october-2009

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October 2009

EDITORIAL 3

A Green Mantra

It all began as one woman’s crusade to make a difference to Sivakasi. Latha Abiruben, green activist, and Secretary of Exnora Sivakasi, an environmental group with a focus on community development, inspires and impresses. From the time I got to know about Latha Abiruben’s work and later getting to meet her, she has sparked off a concern for the environment in me as well.

is a powerful call for individual and collective efforts in ecology.

This diminutive but strong woman who has an MBA from a premier management institute in the country, has shown that is its possible for individuals to make a difference. Indeed, as her initiatives have shown, it all begins with baby steps. The challenges have been enormous, from dealing with mindsets of people, who Certainly her passion for ecological concerns is infec- dismissed her as having nothing better to do, to cretious. A short talk with her and hands on tour of her ating awareness of the need for civic consciousness house on the concept of waste segregation at source among the public, to spearheading awareness rallies and I was already converted! I plied her with end- and camps against throw away plastic and sustainable less and often naive questions on how to separate bio- use of energy at the district level, Latha Abiruben and degradable and non-biodegradable waste. In just ten her band of dedicated volunteers have shown the way. days I implemented it at my home and am now eager As Latha Abiruben told Simon Reynolds who interto spread the word and introduce the concept to my viewed her, “ I would request people to stop using neighbours! throw away plastic and to segregate waste at home. This has to be done in every house. It is the only soluThat’s the power of walking the talk. If each of us sat tion to bring about a clean environment in Sivakasi.” back and gave up our responsibility of doing our bit for the environment, we are heading nowhere. With Is everyone listening? growing threat of climate change and ecological catastrophes looming over us, we cannot afford to be passive spectators any longer. Latha’s favourite one liner, “Little drops of water make the mighty ocean” Nandini Murali


4 COVER STORY

October 2009

A Green Passion

Latha Abiruben is Secretary for the Sivakasi branch of Exnora, an environmental group focused on community development. Her passion for the environment is impressive in its determination and resilience.

When

I arrived at Latha Abiruben’s residence, it was obvious that someone environmentally conscious lived there. Hosepipes gently streamed water into flowerbeds, or trickled beneath stone pathways to unknown areas of a carefully laid out and flawlessly maintained garden. Tall, strong “Brand Latha” trees loomed overhead, with every plant below nourished and healthy. An immaculate clay path led to an open doorway where Latha Abiruben awaited me. Latha met me at the door, and immediately filled the room with her presence. The interior of the house equalled the garden in its pristine condition. I felt completely at home, and after exchanging pleasantries, we were ready to begin the interview.

An Easy Connection From start to finish, she held back nothing when answering any of my questions. When discussing something that was of importance to her (which was more often than not), she would speak articulately and expressively, choosing her words carefully. When the moment took her, her hands would gesture to drive a point home for extra effect. Her body language was positive and relaxed throughout, making a productive conversation all the easier. Her facial expressions emitted genuine beliefs and grievances of an abused eco-system, and she maintained full eye-contact to ensure that I was sold on her principles.

Navik Organic Products After the interview, she showed me the results of hard work in the garden in the form of high-quality compost made from recycled materials that she is now selling (under the name Navik Organic Products). She grows from her own garden, and with the help of earthworms, turns waste into compost that is impressive in its potency for farmers. Currently, she is finishing nine tonnes of the product, nearly all of which has been booked ahead for use. She plans to vastly expand the amount grown over the next twelve months. Her business savvy management skills come as no

surprise, as she has an MBA from PSG School of Management, a top southern Indian management school. Over the course of our visit, Latha had all the time in the world for me, and was a pleasure to talk to. After showing me around her garden, the composting and allowing a moment to admire a peacock that was taking shelter in a tree, we looked at some pictures of Exnora’s operations in Sivakasi over the years. Once we were completely satisfied in what we had to work with, I took my leave.

99999 Lights Out The next time that I saw Latha AbExnora International iruben was on the day of “99999 (Exnora stands for Lights Out” (an awareness proExcellent Novel Radical) is an gramme to arrest global warmenvironmental ing and reduce power consumpmovement founded in tion). Having been invited to the 1989 by MB Nirmal. events that Exnora had organised Based in Chennai, it in Sivakasi to raise awareness for focuses on community participation in ‘99999’, I was more than happy preserving Nature and to attend. Across three functions, preventing I got the chance to see Latha in environmental her element. deterioration and pollution. Firstly, I went to the police station, where Exnora were planting trees with singing star Mathangi. After that, Exnora held a press meet for “99999 Lights Out”. Latha acted as the co-ordinator of the event, making a speech of her own, introducing each speaker and ensuring that the meet ran smoothly.

