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Home , Anirudh Thapa, Ashique Kuruniyan, Napier Bridge, Peranbu, Rafael Crivellaro, Ripon Building

Edition 4 Page 1_Layout 1 17-02-2020 09:45 Page 1

Volume No 20 Issue No 4 February 14, 2020 LAB JOURNAL OF THE ASIAN COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM Risks of travelling Cyber smart V-Day sees an on footboard police team offer surge Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Anti-CAA signature drive Not so smart after all Protests against the Act ‘will not end’ SRISHTI LAKHOTIA 11.” All Domestic Women tions including place of birth and tests in , but none have Association (AIDWA) District Se - details about parents. In case a been intense, Nainar said. “In Tamil Opposition parties led by the Con - cretary Bakaiyan said that the Muslim does not have them, they Nadu, only protests dealing with gress are likely to submit an Anti- CPI(M) cadre collected around one will be marked ‘D’ (disqualified). cultural practices like Jallikattu can Citizenship Amendment Act lakh signatures from , The signature campaign against grow. The protests in Valluvar Kot - (anti-CAA) to President Nath , Manali and . CAA was first initiated by the Con - tam were not a huge deal. The law Kovind, said K. Balakrishnan, Bakaiyan said that CAA, Na - gress in New Delhi. and order in is very Tamil Nadu State secretary of the tional Register of Citizens (NRC) Nainar, a member of CPI(M) constraining,” he added. Communist Party of India (Mar - and National Population Register State committee said, “DMK had Prabhu R, part-time Rapido xist). (NPR) will not be accepted by not attended the meeting over a bike-taxi rider and a medical assis - “Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam women of any religion in Tamil small scuffle with Congress in civic tant said that CAA is the best law (DMK) had collected 2 crores sig - Nadu. “If Muslims from countries body elections, which was childish India has had and Modi the best natures nearly two days ago. We like Pakistan, Afghanistan and of them. Even Trinamool didn’t leader. He said, “Indian law is too are aiming at collecting more sig - Bangladesh are not allowed, then participate and the approach taken flexible and needs a more stern ap - natures. The process will end what about women from other by them to oppose CAA and NPR proach.” today,” said Balakrishnan. countries? NPR will not be accep - was different.” While a salesperson at a shop - The CPI(M) signature campaign ted by people of Tamilakam . We As for the effect the signature ping mall here said that they all had was conducted district-wise bet - have no problem with the Census campaign will have on CAA, signed the campaign list regardless ween Feb. 2 and 10 and contribu - process, but NPR we do not ac - Madan said, “The Bharatiya Janata of which religion they came from. ted to the larger pool of dissent. cept,” she added. Party (BJP) has a majority in the “It is a divisive law, which needs to Madan, a social media content Bakaiyan said that Muslims and Lok Sabha. They do not seem to be opposed,” the salesperson creator at CPI(M) said, “We had people from other religions have pay any heed to the Opposition. added. collected our last set of signatures been living as mama-macha (uncle- They can make laws, but not ones “Since government is not ready The colourful mesh built by the Corporation under the Smart City plan hides the at a campaign at Kalingarayan nephew) for ages. In case of NPR, that undermine the Constitution.” to budge, the protests will not end,” canal which was last cleaned three years ago and overflows with gar - Street in Royapuram on February the government now asks 21 ques - There have been multiple pro - said Bakaiyan. bage | SRISHTI LAKHOTIA

Few scholarships in state for No security for women on MRTS BC students SHRIJA GANGULY get scared looking at people (mos - SUKRITI VATS tly men) sleeping on the floor and The absence of female security per - benches.” Only 100 students will benefit from sonnel and proper surveillance sys - Padmaja said that although she the Tamil Nadu government’s new tems at the MRTS stations makes now has someone to approach, she Scholarship for the Backward Clas - rail journeys uncomfortable, say fe - would find it easier if it is a woman. ses (BC) due to limited funds, ac - male commuters. “I feel there should be more cording to a circular issued by the After a rise in cases of sexual ha - women walking the streets. No Commissioner of Backward Clas - rassment in and outside the local man can make me feel safe,” she ses Welfare. Expected to operate train stations, the Railway Protec - said.The deployment of security of - on a first-come-first-serve basis, the tion Force (RPF) has deployed ex- ficers comes ten years after it was scheme’s limited funds means that servicemen as security officers. reported for the first time back in the rest would be denied an oppor - They are deployed on two shifts, 2009. tunity to study in central universi - one from 8 am to 4 pm, and the The huge unoccupied spaces at ties. other from 4pm to 10 pm. the MRTS stations are dark and These 100 students of Backward Reports from suggest dingy. The basement at Kasturba Classes, Most Backward Classes that 15 security guards have been Nagar station is allotted for parking and Denotified Communities will deployed at all the Mass Rapid Majority of the MRTS commuters are women who travel but it has been turned into a dum - Strict moral be able to avail a scholarship Transit System (MRTS) stations so from the suburbs | ping space. amount of Rs. 2 lakhs per year, or far with more recruits coming in. is the only sta - the entire duration of their under - However, there are hardly any contract basis for one year. month of May. tion that has an IRCTC eatery ins - vigil on V-Day graduate or postgraduate course,” female security guards. The RPF official further said, For the time being, the Railway talled on one of the platforms. said S. Revathi, who oversees the Kushi Meena Ram, the only se - “Autowalas and cleaners are also a Protection Force department has However, the rest of the space on MAHIMA MANIAR cause. It is entirely a process of scheme at the Backward Classes curity officer at Thiruma yilai sta - part of our protection network. In come up with a helpline number of the ground floor is unused. commercialisation.” Welfare Directorate in Chennai. tion, said, “A lady officer was case of a mishap, you can either 182 in case of emergencies. Inspector Chithra On the eve of Valentine’s Day (Fe - “There was no concept like Va - The budget for the scheme is ap - stationed at Thiruvanmiyur after a alert the person at the ticket counter However, the lack of advertise - Devi said, “The deployment of the bruary 14) as the city prepares to lentine’s Day, Father’s Day or Mot - proximately Rs.2 crores, and would couple of cases of groping and mo - or the nearest auto driver or railway ment of such an important measure number of female security officers capitalise on the day of love, the her’s Day earlier because there was cover 85 Central Government ins - lesting were registered last year. staff. The RPF center at Mylapore has led to the lack of awareness of will vary from station to station.” youth in Chennai frown upon the no reason to advertise one’s love titutions across the state, including She was withdrawn later on.” will be notified and help will be possible options for women com - The former servicemen have ‘moral policing’ that couples face. for their beloved. Today, it is diver - prestigious ones such as IIT, IIM, The reason, as explained by an sent in 10 to 15 minutes. The of - muters. A student of the Institute of been appointed due to a shortage in “At times, boys and girls sit and ting the attention of youngsters IIIT and NIT. official at the RPF office at Myla - fender will be held at the RPF sta - Mathematical Sciences said, “I the RPF force deployed at the discuss class assignments on the from their goals,” she added. More than 100 applications have pore, “We are running short of re - tion until further trial.” don’t know of any such number. MRTS stations. pavement, but that is also frowned Meanwhile, some think it is dif - already been received two days be - cruits due to the large number of None of the MRTS stations have Had I known that such a number As per a report from The New In - upon,” said Amir Suhail, who is ficult to change the mindset of the fore the deadline, which is February vacancies. The Government is re - got CCTV cameras installed either exists, I would have travelled alone dian Express on February 11, San - pursuing a PhD at the Institute of elderly since they are not at par 15. luctant to recruit to its full capacity. inside or outside the stations, ma - more often.” tosh N Chandran, the former senior Mathematical Sciences. with changing trends. “The older “It’s unfortunate that all