Volume No 17 Issue No 1 January 31, 2017 LAB JOURNAL OF THE ASIAN COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM Will the protests ‘Nationalism’ in Urur-Olcott Vizha affect the law? movie halls kicks off Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

ANINDIWTA BANERBJEE I Wednnesday ohad chatlleng ed cits behnch agreaed to hlear lthe epleas rnesolve thge violenit prontests acrogss jal ikatJtu,” eaxplainedl Mlr. Ai.R. kwith afire, smtoke tand ushrieks salid, aNitin Sw., an IIT Madras constitutional validity before the which were listed. the state, especially on the Marina Satkhtivel, a senior advocate at the everywhere, was in chaos even student, who was also an active The Animal Welfare Board of India Supreme Court. Meanwhile the Centre has also Beach, by students and others, Madras High Court. after the passage of the Bill. part of the Marina protests. (AWBI) has said that it has no But later, the AWBI stated, "The filed a plea for withdrawing the demanding that the ban be lifted. This Bill was hurriedly tabled by Shortly before 6 pm, the protest On the very first day of the intention of challenging the Tamil board has received news reports January 6, 2016 notification The Bill, which was passed on the Chief Minister O. was called off, though around 500 protests, the Government promised Nadu Prevention of Cruelty to and electronic media reports stating banning Jallikattu will be taken up. January 23, defines jallikattu as an Panneerselvam as Chennai was students continued to be on the an ordinance to allow jallikattu. Animals Ordinance 2017 and the that the AWBI moved the Supreme In the midst of continuing event involving bulls conducted for rocked by violence after police beach. The lack of proper communication subsequent Bill and that any Court. If at all any petition has been protests over jallikattu across the traditional and cultural reasons on moved to evict nearly 10,000 While most of the protestors made the protestors aggressive. petition already filed in its name filed challenging the ordinance on State, the Tamil Nadu Assembly days from January to May in Jallikattu protesters from the refused to speak about the sudden The Government’s reluctance to will be withdrawn. behalf of the AWBI, the same may had unanimously passed an certain places as notified by the Marina Beach. violence, some were of the opinion release the text of the ordinance, Two days after the Tamil Nadu be withdrawn immediately." amendment bill for conducting State Government. Over a hundred people were that it happened because of the fearing a legal challenge from the Assembly approved an amendment Board's member and advocate jallikattu on the ground that it was “It amends Sections 2, 3, 11, 22, reportedly injured and at least two secrecy regarding the ordinance. animal rights activists, added to the in law to allow bull-taming sports Anjali Sharma however said she very important to preserve the 27 and 28 of the Act and explains police stations and several vehicles “Had details of the ordinance confusion. Now with the Court in the state, reports said the Animal had filed the petition only after full cultural and traditional practices of variants such as ‘manjuvirattu’, were burnt. been released and explained in verdict awaited, it remains to be Welfare Board of India and other consent and approval from AWBI. the state. ‘erudhu vidum vizha’ and The Marina beach, which had time, most of the Marina crowd seen if jallikattu will survive the animal rights organisations on The Justice Dipak Misra-headed The amendment was brought to ‘vadamadu’, all to do with started resembling a battlefield would have gone away celebrating” legal challenge. Bail for 29 students; violence under probe AIHIK SUR cused pelted stones at them first who said they will inquire into the ANINDITA BANERJEE and did not disperse when they matter. The intervention of the ad - were ordered to and hence they had vocates secured a medical inspec - A day after the city police arres - to lathicharge the crowd. tion for the accused.” ted students in connection with the “We are going to file a petition Chennai was rocked by violence jallikattu violence, the Principal before the Human Rights Commis - after police were asked to evict Sessions Court here has granted sion,” he added. nearly 10,000 Jallikattu protesters them bail with the condition that Pointing at the dried blood on the from the Marina Beach. they stay in Chengalpattu till furt - pants of one of the arrested, advo - Over a hundred people were re - her orders. cate R. Thirumoorthy said, “We no - portedly injured and at least two As many as 29 persons who said ticed the external injuries on the police stations and several vehicles they were victims of police assault victims and we requested the judge were burnt. during the Jallikattu protests were to admit them in hospital”. A senior police officer said ordered by the Chief Magisterial The 29 arrested were taken to the “Things went out of control when Court to undergo treatment for in - Royapettah General Hospital after a group started running towards the juries before being remanded into the judge ordered that they should sea, threatening suicide. Several custody. be treated first. hundred followed them.” The accused have been booked The ‘victims’ had to wait for an “While a section of protesters PHOTOS BY AKHIL V. AND ANKITA B. The Nadukuppam fish market was a shambles with gutted vehicles and rotting fish. on charges of assembling unlaw - hour before the treatment finally were removed successfully, over fully, damaging public property, started. 2,000 formed a human chain along rioting, intimidating authorities and An argument broke out between the shore line to stop us,” the offi - also attempting murder. the police and the advocates when cer said. “During the police crackdown the police allegedly tried to con - He also mentioned that the pro - on the protesters my son was spot - vince the medical officers to issue a testors were later joined by fisher - ARNKITeA BOsSE idensettings the fishf market inc flamees. ‘resptrictedo accesls toi thce beaech roa d. wAcrcordaing tot nehws rep’ orts, the ted in the middle of the chaos. His fit-certificate for those arrested wit - men and women. The residents alleged that men A police barricade continued to videos are to be investigated by the bike was destroyed by the police hout examining them. At the end of the protest, there Residents of Nadukuppam claim and women were dragged into the block Kamarajar Salai and all other cyber cell of the Central Crime and he had to save his life by “Even after the court issued the were several injured in the battle on that 450 fish vendors have lost their street and thrashed. The police roads leading to the beach. Branch. Inspector K. Yuvaraj, who fleeing into the fishing village of judgement the police tried to by - both sides. livelihood after their market was groped women and tugged and “Individually, I have incurred a was patrolling the Marina, said that Nadukuppam from where he was pass it illegally. Upon our objection The Ice House police station was burnt down during the violence that pulled at their sarees, hurling loss of about Rs. 50,000. Our he did not have the authority to later arrested,” said Perumal, father the medical officer agreed to the set on fire while a few people in - took place on January 23 following abuses at everyone, they alleged. families are devastated and we repond to the residents’ charges. of P. Tamil Mani alias Ajay, one of inspection,” said Prathaban. cluding women were trapped in - police action to control the “They (police)‘lathi-charged’ have nowhere to go,” said Meanwhile, the National Human the 29 who were arrested. Wheelchairs were not provided side.This spurred the police to take Jallikattu protests. without asking any questions! It Thangam, a fish vendor. Rights Commission has taken suo Ajay, 22, is a student of New for those who had obvious trouble tough steps against the protestors. The residents alleged that some seemed like they didn’t care who Additionally, the villagers also motu cognisance of the alleged College, Chennai. walking from the injuries suffered. On Friday Tamil Nadu Chief powder-like substance was used to was in front of them. They even confirmed that the police promised police excesses on Jallikattu Prathaban, an advocate represen - They had to limp from the police Minister O.Panneerselvam, during burn