People Power Finally, there was a cycle rally held in Sivakasi Town. Exnora had organised what looked like over five-hundred school and college students to descend on Sivakasi on their bicycles for ‘99999’. Any student that I spoke with on the street knew who Exnora were, and knew about “99999 Lights Out”. Again, Latha addressed the large crowd in attendance.

Green Activism Throughout the day; from speaking with the Deputy Superintendent of the local police, to addressing local reporters at the press meet, to filming a quick link for the local cable television station and all the way to marching the streets with her fellow volunteers with the cyclists; there was a glint in her eye that let you know that every moment was savoured.


October 2009 Family Support One might think that such activism and visibility in a town such as Sivakasi may be difficult for Latha’s family and children. However, while I visited her at home, the family members that I met were thorLatha with her supportive family oughly supportive of what she was doing. They were

COVER STORY 5

also equally as welcoming towards me, allowing me into their home, and genuinely interested in finding out about The Sivakasi Times and myself personally. The lasting impression I will take from meeting with Latha Abiruben, and following her efforts and achievements, is that being part of a small, committed group can really focus your efforts and galvanize your beliefs. In Sivakasi, Exnora have just five or six active members in a town of roughly one lakh people. Taking into account the publicity that Exnora can generate for their initiatives in the area, I cannot help but admire the dedication of the organisation, and Latha in particular.

The following are excerpts from an interview with Latha Abiruben, conducted by Simon Reynolds. How did you get involved in environmentalism? I was basically interested in gardening, greenery and environmental protection. Some like-minded people and I started Civic Exnora, a branch of Exnora, in Sivakasi in April 1999. We had a tough time when we went out at the beginning. We used to go house to house in 1999 and 2000 to tell them about Home Exnora, and how you have to separate plastics. It was very difficult; it was like hitting your head against a rock! They would say “You people are jobless, you people have nothing better to do”, and some of them were non-committal; they would say “We

will do it,” and then do nothing. Taking that into account, we decided on a student-centric programme, and they are much more receptive. They are the future generation, so we are training them and raising lots of awareness. The 99999 campaign has just finished its second year. Was last year’s success what influenced this year’s repeat campaign? The “99999 Lights Out” campaign was launched in 2008 to signal Exnora International’s crusade against Global Warming and its consequences. The campaign arranged its second year in 2009, asking everyone to turn off all of their lights for 9 minutes at 9pm on September 9th, in a show of solidarity against Global Warming. MB Nirmal has already expressed his intention to hold a third event next year, which would be 1010101010 on October 10th, 2010.

Yes, last year it was excellently planned. We created lots of awareness programmes this year, so that there will be a lot of local concern, plus a reduction in carbon emissions. How did you raise awareness for this year’s event? Latha with home-grown compost, sold as ‘Navik Organic Products’

For 99999, we had a cycle rally on the day of the event, so for that we

spoke to the trade associations and asked them to make a commitment that they will not use plastic carrier bags in their shops. They have six hundred to six hundred and fifty members representing all kinds of shops and hotels. They gave us a commitment that they will not use carry bags below twenty microns thick, which do not get degraded, block the drainage and create havoc to the eco-system. We also met with the temple officials, and they too agreed that they will not allow carry bags below twenty microns to be taken inside temples. Thirdly, we are going to all of the wedding halls and asking them not to use plastic cups, plastic plates or plastic sheets for the tables, which are hugely detrimental to our environment. Also, we conducted eco-camps in schools, where we taught them the different ways to use less electricity and how to plant saplings. Are the local government supportive of what you are doing? Yes, they are supportive, but they do not influence. They say they need to get the orders from the central government, and then they say the state government. Only then will we be able to bring things through.


6 COVER STORY So, bureaucracy slows you down? Yes, and the plastic manufacturers will go and lobby the government. They will not allow it to go and be implemented. Ultimately, little drops of water make the ocean. If this town can stop using plastic carrier bags, plastic plates and plastic cups, we can do our part in helping the environment. The famous Sivakasi fireworks industry is supposedly on the decline at the moment. What does this mean from an environmental perspective?

SoWAM (Solid Waste Management) is an Exnora ideal for the handling of waste. ‘Source Segregation’ of waste into organic and inorganic materials at user level is the main principle. Organic Waste is composted (according to Exnora, about 75% of waste is organic) and inorganic waste is sent off to be recycled. Some of the advantages of a Solid Waste Management system are the protection of natural resources and the environment, preservation of clean water sources and the generation of employment opportunities in Organic Farming.

using cars? Do we stop using buses? So, the one day that we use fireworks does not make that much of a difference compared to the everyday pollution of the road vehicles. Do people put enough consideration into how they use their cars? They are polluting. There have been attempts to try to get people to car-pool. So whenever possible you share with someone when you are going to the same place. Say five children are going to the same school, why don’t they get together and use the same car? Or use more public transport? Somewhere we need to draw a line. I would like to see more school buses.

