jallikattu movement, but nothing much seems to be on the move. Are the people just tired or resigned to the fate hanging over their heads? Where is the passion, anger, unity that was visible a few days back? There was even the talk of amending the constitution, when the crisis like this shows up! And then, nothing happened. Panneerselvam is left with nothing, though he won the hearts of Tamilians. And then there is Deepa Jayakumar, whose appearance very much resembles her departed aunt, but has to prove her mettle to go up the political ladder. What will happen in the next four years of EPS's rule/Sasikala's rule? Will the fire which is burning inside the hearts of Tamilians come out again? We are all forced to wait and watch.
On the personal front, I finished 11 KM in Bangalore Runners Unity Run (BRUR). My husband is a marathon runner, and it was only a 'long matter of time' that I got into the groove. I did not compete with anybody, but with myself. There were no medals, certificates, but that did not matter. It was a personal up gradation for me. Something which looked mightily impossible to me a week before the run, now looks possible. If I can finish 11K, then why not half marathon or 21K. That is next on my bucket list. I feel more confident, a renewed self , possibility of exploring new horizons. Many things are possible if one has determination. And with this renewed confidence and determination, I sign off for now.
Deepa.
Comments
Post a Comment