the fish market and some of beat the children. A policeman compensation if the residents protestors. It has also issued ting the arrested said, “Most of the van to the Casualty ward of the the assembly session, said “anti-na - the expensive fish were looted. pulled my saree and tore my signed a testimony blaming the notices to the Chief Secretary of 29 who were nabbed are students hospital. tionals” had intruded in the peace - On January 23, the police started blouse,” said Samundeshwari, a protestors for the damage. But the State, the DGP, the Chennai Police and it was their democratic right “After the inspection we found ful protests. evicting those who had gathered on resident. villagers refused. Commissioner and the Tamil Nadu they were exercising by protesting. out that nine of them were grie - “Some protesters carried pictu - the Marina Beach to protest against Another dweller, Balaji had a "If the protestors ask for shelter Government, asking them to The police instigated the violence vously injured. Two or three of res of Osama bin Laden during Jal - the ban on jallikattu. black eye and said, “They punched again, we'll still provide it. Because submit their reports within a two as you saw in the TV reports and them are having problems using likattu protests,” he claimed. The protestors in an attempt to me on the face and left me we are humans and these college week span. therefore they falsely created the their hands and legs,” added Prat - Panneerselvam said: “142 cops escape the police entered bleeding. They started throwing students are of our children's age," Responding to allegations of cases.” haban. and 138 protesters were injured du - Nadukuppam where the residents bottles and used tear gas.” said Bhaskar, another fish vendor. violence, a senior police official “These students, particularly, are Vasuki U., National Vice-Presi - ring the violence in Chennai.” gave them refuge and attended to A lot of the young people were A number of videos have been told The Hindu: “We have plenty of from Nadukuppam and MGR dent of the All India Democratic So far 66 cases have been filed their wounds. arrested while many were admitted uploaded in Facebook and other evidence to prove that a section of Nagar. They are mostly from poor Women’s Association (AIDWA) and 215 arrested in Chennai. According to the kuppam to the Rajiv Gandhi Government social media sites claiming agitators started the violence. Just and oppressed communities. They and a Central Committee Member Panneerselvam also said that as dwellers, the police entered the General Hospital. evidence of police brutality in because some policemen indulged are not educated and they don’t of the CPI(M), said, “There is an opposition parties and media have place between 2 pm and 5 pm with The fish vendors complained Nadukuppam. The videos showed in such illegal activities, it doesn’t know the difference between an or - obvious large scale human rights raised complaints that police indul - batons, tear gas, bottles and petrol how they could not reach out for police breaking doors, entering mean that they started the violence. dinance and a judgement”, said violation.” ged in violence, “an enquiry will be bombs; they damaged property and help from the Fishermen homes and beating men and We will investigate the matter and Prathaban “We have already taken up with set up and proper action will be vehicles on the road before finally Association at Royapuram due to women. take action.” According to the police the ac - the state human rights commission taken.” Thin attendance on Marina for Republic Day parade AKHIL VISHWANATH After what happened, many chief with the police and collect it Council for Higher Education on youngsters I know didn’t want to after the event. Kamarajar Salai, was seen carrying The crowd at the 68th Republic return. Many youngsters were de - Ashwin sports a man-bun – long huge posters and a life-size model Day celebrations on Kamarajar nied entry,” said Deenadayal, an hair tied into a bun at the back of of Jayalalitha. Salai was sparse with people deci - engineer from Mylapore. his head. “The policeman at the This time Tamil Nadu Chief Mi - ding to stay away from the parade For two days, the police maintai - checkpoint literally touched it and nister O Panneerselvam hoisted the following a week-long Jallikattu ned strict vigil and enforced bloc - accused me of being a rogue. He Indian flag in front of the Mahatma agitation on the Marina Beach. kades at entry points to the Beach. assumed that a young man having Gandhi statue amidst petals showe - “The crowd was not even 5 per Although security arrangements a man-bun is a rogue and that he red by an Indian Air Force Chetak cent of what it was in the previous were tight for the celebrations, the would wave his dark coloured helicopter to mark the start of Re - years. Last time, lakhs of people task for the Police was made sim - handkerchief in the air in protest,” public Day celebrations. had come to celebrate the Republic ple because the traffic was thinner said Ashwin. “Why will people at - Panneerselvam took the salute in Day, but this time, as you can see, than what they had expected, ac - tend Republic Day celebrations the absence of a full-time Governor there is no one here,” said Raja, a cording to a policeman. when the police do this?” for Tamil Nadu. Governor C Vi - flag and tri-colour merchandise sel - “Even though I was a protester On asked if people’s non-atten - dyasagar Rao, who holds additio - ler. Raja who had managed to make yesterday, I am here to show my dance at the celebrations was a nal charge of Tamil Nadu,and record sales each succeeding year patriotism today,” said Ashwin Iru - form of protest, another spectator Maharashtra. was sitting with hundreds of unsold dayarajan, who was one of the few Vignesh Ramanan said, “Republic The Chief Minister presented the lapel-pin flags this time. protesters who chose to participate Day is unrelated to Jallikattu. Most Anna Medal for Gallantry to W On the eve of Republic Day, Ma - in the celebrations. “I could’ve wat - people are still patriotic. People Durgadevi from Vellore for res - rina Beach had become a desert ched the event on TV but I am forget protests easily but celebrate cuing her friend from drowning. after the Police evicted thousands here,” he added. Republic Day every year. Many are The Agriculture Department pre - of protesters. Ashwin Irudayarajan said that here. Shows patriotism, right?” sented its special award to Sankara The police had made several an - he was detained at a police station The celebrations had received a Narayanan, a paddy farmer, for nouncements at the beach asking for wearing a black T-shirt while loud cheer the previous year des - achieving the highest yield. Gandhi the protesters to vacate the area for protesting on the Marina Beach. On pite Jayalalitha’s absence at the pa - Adigal Police Medal, Kottai Ameer Republic Day preparations. “The the Republic Day, he was asked to rade. A tableau assembled at the Communal Harmony were the crowd was evacuated just in time. keep his dark coloured handker - premises of Tamil Nadu State other awards given away. Empty chairs in the spectators’ section on the Marina Beach PHOTO CURTESY THE HINDU THE WORD 2 CITYSCAPE CHENNAI, JANUARY 31, 2017 ‘Protests should