Some plants in Sivakasi town planted by Civic Exnora

What I would say is that people use fireworks for religious events. For that one day, you have the smoke coming up. If you compare that to all the smoke that is emitted every day by all of the vehicles that we use, that is so much more pollution. Do we stop A Zero Garbage System is a philosophy that aims to guide people to change how they use resources, with the aim of reducing waste to zero. It looks to form a circular system where as much waste as possible is reused, as in Nature. An example of a Zero Garbage System in action is using waste for composting, which will then end up aiding the growing of crops. In a Zero Garbage System, the waste of each process becomes the beginning of another process, thus starting the cycle over again.

How would you go about getting more scool buses, is the government involved? School owners should take it up. If there are more buses, maybe the schools can impress upon the children to use the bus rather than private cars. The government is not involved, so school management should do it.

October 2009

What has Exnora achieved or influenced in the area? When we started in 1999, we did not have a very clean environment. There used to be cement rings in front of each house, and people used to dump their garbage in it. So one set of residents would get angry, and push it back to another house and then back and forth. The garbage would then not be collected and it would blow away. We started the concept of collecting garbage from house to house, and instructed the residents not to throw their garbage away. They are to collect it and put it in their own bin. So, Exnora bought a tricycle to collect the garbage. We also ask that they separate degradable waste from nondegradable waste, which not many people are doing. We also ask that they separate degradable waste from non-degradable waste. Also, we did a beautiful home front competition last year in Sivakasi. Most people keep the inside of their house very clean, but not many people take care of the outside. So to motivate them, we started the competition to keep the front of their house beautiful. The 3 main concepts we looked for were if they were having rainwater harvesting in their houses, the segregation of plastic waste from degradable waste and if they had greenery in front of their house. So that was a big awareness programme with all the ladies of the houses. How do you raise awareness of waste segregation amongst the people in Sivakasi? Our organisation is the first in the area to promote waste segregation, but we are finding it very hard to implement. What they are saying is that “We will mix them and you can separate them”. The ultimate solution for Solid Waste Management is a Zero and only leave those items that are very difficult to


October 2009 dispose of, such as broken bulbs and ceramics, then maybe the government can take it up.

COVER STORY 7

Who is your biggest inspiration? Mr. M.B. Nirmal, who founded Exnora in 1989, is my main inspiration, He has come here for many programmes of ours. He is a very simple person, and an excellent speaker. They did 99999 in Chennai (where Mr. Nirmal is based) on a very big scale. They included a lot of government officials and public figures; film stars and people like that. How do you raise funds for your operations? We have a jumbo sale, which is the recycling of old clothes and things like that. We get discarded clothes from people, and we have a jumbo sale where we raise funds and use the money to plant saplings or make treeguards.

Latha with one of Exnora’s tree-guards

And do you raise funds in any other ways? No, we just have a handful of members doing this in Sivakasi, maybe five or six. It is a thankless job, not

many people come forward to do something! How many members do you have across the whole of Tamil Nadu? I don’t have the exact statistics. Mr. Nirmal is more of a thinker than an organiser! The thing is, only if you truly want to serve, can you survive in this organisation. It is not because you have some power, or post, or you want some recognition. If you are looking for that you cannot survive in Exnora. Anything else you would like to add? I would request people to stop using plastic and to segregate their waste at home. This has to be done in every house. It is the only solution to bring about a clean environment in Sivakasi. So, from reading your magazine, maybe people will be motivated to start a Zero Garbage System.

Simon Reynolds, Ireland

If you would like to find out more about Exnora International, please visit: www.exnorainternational.org

A beautiful peacock in Latha’s splendid garden


8 PEOPLE

October 2009

He Leads by Example Kento Saito and Simon Reynolds recently met with local auto-rickshaw driver Sankaralingam, who has been disabled since the age of three and cannot walk without holding his feet. He leads such a happy and fulfilled life that his disability is only secondary.

Sankaralingam takes a break from working on a broken-dowm rickshaw

Imagine this: You lost your legs suddenly (for example by a traffic accident or sickness). Perhaps you think that you may never run around the grassland, play cricket with friends or dance in the night again. Of course, you cannot do such things but also even go to the bathroom without the help of artificial legs, and you may despair of the future. ’Why was I fated such a tragedy? I am the most unfortunate guy!’ The sorrow is a natural feeling for people and almost all people may feel the same. However, Sankaralingam (a local auto-rickshaw driver) lives a happy life. Despite not being able to walk with his legs, his eyes were full of confidence and hope.

