Hon'ble PM, we expect something else!

Hon'ble PM,

The nation listens to you, always, particularly in times of distress.

So, why don't you address this nation on key issues. 

Please talk to us on (and many more):

• How to fight fear of this unexpected situation?
• How are the microbiologists and virologists involved in fighting against this pandemic, and many more to come in future?
• Any plans of setting up more laboratories across the country for now and future?
• Are we on par with other countries that do rapid testing to minimise casualties?
• Will the vacant positions of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals be filled every now and then, hereafter?
• Will slowly government hospitals overtake private hospitals in performance and quality?
• What are economists doing? Have they found the way through this maze? or at least in the process of finding one?
• Don't the economists tell the government ways and means to keep emergency fund ready all the time? 
• Are we judiciously using the huge funds received from Philanthropists such as Tata and how?
• Will the government adopt transparency in sharing details of inflow and outflow of money during this emergency?
• How is India going to cut costs on unnecessary stuff and save for emergency situations such as this?
• How will the government keep a check on charges levied by private hospitals that treat such pandemics? Do we have helplines to report on high charges for testing and treatment?
• Why did governments of state not provide facilities for migrant labourers in their place of work to find shelter and food, and instead forced to move in times of such emergencies?
• Is the government prepared to support needy families if this lockdown continues for few more weeks?
• Are the stressed medical professionals, and other frontline workers treated to destress in any possible way?
• Will health (and education) occupy a major place in the following year's budget?
• What do we have to learn from affected and unaffected nations across?
• Is the government working on identifying its flaws?
• What is your biggest realization as the head to focus on during such difficult times?
• Will you show us how to walk with the nation after this lock down for a better and safe tomorrow?

We know, it is more important to prevent community spread and save lives of our citizens than discussing the above points. We know, actions speak louder than words. But we also know that focusing these is better than asking us to clap and light.

Think tanks and corona

Let me go straight to the point I would like to share instead of wailing away time on topics of little significance such as clapping (instead thank your family doctor & other staff when you meet them next time) and lighting lamps (instead be empathetic day in and day out).

What next?? The pandemic has hinted us on creation of think tanks for a better tomorrow. The first  and random thought that came to mind is this:

A think tank comprising "Conservationists, Environmentalists, Policy makers & Economists": As this lock down has has hit the 'refresh' button of nature and other living beings on earth, why not think of such a national lock down every year and help nature refresh itself?

Points to ponder in this direction

• When can the nation be locked down every year? Period and duration
•  How can the economic slowdown of this period be addressed?
• What can be the role of government?

To answer

'When' needs to be decided in consultation with the

1. Department to Tourism: to identify off-season when the revenue generation is normally less in a year
2. Environmentalists/conservationists: to identify the period that is conducive/favourable for nature to reset itself on its own; and to identify the minimum and maximum number of days that would make a significant difference
3. Department of Health: to identify the right season in a year that is suitable/better for public to stay indoors
4. Economists: to analyse and identify the less economically-active period (in relative terms only) in a year in the country, if any
5. Election Commission: to ensure that no election related works happen during that time
6. Political off-season where no assembly/parliament sessions take place and budget related works happen

Economic slowdown

As it is natural to have a steep decline in economy graph during a national lock down, the role of economists becomes highly significant. The think tanks of economists need to arrive at decisions/ideas/proposals to tackle it and provide ways and means to get rejuvenated right after the period.

Considering this equation nature⥸economic growth for sustainability or the very existence of earth, compromising with economy is a better option.

Planned lock down and its benefits

• Nature and our fellow living beings would thrive happily
• No chaos/fear among public as they would gradually get used to this format; and therefore they would begin to plan well in advance
• Quality family time
• Children's creativity provoked, adults' too
• Encourage community living
• Possible increase in health consciousness
• No alcohol; therefore no related crimes 
• No breaking news to channels to survive on

 Role of government

1. To ensure paid/half-paid/minimally paid leave for everyone (organized and unorganized sectors)
2. To have child and women helplines (counseling services too) to report abuse of any form
3. To revamp government hospitals, schools, ration shops and offices
4. To attend to shelter-less and migrant labourers (making use of closed cinema halls, schools, community halls, wedding halls, colleges and get a community kitchen in place to support them)
5. To identify the real needy sections that would be in need of emergency fund to run their lives, as many would be prepared in advance as the lock down would be on the decided/announced date.
6. To ensure that alcohol is not bought and stocked at homes that might eventually result in domestic violence  

...to be continued on what is expected of my Prime Minister!

 P.S.: There are just the preliminary thoughts and portions of the post might undergo changes depending on mind-processing (of course no portion would be deleted😛)

Art and Hypocrisy

To me,

 

Maniratnam is romantic;

Bala is raw and dark;

Shankar is stylish;

Mysskin is violent, yet humane;

Samuthirakani is idealistic;

Vasanth is gentle and caring towards women;

Karthik Subburaj is unique;

CS Amudhan is humorous.

The

List

Goes

On…

This is just my perception of the personalities depending on their movies I have watched so far (many of you would have developed similar perceptions).

In this connection, my idea of the legendary director (late) K. Balachander is that he is progressive (ahead of his times) and a hard core feminist. His films were women-centric and empowering, by having created real BOLD, CHARISMATIC and ASSERTIVE women to shoulder his scripts. It is quite natural for anyone like me to, therefore, look up to him as a real fighter for women rights!

Cut to a recent interview of a yesteryear actress Rekha (one of the lead characters in K.Balachander’s superhit Tamil movie, Punnagai Mannan). She has now revealed that her consent was not sought for the popular lip lock scene in the above mentioned movie with actor Kamalhaasan. Importantly, she was a minor then. What a trauma it would have been for the girl!

At the least, it is not sure if her parents/guardians gave their consent on her behalf, and whether the popular and influential male actor involved was aware of this scenario. Whatever be the case, not having sought the consent is (on the belief that her statement is true) unacceptable and it is highly unexpected from the director who is celebrated for the strong women characters of his films.

What do I write; how do I express; which medium do I prefer; where do I stand; why do/don’t I act: All this depends on who I am and what my thoughts are. My creations are what I am!! 

If that isn’t true, then what do we call it? Hypocrisy!! Who are my film makers, my authors, my artists, my musicians, my teachers, my mentors, etc.? Hypocrites?!?! 

Sorry, the moment you are exposed, you cease to exist in my space!

Fairy Tales for Children

"They lived happily ever after" is the most common finishing line of any fairy tale we have read in our childhood or in the fairy stories we read for our children today. It sounds so positive and poetic, & happy and hopeful. 😊😊😊😊

More than boys, girl children seem to be attracted to these tales. Why is it so? May be for the simple reasons that 

(1) girls/women are the lead characters of the tales, 

(2) fairies are always girls/women and 

(3) these fairies turn girls of the stories angel-like and bless them abundantly😇! 

Boys prefer ultimately different stuff, thankfully 😂

What are the beautiful sides of these fairy tales?

• The punchy or attractive titles (mostly the girls' names or their description for Eg. Cinderalla, Snow White and the seven dwarfs, Beauty and the Beast)
• The vibrant colours used in the books
• The expensive fairy-like dresses used to depict the lead character
• Magical/Fantasy side to it.
• The palace, garden and similar environment in which the story is set
• The typical fairy-tale ending, very positive and hopeful

Given these, I strongly recommend not to read these stories for children for the following reasons. (you may take out those fairy tales you have to check this interpretation. Therefore, I did not give examples here)

• Most of these stories revolve around BEAUTY and FAIRNESS of the girl lead
• We often come across STEPMOTHERS and STEP SISTERS, those cunning ones and beast-like, that ABUSE the girl
• CURSE occupies a prime position in many fairy tales
• It is mostly a PRINCE that saves the girl at the end, the saviour
• The girl's story is supposedly settled happy once she GETS MARRIED to the prince and steps into the palace

There can be few more added to these points, but I restrict to the key ones that are not at all positive for a child to read or for a parent to read for the child. There are hundreds of stories for our children on earth, why these so-called fairy tales???!!! Definitely these tales are not just good vs evil, it has more hidden venom.

P.S.: I once heard from a group of male college students studying English literature in a rural area that they had never heard of Cinderalla story. I said good that they did not learn about child-abuse and girl-abuse at their early age.

Anthology movies 😕

In a way happy that theaters are closed for a while 😂, as I don't get to watch movies these days (as sadly written in one of my previous posts). Unfortunately I am against Tamilrockers kind of stuff for almost a decade and a half now 🙏

The last movie I watched on silver screen is SILLU KARUPPATTI, my daughter calls it "sweet movie"😋, given its name😄. After a pause, there were more than a couple of reasons to watch this movie, a female director (largely appreciated for this work), heartwarming reviews (on newspaper and internet), the cute posters (like the one below) and an instinct that it would woo all age groups (including my daughter).

I least expected four short films!!!! 😕 But yeah, they kept me glued to the screen (though my spouse had to move out with my daughter as it did not impress her a bit😝). There were few connecting points (both tangible and intangible) apart from the major link LOVE 💗💙💚💛💜💝💓 Interpretation of love! for different age group, gender, marital status, social and economic background. It was so soft and gentle, unlike most tamil movies! Yet, I was so perplexed as to why four short films are put together and the director has NOT CONNECTED THEM!!!!

Later I found that this category of movies are called "Anthology movies" which had its origin in the first quarter of 20th century. Since then many attempts are made; and many did not succeed for variety of reasons. A brief search on google lists few Tamil movies (eg. Aviyal, Bench Talkies), to my surprise, that fall under this category. Even Maniratnam's Ayitha Ezhuthu is listed.  I never felt (even now) there were/are three films in Ayitha Ezhuthu. They were intertwined from first to last, unlike Sillu Karuppatti (as I have not seen any other Anthology movie). And there is one film "Aei Nee Romba Azhaga Iruka" directed by Vasanth where five music directors composed five songs, one each 🎹🎸🎻🎺🎷🎵 Will that fall under Anthology type too!!?? I dunno 😛

Now, What I wonder is this!!! During those days, there were no avenues such as YouTube or Short film contests or such platforms for budding directors to showcase their talents to find a bigger way. Therefore, two or more would have joined, created their pieces and put together as a feature film, then. But now, there are umpteen number of ways to release one's short films!! Why then choose ANTHOLOGY type!!?? 

As a laywoman who watches only Tamil movies (other languages strictly with subtitles only 😜), it was certainly a new and beautiful experience to watch this kind. But the same could have been watched in Youtube or other medium, had they been released as short films and it would have reached mass audience (younger generation who prefer internet to theaters) and enjoyed profit too probably. In such case, I don't understand why choose Anthology in place of conventional feature film?! Will there be more such movies in future?! Will this type attract more budding directors to give a shot under established (production) banner?! Is this a relatively easier film making style?! Is this profitable?! Will this module be preferred by audience as they are getting bored with the usual types?! May be... May be not...

Whatever, wish more good movies (for kids too) are made!!! 👀

தூக்கி வீசப்பட்ட எனது சிவப்பு மை பேனா

தூக்கி வீசப்பட்ட எனது சிவப்பு மை பேனா 

கல்வி சார்ந்த கட்டுரைகள், கதைகள் வாசிப்பதில், திரைப்படங்கள் பார்ப்பதில் அலாதி பிரியம் எனக்கு. இந்த தொடர்பு எங்கு, எப்போது துவங்கியது என சரியாக சொல்ல இயலவில்லை என்றாலும், 10 வருடங்களுக்கு குறையாமல் என்று மட்டும் திட்டவட்டமாக கூற இயலும். கல்வி சார்ந்த வாசிப்புகளினால் கைவிடப்பட்ட, கையில் எடுக்கப்பட்ட, மாறுதல்களுக்குட்பட்ட முக்கியமான தீர்மானங்கள் உண்டு. அவற்றுள் இங்கு நான் இப்போது குறிப்பிட விரும்புவது எனது சிவப்பு மை பேனா அடக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டதும், அதன் இடத்தை பிற மை பேனாக்கள் பிடித்துக் கொண்டதும் குறித்து. சிவப்பு மை  பேனா வீசியெறியப்பட்டு வருடங்கள் பல கடந்துவிட்ட போதும் தற்போது மீண்டும் நினைவுக்கூற வைத்தது சமீபத்தில் வாசித்து முடித்த திரு மாடசாமி அவர்களின் "எனது சிவப்பு பால் பாய்ண்ட் பேனா" என்ற புத்தகம்.

பள்ளிக்  குழந்தைகளிடம் "நீங்க என்னவாக ஆசைப்படறீங்க?" என்ற கேள்வி கேட்டால் "teacher" ஆகணும் என்ற பதில் அதிகமாக வரும். குழந்தைகளின் விளையாட்டுகளுள் முக்கியமான ஒன்று ஆசிரியர்-மாணவர் விளையாட்டு. குழந்தைகள் யார் கூறும் அறிவுரைகளை வேத வாக்கு போல் உணர்வார்கள் என்றால் ஆசிரியர்களுடையது தான். இவை எல்லாவற்றிற்கும் ஒரு முக்கிய காரணம், ஆசிரிய பணி என்பதில் "அதிகாரமும்" கலந்திருப்பதாக ஒரு பொது புத்தி இருப்பது தான். அந்த "அதிகாரம்" என்பது வெட்ட வெளிச்சமாக வெளிப்படும் இடம் விடைத்தாள்களும், அதில் திகிலூட்டும் சிவப்பு மையின் கிறுக்கல்களும்  தான். 

சிவப்பு என்பது அபாய குறியாகவே அனைவராலும் கருதப்படுகிறது. எடுத்துக்காட்டு, போக்குவரத்து (பேருந்து, ரயில்) சைகை, அபாய குறியீடுகள், தடை செய்யப்பட்ட பகுதியை, மாற்று  பாதையை குறிக்க, போன்றவைகள். அவ்வாறான அபாய சின்னத்தை கொண்டே விடைத்தாள்கள் திறுத்தப்படுகின்றன. காரணமாக கூறப்படுவது தவறுகளை சுட்டிக்காட்ட ஒரு "பளீச்" நிறம் தேவை என்பதாகும். ஆனால் தவறுகளை சுட்டிக்காட்டுவதை காட்டிலும் "நீ தவறு" என குறிப்பிடுவதாகவே சிவப்பு மை கிறுக்கல்கள் உள்ளன. அவ்வாறு சுட்டிக் காட்டுவதில் ஒரு திருப்தியையும், சந்தோஷத்தையும், அதிகாரத்தையும் ஆசிரியர்கள் உணர்கிறார்கள். ஆனால் அது எம்மாதிரியான தாக்கத்தை மாணவர்களிடம் உருவாக்குகிறது என்பதை பெரும்பாலானவர்கள் உணரத் தவறுகிறார்கள். மாணவர்களிடம் ஒரு விதமான "பீதி"யை உருவாக்குவதாகவே சிவப்பு மையின் கிறுக்கல்கள் உள்ளன. இக்காரணத்தினாலே என்னவோ மாணவர்கள் தாங்கள் சிவப்பு மை பயன்படுத்த நேர்ந்தால் அதை ஒரு பெரும் அங்கீகாரமாகவும், சாதனையாகவும் கருதுகிறார்கள்.

இந்த மாபெரும் தவறை நான் உணர்ந்த போது, என்னிடம் திருத்த இருந்த சிவப்பு மை  பேனா தூக்கிவீசி, என்னை திருத்திக்கொண்டேன்.  அதன் பின் பணியாற்றிய பல்கலைக்கழகத்திலும், கல்லூரிகளிலும் எந்த ஒரு வேலைக்கும், முக்கியமாக விடைத்தாள்கள் திருத்துவதற்கு, சிவப்பு மை பேனாவை பயன்படுத்தியதில்லை. மாறாக நீல மையும், கருப்பு மையும் பயன்படுத்த துவங்கினேன். மாணவர் நீல மையில் எழுதியிருந்தால் நான் கருப்புமையிலும் , மாணவர் கருப்பில் எழுதியிருந்தால் நான் நீலமையிலும் திருத்த துவங்கினேன். விடைத்தாளில் எங்கும் சிவப்பு மை தென்படவில்லை.

இந்த மாறுதலே ஆசிரிய அதிகாரத்தை வேரோடு அறுத்துவிடும் என நான் கூறவில்லை. ஆனால் பெரிய மாற்றத்திற்கு இந்த சிறிய மாறுதல் இன்றியமையாததாகவே தோன்றுகிறது. என்னை போலவே மாணவர்களுக்கும் இது புதியதாகவே (சிலருக்கு வினோதமாகவும்) இருந்தது. பின்னர் பழகிற்று. ஆனால் மாணவர்களால் வரவேற்கப்பட்டது. எனக்கே எனக்கென்று இருந்த சில வகுப்பறை வழங்கங்களுடன் (வேறொரு சந்தர்ப்பத்தில் அவற்றை பற்றி எழுதுகிறேன்) இந்த புது வழக்கம் சேர்ந்தது எங்கள் வகுப்பறையை மேலும் அழகாக்கிற்று.

எனது அனுபவம் வளர்ந்த பிள்ளைகளுக்கிடையில். அதாவது கல்லூரி அல்லது பல்கலைக்கழக மாணவர்களுக்கிடையில். அவர்களே சிவப்பு மையின் கிறுக்கல்களை விரும்பாத போது, அழகிய பட்டாம்பூச்சிகளான பள்ளிக் குழந்தைகள் சிவப்பு மையற்ற விடைத்தாள்களை எவ்வளவு விரும்புவார்கள் என உணர வேண்டிய கட்டாயம் எழுகிறது. "நீ எழுதியதில் இவ்வளவு தவறு உள்ளது" என தெரிவிப்பதை தவிர்த்து "நீ எழுதியதில் இவ்வளவு சரியாக உள்ளது, இதர பகுதிகளும் செம்மைப்படுத்தப்படலாம்" என குறிப்பிடும்போது விடைத்தாள் பயமூட்டும் ஒன்றாக இல்லாமல் உந்து சக்தியாக மாறும் வாய்ப்பு அதிகம். இந்த மாற்றத்தின் குறியீடாகவே சிவப்பு மை பேனாக்கள் குழந்தைகளின் உலகில் இல்லாமல் செய்ய வேண்டும் என தோன்றுகிறது.

அதற்கு பதிலாக குழந்தைகளின் விடைத்தாள்களும், புத்தகங்களும் வெவ்வேறு வண்ணங்களில் திருத்தப்பட்டால் எவ்வளவு அழகு!!! 💙💚💛💜 அதில் என்ன தவறு இருக்க முடியும், இல்லை யார் இதை தடுக்க முடியும்!? வண்ணங்களை விரும்பாத வாண்டு (வளர்ந்தவர்) ஏது?! 

A woman's outing to a theatre!

Of all problems a woman (working or non-working, rural or urban, single or married or be it any divide) faces on earth today, this really is less important.. May be not, as our issues (women's) are intertwined.

To all men out there: What would be your thought if you find a woman in a theatre with no one to accompany? Almost all of you would have looked at it with enlarged eyeballs!

To all women out there: Have you ever watched a movie in theatre without a partner or ever thought of going so? Of course not! (most of us)

Not only to men, but also to the same gender, a woman seen in a theatre without a partner attracts uninvited attention. Only God knows the reason!!!! Needless to say, for men it is really really common to go to theatres alone.

I haven't heard of women going so, except for the female movie reviewers! 😜

Women travel alone in bus, trains, flights..... even during nights....

Women shop all alone.....

Women go to worship places alone....

Women go to parties or celebrations alone...

Women drive alone.... Ride alone....

Women go to hotels alone (these days)...

Why not theatres??!! I seriously do not get a reason as to why even those so-called modern women do not prefer to go to theatres alone, if they wish to watch one of their favorites!!! When even cities do not have this culture, imagine the rural or semi-urban or semi-rural areas😛. I do not have any experience either😝!! But wish to, as one does not have congenial circumstances all the time to watch movies with partner or family.

To come across a movie that could be watched with family (particularly kids) is veeeeerrrryyyy rrrrraaaaaaarrrrreeeeee 😒 So one has to leave kid(s) behind to watch in protection of elders or your partner😟😓. And one does not get friends with similar liking for movies to accompany you 😕. And particularly married women are less likely to get such friends😖! And your spouse might have  a different choice of film or different leisure time & commitments or have a movie-loving friends (gang) to opt for night shows and hang out (lucky men) 😩.

What do a woman do???????????😭😭😭😭😭

எவ்ளோ பெரிய பிரச்சனை இது!!!!

ஒரே தீர்வு: Let us all (women) begin to go to theatres alone 😊

Come on, everything needs a beginning 😉🙌