AATHIRnA PERoINCHtERY alangfuagesf. e“The canti-Htindi ljalliakattu is wan integral’ part of Tamil agitations were a milestone,” says culture and tradition or not, it must Though large public protests are Akhila. “It is the same nationalist, still not influence the ruling in not very frequent in India, there identity politics at play. Similarly, anyway, she adds. have been several over the years the Right to Information Act came Court rulings like the one that forced governments to change from the people themselves. But dismissing the plea for a ban on legislations. However, the recent this (pro- jallikattu protests) is at a Tamil writer Perumal Murugan’s public-backed protests to retract the different level. This is definitely a book Madhorubhagan reflect that ban on jallikattu across Tamil Nadu success story.” process. However, while that is the have set a completely new So what does this mean for the ideal scenario, there have been precedent, say some. judiciary? “We need to understand several cases where judicial rulings “We are at a cusp of seeing how emotive an issue this has have been influenced by public something new,” says Akhila R. S., become,” says Akhila. “The pressure. Moreover, the present an advocate practising in the Supreme Court (SC) will have to amendment to accommodate Madras High Court. “Though the look at this for their ruling.” jallikattu in the PCA is a stop-gap sport was banned a few years ago, However, others disagree. “The arrangement, say a few others. we’ve never had such a huge judiciary cannot be affected in any “It (this legislation) does not protest till now.” manner, by any protests,” says speak much,” says Ravichandran PHOTO: AATHIRA P. The eight-day protest - in which senior advocate and People Union N., an advocate in the Madras High Kangayam cattle are native to the districts of Coimabtore, Erode and Namakkal. a large number of youth also for Civil Liberties activist Sudha Court. “It is an executive order participated - resulted in the state Ramalingam. “The job of the only. Only after the SC judgment government amending the judiciary is to interpret the law, and comes will it be final. Until it does, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals not be swayed by emotions.” however, jallikattu is legal. The ball Are indigenous breeds vanishing? Act (1960) on January 23 to Whether the rationale is that is now in the SC’s court.” ADITHYA KUMAR Animal Welfare Board of India. Every year its more lucrative has caused more farmers to legalise jallikattu and bullock-cart progress is mapped prior to putting it in the interbreed their cows. racing in Tamil Nadu under the Jallikattu , which has been in the spotlight ring. When ready it has to be approved before The quantity varies also due to the fact that rationale that it is part of the culture recently, uses breeds of cattle which some say it is let loose in the ring. most of the indigenous breeds are draught and tradition of its people. might go extinct if the sport is banned. This According to Dawn Williams, Managing breeds. The draught breeds are meant to carry Tamil Nadu, however, is not new breed is raised and trained for the sport alone Director of Blue Cross India, bulls reared in heavy loads and do heavy work. They do not to public protests that have changed and so there are concerns that the breed which Tamil Nadu’s villages are mostly for slaughter. require as much water as the cross bred variety legislations. In 1965, leaders is indigenous to the region will not survive if Due to the better quality of meat of most do. “To rear a Kangayam you need Rs. 200 a including E. V. Ramasamy and the the sport is banned. But experts say that Indian cattle, these cattle are prized not for day,” says Williams. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s C. banning jallikattu will not affect native breeds. their milk or virility but for their flesh. These Also, milk of cross-bred cows is much N. Annadurai revived anti-Hindi The cattle used are usually the Kangayam cattle after the games usually end up being better and provides better milk products as protests across the state when, (native to the Coimbatore, Erode and slaughtered. According to reports by The compared to the indigenous breeds. In cross according to the Official Languages Namakkal districts) or the Pulikulam breeds. Economic Times and The Hindu, India had breeds too, if the calf is female, farmers retain Act of 1963, Hindi was declared The latter, native to Madurai, is highly prized been the top exporter of beef, surpassing it; otherwise, it is sent for slaughter. the mandatory official and national for the game. Both these are just two among Brazil, prior to the political backlash against So will the ban on jallikattu really make any language for all states in India. the eight indigenous breeds in Tamil Nadu. As such slaughter. difference to these species? It won't. As long Caving in to the protests, the Centre per the cattle census which is conducted every Secondly, native cattle yield lesser milk as there is a beef industry, the numbers might brought in the Official Language five years, Tamil Nadu had 11,18,8709 cattle when compared to those cross-bred with a dwindle but they won't completely go extinct. Resolution of 1968 which and 88,14,042 buffaloes as of 2012. Jersey cow. “An indigenous breed can give up “Jallikattu will have no impact on native permitted English to be used for The offspring of the winning bull is usually to 2 litres of milk a day which the calf needs, breeds. The demand for the export of native administrative purposes in all states well taken care of until it is old enough to whereas a cross breed gives 15 - 20 litres,” breed is very high and so the chances of it along with its respective official The jallikattu protests of January 2017. PHOTO: UTSAV TIWARI fight. The calf is tagged and monitored by the says Williams. The yield being higher and going extinct are very slim,” says Williams. The game and its tradition Jallikattu agitation ARITRY DAS a senior journalist and enthusiast in jallikattu is intrinsic to Tamil get them agitated. They are also Tamil literature and culture. culture and agricultural economics; hurt during the game when people blocks traffic in city The jallikattu protests in Tamil The name ‘ jallikattu ’ originated people far removed from it fail to jump on them and traumatize them. AIHIK SUR Fashion Technology. Loyola College joined the agitation Nadu have set an example in the from Tamil terms ‘ salli kaasu ’ understand its significance. According to the bull breeder the Various areas of South Chennai, which led to the closure of contemporary history of Indian meaning coins and ‘ kattu ’ meaning “Every community’s culture is cruelty shown to the bulls is not the The city came to a standstill as the including the East Coast Road, these colleges. polity. With the pro- jallikattu a parcel. It indicates the old based on their production mode. norm but exception. week long and initially peaceful Velachery, Kamarajar Salai and Schools in the city like Chettinad movement seeing support of tradition of tying gold coins as Jallikattu is a part of the harvest “When few thousand people Jallikattu protests took a violent parts of Anna Salai were closed to Vidyashram , Sishya and DAV sent eminent personalities like musician prize money to the horns of the celebration, Pongal. With participate, there are always foul turn on January 23. Southern traffic.Prominent personalities such out messages to parents askin g A. R. Rahman, actors Rajnikanth, bull. Later cloth strips and flowers modernization of agriculture, players,” Manikandan said. But Railways cancelled MRTS train as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O them to pick up their children from Kamal Hassan and chess champion replaced the coins. tractors have replaced bulls for there are monitoring bodies to services and MTC buses citing Panneerselvam’s car to the the school. Viswanathan Anand, a huge debate The participants would wrestle ploughing. “Now the bull is only disqualify them. Not more than one security reasons putting students, secretariat got delayed and “On Monday, my son reached has emerged across India. with the bull to snatch the prize and used for breeding,” Sathish said. person is supposed to touch the bull office- goers and travellers in a cricketer Ravichandra Ashwin had home very late. We were following “It can be called as a defining either they would succeed or get “Jallikattu is an old tradition. at a time and it does not last more jam. People taking the bus also to use the metro because of the the news on the television and were tradition of Tamil Nadu. Even thrown around by the virile bull. We have written records of it till than a minute. The law should have faced difficulty in reaching the chaos on the streets. worried,” said 35-year-old though there is increasing But in the process, not just the bull 2000 years back,” claimed native made the monitoring system Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus “Young men on motorcycles Aadarshini, a homemaker. urbanization now, jallikattu still has but also participants get severely bull breeder S. Manikandan from better than ban the game, in Koyambedu. created chaos on the roads nearby. Employees from Tidel Park a prominent regional existence,” injured, occasionally resulting in Silukanaickenpatti village in Salem said Manikandan. “I took a train from Everything came to a standstill”, along the Rajiv Gandhi IT said Sathish Kumar, a leftist