students Consequently, we are recruiting in king these spaces crime prone. Padmaja S. is an IT employee at Director of Security (DSC) of the Sushmita Bahuguna, a third year generation is not exposed to the belonging to backward classes will batches. Right now, around 4,500 An official said that on an ave - and lives in Thiruvalli - Madras division had requested the student of the Institute of Hotel Ma - technology and services that pro - not get scholarship. Nevertheless, women recruits from across the rage, 15 CCTV cameras will be re - keni. Divisional Railway Manager nagement, said, “There are certain mote this day,” said M. Dhinagar, a we are trying to get the number of country are undergoing training out quired for each station. She said, “There are times when (DRM) to appoint 55 former servi - organizations that are intolerant and data associate at Amazon. beneficiaries increased to over 100. of which only 300 will be deployed The RPF station at Mylapore is it gets as late as 10 pm and I have to cemen on a contract basis to the se - heckle the youngsters. An orthodox A couple at the Elliot’s beach re - This is a trial period, so by next in Chennai.” developing a central surveillance catch the last train. Usually Thiru - curity branch for the smooth outlook towards public display of collected how they, back in 1987, year we’ll be including this demand A recent report from The New centre that will monitor all the vanmiyur is bustling with people functioning of the railway service affection has been inculcated in us were morally policed at the same in our proposal to the Chief Minis - Indian Express said that 31 ex-ser - CCTV cameras that are to be ins - but at times when I have to board across Chennai owing to a shortage since childhood. Sometimes, even spot even though they were mar - ter,” she added. vicemen have been appointed on a talled at all stations on or by the from Indira Nagar, I am all alone. I of RPF personnel. we end up judging people.” ried. “This interference is a viola - S. Anita (19), a first year student tion of our right to privacy,” said K. of Dr. MGR Janaki College of Arts Dhandapani (60), a practicing com - and Science for Women, said, pany secretary and a lawyer. “Whenever I am seen with a male “This generation is more mature friend, my parents threaten to get and has a lot more exposure than me married because they worry we had. One should just know about their caste, community and where to draw the line,” said his Crocodiles up for adoption esteem. They are not ready to ac - wife, K. Meenakshi, a home maker. SREYA DEB mal adoption system, Stephie John, flowing with them.” brought the trash that had accumu - cept my thoughts.” According to Dhandapani, this Education Project Manager for the There are three enclosures for lated at the corner of the pool swir - M. Jothi Prakash, sub-inspector, western concept has been thrust Fancy adopting a mugger or a gha - trust, says the adopting party does each one, but even still, the mars - ling up. The aquarium appears as if J13 Police Station, said into the Indian culture, and is pro - rial? Head to the crocodile bank not get to take the animal home. hes are crowded with crocodiles it has not been cleaned in the lately. “We often get complaints about pagated as a marketing gimmick. near Thiruvidanthai on the East Instead they pay for the animals’ lounging around lazily on the banks Yaddurai, also in charge of fee - couples whose activities cause in - “Valentine’s Day has pressurised Coast Road, 40 kilometres from maintenance and diet. climbing over each other to move ding the crocodiles, says that going convenience to the public and make relationships today as expectations Chennai. “The disclaimer is very clear on around the bank. into the enclosures does not scare them feel uncomfortable.” have increased, resulting in rifts The 44 year old establishment, the webpage, yet we get calls as - “Maintaining all of them costs him. Crocodiles that are not in their Head constable S. Ambikeswari between couples. One should not houses 2,100 animals and is mana - king if people can adopt a reptile more than maintaining one ‘almost natural habitats need to be fed more mentioned the Kavalan- SOS app associate so much importance to ged by the Madras Crocodile Bank and keep it as a pet,” she says. rare species’ sometimes,” says than once a week since they do not as part of the Tamil Nadu State Po - one particular day,” he remarked. Trust (MCBT). The zoo currently has just one Senthil. get any other form of food in the lice Master Control Room initia - On cops harassing couples, The Yaddurai, 55, who has been wor - Green Iguana. The zoo has exotic turtles, sna - enclosures. tive. “There are several cases of eve Times of India reported that they king at the bank for 30 years says The rates for the animals vary, kes, lizards and crocodiles, lethal “Occasionally mynahs, herons, teasing reported during this time of can be booked under Section 384 of “When I started working here, she says, depending on where it is and harmless, on display from 9 magpies, and other birds will fly the month. The app is a safety mea - the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for ex - there were only about 25 crocodi - from; the conditions it needs and A gharial lies by the water a.m. to 5 p.m. every working day. into the enclosures, and the croco - sure that women can exercise if torting monetary favours from les.” the cost of the same; and how rare at the Madras Crocodile An enclosure of gharials has diles will eat them - but this is not they are caught in an uncomforta - them and under Section 392 of IPC While the establishment is listed the species is. The details are all Bank Trust | SREYA DEB been adopted by Crocodile India, S. often,” he says. ble situation,” she said. for robbery if they are proven guilty as a zoo, it houses much more . available on the MCBT website. P. Apparels. Currently MCBT has Senthil, who joined the zoo in Trupti Rekha (45), a lecturer at of wrenching cash or any other va - There is a government maintained The animals are kept in marshy Most people want to adopt the rarer 844 animals up for adoption of August last year, said Jaws, the ol - MA Chidambaram College of Nur - luables. Personnel can even be dis - venom extraction booth and a sec - enclosures with ponds so as to - species. “The crocs and reptiles are which 680 are marsh crocodiles. dest crocodile that performed tricks sing, said, “Rather than investing missed from service for violating tion displaying tortoise and alliga - maintain their body temperature. fed every Sunday. The Indian Mug - Some of the enclosures had plastic a, died at 50 on January 13. “Now money in buying material things, discipline under Article 311 of the tor eggs, and crocodile skulls. The zoo manager, Senthil, says ger Crocodile and the Gharial are bottles and wrappers floating in the another crocodile will be put in that one could invest in some social constitution. Talking about the MCBT’s ani - some animals are going extinct. both from here and the zoo is over - water. The swish of a gharial’s tail enclosure and taught those tricks.” Edition 4 Page 2 a_Layout 1 17-02-2020 10:14 Page 1

THE WORD 2 CIVIC CHENNAI February 14, 2020

MTC buses with doors to Anything is a plaything stop footboard travelling SUSMITHA ANN THOMAS A. M. Shanthi, Manager, Indus - campaigns in all the problematic trial Relations of MTC said, “We colleges,” said S. Gopal, Assistant In the next two years all the Metro - provide safety awareness to school Deputy Commissioner of Police, politan Transport Corporation students through exhibitions. As Traffic Planning, speaking of the (MTC) buses will have self-closing part of this initiative some of our colleges that maintain rivalries. doors. 300 buses with self-closing officials go to the schools in a bus R. Siva, a 40 year-old bus driver, doors have been purchased this which has slogans like ‘Nodiyil said “The students travel on foot - year to curb the menace of foot - Maranam’ (death in an instant) boards on purpose. Even when board travelling, according to A. painted on them; they counsel, in - asked not to do so they do not pay Sathyanarayanan, Assistant Execu - form and create awareness among any heed to us, resulting in fights. tive Engineer, Safety and Training students.” They should consider other passen - Department, MTC. Jnanasambantham, Manager at gers on board and start acting ma - “MTC has a total of 3604 buses the Chennai Mofussil Bus Termi - ture.” where 1804 buses have doors while nus (CMBT) said “Tamil Nadu re - M. Karthik (36), bus conductor 1800 buses are without doors. But ceived an award for Best at CMBT, said “If someone falls as a step towards curbing this issue Performance in Road Safety from off the bus we (driver and conduc - Footboard travellers on MTC we have closed windows on either the Centre last year. Every year a tor) bear the brunt of it. I will be I SUSMITHA ANN THOMAS sides of the footboard,” said Sat - road safety week is conducted sent for one month training while hyanarayanan.Sathyanarayanan throughout India. Under this pro - for a bus driver it is six months of was referring to the recent incident gramme pamphlets are issued and selves to establish their supremacy, suspension.” of an MTC driver attacked by police officials create awareness especially on that bus route. We Prabhakharan (25), an engineer, school students in K. K. Nagar, among drivers and conductors.” can take action against them, but said he travelled regularly on the after he admonished them for tra - Sathyanarayanan said “It is an since they are students we do not footboard.