Lesson 18 Political and International Events அரசியலும் சர்வ ேதசிய விழாக்களும் Arasiyalum sarva thaesiya vizhaakkalum
This lesson will introduce you to: - Vocabulary associated with politics and international issues - How they are reported in Tamilnadu news - How to read and understand political events written in Tamilnadu newspapers.
India, officially known as the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh- largest country by geographical area, the second most populous country, and the largest democratic republic in the world. India has a coastline of over seven thousand kilometres and borders Pakistan to the northwest; China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. India is adjacent to the Indian Ocean island nations of Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Indonesia.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
India is referred to as the largest democracy in the world, by virtue of the fact that it has the largest electing population among democratic countries. The country has a federal form of government and a bicameral parliament operating under a Westminster-style parliamentary system. It has three branches of governance: the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. The President is the head of state, though he has a largely ceremonial role to play. He is also the Supreme Commander of India's armed forces. The President is elected indirectly by an electoral college for five-year terms. Presidential assent is needed for a Bill or Ordinance passed by the Parliament to come into force. The Prime Minister is the de facto head of government, and has the most executive powers. He or she is appointed by the President, with the requirement that he or she enjoy the support of the party or coalition having more than 50% seats in the lower house. The Union Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister aids and advises the President on governance matters.
The Secretariat Building in New Delhi houses the Prime Minister's Office, the ministries of Defence, External Affairs and Finance and the Home Ministry
316 1. Familiarize yourself with the political terms.
Government arasaangam அரசாங்கம் Prime minister piratha-mar பிரதமர் Chief minister muthal-amaichar தலைம சர் President athibar / janathipathi அதிபர் / ஜனாதிபதி Leader thalaivar தைலவர் Dictator sarvaa-thigaari சர்வாதிகா Parliament naadaalumandram நாடாளுமன்றம் Ministry amaichagam அைம சகம் Election thaerthal ேதர்தல் Officials athigaarigal அதிகா கள் Political Party arasiyal katchi அரசியல் கட்சி Vote vaaku வாக் Republic kudi-arasu டியர State arasu அர Democracy jana-naayagam ஜனநாயகம் Democratic jana-naayaga ஜனநாயக Term of office pathaviyin kaala kattam பதவியின் காலகட்டம் Policy koll-gae ெகாள்ைக Human Rights manitha urimae மனித உ ைம Religious matham patriya மதம் ப றிய Racial inam sambathamaana இனம் சம்பந்தமான Radical arasiyalil theeviravaathi அரசியலில் தீவரவாதி World ulagam உலகம் Conflict mohthal ேமாதல் War pohr ேபார் Invade thaaku தாக் Nuclear weapons nuclear aayutham நி கிளியர் ஆ தம்
317 2. Listen to and read the following statements. While reading, note the use of the new vocabulary.
The Iraqi leader Iraak-in thalaivar ஈராக்கின் தைலவர் The Russian officials Russeeyaavin athigaarigal ரஷியாவின் அதிகா கள் The South African Then-Aapiri-kaavin - government arasaangam ெதன் ஆப்ப க்காவின் அரசாங்கம் Religious differences Matha Verupaadugal மத ேவறுப்பாடுகள் The war in Iraq Iraak-il pohr ஈராக்கில் ேபார் The radical political party Theeveeravaatha arasiyal katchi தீவிரவாத அரசியல் கட்சி Islamic fundamentalism Islaamiya adippadaigal இஸ்லாமிய அடிப்பைடகள்
The President of the United States is George Bush. Amereekaavin athibar George Bush. அெம க்காவின் அதிபர் ஜார் .
Japan and Great Britain have prime ministers. Japaanilum giraet britain-ilum Piratha-mar-gal irukiraargal. ஜப்பானிலும் கிேரட் பி ட்டனிலும் பிரதமர்கள் இ க்கிறார்கள்.
This was the first political election in that country. Intha naatil ithu muthalaavathu arasiya thaerthal. இந்த நாட்டில் இது தலாவது அரசிய ேதர்தல்.
Human rights are a very important issue in the world today. Manitha urimaigal ulagathil indru miga mukkiyamaana vishiyam. மனித உ ைமகள் உலகத்தில் இன்று மிக க்கியமான விஷயம்.
318 CENSORSHIP IN INDIA
Censorship in India mainly targets religious issues. It is justified by the government as necessary to maintain communal harmony, peace and tranquillity, given the history of communal tension in India. The Constitution of India guarantees freedom of speech but places reasonable restrictions in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India or public order or morality.
MEDIA IN CHENNAI
Chennai has six major print media groups that publish about eight major newspapers and magazines. The major English dailies are The Hindu, The New Indian Express, The Deccan Chronicle and evening dailies, The Trinity Mirror and The News Today. The major business dailies published from the city are The Economic Times, The Hindu Business Line, Business Standard, and The Financial Express.
The major Tamil dailies include the Dina Thanthi, Dinakaran, Dina Mani, Dina Malar, Tamil Murasu Makkal Kural and Malai Malar. The Telugu daily Eenadu and a Hindi newspaper Rajasthan Patrika are also published in the city. Besides major newspapers, there are a number of localised neighbourhood newspapers such as The Annanagar Times and The Adyar Times that cater to particular localities. Magazines published from Chennai include Ananda Vikatan, Kumudam, Kalki, Kungumam, Frontline and Sportstar.
Television and Radio
Doordarshan runs two terrestrial television channels and two satellite television channels from its Chennai centre. Private Tamil satellite television networks like Sun TV, Raj TV, Star Vijay, Jaya TV broadcast out of Chennai. The city has two AM and six commercial FM radio stations, operated by All India Radio and private broadcasters. The FM radio stations are Suryan FM, Radio Mirchi,Radio City, Big FM and FM Rainbow.
Vocabulary
News Headlines thalaippu seythigal தைலப் ெச திகள் Task Force thitta padai திட்ட பைட vision noh-kam ேநாக்கம் commitment vaakuruthi வாக் றுதி economic growth poruleeyal valar-chi ெபா ளியல் வளர் சி Industries thozhil-gal ெதாழில்கள் initiatives thittangal திட்டங்கள் problems pirachanai பிர சைன
319 maximizing athigamaakka அதிகமாக்க infrastructure kattida amai-pu கட்டிட அைமப் Newspaper seythi pathirikae ெச தி பத்தி க்ைக Broadcast pirasaaram seyya patta பிரசாரம் ெச யப்பட்ட Report arivippu அறிவிப் News seythigal ெச திகள் Crore (million) koh-di ேகாடி
3. Listen to and read the following news report from Tamilnadu. Then answer the questions that follow.
11 2006 Thalaippu saeythigal 11 aaktober 2006 தைலப் ெச திகள் ஆக்ேடாபர் Thozhilgalukku thittapadai: Muthalamaichar ெதாழில்களுக் திட்டபைட: