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Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Monday, 22 June 2009
Kerala Backwaters; An Enchanting Experience
Kerala, the God's Own Country, is an amazing land of splendid backwaters. The dancing paddy fields, calm green waters, beautiful landscape and warm weather gives a mesmerising experience of a backwater tour in Kerala.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1867901/kerala_backwaters_an_enchanting_experience.html
Kerala Backwaters; An Enchanting ExperienceKerala, the God's Own Country, is an amazing land of splendid backwaters. The dancing paddy fields, calm green waters, beautiful landscape and warm weather gives a mesmerising experience of a backwater tour in Kerala.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1867901/kerala_backwaters_an_enchanting_experience.html
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Vijayan: first communist leader to be charge sheeted in graft case
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed charge sheet against CPI (M) politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan in the multi-crore SNC Lavalin case. This is the first time a top Communist leader in the country is being prosecuted for graft charges.
The CBI filed the charge sheet at the Ernakulam court, arraigning Vijayan as the seventh accused in the case related to alleged irregularities involving Rs 374.5
crore in the award of contract for renovation and modernisation of Pallivasal, Sengulam and Panniyar hydro-electric projects to Canada-based SNC Lavalin in 1998 when he was the power minister.
The CBI filed the charge sheet after the state Governor gave his nod for prosecuting Vijayan. The CBI had sought the governor’s permission, as Vijayan had been a minister.
The governor had given the permission overruling the state government’s recommendation.
The prosecution issue had widened the rift within the CPI(M) state unit with the Chief Minister expressing his backing to the governor in the issue. Meanwhile his cabinet colleagues as well his party men have all come out against the governor for giving prosecution orders.
The CBI filed the charge sheet at the Ernakulam court, arraigning Vijayan as the seventh accused in the case related to alleged irregularities involving Rs 374.5
crore in the award of contract for renovation and modernisation of Pallivasal, Sengulam and Panniyar hydro-electric projects to Canada-based SNC Lavalin in 1998 when he was the power minister.
The CBI filed the charge sheet after the state Governor gave his nod for prosecuting Vijayan. The CBI had sought the governor’s permission, as Vijayan had been a minister.
The governor had given the permission overruling the state government’s recommendation.
The prosecution issue had widened the rift within the CPI(M) state unit with the Chief Minister expressing his backing to the governor in the issue. Meanwhile his cabinet colleagues as well his party men have all come out against the governor for giving prosecution orders.
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
CPI (M) leader faces prosecution; First communist to be prosecuted
A top CPI (M) leader in India faces prosecution in corruption case, the first time a communist leader and politburo member is facing prosecution in a multi-crore scam in India. Kerala state CPI (M) secretary has acquired the dubious distinction of being the first communist leader in history to be prosecuted in a corruption case.
Kerala governor R S Gavai had given the nod to the Central Bureau of Investigation to go ahead with the prosecution even after the state government had advised the governor against such a move. Three months ago, the CPI (M)’s Kerala unit, dominated by Vijayan’s men, had the state government to advise the governor against giving sanction for prosecution, despite Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan wanted the party secretary to face prosecution.
Vijayan has been charged with abuse of his position as electricity minister. The CBI had sought prosecution of Vijayan with regard to alleged corruption and irregularities in awarding contracts for renovation of three hydro-electric projects to Canadian company SNC-Lavalin when he was Power Minister in 1998.
A day after the governor gave the nod for the prosecution, the CPI (M) was up in arms against the governor and his high office. They termed the decision as “unfortunate” and termed it “politically motivated”. The party Politburo had said that they would fight the case both “politically and legally”.
The Kerala CPI (M) unit had called for a hartal soon after the governor’s decision but later changed the decision to observe a “black day”. The greatest paradox here is that the CPI (M) is a party, which had always stood against corruption and which had always initiated probes in many cases concerning the state. It is the same party that is now up in arms against the governor’s decision who had given the nod for prosecuting Vijayan, who is allegedly involve in corruption cases.
The question that comes up here is whether the CPI (M) should have observed a black day against the governor’s decision when it was fighting against corruption? Moreover, why is the CPI (M), which had always stood against corruption, afraid to face the court? If Vijayan was not involved in the SNC Lavalin corruption issue, why does he then fear prosecution?
Kerala governor R S Gavai had given the nod to the Central Bureau of Investigation to go ahead with the prosecution even after the state government had advised the governor against such a move. Three months ago, the CPI (M)’s Kerala unit, dominated by Vijayan’s men, had the state government to advise the governor against giving sanction for prosecution, despite Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan wanted the party secretary to face prosecution.
Vijayan has been charged with abuse of his position as electricity minister. The CBI had sought prosecution of Vijayan with regard to alleged corruption and irregularities in awarding contracts for renovation of three hydro-electric projects to Canadian company SNC-Lavalin when he was Power Minister in 1998.
A day after the governor gave the nod for the prosecution, the CPI (M) was up in arms against the governor and his high office. They termed the decision as “unfortunate” and termed it “politically motivated”. The party Politburo had said that they would fight the case both “politically and legally”.
The Kerala CPI (M) unit had called for a hartal soon after the governor’s decision but later changed the decision to observe a “black day”. The greatest paradox here is that the CPI (M) is a party, which had always stood against corruption and which had always initiated probes in many cases concerning the state. It is the same party that is now up in arms against the governor’s decision who had given the nod for prosecuting Vijayan, who is allegedly involve in corruption cases.
The question that comes up here is whether the CPI (M) should have observed a black day against the governor’s decision when it was fighting against corruption? Moreover, why is the CPI (M), which had always stood against corruption, afraid to face the court? If Vijayan was not involved in the SNC Lavalin corruption issue, why does he then fear prosecution?
Saturday, 6 June 2009
Controversies mar Film awards
Film awards and controversies are always interlinked. Film awards the world over has always been in the thick of controversies at all times. A day after the Kerala Film awards was announced; controversies marred the show. This time the fight ranked between two great directors -- Adoor Gopalakrishnan and T V Chandran.
Soon after the Kerala film awards were announced, Chandran, whose film “Bhoomi Malayalam” bagged the second best film, lambasted Adoor and the Kerala cultural department over the film awards.
Chandran said Adoor's work “Oru pennum Randanum”, which was adjudged the best film, was “not a film but only a tele serial”. Adoor's film “Oru pennun randanum" was produced as part of Doordarshan's project of making short films based on late Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai's short stories, Chandran said. He also said that "Nalu Pennungal," which was released last year was part of this project and it was not considered for the film awards then.
Noting that it was not the first time that his films were being sidelined, he also opined that the jury and the cultural department were afraid of Adoor.
Lashing out at Chandran’s criticism, Adoor said the criticism only showed his ignorance of the difference between a film and television serial. The persons who make films should have to know the difference between cinema and Television serial.
Adoor’s film 'Orupennum Randanum'' had bagged three major awards, including best feature film, best director and best screen play writer awards, in the Kerala state film awards-2008. The second best feature film award went in favour of ''bhoomi malayalam'' directed by Chandran.
Soon after the Kerala film awards were announced, Chandran, whose film “Bhoomi Malayalam” bagged the second best film, lambasted Adoor and the Kerala cultural department over the film awards.
Chandran said Adoor's work “Oru pennum Randanum”, which was adjudged the best film, was “not a film but only a tele serial”. Adoor's film “Oru pennun randanum" was produced as part of Doordarshan's project of making short films based on late Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai's short stories, Chandran said. He also said that "Nalu Pennungal," which was released last year was part of this project and it was not considered for the film awards then.
Noting that it was not the first time that his films were being sidelined, he also opined that the jury and the cultural department were afraid of Adoor.
Lashing out at Chandran’s criticism, Adoor said the criticism only showed his ignorance of the difference between a film and television serial. The persons who make films should have to know the difference between cinema and Television serial.
Adoor’s film 'Orupennum Randanum'' had bagged three major awards, including best feature film, best director and best screen play writer awards, in the Kerala state film awards-2008. The second best feature film award went in favour of ''bhoomi malayalam'' directed by Chandran.
Thursday, 4 June 2009
India gets first woman Lok Sabha Speaker
India gets its first woman Speaker in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Indian Parliament. Meira Kumar has created history by becoming the first woman to occupy one of the highest constitutional posts in the country.
The 64-year-old Meira Kumar was unanimously elected Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
She was elected from the Sasaram Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar in the 2009 general elections.
Soft-spoken but a firm pursuer of her social missions, Kumar is the daughter of late Jagjivan Ram, who was a freedom fighter and a great social reformer.
Kumar, who had a career in the Indian Foreign Service, had joined politics in 1973 on the request of the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
The 64-year-old Meira Kumar was unanimously elected Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
She was elected from the Sasaram Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar in the 2009 general elections.
Soft-spoken but a firm pursuer of her social missions, Kumar is the daughter of late Jagjivan Ram, who was a freedom fighter and a great social reformer.
Kumar, who had a career in the Indian Foreign Service, had joined politics in 1973 on the request of the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
Adoor bags three Kerala film awards
Master filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s ''Orupennum Randanum'', a film based on four short stories, was adjudged the best feature film in the Kerala State Film awards 2008.
Adoor also bagged the best director award and the best scriptwriter award for “Orupennum Randanum”.
''Bhoomi malayalam'', directed by T V Chandran bagged the second best feature film award.
Lal was selected as the best actor for his role as a policeman in 'Thalapavu', a film based on a naxalite. Priyanka got the best actress award for her role in 'Vilapangalkapuram', a film about a girl's sufferings at the hands of religious extremists.
Sankar Mahadevan and Manjari got the awards for the best male and female singers. While M Jayachandran bagged the music director award, O N V Kurup got the best lyrist award.
Other Awards:
Best comedian: Mamukooya (ennathe chinthavishayam)
Best child artist: Nivetha Thomas (Veruthe oru Bharya)
Best storywriter: Aryadan Shoukath (Vilapangalkkapuram)
Best cinematographer: M J Radhakrishnan (bioscope)
Adoor also bagged the best director award and the best scriptwriter award for “Orupennum Randanum”.
''Bhoomi malayalam'', directed by T V Chandran bagged the second best feature film award.
Lal was selected as the best actor for his role as a policeman in 'Thalapavu', a film based on a naxalite. Priyanka got the best actress award for her role in 'Vilapangalkapuram', a film about a girl's sufferings at the hands of religious extremists.
Sankar Mahadevan and Manjari got the awards for the best male and female singers. While M Jayachandran bagged the music director award, O N V Kurup got the best lyrist award.
Other Awards:
Best comedian: Mamukooya (ennathe chinthavishayam)
Best child artist: Nivetha Thomas (Veruthe oru Bharya)
Best storywriter: Aryadan Shoukath (Vilapangalkkapuram)
Best cinematographer: M J Radhakrishnan (bioscope)
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