“I do it because by the velling on the footboard. integration of efforts by the MTC want to penalise them; rather we time I return from my office the T. Janakiraman, Driving Instruc - and the traffic cops that can bring a just advise and instruct them.” buses are crowded. So, I’m left tor, Safety and Training, MTC said, significant change.” One official acknowledged that with no other option.” Deprived of toys, children of the Rohingya refugee camp, , make do with “I, along with five other instructors Thirumuthuvel Pandi, Assistant bus services were not adequate du - B. Rukmini (45), a housemaid, train around 100 MTC drivers and Commissioner of Police, Nungam - ring the peak hours. However the said, “The people who travel on leftover food ingredients for entertainment. In frame, a child cracks open a coconut conductors daily in safe driving. bakkam, said “We had summoned attitude of these students needed to footboard make it difficult for us to with a sickle to help her mother and later on distribute the husk among her friends There are four training centres ope - and warned five student leaders as change. get off at our stops. It is a big hin - I PHURPA LHAMO & VALLARI SANZGIRI rated by the MTC.” these students fight amongst them - “We also conduct awareness drance when we are in a rush.” “Garbage not cleared for last 3 months”

SRISHTI LAKHOTIA the Mambalam Canal. bage on its bank,” said P. Anitha, “The heap is increasing and no originally from K.K. Nagar and Garbage is piling up at the Thiru. one comes to clean it. Since last now a resident of T.V.K. Kudiyi - Vi. Ka. Kudiyiruppu tenement at three years, no proper effort has ruppu. because not enough been make to clean the canal eit - Pointing to a green coloured cy - dust bins have been provided even her,” said K.Venkatesh, a resident lindrical object, Bhavani, another though new ones are lined up at the there. The TNSCB had asked the resident, said that it was a dustbin Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board tenants to be patient. It also said but then it was now just garbage on (TNSCB), near the entrance of the that the work can only take place the canal bank. colony. after the cleaning tender is given to Bhavani, a second year B. Com “The new dustbins from Munici - a private party, he added. student, complained of increase in pal Corporation are yet to be pain - Rajesh added that the contract the number of mosquitoes. “Last ted,” said Rajesh, who works in the given to Ramky, a private com - month, during the rainy season, Department of Maintenance at the pany, was on the verge of ending. mosquitoes from the canal and gar - TNSCB. There was confusion with the ten - bage heap made life difficult. Ma - There are just five dustbins in the der as in the past the Corporation laria is a common disease here. area, out of which two are dama - which was supposed to terminate Last year, my brother had malaria. ged. “One dustbin is shared by two its contract with the company It is partially also resident’s fault as buildings,” said Yuvraj, who works ended up giving it back. they throw the garbage in the as a delivery boy and stays there According to the TNSCB, the canal,” she added. with his grandmother. number of dustbins distributed will Pushpa, grandmother of Bha - Meanwhile, officials at the Grea - Garbage littered near new dustbin I SRISHTI LAKHOTIA be in accordance with the popula - vani, said “The Corporation is ter Chennai Corporation’s Zone 9 tion in that area. doing their work but sometimes office at said they made in this region. I don’t know The residents had complained The sewage from public toilets is they are not. They are not picking did not send dustbins for the area. about this area,” said Suresh, As - last week about the increasing pile also let into the canal. “Lack of garbage or cleaning the canal. They “There has been no reinvestment sistant Engineer. of garbage between buildings and dustbins force us to throw the gar - are just cutting the trees here.” De-silted soil from to level the hockey ground I SHREYA SAMTANI ‘Smart poles’ to come up in 50 locations TANISHKA SODHI at . “The smart poles will vary a bit, “The camera feed will directly because it provides light at night. I “I haven’t seen this solve any depending on the needs of the par - go to the police who will oversee doubt how much use it will be to The newly erected ‘smart pole’ out - traffic problems yet. No one has ticular area.” he said, “There are this. They plan to use the high re - the public, though. We haven’t to get sports side Ripon Building at Periamet come and officially told me anyt - many factors that go into deciding solution cameras to identify and been made aware of its features, boasts of features such as a facial hing about this; I have just heard where a smart pole will be located. catch criminals,” said Cherubal. even though we are right here,” he recognition camera, a public ad - nearby people talk about the new Public spaces will be targeted as The smart pole has a public ad - said. dress system, an emergency dis - pole and camera that were instal - there is a need there to have such dress system that draws the atten - Abdul, who runs a travel agency complex tress call button and a rainfall led,” he said. facilities there.” tion of the people when there is a close to the Ripon Building, claims SHREYA SAMTANI the bunds on the banks of the Adyar assessment device. According to Raj Cherubal, The smart pole is part of the civic problem. that a lot of petty thefts happen river while only the excess quantity However, people in the area are CEO of the Chennai Smart City Li - Smart City project undertaken by According to people in the area, around the area. Residents of Kotturpuram have re - of silt is being dumped onto the not aware how this pole will im - mited, which works with the Grea - the Greater Chennai Corporation. this has only happened a couple of “The camera can see what peo - quested the Greater Chennai Cor - hockey ground as requested by the prove their lives. ter Chennai Corporation, As many as 50 locations have been times since the smart pole was ins - ple are doing too. There are people poration (GCC) to raise the level of Corporation.” He said that the silt According to Shakti, who works awareness about the project is low finalised for the installation of the talled two months ago. who sleep on the pavements. They the hockey ground, located on the would be used to level the ground at a restaurant in the locality, the as the smart pole outside Ripon poles, the preparation for which is Satyan, a hotel owner from Ke - have been doing this since years; Canal Bank road, Gandhi Nagar, and the work will take around one smart pole has been erected for the Building is just the first among the going on at the Greater Chennai rala, has his hotel diagonally facing even the police cannot stop them,” Adyar, for them to play. month. benefit of metro users around many such proposed for the city. Corporation. the smart pole. “It’s good for me he said. They complained of water log - Most of the residents here are ging in the playground during rain football and hockey players. “Till as it is a low level ground. “The the time this is being levelled we water filled the ground during the will be playing hockey in the adja - Vardah cyclone, in December, cent playground,” said Naveen 2016,” said P. Haridas (67), a resi - Kumar (12), an 8th standard stu - These tracks are no longer for bicycles only dent. People complained that silt dent of Kumara Raja Muthiah Hig - dredged up from the Adyar River is her Secondary School, Gandhi SRINJOY SANYAL with signboards every 200 metres to focusing on personal safety, but considering being dumped on the hockey Nagar. indicate the presence of a cycle track the severity of the issues, we do raise our ground. “My sons come here daily but Due to the lack of maintenance of the desig - and the pathways marked in green complaints to relevant authorities,” said the “Building the hockey ground is when it rains they can’t play for 10 nated lanes and encroachment of the same thermoplastic paint, is now either pac - Bicycle Mayor of Chennai. part of a bigger project which in - to 15 days