deaths. district. According to him, the According to him, if jallikattu is Thiruvanmiyur to Thiruvallikeni on said a shopkeeper on the Santhome Expressway gathered on the political activist. “It is being It was the death of a jallikattu jallikattu bulls are native breeds of banned, farmers would not have Monday. It took 15 minutes to High Road. Students from pavement beside Thiruvanmiyur perceived as part of Tamil identity participant that led to the Animal Tamil Nadu which include the any incentive to rear these bulls and reach the station. There were Thiyagarajar Government Arts MRTS to express solidarity with as Tamil nationalism is Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to Kangayam, Pulikulam, Alambadi, the native breed will go extinct. It probably around 100 people College in Washermenpet, Dr. the protest. This resulted in traffic taking shape.” file a case in the Supreme Court Umblacherry and Malaimadu. would also be a huge blow to the crammed into a bogie. It was very Ambedkar Government Arts slowing down to a crawl. Some “The earliest references of (SC) based on cruelty to animals “For these native breeds we want agricultural economy. chaotic and it took 45 minutes exit College in Vyasarpadi, Kandasamy protesters volunteered to control jallikattu is in Sangam Literature. and public safety. According to to pass the strongest gene pool to Jallikattu is not a black and the station,” said Sumith, 21, a Naidu College for Men, Anna traffic but found the task as hard as Back then it was used by men to AWBI, 43 people have lost their the next generation. For that we white case and arguments for and student at the National Institute of Nagar, Vivekananda College and the policemen did. impress women and get their hand lives in jallikattu between 2008 need to identify an alpha bull that against it are as strong. The sport in marriage,” said Sampath Kumar, and 2014. But protesters argue that is the “stud bull” which will be has been accused of being casteist used for breeding,” said and macho as well. Manikandan. The bull that wins “It has to be democratized to is mated with other cows. ensure the participation of Dalits, Manikandan denied that the women and everyone. This struggle Unexpected holidays animal was subjected to cruelty. may have given an opening for that “We spend months and years as people from all caste and class rearing these bulls. So we cannot participated in the protest for right use them in a fight or damage to jallikattu ,” says Sathish Kumar. hit school schedules them. We are risking ourselves to But the Dalit activist and ANNU KAUSHIK Jayalalithaa’s death. He was unable ‘extended leave’. B Solomon, provide bulls a ground to play and convener of the Republican Party to write his paper since the new Principal, Kumaraah Higher identify the alpha among them. of India’s TN wing said, “It’s a The closure of schools and colleges schedule clashed with Sabarimala Secondary School said that the That is jallikattu . It is a science- protest of the rich people. We don’t because of the protests in support pilgrimage. While some schools school witnessed a fall in based tradition.” support the police violence against of jallikattu has further added to a maintained that the holidays didn’t attendance both on January 24 and The SC has noted that often, the protesters. But nor do we list of unexpected holidays in disrupt the schedule many had to in December after Vardah. before the game, people twist the support the game and the protest as December and January. Schools cancel exams and arrange for extra Some parents too felt that Machines have replaced native bulls. PHOTO: AATHIRA P. bull’s tail or force-feed alcohol to jallikattu excludes Dalits.” were earlier shut down due to then classes to make up for the holidays. students got an excuse not to study Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s death An office staff at National Public because of the holidays. and cyclone Vardah last December. School (NPS) said that the school Ramalakshmi, whose son studies in City schools conduct final had to reschedule exams but Class 7 in SOHSS said that her son examinations in March and April everything was managed. rarely did anything fruitful at home and preparatory tests are conducted However, the Principal of while his school was closed. Reservations for women at IITs in the preceding months. Savitriammal Oriental Higher But not all parents were of the ANANYA SRIVASTAVA vations are not the way to go. It ter ratio at 60:40 (3:2). women are getting a better deal. Abhijit Krishna, a student of Secondary School (SOHSS), same view. Aarti S whose son also depends on how they imple - “But the main campus has only “Already women don’t pay fee Class 11 of DAV Gopalapuram Mylapore, N. Sudarshana admitted studies in Class 4 at NPS said that A panel set up by the Joint Ad - ment it, what with the existing re - five women out of 100 students.” for most government examinations said, “Due to holidays because of that the rescheduling of exams put she did not have any problem with mission Board in Delhi recommen - servation.” With such a skewed ratio, it be - like the Staff Selection Commis - cyclone Vardah and Jayalalithaa’s pressure on students as their study the holidays as her son was in a ded that 20 per cent of the seats at Scheduled Caste, Scheduled comes difficult for normal interac - sion (SSC). Even in jobs, men death, a lot of our practical exams leave was cut down. Unexpected junior class . the Indian Institutes of Technology Tribe and Other Backward Class tions, she says. think a woman has flirted with the were cancelled.” holidays especially during the However, for higher secondary (IITs) be reserved for girls till the candidates get 15, 7.5 and 27 per “Men don’t know how to talk to interviewer to get the position. Both private and government jallikattu protests created a panic students especially those who were problem of skewed sex ratio in the cent reservation. women. There have been instances With reservation, men will think schools were shut down for three like situation among parents. in standard 12, such unexpected enrollments is rectified. Led by Rahul Nath, a Humanities stu - of stalking, inappropriate contact women are getting in only because days due to Jayalalithaa’s death Joseph Renneish, a student of holidays not only led to Professor Timothy Gonsalves, Di - dent at IIT-M said “I think it’s a and harassment,” she added. of the crutch that this is.” Suryana - while Cyclone Vardah forced them Class 8 at St. Patrick’s Higher cancellation of their school exams rector of IIT-Mandi, it was decided good move, mostly because the en - But despite the issues Suryana - rayan explained. to close for two to five days. Some Secondary School, Adyar, said that but also their coaching classes for the students who will appear in gineering departments in the IITs rayan did not think reservation was “Reservation in coaching centers schools closed for a day because of his parents came to pick him up . Many of them are preparing for the Joint Entrance Examination have a skewed sex ratio. But I don’t the way to go, instead of the institutes would help the Jallikattu protests. But schools from school on Monday in the third engineering and medical entrances (JEE) for the admission into va - know how students coming in “With reservation, only privile - more. That way in clearing JEE it - around the city declared a half day period even though his school had as well as their board exams. rious engineering colleges. through merit will feel about this as ged women will get admissions. self they would be deemed quali - on January 23 when the protests not declared a half day. S. Santhiya, a student of Class 12 In 2016-17 alone, only 8 per cent there are enough reservations in The move should instead expand fied for the IITs without inviting turned violent. But some parents said that the at DAV Gopalapuram said that her students at the institutes were fe - place already. I’m hoping this move the opportunities for women from flak from the other sex,” she added. Shiva Ganesh, a student of Class situation was normal on January 23 pre-boards and practice tests were male. Bhargavi Suryanarayan, an will improve the enrolment rates by underprivileged backgrounds. It Each IIT can choose the percentage 8 at the Gopalapuram Secondary and so they allowed their children rescheduled. Integrated M.A. student in Huma - the targeted year (2020).” doesn’t guarantee such type of an of reservation up to 20% to in - School said that his Tamil exam to attend school. She said she had to miss her nities at IIT-Madras said, “The idea Suryanarayan said that the Hu - inclusion.” crease the female enrolment, de - was rescheduled when schools Some principals said that due to coaching classes to study for her behind the move is good but reser - manities department still had a bet - There are also concerns that pending on its need. were closed because of such holidays many students took school examinations. THE WORD CHENNAI, JANUARY 31, 2017 CITYSCAPE 3 Koyambedu traders Forced nationalism plan to go on strike ANANAYA BANERJEE

The traders of the wholesale vegetable market at Koyambedu ARADHAiNAn KALIA thnatioenal anthe m ims played, I hoave vie halls have threatened to go on an tried to be as vertical as possible. indefinite strike against the plan to The Union Home Ministry’s Everybody has his or her way of allocate public space within their guidelines on how people with responding. How do you expect an premises for setting up more shops, disabilities should show respect 80 year old person who may not be citing congestion as the primary when the National Anthem is being disabled but is not able to stand to reason. played has come under fire. show respect to the anthem. Just Several members of the The Ministry said, “Persons with because someone is not on a wheel Koyambedu Vegetables, Fruits and locomotor disabilities and other chair, will he be attacked? If people Flowers Merchants Association wheel chair users, shall position have a prosthetic leg what about have demanded that the plan to set themselves to the extent of them? You take any disability and up 29 more shops should be maximum attentiveness and people will have issues. We as a dropped. alertness… for example a country are going backwards. I Cinema halls play the national anthem before the films A member of the association, P. wheelchair-bound person with would very strongly protest every start. | LIVEBHARATH.COM Sukumar, said that this move could The Koyambedu market...getting crowded. THE HINDU disability shall make the aspect of this decision,” he added. cause chaos because of the increase past ten years, denounces the Only last year, the Chennai wheelchair static, and position In November, the Supreme Kumar (25) an IT professional. Shreela Manohar, a student of in footfall in the market. proposal for more shops. “We are Metropolitan Development themselves maintaining the Court had ordered that “all the “ My patriotism for the country Dr. Ambedkar Government Law “We have been urging the already struggling because of the Authority (CMDA) had started a maximum possible alertness, cinema halls in India shall play the cannot and should not be decided College, her 60 year old mother Market Management Committee to space crunch. If more shops are drive to evict unauthorised vendors physically… if the person with national anthem before the feature by whether I stand for the National and Bijon K, a graduate student come up with measures to regulate allocated in the open space, we from the wholesale market as they disability is on crutch, he/she shall film starts and all present in the hall anthem in a movie hall or not.” were held for dishonoring the traffic during peak hours.The won’t have a clean place to unload had occupied the area meant for become stable [non-mobile] to the are obliged to stand up to show Many cases of harassment and national anthem. encroachments cause hold ups on our goods,” he says. dumping waste. extent of maximum alertness.” respect to the national anthem” as assault have been reported against Shreela is a member of CPI(ML) the road and make it difficult for us According to S. Chandran, a Yet, the woes of the traders kept Many disability activists said a part of their “sacred obligation”. those who didn’t stand while the RESIST and she was among the to operate out of this market,” he member of the Koyambedu piling up as the garbage in the that they were offended by the kind While many applauded the SC’s National Anthem played in movie seven arrested in Chennai. said. Licensed Wholesale Merchants market and the streets was not of language used in the guidelines. move, this decision also raised halls.Within a month of this Says the 27 year old,”I did not The market in Koyambedu was Association, “The actual problem picked up as frequently as it should ”Are we going to have many eyebrows. decision 12 people were arrested in stand up because it goes against my setup in 1996 after being relocated here is the large number of vendors have been due to the encroaching something to measure the alertness “I don’t think there is any harm Kerala at an International Film principles. I believe that you can’t from Kothawalchavadi. who don't have designated shops or structures in their midst. of the people. For many disabled in standing for the national anthem Festival for failing to follow the impose it on people. Whether or not It was granted 300 acres of land licenses.” “Our sales will drop if we don't people, body movements are in theatres. We used to sing in order. They were released on bail. we choose to stand is a matter of to accommodate 3000 shops and no “They should be moved to the keep the market clean. Our goods beyond their control. Who are you schools too so why not now? I A case was registered against individual choice and it has to be more. wholesale food grain market which are perishable, we have no way to to say they should be absolutely think people have overreacted quite seven persons for disrespecting the respected.” Two decades later, 600 more is comparatively empty,”he added. preserve them. We will be at a huge still,“ said Vaidyanathan who a bit on this decision,” says Riya National anthem at Kasi theatre in People asked why this display shops have cropped up outside the Chandran feels these vendors loss if our problems are not works for Spinal India Foundation Mittal a student of SRM university Chennai last month. This month of patriotism was only in the movie market, adding to the disarray of could be provided with both addressed immediately,” says K. and is starting his NGO called The Others said the order was a three people were heckled by a halls; the national anthem should the vegetable market. licences and shops on relocation, Raman, another wholesale trader in Ganga Trust. violation of civil liberties. “This mob at the Chennai International also be played in offices, Dilip Ganeshan, who has been putting an end to the problems to an Koyambedu who seemed quite “All these years whenever the respect is coerced,” said Sidharth S Film Festival. parliaments and courts too. trading out of Koyambedu for the extent. agitated with the scenario. DEMONETIZATION AFTERMATH No more tracks Not ready yet for Loss for vendors for cycles on OMR ADITHYA KUMAR in cash. Sixty-nine year old Babu who sells snacks near the Even 50 days after demonetisation Vailankanni Church in Besant small vendors complain that their Nagar points to the Murugan Idli ANcANYaA SRsIVAhSTAVlA esopserati ontal. ransacBut tthoise onotesn haves become business is still sluggish and that it Shop across the road. As per a Pew survey, only 17 invalid now. is a struggle for them. "Earlier every morning the place The demonetization drive has led percent of the Indian population “I have worked too hard for this "Even though I get change mostly was so crowded; now there are to an increase in digital payments has a smartphone and 27 per cent day, but now I have to beg for my I still am not able to do as much fewer people than before. Business with people going online to pay for have access to the internet. own money.” business as before," says Pandian is not what it was," he says. groceries and other needs. So there are still people who “I have three children, two of who sells tender coconuts in Indira A lot of these vendors go to the The middle income group is deal in cash and are finding it whom go to school and if I don’t Nagar. banks when they require change adapting to a cashless society by difficult. start the business, it will be very Even though he gets new stock and at times they are turned away going digital for paying Uber or About the inconvenience caused hard for me to educate them,” he of coconuts every three days, a lot as banks too don’t have the cash. Ola taxis (through e-wallets like to her elderly mother, Kaveri, a added. of them go unsold. The 500 rupee note is still rare PayTM and Ola Money), online resident of Saidapet said, “Earlier Many shops on Pantheon Road Most of these small vendors say and Rs 100 notes are even more movie tickets and restaurants. It is when the limit was imposed on had operational Point of Sale that they don’t have the change rare.A lot of shops have turned to the transactions with street vendors cash withdrawal, I couldn’t send (POS) machines to keep the when a customer has a Rs.2000 digital payments but then small and daily wage workers that her the staple amount that I would business going. Mani Ratnam at note. vendors don't have a proper bank involve cash. every month through a friend’s Galaxy Manor Hotel in Saidapet "In my business I earn about account and so all their Data provided by the Reserve bank account. She has never used said, “The POS machine gives me Rs.2000 a month. I have never transactions are in cash which Bank of India shows a sharp her own account and neither does some amount as commission and I seen a Rs.2000 note but then when makes it even more difficult for increase in the use of digital she know how to withdraw money never found a need for PayTM. people come with even a Rs.100 or them to conduct day to day payments through National from an ATM.” Cash here plays a Even in my personal transactions I Rs.150, I am still short of change business. Electronics Funds Transfer major role for many like Kaveri’s do not use it.”Launched by as the business has been bad However, those with bank The cycle track opposite Kasturba Nagar MRTS. | APARNA D (NEFT), Unstructured mother. National Payments Corporation of lately," says Kattavarayan who accounts, or a close relative who Supplementary Service Data The decreasing cash transactions India, the UPI based BHIM app runs a flower shop in Besant Nagar may have a bank account, are able APARNA DHANASEKHAR The track is neglected by cyclists (USSD), and Unified Payment have devoured Vinay Lal’s (35) ice with a large backing of Prime on 7th Avenue. to get through with a moderate because the stretch is either Interface (UPI) based electronic cream business. Minister Narendra Modi was A lot of people prefer not to amount of business. Chennai’s sultry weather is as encroached by construction wallets that enable users to transfer Lal who migrated to Chennai another push for digitization. spend too much as they fear that "I go to the banks twice a month. discouraging as its tracks for workers dumping the waste or money from their smartphones five years ago saved Rs 50,000, The app asks for the Aadhaar they would have to stand in long The queue is short and I get the cyclists in the city to hop onto their vendors with push carts. through multiple bank accounts. mostly in denominations of Rs card number for payments but it is queues to get cash. This has notes I need," says 26 year old bikes every morning. “Nobody is aware that this is a But digital payments work only 1000 and 500 to buy a new ice laden with security issues that deterred a lot of people from going Kumar who sells palm jaggery in The 4 km cycle track that starts cycle track. Even so, how do you if the bank accounts are cream tricycle this year. expose users to fraud and misuse. to smaller shops that only transact Kasturba Nagar. near Kasturba Gandhi Nagar stop them?,” asks Thangavel a MRTS station and runs till the police officer at the Taramani Thoraipakkam Panchayat is replete Police Booth that monitors the with pits. Tidel Park area. The only indication that it is a Vehicles are parked under the cycle track is the embossed cycle foot-over bridges throughout the mark on the manhole covers. Such day, another officer explains. There is the condition that it is hardly are seven foot over bridges Chennai may face a thirsty summer recognized as a cycle track. between these points. ARITRY DAS 25.742 TMC ft," Chief Minister O The IT Expressway, home to a Private institutes like National Panneerselvam told PTI on January number of technology offices has Institute of Fashion Technology After a delay of at least five days, 16th. over 2000 cycle enthusiasts. The (NIFT) have blocked the stretch water from the Krishna River Panneerselvam has also said all number of exclusive cycle stores on with large cement blocks finally reached Chennai on districts of Tamil Nadu were this route is another indicator. preventing the public from using January 20 from Andhra Pradesh, drought-hit due to the crisis created We are Chennai Cycling Group the path outside its building. said a senior PWD official in by the failure of both North-East (WCCG) is an active club of IT The tracks along the Old charge of Krishna Water Supply and South-West monsoons. He professionals with regular ride Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) have project. requested the Central Government chapters that alone boasts around no signs indicating that it is a cycle Andhra Pradesh first released to give the state a grant of Rs. 1500 members. track. They are used by small shops the water on January 9. Later the 39,565 crore for relief measures. A WCCG member, K.Senthil and auto drivers to park their PWD had noted the water released The Krishna water would explains, “The surface is rough and vehicles. It has turned out to be by AP from Kandaleru reservoir provide some relief to Chennai. uneven. It slows me down so I take parking space for customers noticeably decreased and did not Panneerselvam had written to AP the road for its smooth surface”. visiting the shops. reach the Poondi reservoir within chief minister Chandrababu Naidu The tracks with a separate “It is not possible to stop them the usual time. to personally intervene in the cycleway and footway are (motorists or shop owners). Strict “The Krishna water supply was matter. Chennai’s water supply demarcated by dual colored tiles. implementation of regulation is interrupted for a while last week depended on the Krishna to a large With no signs of cycling boards or necessary,” the police officer adds. due to Andhra Pradesh farmers extent till July. poles, most do not identify this as a Parking on the tracks is a major illegally using it on the way. According to the PWD official, track. The way frequently used by problem for the small vendors. Generally it takes five days for “Till now the Krishna project has motorists and cab drivers is known “There is no space to park. the water to reach Poondi. But given us around 1TMC of water. as ‘service road’. Where else do we park our because of the disruption it is We are supposed to get 12 TMC in A man drinking water from the Poondi reservoir, 60 kms away from Chennai. | THE HINDU The way is most often used to vehicles?” asks Ramesh owner of a taking longer now.” said the PWD one month.” Given that they can park vehicles taking up half the small tea shop on OMR. official. only give a reliable data on the Krishna River is the receding water said Arun Subramaniam, founder heart of the city, water supply is not space or sometimes the entire “There is lack of awareness. Because of the failure of North- water received after a certain bodies as a result of encroachment of the environmental conservation fine. Moreover since January the footpath. People are not even aware that the East Monsoon, which contributes period, PWD still does not have and pollution. group EFI (Environmentalist supply has been inconsistent. The The track is used as a two-way track is meant for cyclists,” Senthil to more than half of Chennai’s total full confidence on the continuation “Many lakes and wetlands in Foundation of India). water is also not good and hence lane by vehicles whereas it is a one- explains. rainfall, the water levels are low in of this water supply. Chennai have been the victims of He also said that the rivers such cannot be used for drinking way lane for cyclists. Besides making the track unsafe, the reservoirs that feed the city. "As “If water supply is interrupted rapid development. Buildings are as the Cooum or the Adyar run purposes. We have to get ours from “I prefer the road. I don’t have to trees, construction waste and against the total storage capacity of from Andhra Pradesh again, we’ll being built on marshlands and lake through Chennai, but are too private tankers.” stop every time a vehicle comes in vehicles parked make the track 198, 384 Thousand Million Cubic have to cut the supply on our end,” beds destroying their ecology. The polluted to be used by the city It was hard for the poorer people the opposite direction. The road is a narrower. feet in 15 major irrigation said the official. residents also suffer as these dwellers. in this situation and they had to better option,” says Gnanavel, a “After the construction, the reservoirs in the state, the water Another cause behind the city’s encroached lands were the worst Rama Venugopal, a resident of make do with MetroWater supply, security guard at a hospital in maintenance of the tracks is the available as on 31.12.2016 is only sole dependency on rain and the affected during last year’s floods,” Mogappair said, “Even being in the she further added. Adyar. need of the hour,” he adds. THE WORD 4 MISCELLANY CHENNAI, JANUARY 31, 2017 Where have USruro Olcnott Kgupspam aVizhta cutrthain-erais er pliqyues isntertesat oft traivoellenrs the Tibetans

“Eight hundred students from 240 AATHIRA PERINCHERY schools attended our first audition in all gone? 2015. We shortlisted 40. We have Chennai: On an unlikely stage - been training them on Saturdays, APARNA DHANASEKAR Chennai for their under gradua - Platform Nine at the Central Rail - Sundays and other holidays. We try tion. This number has decreased way Station - the melodious rende - to pick students from non-board “It’s been 20 years since, I met over the time. ring of Indian songs by more than exam classes. But some come any - them last in 1996,” Rinchen Tas - “The Tibetan government re - 60 students piqued the interest of way! Like Mahalakshmi here – she hin talks about his parents. cently changed its policies on travellers, as the event spread the is in Class 12 but still comes for A Tibetan, Tashin came to India scholarship. The scholarship is word about the upcoming Urur Ol - practice and participates in events.” when he was 14 years old. “My given only for the top ten colleges, cott Kuppam Vizha at Besant Nagar. The Choir now consists of35 stu - parents told me then that they may for which certain percentage of The curtain-raiser for the Vizha dents, including visually-challenged not see me in this life time.” marks is required,” Tashin ex - (which was born in 2015 when Car - and special-needs children. Tashin is one of the many Tibe - plains.When asked if there is any natic musician T. M. Krishna and The team completed 15 perfor - tans who fled the country in support from the government Tas - environmental activist Nityanand mances in 2016, beginning their search of a “better life”. hin says, “We need to ask for sup - Jayaraman felt the need to make art The Chennai Children’s Choir singing at the Central Railway Station AATHIRA P inaugural performance at last year’s “I walked for a month, to cross port to get. There is no more inclusive and take it to under - Urur Olcott Kuppam Vizha. Their the Himalayas. I had to come organisation big enough to take up privileged sections of the city) in - student who is part of the Sargam India. We thought we should encou - great deal.” most recent performance was at the through Nepal to reach India.” such things”. cluded performances by Nalanda Choir. rage them and also help musician T. For parents like Annamalai - who inaugural function of the 2017 The UN Refugee camp In There is only one organisation Way’s Chennai Children’s Choir The audience of surprised motley M. Krishna in his work,” says Mr. cannot afford to give their children Hindu Literature Fest. Nepal would give the required pa - for Tibetans in Chennai, Tibetan (CCC) and Dr. Sudha Raja’s Sar - travellers, many pausing with their U. Umashankar, the Station Master such opportunities - the Chennai “The main challenge is the logis - pers to reach India, he explained. Students’ Association of Madras. gam Choir. suitcases to listen to the students at Chennai Central Railway Station. Children’s Choir which teaches tics,” says Ayer. “All our training Every Tibetan here has a Regis - The association was formally With only the humble dhapali (a sing, was an unusual sight. “I’ve Saying that it was an ‘excellent music to children for free, is a sessions are at Mylapore. Students tration Certificate, which should founded in 1993. The organisation local tambourine) for accompani - never seen this before,” says Beena rendition of songs’, Divisional Rail - dream come true. And the children come from as far as Chengelpet and be renewed every five years. has no official residence and ment, the 23-member CCC sang M. of Perambur, who was at the sta - way Manager Anupam Sharma an - enjoy it immensely too. Royapetta. So coordinating that is a The 35 year old completed his meets in public spaces. The last haunting fishing folksongs and of tion to travel to her hometown in nounced that they hope to “continue “The songs are tough, but easy task. But these kids are very, very Bachelors and Masters in English survey showing the population of the beauty of the colourful world. Kerala. with this in some way or the other”, because of the way they teach us,” smart. They will learn a new song in Literature in Loyola College here Tibetans in India is the 2009 sur - Singing of the rustic countryside “This is great, we need more ini - as the curtains closed on the event. says Praveen, who has been singing two minutes!” after his schooling in Dharams - vey. and flocks of goats, their music tiatives like these.” As word spreads about the Urur with the Choir for a year now and The enthusiasm evident in Ayer is hala. “There maybe around 250 Ti - came alive with goat bleats and the Chennaiite Karthik Gowrishan - Olcott Kuppam Vizha, its out-of- says he loves it. “We also like it be - mirrored in his wards as well. “There was a place in Choolai - betans in Chennai today.” almost-forgotten tongue clicks of karan is not too sure though. “It the-box ideas are not just taking cause we get to learn songs of diffe - “I didn’t expect to ever have ac - medu filled with Tibetans, it was Most often Tibetans cannot herders calling to their animals, all could be a slight hindrance to the music to the public, but also helping rent languages – there’s Hindi, cess to such an opportunity,” says called a Tibetan village. They contact their relatives or family rhythmically interspersed in the public because they cannot hear the students perform on novel and unu - Rajasthani, Bengali, Telugu, Guja - 9th grader D. Reethika. have all moved.” back in their country. songs by the children themselves. train announcements. Maybe that is sual stages. rati. We love all the songs.” “We even compose our own According to the Demographic “Last year my friend’s parents The Sargam Choir’s young sin - something that could be sorted. But The Chennai Children’s Choir: “Our dream was to start a choir songs: we write songs and tune Survey of Tibetans in Exile 2009 were taken into custody by the gers stuck to more familiar patriotic it is a good concept.” Auto driver N. Annamalai prou - by picking students from disadvan - them, our instructors help us a lot.” by the Planning Commission of Chinese Government as they tra - and cultural songs, as the beats of a “This time the Vizha is hoping to dly watches his 12-year-old son Pra - taged sections, and make them per - Reethika’s mother Pounammal is Central Tibetan Administration ced her calls during the New tabla accompanied their music. take music to public spaces, and this veen singing as part of the form on big stages,” says Sriram V. a happy parent too. “Our children there are approximately 94,2013 Year”, Tashin adds. “We keep in How did it feel performing at the event is part of that,” says Veronica ChennaiChildren’s Choir at the Ayer, founder of NalandaWay Foun - get a lot of encouragement here. My Tibetans in India, while compared touch through the messenger railway station? “It was very diffe - Angel, a volunteer and representa - Central Railway Station. dation, a charitable trust which aims daughter loves this, I am sure she to 1,01,242 in the early 20th cen - chat.” The Chinese government rent, but I enjoyed it,” says Hars - tive of the Vizha. “I am very happy to see my son to engage with children from under - will continue with this Choir for as tury.A number of Tibetan students also traces messages from other hini, a second year engineering “These children are the future of perform,” he says. “He enjoys this a privileged sections of society. long as possible,” she says. come down from Dharamshala to applications.