as the soil becomes leading to lack of safety, complaints from cy - ked with two-wheelers and auto-ricks - ‘Bicycle Mayor’ is a global initiative by cludes construction of a park and a damp - so we asked the Corpora - clists all over the city have been increasing haws or with waste all over. the Netherlands-based social enterprise sports complex at a cost of Rs. 7 tion to raise the ground level,” said since the Bicycle Lane Project was inaugu - “The cars and the bikes do not see BYCS, which focuses on encouraging cy - crores,” said N. Thirumurugan, Parameshwari (34), a housewife rated here in June 2018. us as road users. First, they will oc - cling around the world. According to John, Zonal officer of GCC (Zone-13). whose husband is also a football “The main reason why some of my friends cupy our space and then constantly who is also a part of We are Chennai Cycling “The construction of a sports com - player. have stopped riding to school is because of honk at us while we are cycling,” said Group (WCCG), a Chennai-based cyclists plex comes under Chennai Rivers Ramesh (42), another resident the pot-holes on the roads,” said Sai Pra - Deepak, a resident of Adyar who pre - group, there are 3,000 active cyclists who Restoration Trust Project,” he said. said that a new gym will be cons - sanna, a student of the Sri Krishnaswamy fers taking his cycle for short distan - ride at least once a week, as compared to just Apart from the sports complex tructed for both men and women. Matriculation Higher Secondary School at ces. A major side-effect of it is that a dozen in 2009. and a park, saplings are being plan - However, The Hindu had earlier KK. Nagar, which has a 3.8 kilometre long walking those lanes becomes dange - As reported by , 14 ki - ted in a nearby ground using the reported, “Residents of Kotturpu - bicycle track-- Chennai’s first-of-its-kind fa - rous as well. lometres were supposed to be dedicated for Miyawaki method (plant growth is ram are irritated about the dumping cility. What is worse is that the authorities bicycles at in 2010 owing to faster than usual as native species of the silt at a hockey playground The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) are reluctant to mend these issues. K. 7000 children cycling to 14 schools in the lo - are planted in the same area). located on Canal Bank Road. The in association with Chennai Smart City Ltd. Varadharajan, Executive Engineer, cality. The plan, however, had fallen through “This ground is being used for Water Resources Department, is has lain 17 kilometres of bicycle lanes in the GCC, Adyar, said, “Whenever we go due to lack of funds and metro-rail work. dumping silt from Adyar River as it deepening and desilting the Adyar city. While 13 of those kilometres cover catch a vehicle parked on the bicycle As a move to further the cause, 18 kilo - is in close proximity to it,” said River. As per the norms, the desil - some of the happening parts of the city like lanes, they say they are waiting. And, Parked cars in the bicycle lanes at Indira metres of bicycle tracks will soon be laid Manovaran (45), a resident of Kot - ted silt will be used to form or Kasturba Nagar, Indira Nagar, Besant Nagar, they leave within five minutes.” Nagar I SRINJOY SANYAL along the and 24 kilometres turpuram. strengthen the bunds. Instead of the remaining four kilometres span across the Asked about waste being dumped on along the Adyar river as part of the Chennai C. Podupani Thilagam, Execu - strengthening the bunds on the Island Grounds like Swamy Sivananda Salai, the lanes, he said it is the same people riding With the officials not taking much notice, Rivers Restoration Trust’s (CRRT) river res - tive Engineer, Public Works De - banks of Adyar River running adja - Flag Staff Road, and Anna bicycles who litter the area. “It is equal res - the bicycle communities here led by Felix toration project, said R. Balasubrahmanian, partment, Kosasthalaiyar Basin cent to the playground, the WRD Salai. ponsibility of the residents to keep a locality John have been trying to promote the bicycle Superintending Officer, Special Projects, Division, said, “We are has dumped the silt on the ground, The project, which had been flagged off clean,” he added. culture by addressing these issues. “We are Greater Chennai Corporation. using the desilted silt to strengthen residents complain.” Edition 4 Page 3_Layout 1 17-02-2020 10:03 Page 1

THE WORD CHENNAI February 14, 2020 3 CITY Cyber smart police Ethical hackers do their bit SREYA DEB because most people do not know TN police to get 4 0 cyber crime cells and 6 labs what ethical hacking entails. Until TANISHKA SODHI sioners’ office, said a police cons - created. A message was sent out by the state three years ago, most ethical hac - table at Police Station. Police Commissioner A K Vis - police recently, stating that viewers kers were self-trained,” said Linda, A woman sits outside the Deputy According to S. Balu, President wanathan had recently said that 80 of child pornography on the Inter - desk manager at FITA, Commissioner of Police’s office in of Cyber Society of India, this per cent of cases in the cyber crime net, will be apprehended and pena - centre. here, holding a receipt for constant ‘redirection’ is something division are due to the revealing of lised under the IT Act and the A Madurai based ethical hacker, the police complaint she filed in that causes citizens to lose faith in ATM passwords, OTPs and details POCSO Act. Over the last few Kishore T.K., had identified vulne - one hand, and her phone containing the police, something that will of bank account. years, the cases of cyber crimes rability in Google’s security system obscene unsolicited pictures and change once the 40 cyber cell units Through his organization, S. have been rising. Reports over the and had consequently been invited messages in the other. She has been Balu regularly conducts workshops last month have shown a flurry of to the Google Bughunter Hall of receiving such pictures, along with to raise awareness about cyber - cyber crime cases such as cyber Fame. Another, called Laxman multiple calls, from a phone num - crime, especially among college stalking, bullying and distribution Muthiya, found security flaws in ber in Uttar Pradesh for weeks now. students. According to him, most of revenge porn being solved, Ethical hackers have helped solve crimes | WIRE19.COM Facebook. To better manage such com - “We have to make common bank frauds take place because of thanks to ethical hacking groups. Like Kishore and Muthiya, there plains, the Tamil Nadu Police De - people aware of digital banking the negligence of the customer. While cyber security is yet to offers the course only on Sundays. can avail, whereby a team of ethical have been a few isolated cases of partment will soon have 40 cyber and cybercrimes. In traditional Cyberstalking is also a common reach our educational institutions “There are only about seven to hackers will be hired by a company, ethical hackers from Chennai being crime cells and 6 cyber labs. banking, the responsibility is form of cybercrime where women as a subject of study, it has certainly eight students in the batch,” says to perhaps trace a hack or add se - celebrated for their achievements, According to the National Crime are targeted by perpetrators who become something that makes a re - Madan, the manager at Besant curity to their information systems. as well as for their capabilities in more on the banker, while in Records Bureau (NCRB), 36 cases can easily hide their identities on - sume for a computer programming Technologies, West , In India, however, the practice is tracing back the IP addresses of digital banking it is on the of cybercrime were reported in line. job look a little brighter, says Shee - “We only require a basic undergra - not as popular yet. systems distributing illegal content, Chennai in 2016. While the city is customer. “We have to make common tal, 22, studying ethical hacking duate degree in Computer Science “This is possibly the first gene - finding privacy loopholes, etc. doing relatively better in this aspect people aware of digital banking and from her older brother, who took a to sign up for the course.” ration of students actually paying to Most of these were hackers by compared to other metros, many - S. Bala, President, cyber crimes. In traditional ban - course when he was younger. They offer it at Rs. 18,000, but learn ethical hacking. Most of my night and students or IT professio - cases go unreported as well. Cyber Society of India king, the responsibility is more on An ethical hacker is an expert in are planning on increasing it to Rs. peers and I were teaching ourselves nals by day. According to Shanmuga Priya, the banker, while in digital banking cyber security and can protect in - 15,000 in a few months time. off the Internet when we first heard Sheetal says she does see a fu - Superintendent at the Cyber Crime are established. it is on the customer. Now, we are formation systems from being brea - Sachin Pathak, an ethical hac - about it,” says Sneha R., an ex stu - ture maybe two years down the line Division, constables are currently “On the top there will be a State doing banking operations oursel - ched. This skill is an asset to most king trainer here, explains that it is dent of IIT. She is engaged in a where ethical hacking will be a being recruited and trained for the Cyber Command center and at six ves, which is why customer educa - IT companies. Training in this field a study of coding with an emphasis freelance research project and tu - much sought after and well paid upcoming cybercrime units. “We places there will be cyber regional tion is so important,” said Balu, is available only through coaching on cyber security, penetration of fi - tors college students on weekends. skill. are recruiting serving constables labs. We are also all on the job of who was also a part of the Cyber centres and tutors. Chennai has rewalls, and how to avoid security The Velachery Branch of the “It’s like we have to find ways to and sub-inspectors who showed creating awareness in all districts Crime Department in Chennai in over 15 coaching centres offering breaches. “You cannot learn ‘ethi - FITA Academy, has only two to live with the Internet, not the other willingness to work in the cyber - about cyber crime,” she said. the early 2000s. courses on ethical hacking, in addi - cal hacking’ without learning how three students per batch in its ethi - way around. I see ethical hacking crime units by conducting a scree - According to a report by The He said that conviction rates are tion to their curriculum alongside to hack,” he says, “Simply put, you cal hacking class, and it is the trai - as a way to fight back against all ning test along with IIT Madras. Hindu, Rs. 28.97 crore has been not good as crimes often go unre - teaching Java, C++, Python, etc. get to hack into a private network, ner’s part time job. FITA offers a the news we hear about online fi - Now, they are undergoing training sanctioned by the government for ported. “Blocking a number is just The number of takers for this study with the permission of the network range of computer science courses nancial frauds, identity thefts, and in universities for the same.” setting up the cyber stations and a way to avoid; it won’t help find in Chennai, however, is slow in owner, to identify, and prepare it - ones that last a week as well as Trojan horses. The internet is huge, Currently, complaints related to labs. Shanmuga Priya said that this the criminal. One must not hesitate growth. against vulnerabilities and malwa - those that take five to six months to and it’s easier when you have cer - cyber crime are forwarded to the is the first time in India that a sepa - to file a complaint.' Besant Technologies, a compu - res.” complete. tain tools,” she says. cyber crime wing at the Commis - rate cyber crime unit was being ter science coaching centre chain, Abroad, there are services one “There aren’t enough students, Fee hike may discourage Officials ignore complaints, engineering, says AICTE SHREYA SAMTANI might still be able to attract stu - allege SC and ST students dents while the ones not perfor - VALLARI SANZGIRI Some of the private engineering ming well will have to improve colleges want the fee to be hiked themselves in multiple dimen - Government-run hostels in Chennai from the next academic year by at sions,” he added. for college students belonging to least 50 per cent, said P. Rajendra, Shrija V. Francis, Head of De - the Adi Dravidar community and Administrative Officer, All India partment of Biomedical Enginee - Scheduled Castes are ill-maintai - Council of Technical Education ring in Jerusalem College of ned with poor quality or inadequate (AICTE). Engineering (JCE) said, “If we see water supply and overcrowded According to the AICTE, increa - from the management's point of rooms, among other things. sing the tuition fee might lead to a view, the number of students has Students at the Government Sweepers in the process of cleaning fish decrease in the number of students come down while the fee structure Boys College Hostel for Adi Dra - enrolling in engineering courses. is the same. Then in order to main - vidars and Scheduled Castes at My - market in the afternoon |SUKRITI VATS “There are vacancies, but no ad - tain the same number of faculty lapore, said they were falling sick Other than freshly painted walls, renovation work at Ko - missions are taking place even with members, they are increasing the often because of the muddy water |VALLARI SANZGIRI the current fee structure. The colle - fee.” they are supplied. dambakkam hostel remains ges are only going to suffer,” said “However, it would result in tea - One of the residents, Vishvesh and Tribal Welfare Department. Vijaykumar also mentioned that Rajendra. chers losing their jobs as there (19), a student of the Vivekananda However, of the three hostels, (Go - non-students enter the hostel at ‘No pollution Media reports have said that 50 would be no students enrolling in College, Mylapore claimed that vernment Boys Hostel in Kodam - times.“We do have watchmen here per cent of the engineering college engineering courses with higher there was a complaint regarding bakkam, ADW SC/ST Hostel in but they slack off during their seats remained vacant in Tamil fees,” she added. every aspect of this hostel. Mylapore and M. C. Raja hostel in shifts,” he said. Nadu last year and AICTE has de - Shrija also claimed that the qua - Located behind a slum near Thi - ) only M. C. Raja hostel Last October, The Hindu had in Chintadripet cided not to approve the setting up lity of students graduating from the rumayilai railway station, the stu - seems to have benefitted from this written an article regarding the of new engineering colleges. engineering colleges was not good dents of this hostel are often project. transformation of M C Raja Hostel. The colleges want to increase the enough to meet the industry requi - victims of thefts. According to Vis - Students from the Government The once dirty hostel known for its fees in order to revise the salaries rement. hvesh, mobile phone thefts occur Boys Hostel, , com - unsanitary condition went through of the teaching and the non-tea - Also, the number of jobs was almost every week. plained about the impending reno - a complete makeover. fish market’ ching staff, which has not been low while the number of students “The water stored for bathroom vation. Maniselvan (20), a third year Ba - SUKRITI VATS breeding mosquitoes and other done since January 1, 2016. were high, according to the depart - use has become muddy. A lot of The Kodambakkam hostel looks chelor of Computer Application flies. They have made the area very Also, the 7th Pay Commission’s ment head. students here are suffering skin pro - brand new with its freshly painted student from Thiruvallur, said that a Chintadripet fish market is not a dirty," said Kalaiselvi, who runs a recommendations need to be im - However, R. Ramakrishnan, blems,” he added. outer walls. However, according to year ago, the hostel was plagued by cause of pollution in the surroun - chemist shop near the fish market. plemented, according to news re - Controller of Examination (JCE), Stalin, a second year BA student, Vijaykumar, a second year Bache - a foul smell and was in dire need of ding areas, according to officials in Similarly, A Balaji, who runs an ports. said “It is not the fee structure but who came to Chennai from Villu - lor of Commerce student from Go - a clean-up. Tamil Nadu Pollution Control electrician shop next to the fish P. Parthiban, Fee Fixation Com - the uncertainty of jobs after gra - puram, said, “We have complained vernment Arts College at “Now the situation has improved Board (TNPCB) who investigated market, complains of the smell mittee officer at , duation that is discouraging stu - to the authorities many times but , the students still wait drastically. Today, the building has the allegation in a petition that ven - from the fish market among other said “With good salaries, come de - dents from enrolling in engineering they ignore our complaints because for the toilets to be renovated. running tap water, regularly clea - dors did not dispose of the waste problems. dicated teachers. The 50 per cent courses.” of our background.” “The western toilet is broken and ned toilets. Even the quality of food properly. "Sometimes the pieces of fish hike reportedly sought by the pri - N. Jaishankar, the Head of De - “The cleaners only come once a hasn’t been cleaned. The door of has improved,” he added. "We found that the owners have are dropped around my shop, at - vate engineering colleges would partment of Electronics and Com - month and our warden visits occa - that toilet is broken as well and the Students from all three hostels employed proper mechanisms to tracting all the stray dogs in the co - not be implemented as it is. Instead, munication Engineering, in sionally. We have no way of con - taps need maintenance. Since we said that there are 10-15 people in dispose both, solid and wet waste. lony. They make the area very dirty we will have to see the income and Misrimal Navajee Munoth Jain En - tacting him when he leaves,” Stalin got a new warden last year, we no every room. Everyday cleaning is done and the with half-eaten pieces scattered expenditure statements of the col - gineering College, Thoraipakkam, added. longer have water-related problems At Mylapore hostel that houses waste from fish and other marine everywhere," he said. leges; but the student being the end said that students were not enrol - Last year, the Srinivasan Servi - but when I mention the toilets or no less than 12 people a room, life is collected to be disposed of at Balaji had complained to the user will have to pay.” ling in engineering colleges be - ces Trust had invested in a project the lack of a pathway from the hos - some of the residents are unregiste - a nearby facility for treatment," Corporation but there has been no “The colleges which already cause what was being taught was to renovate the government hostels tel gate to the building, the warden r ed. Some of these outsiders get said Vijay Rajan, District Environ - response. have a well defined curriculum outdated. in Chennai under the Adi Dravidar ignores my complaints,” he said. drunk leading to problems. ment Engineer. Apart from the waste problem, The National Green Tribunal had customers who come to the fish asked TNPCB to inspect the fish market park their vehicles blocking market for possible pollution after access to shops. petitioner S.Ranjith Fernando com - According to the owner of a toy plained that the surrounding air shop adjoining the fish market, his quality was affected by the fish shop is not even visible to outsiders VALLAORI SAnNZG IRaI crusade against olaufghefd biut che goit may polin t aand pLaw satates etighth hoursy for labourers waste not being treated properly. because there are always so many had the toilets cleaned. I made a but these labourers don’t have pres - Rajan said, "The vendors use vehicles parked in front. With a knack for spotting glitches spectacle of myself but I succeeded cribed hours in reality. This is a co - plenty of water for cleaning the He said, "The vehicles belong to in the local administrative system because my cause was right,” said lonial behaviour,” he said. market in the afternoon.” the customers who come to buy and an unconventional style of agi - . Despite his fame in his locality, “ By 1 pm they remove all the fish. The situation is the same at tating, V. Santhanam (83), also In 2015, he had staged a protest Santhanam has failed four times in collected waste from the sight and any given time of the day; I don't known as “Petition Santhanam”, is against the pending MIT flyover the local election. use bleaching powder for disinfec - even know if they are allowed to a social activist who looks into the construction by bringing a buffalo “I think I must be the only man ting the area. The amount of bleach sell fish in the middle of a market everyday life grievances of people. to the construction site with ‘muni - in Tamil Nadu who contested four used is too little to be a cause of like this." The retired trade union leader is cipality’ written on its side. He consecutive times and received an concern." Even though it has been alleged known and respected by many at gave it a cake that said ‘five years’ increasing failure rate,” he said According to him, these findings that the fish market is running ille - Chrompet. denoting the five years that the with a laugh. are crucial because they will form gally, the owner who bought it in “I joined the trade union in work had been pending. “Even so, I view myself as an the basis of the report to be submit - 2017 said that he has all the requi - Chennai in 1990 when I started “I also make placards that say unofficial MLA here. If I go to a ted to the National Green Tribunal. red trade licenses. M Irfan Khan working at Indian Oxygen Limited. “In search of pavement” meaning hospital, I look around for any glit - As reported by The Times of India , showing his trade licence approved By then I had already entered the V. Santhanam makes his own placardi. This one reads, “In that I walk for a cause. The usual ches myself. You can’t expect the the first hearing of the case will be by Food Safety and Standard Aut - Communist Party of India (Mar - search of pavement” | VALLARI SANZGIRI agitations don’t have any result but people to come to you with issues,” held on March 18. hority of India (FSSAI) said,”We xist) thanks to the encouragement if you create a stir then police take Recently, Santhanam formed a Despite being declared by the have improved the conditions of of union leader, V. P. Senthan,” he I have a right to question them,” his formal complaints to the autho - notice and something happens.” Resident’s Association where citi - TNSCB as "pollution free," the the market after buying it from the said. said Santhanam. rity failed to have any effect, Sant - Santhanam was later threatened zens can voice their concerns. Chintadripet market continues to be previous owners.” The union served as a platform However, Santhanam’s work as hanam decided to take a more and assaulted thrice for the buffalo “Goods roads, civic amenities, a nuisance for the people with “We have employed cleaners for Santhanam to develop his acti - an activist started much earlier in radical approach. stunt. However, he refused to quit playgrounds, these are issues of the shops next to it. specifically for the purpose of filte - vism. life. “I went to the general manager’s activism. He considers the current citizens.” "There is a water stagnation pro - ring solid from wet waste. The “I realised the power we, as tax- In 1962, the workers of British office, naked from waist up, with a government a capitalist state. “We don’t have a single open blem here. The overuse of water in waste collected is sent to a treat - payers, hold over the public service Oxygen India Limited had com - bucket full of my clothes. I told the “This is not a welfare state. ground nearby. This is my favourite the fish market for cleaning purpo - ment facility for processing. The officials. Whenever I go to the po - plained to him about the unclean general manager we wanted to use Though it is touted as such, it is not. subject but I can’t do much about it ses leads to the collection of water disposal and cleaning system is lice, I tell them I’m a documented toilets in the factory and taps that his toilet since no one cleaned the The government machinery itself is because the MPs and MLAs never in small pools in front of my shop, much better now," Mr. Khan added. citizen. It is in the Constitution that spouted contaminated water. When toilets in the workers’ room. He anti-worker. The Industrial Labour seem to care.” Edition 4 Page 4_Layout 1 17-02-2020 10:07 Page 1

THE WORD CHENNAI February 14, 2020 4 CITYSCAPE Films canned for years V-Day sees an offer surge SHREYA HARIDAS a casual walk along the Kodam - financial hurdles till January 2020. Sale dip by 20 per cent this year as people opt for online shopping bakkam-Valsaravakkam stretch, Madhagajaraja , a Vishal-starrer After being canned for four years you will see thousands of posters that started work in 2012, has still SUSMITHA ANN THOMAS store. “So we are expecting great ’s Enai Noki saying ‘shoot begins today’, or not planned its release. sales with the offers we are giving,” Paayum Thota, that hit the screens ‘casting call’. But those films are Another factor that influences re - Roses and red colour hold remar - she added. in November 2019, has won the au - never seen on screens.” lease is the politics behind a film. kable value on Valentine’s Day. Deepika, a beach vendor of ice dience’s heart. His next film Vik - 2013 to 2017 saw only 30 to 40 An example is 2019’s Comali , star - However, when the day is a week - gola and spring potato, said, “On ram-starrer Dhruva Natchathiram, per cent of the films certified by the ring Jayam Ravi. Due to strong po - day (Friday) as it is this year, shop lover’s day last year I earned an which had started its process in CBFC (Central Board of Film Cer - litical statements, its release was owners and traders in Chennai have extra Rs 3000 to Rs 4000. But now 2016, is set to release in 2022. tification) released. For example, in withheld, but thanks to the crew mixed feelings about their sales. since board exams are approaching, Other films like 1818 (boxed for 3 2016-17, when 304 films were cer - and money power, the film could S.Thangham (50), owner of the number