Photo exhibition A paradise for them for wildlife AMBIKA RAJA seen an operation theatre a lot enthusiasts more than a movie theatre.“ Republic Day celebrations at Recollecting the worst days of AMBIKA RAJA Paradise Home is not a mere oc - her childhood, Mallika’s eyes casion for hoisting the flag or ha- began to well up. Subramaniyam, The Shola forests in the Western Ghats, the ving a sumptuous meal. It’s a one of her students, rushed to - Velar river that originates in the Shevaroy Hills chance for the students to meet wards her and said “Amma, why in Tamil Nadu, the Chilika lake in Odisha and their parents after several months are you crying ? We don’t want the Zangskar river in Ladakh are among the na - of separation, and a day to show- you to cry.” tural landmarks featured in a photo exhibition ti - case their talents. For them, she was not just a sa- tled ‘The Planet and You ‘ here. As for Mallika Gopal, founder viour, she was a mother. Organised by the American Center of the US of the school , these are the mo - In the following years she consulate from January 23 to February 03, the ments that she looks forward to. slowly gained strength and was exhibition features images taken by the award Fulfilling the children’s dreams... ANKITA B The 4kg calliper splint bound to able to walk with the support of a winning photographer and film maker K. Ram - her left leg does not seem to bot- calliper splint. Determined to get nath Chandrasekhar. her her she walks among her stu- a job of her own, she joined the Captured during his journey to various parts dents, distributing the sweets. The Life Help Centre for physically of India, these 17 photographs are presented 57 year-old is concerned only challenged people. with the background history and a description of about their happiness. “ After my marriage, I decided the distinctiveness of the place. Murals for morals “I have been handicapped since that I wanted to do something dif- “Photography has always been my passion. ANKITA BOSE the concluding day of the programme. 1977.But my experience taught ferent. I realised that although I As a child, I used to go to scrub jungles, ponds A group of volunteers at Chemmenchery con - “We are transforming our crèche and school me that I was luckier than a lot of lacked education, I was cut out to and lakes to catch snakes and birds. This imbi - cluded their two month long programme named walls into walls of dreams that give hope to the people. This was what urged me do something greater. In those bed in me a close connection with the nature,” ‘Murals for Morals’, an initiative to paint the entire community to support their children’s to start a place dedicated to the Mallika Gopal with her days mentally challenged people says Chandrasekhar, who is working as a men - walls of schools and crèches for the enhanced dreams in all possible ways,” he added. service of mentally challenged student s AMBIKA R were not accepted in the society. tor at the Headstart International School. learning of children. AWARE mainly campaigns via social media people.” There were only a few schools for Through the picture titled ‘Spider at the bac - The programme was an enterprise of a small networks through hashtags and is currently ‘ Paradise Home’, a school for weak . I couldn’t even stand up them and these took care of chil- kyard’, the photographer illustrates that the best group named AWARE, founded by Sandhiyan under the process of registering itself as an offi - mentally challenged students, was and soon I fell unconscious. “ dren under 15 years only .I deci - way ‘to retain connection with the nature is to Thilagavathy. The group deals with women and cial NGO. It is an enterprise that works in built in the early 1990s by Mallika After being continuously trea - ded that I would start a place of see the wildlife in the backyard’. child rights and broadly seeks to promote posi - Chemmenchery extensively. Gopal and her husband R.V ted in the hospital for four months, my own that looks after of people Chandrasekhar, who has worked as an as - tive thinking among deprived masses. Sandhiyan started AWARE as an individual Gopal. The institute today houses her family decided to discharge of all ages.” sistant producer and editor , runs an initiative ‘Murals for Morals’ included lessons in pain - endeavour in 2013. He initially worked as an en - 47 students of all age groups. her without heeding the sugges - With the help of her husband called Youth for Conservation that creates in - ting on the walls in bright colours. The pro - gineer in Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) but There is a team of physiothera - tions of the doctor. Mallika, who and family, she bought a place in formal spaces for students to engage with na - gramme which gathered volunteers through left the position to shift to a Corporate Social pists, special education teachers was still unable to walk, was car- Madippakam and opened ‘Para - ture.“ Facebook and other platforms aimed to cover Responsibility Consultant in 2015 to dedicate and speech therapists, who cater to ried all the way back to her village dise Home’ The school soon gai - The photographs are lifelike and astounding. the walls with alphabets, numbers, comic cha - himself to his dream- AWARE. His fellow col - the daily needs of the students and in Arakkonam. Subsequently she ned recognition and shifted to the Feels as if I’m being transported to these pla - racters, anecdotes and pictures . leagues joined him to make AWARE a success. provide them with basic educa - was taken to herbal doctors, astro- present building in Kovalam. ces” says M.S.Sushmita, a visitor. It started in November 2016 and slowly gat - “I am very happy to be a part of such an ini - tion. However, Mallika’s journey logers and local physicians. Currently she stays close to the According to Sujata Srinivasan, media advi - hered pace until all the 6 crèches and 2 schools tiative which is so simple yet innovative and ef - as a child from a humble begin - However her condition aggra - school with her husband, two chil- sor at the US Consulate, the exhibition would be had their walls filled with colours. fective,” said Aishwarya, a Cognizant employee nings to the founder of an insti - vated and on the 15thday,as she dren and parents. accompanied by Chandrasekhar’s documentary As a part of the same project, children in the who volunteered for the project. tute, has not been a cakewalk. tried to stand up with assistance, So what else do you like to do which will showcase success stories relating to crèches were asked to paint their dreams and “Children are the future of our society. They “ At the age of 16 I fell ill with her left thigh bone broke. apart from spending time with wildlife conservation. ambitions on a sheet. Later, the volunteers trans - are fresh minds that are uncorrupted and hence high fever . My parents refused to “My life was a nightmare after your students?“ I love travelling. Chandrasekhar, a winner of the South Asia ferred these sheets to their parents. change could be initiated only through chil - take me to the doctor and insisted that. For four years I was admitted My husband has taken me to seve- Sanctuary Wildlife Award (2011), believes that “We want the parents to realize their chil - dren,” said Kannamai, a TCS employee who has that I could be cured at home. The in the Government General Hos - ral places in the North, including children must be coached to interact with the na - dren’s dreams. Most parents here seem to ignore been actively associated with AWAREr. fever however shot up. After 10 pital Chennai. I couldn’t stand up, Kasi. There was a time I couldn’t ture during their formative years. their children’s dreams or are averse to the idea A group of children from the area were days, I was taken to the Govern - I was mentally weak and I had lost even dream of going beyond ”Daily conservation practices like composting of it. We want them to know that their children brought in to show the newly painted walls ment hospital in Royapettah. By all my strength. I had to undergo Chennai. I’m glad that stage is and terrace farming should be taught. Only then possess dreams and it is their duty to fulfil “I never imagined my crèche could look like then my body was completely several operations. I must have a over ” can we, as a society, contribute towards nature them,” said .Sandhiyan. this,” said Parmasivam, a 12 year old boy who is conservation.” A group of 18-20 volunteers were present on a regular in the crèche. Helping burn survivors start afresh helped by the PCVC to start her life afresh tive change the women have gone The NGO helps the women start their ARADHANA KALIA and now she is a proud part of the staff at through. Working here and interacting life afresh but it is quite difficult for them Writer’s café. with the customers have made them more as the victims are very conscious about Burn victims are being given a second Currently seven women are a part of the confident.” their scars and burns and the way society chance at life by working in Chennai’s first batch. Before they were hired as per - The women work in all departments be looks at them. Writer’s café which opened last manent employees of the café , they had it hot kitchen, bakery and confectionary “Working in this café has made them month.The café has collaborated with In - to undergo five months of training at Win - and they also have cross training. self sufficient; it has also helped to boost ternational Foundation for Crime Preven - ners Bakery in Alwarpet. The bakery is PCVC has played a major role in the their self esteem and I am sure it will help tion and Victim Care (PCVC) a Chennai another CSR project of restaurateur M lives of the burn survivors. They have to sensitize people”, says Prasanna. based NGO to train and employ several .Mahadevan who also owns the Writer’s been associated with about 150 women They still keep in contact with all the burn survivors in their café. Café. who survived their injuries and these women and the women can stop working Thirty-year-old Asma had reached a Since the café’s menu is inspired by women mostly belong to the economically if they don’t like the job or it doesn’t suit point in her life wherein her suffering be - cuisine from Switzerland, the women weaker section of society, says Prasanna their interest. came so unbearable that she decided to were trained for three months by a Swiss Gettu, CEO of PCVC. “Working here has provided me with a end her life by self-immolation. chef Silke Stadler in skills required for “A majority of the survivors are victims new lease of life. It is helped me to forget ”I was trapped in a bad marriage and making authentic dishes. of domestic violence. If they survive the the old problems and I have learnt how to faced abuse from my husband who used Karan Manavalan, the chef and mana - burns we take them to the healing centre in make dishes which I had never known to come home drunk,”, she says. ger says, “The working environment here Anna Nagar where they receive physiot - about,”, says Komala another survivor Having survived the burns Asma was is very friendly and I have seen the posi - herapy,“ she says. who works at the café. One of the survivors working at Writers cafe ARADHANA K