of people coming to the years), Aakko (boxed for 5 years) tified by CBFC, only 189 were re - hit the screens. Vizhithiru , a low Adyar Anand Florist, said, “Rose is beach has decreased. But, since the Bhogi (boxed for 5 years) are ex - leased. The data for 2015-16 stands budget film due to be released in the most sought flower on Valenti - day is a Friday, I’m hoping to make pected to release in 2020. at 188 of 291 and for 2014-15 it is 2012, was released in 2017. Now, ne’s Day with around 300 being at least the exact amount I could An assistant cinematographer 208 of 297. The CBFC data for Droupathi has been shelved due to sold on a normal day and the num - make last year.” speaks of a film he has been wai - 2018 and 2019 were not available. caste issues and misogynistic com - ber has shot up to 5000 on the 13th Roses sell more as Valentine’s Day approches A. Balaji, Manager, Tanishq, ting for since his childhood. “ Ma - But the films also need to have ments. The film has low star value and 14th of this month.” | SUSMITHA ANN THOMAS Adyar, said, “We have a 20 percent rudhanayagam is a Kamal luck to reach the CBFC. This is for its release without anyone’s “And now more sales are happe - discount on diamonds, colour sto - Haasan-starrer, that started its fil - mostly in the hands of the produ - support. ning because it is not just limited to Prashanth (24), Manager, Café to couples with the desserts having nes and silver from the 7th to the ming in 1997, but has not been re - cers. Producers often cheat the di - Film critique Bharadwaj Rangan young lovers. For the past 10 years Coffee Day, Velachery, said, “We a red theme.” 16th of this month. Moreover, we leased yet. The film has been put rector and mess with the process of says, “Films are easier to make on Valentine’s Day, a man, who is are providing gift package of four N. Karthik (28), Executive Ma - have come up with a Valentine’s on hold due to protests relating to the film, putting the director him - these days, but it needs a strong 70 years-old now, comes and gets days to Singapore and to two nager, PVR, Velachery, said, “Mo - Day collection of the latest de - caste issues.” self in debt. Sometimes, the produ - producer to take it to the screens. roses for his wife. Similarly a com - lucky customers who come first vies like Vaaranam Aayiram, signs.” In 2019, when the number of cers do not buy a film because they Even if they have a good film with pany has ordered 200 roses for its and second in the lucky draw we Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa will be Sabuj Kumar Mandal, Assistant movies released was 209, the num - ‘do not like’ the final output. An low star value, they can make con - employees,” he added. are holding. There are also Rs. 500 played from the 14th till the 20th of Professor, Economics, IIT Madras, ber of films that could not be relea - example is the movie Varma , a re - tracts with the theatre owners like, M.Saravana (45), Manager, Ar - gift vouchers for 500 customers. this month , since the new Kolly - said people were generally assu - sed was around 103 or 49.28 per make of the Telugu film Arjun ‘distribute this film if you want my chies, Adyar, said, “We have intro - Last year the sales were great – wood movies releasing on the 14th med to be rational beings but a day cent. When big budget and high Reddy with slight differences. next film with high star-value’.” duced special products like couple around 70,000 people had partici - are very few.” like the Valentine’s Day questions star value films face such a fate, Varma was canned because it did Citing films like Angaditheru and ring, couple statue, couple cup, pated. This year we are expecting a Lucy, Makeup Artist, MAC, Ve - the very existence of rationality. what would be low and mediocre not reach the expectations of the Subrahmaniapuram that released in teddy bear, message bottles and 10% increase in customers.” lachery, said lipstick sale increases “We are more than happy to budget films, with or without star producers, but a Tamil remake of the earlier part of this decade, and greeting cards exclusively for Va - Restaurants and movie houses as women like it. Here, instead of spend Rs. 100 on chocolates wrap - value be facing? Arjun Reddy was filmed as Adithya ran on the back of just a good script lentine’s Day. But, in all our stores also have offers for the day. online platforms which take time to ped in a bright red wrapper which Arunlal S P, a VFX producer Varma in just 45 days. and no star-value, he said, “It is across Chennai, sales have decrea - Arun, Manager, Patissez, Vela - deliver, people prefer shops be - would cost Rs. 50 otherwise. More who works in south Indian film in - Nadodigal 2, which is a sequel hard to have such films nowadays. sed by 20 percent this year because chery, said, “ We have introduced a cause they can buy it across the than the quality of the chocolate, dustry, says that almost 40-50 per of the hit-film Nadodigal (2009), Films like Peranbu ran only be - more and more people are opting special menu just for Valentine’s counter. Also, the option of finding the wrapper is what that really mat - cent of the films made in Tamil do had completed its work in June cause of star-value of Mam - for online shopping.” Day, providing a four-course meal the right colour is possible only at a ters.” he said. not reach the theatres. “If you take 2018, but had to be withheld due to mootty.” Hinduism and India’s road to modernity SHRIJA GANGULY today who could accept about practical Vedanta which understand what this Vivekananda to be needlessly aggressive,” he science, as their entire way of un - comprises two lectures delivered said because of his vast know - said. Swami Vivekananda countered derstanding spirituality was based by the Swami. ledge.” The head of the Ramakris - Premananda said, “The extremist German philosopher Georg Hegel’s on “verifiable experience” or anub - The author read excerpts from hna Math in Chennai said he agreed form of Hinduism is easy Hin - theory that only the West had abi - hav. both the lectures with stories from with Swami Vivekananda that Ve - duism where you can get by wit - lity to reason, which was the basis Paranjape’s book traverses the Upanishads . He said, “In an - danta was not exclusive for asce - hout reading anything or knowing for true science and philosophy, through the life of the Swami, and cient India, Vedanta was practical. tics and renouncers. Other people about your traditions that only and that all other religions were his ideology that snowballed into The proof of it is that the greatest could also follow it. comes with experience.” He cited dead rituals as they did not possess him laying a new foundation stone sages were kings and not Brahmins Vivekananda’s guru, Ramakris - the examples of Steve Jobs who the faculty to reason, according to for Vedanta . or priests. The rulers were the cus - hna Paramahansa practised several had visited India in search of spiri - author Makarand Paranjape. The book launch at T. Nagar saw todians of knowledge. Indian spiri - traditions. Vivekananda continued tual peace. Yogic traditions had be - Speaking at the launch of his a panel comprising Dr. S. Rammo - tuality was not other-worldly. It on the plural path as well. “Howe - come a resort for the West that was book Swami Vivekananda: Hin - han, Swami Isha Premananda, Ma - was this-worldly. It is one of the ver, the difference between Ra - now tired of its materialistic envi - duism and India’s Road to Moder - karand Paranjape, and K. N. few systems in the world which makrishna and Vivekananda was ronment. nity , he said contrary to Hegel’s Ramaswamy discussing Viveka - does not promise anything in the that the latter could be assertive Not debunking the power of beliefs, Vivekananda pointed out nanda’s ideas. afterlife. Spirituality lies in attai - when required, that is, in cases of science, Paranjape called himself that it was Christianity and Europe Vedanta , like any other Hindu ning success. It is actually about motivated attacks such as conver - “an optimist for India” and empha - that were at loggerheads with Dar - tradition, is defined as the one shreyas (the idea of succeeding in sions that went against Hinduism or sized the need for a rigorous acade - win’s theory of evolution. In his fa - which has its ideals in the imperso - this life) here and now and to attain defaced it. Hinduism need not be mic study of every culture and mous Chicago speech, nal Supreme Being or the Para - immortality.” aggressive. All the Hindu deities tradition. “All of us must agree to Vivekananda had turned Hegel matma. A scholar on Vivekananda Swami Isha Premananda said, are armed but it is not like they are disagree, for differences exist,” he around and said that it was only the and his works, Paranjape talked “Only another Vivekananda can always fighting. It gives no license said.

Haokip howler keeps Chennaiyin in title race A poster from the event | MAHIMA MANIAR SRINJOY SANYAL Nerijus Valskis dropped deep at times to fa - as the Hero of the Match, marked Haokip fired it into the side netting. cilitate the wingers into play – a move that played in Chhangte with a beautifully weig - Moments later, India’s right-back was clea - With the match deadlocked, as Thongkho - didn’t pay dividends. hed pass, only for the winger to blaze it over ring Suresh Singh’s shot off the line after Cri - siem Haokip ran past Chennaiyin FC’s cen - There was a pall of gloom among the the crossbar despite having lots of space vellaro, who has got six goals and six assists Every drop counts tre-backs, with only the goalkeeper to beat, 10,953 attendees as India captain Sunil Chet - around him. to his name this season, bisected three mar - MAHIMA MANIAR nology. This is where preference to - Chennaiyin FC’s hopes to secure a playoffs tri’s name was missing from the team sheets. Though the numbers suggest a different kers to lay a through-ball for Suresh to slot it wards nature-based interventions berth seemed to go up in smoke. But, when India’s leading goal-scorer in international story with the hosts having 54 per cent of home. Having tankers to deliver water makes more sense,” Kishore said. the Manipuri forward struck the woodwork football was replaced by possession in the first-half, it was BFC who It was a period of intense madness as three daily is not sustainable for a long Locker , a two-minute documen - with 10 minutes of regulation time remai - on the left flank in a 4-3-3 formation. CFC looked the dominant of the two. golden opportunities were wasted in a space time and the poor people will be af - tary, directed by Selvaraj R., was ning, even Sunil Chettri, who was on the si - also missed their key player The second half started with Crivellaro or - of three minutes. Haokip was again on the fected the most, said Dr. William also shown, highlighting the im - delines, covered his face with palms in to injuries, who was replaced by Afghani chestrating the midfield – dropping his shoul - wrong side of things as CFC’s Schembri was Pennock, a Fulbright-Nehru Re - portance of water. disbelief. Masih Saighani in midfield in a 4-2-3-1 ders, twisting and turning his hips to wriggle dispossessed by , who then delivered searcher in Chennai. “Water was a The exhibition deals with the The 50th ISL match at the Jawaharlal setup. past the opposition. Similarly, he laid a ball an immaculate long ball over the hosts’ back - big issue in Chennai which has lost concept of water and climate Nehru Stadium here ended 0-0 on a night in The match started with the higher-placed outside the box for Valskis to charge in, but line, only for the substitute to let the ball ri - many lakes and canals,” he said in change in relation to water scarcity which both teams could be accused of profli - team dominating proceedings with CFC’s strike a powerless shot for keeper Gurpreet cochet off the left post. his speech at the Water Matters ex - in Chennai. Wetlands are one of the gacy, leaving Bengaluru FC (29 points in 16 drawn into a couple of saves and to register his first save of the night. It was To make matters worse, , depu - hibition at the Periyar Science and most productive ecosystems, which matches) third in the table and the hosts (22 the BFC wingers – Ashique and Udanta run - then BFC’s turn to send the West Block Blues tising for Andre Schembri, was shown a se - Technology Centre being held from provide carbon sequestration, flood points in 15 matches) one place away from ning at their backline. The big-match pres - (BFC’s official fan club) into disbelief. cond yellow after needlessly bringing down February 12 to 29. control, and groundwater recharge. the top 4. sure seemed to affect the hosts as goalkeeper If Udanta, playing on the right, slipped in - Borges. Reduced to 10-men, the side, which The exhibition was organized by However, urbanisation for meeting There were chances squandered by both Kaith once fumbled the ball to concede a cor - side the penalty area, thus failing to fire a had scored 15 goals in the previous four the US Consulate General in colla - the demands of a growing popula - sides as nerves seemed to get to the forwards, ner. shot, Rahul Bheke –a long throw specialist – games, sat deep and somehow survived the boration with Care Earth Trust tion has resulted in the loss of with them rushing into shots. Or, in CFC’s The biggest chance of the half, however, delivered deep into the box for it to go un - late flourish to end the Southern Derby on (CET), the Government of Tamil Chennai’s wetlands. It has forced case, the league’s second-highest goal-scorer, fell CFC’s way with 31 minutes on the clock, cleared across the face of the goal and an un - even terms. Nadu, and the Smithsonian Institu - Chennai to expand south and south - tion. west, causing a further disconnect Inspired by Smithsonian’s tra - between urban and environmental velling exhibition, H20 Today held planning. in Bengaluru, the water expo was “Chennai has faced floods and inaugurated by Academy Award droughts. It all boils down to the ef - Festival takes you back to your village winner A. R. Rahman in the pre - fective management of natural re - SHREYA HARIDAS sence of Consul General Robert G. sources and to make water Burgess and CET Managing Trus - sustainable. Chennai gets water in As spectators crowded around a tee, Dr. Jayshree Vencatesan. “The the first quarter from rains; in the make-shift stage to see the famous exhibition comprises film scree - second quarter, from the lakes; and Jallikattu bulls, a Kangayam bull nings, interactive experiments, he - in the last quarter, ground water is from Sivaganga, pounced at the au - ritage walks and lectures. It used,” said Kishore. dience. An even more aggressive emphasizes on the centrality of “Everyone has to consciously Naattumaadu Jallikattu bull, whose water across themes, geographical take ownership of the fact that nose was covered with houseflies, areas and time scales,” said Seetha water matters. Every drop saved is stared at the performance and bel - Gopalkrishnan, project matter, every drop gained to ensure we lowed. CET. leave some water behind for the This was the scene at the third Anirudh Kishore, project assis - next generation,” said Padmapriya edition of Village Ticket - Idhu tant, CET, said, “In Chennai, either Baskaran, a heritage blogger and Namma Ooru Thiruvizha (this is we have too much water, or too lit - author. She conducted a heritage our land festival), held in Chennai. tle. We never seem to have enough. walk around the township of Chin - Villages of 32 districts in Tamil Kangayam bull (left), kid This is for a city which has so many tadripet created around Cooum Nadu came together at this live vil - taught to process rice (top) lakes and wetlands..” River on February 9, preceding the lage setup organised at the YMCA | SHREYA HARIDAS In the context of Tamil Nadu, exhibition. Ground, Nandanam, from 6th to there was a separate section on how Srivatsan Sankaran, a travel pho - 9th Feb. This was aimed at preser - prepared in pots, said, “ This whole ments’ display, fathers stopped to around and dropped them at va - Art Director, T Deepan, who was water has been an integral part of tographer and founder of Madras ving the great tradition and culture setup is nostalgic. My daughter has show off their ghatam (a clay per - rious stalls where one could try pal - in charge of the set-up, told how South Indian culture. It further ela - Photo Bloggers, said, “It is impor - of village life by honouring far - never been to my village in Dindi - cussion instrument) skills to their mistry, tarot card reading by the mud houses could stand very borates the various technologies in tant to protect the Cooum River mers, artisans and cooks. gul, so I love explaining all these children. parrots, potters’ wheel and a paddy harsh climates like heavy monsoon place to promote sustainable water since it was important for transpor - Village Ticket 2020 was inau - things to my daughter.” Amidst a temple setup with a setup where children tried farming, and hot summers. During summers, management. “Chennai has an tation and provided employment grated by K Pandiarajan, Minister Customs that even adults did not massive chariot and a giant wheel, colouring their arms brown with the houses remained cold. He said, urban heat island effect. Wetlands, for the people.” for Tamil Official Language and know of drew them to ask the vil - artists from the villages performed the mud. the PM Awaas Yojana should also lakes and any natural vegetation The Smithsonian-curated exhibi - Tamil Culture. lagers their relevance, like how cultural dances like Karagattam, Apart from these, the other high - concentrate on building these cheap cover keep the climate cool. So, the tion is open to the public till Fe - Sreedevi Devarajan, who takes cow dung was used to brush teeth, Mayilattam, Kaalaiyattam etc. light was that visitors could expe - houses of traditional value, to economic services that are associa - bruary 29 at the Periyar Science her five-year old girl to one of the wash vessels and as cooking fuel. A bullock cart, horse cart and rience culinary skills of villagers which water and electricity can be ted with what natural ecosystems and Technology Centre. Entry is village houses to teach how food is At the traditional musical instru - cycle rickshaw took the visitors across 32 villages. supplied easily. provide cannot be replaced by tech - free.