How long have you been a rickshaw driver?

Are the work hours good or bad?

I have been a driver for ten years.

I work everyday from six o’clock in the morning until ten o’clock at night, because I am always available on the phone for the customers. Sometimes they will call in the middle of the night for something urgent, such as a medical emergency.

What did you do before for work? I used to sell vegetables here in Sivakasi. After some years, my mother was not well, so I changed the business that I was in to help her. Do you enjoy being a rickshaw driver? Yes, it’s very enjoyable because in this business, I get to help others, which is very rewarding.

How did you become disabled? At the age of three, I suffered a polio attack. I have not been like this since birth.


October 2009 Can you remember when it happened and what it was like, or were you too young? Thankfully, I can’t remember it happening to me. When you drive the rickshaw, do you use your feet? I only use my left foot to control the brake, I don’t use my right foot at all.

PEOPLE 9

What is the most difficult thing about your disability? There is not one particular aspect. I can do everything that I want to do. In India, are people prejudiced against you? No, in my experiences of life here in Sivakasi, everyone is equal. Are you from Sivakasi? I am from a small village close to Sivakasi. I was born and raised there. How many of you were there in your family growing up? In my family there are four boys, including me, and two girls. My father is no longer with us, and my mother works in a fireworks shop here in Sivakasi. What would be your message to someone else dealing with disability?

Sankaralingham in his auto-rickshaw

During your childhood, what did you think about other people who did not have the same disability? I felt sad when I saw other people who were healthy when I was younger. However, I am happy now because I have everything that I want in life. I married a girl from the orphanage home, and I have two sons: the elder boy is eight, and the younger boy is six-and-a-half. What are your dreams for your sons? It depends upon their interest. No matter what it is that they want to do I will support them. The most important thing is that they grow up to be good men.

Anybody can do anything that they want in life, do not let your disabilities hold you back. How do you keep so positive? I have high self-confidence, and I am a deeply religious man. How do you feel when you look back on your life so far? For every man that is born into the world, we all must suffer in order to reach the summit. I have never let negativities affect me or hold me back from my goals.

I am fortunate because I am able-bodied. Maybe, not only me but also almost all people take it for granted that they are able to walk naturally and do whatever they want. We cannot deny the possibility that we may meet with tragedy suddenly. When you see yourself minus your body, it is necessary for you to ask: do you keep pride in yourself? I feel that everybody can learn from Sankaralingam’s words.

Kento Saito, Japan Simon Reynolds, Ireland


10 CELEBRITY

October 2009

Singer Speaks Out! The Sivakasi Times team got the opportunity to speak to popular Tamil singer Mathangi during a tree hoisting held by Exnora to find out about her involvement with the environment and her career. On 09/09/09, Exnora held a tree planting at the D.S.P office in Sivakasi. This demonstration was part of the global initiative to encourage people to save on energy consumption and do their bit for the environment. The guest of honour at this event was Tamil singer Mathangi who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions.

Do you try and create awareness about the environment through your music? There are already a lot of songs that create awareness about the environment, but I think our role as people in the public eye is to attach ourselves to causes so that people will listen. If people see public figures participating in such causes then they will emulate them. What we, celebrities, do at home is the same thing that everybody else does but my job as a musician is to promote being environmentally-friendly. As I am not a lyricist/song writer, I haven’t gotten the opportunity to sing about this cause so far but if any project like this comes my way, I would definitely get involved. What kind of music do you listen to?

Mathangi:A bright new ambassador for the environment

What compelled you to get involved with Exnora and this tree planting project? I had read a lot of things about the environment before but reading the earth charter inspired me to get really involved in saving our planet. I was even more inspired by the Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai (Kenya). She succeeded in starting a movement by simply planting a tree despite the fact that people were critical and disapproving of what she was doing. I found her very inspiring because she had a vision and she never gave up. This simple act has completely transformed that place in Kenya and resulted in great progress: improvements in education, poverty levels, sustainable development… Now planting a tree has become symbolic. Everything begins at home and every little bit counts. I believe the concept of “I can’t do much” is very silly and that every person can make a difference.

I listen to all kinds of music. I was trained in Hindustani classical and Carnatic music. I was exposed to western music when I sang in the choir and I grew up as a kid on Madonna, Michael Jackson and Celine Dion. I used to be a big fan of Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey but right now I am into Hindustani classical music. As far as film music is concerned, I listen to Hindi music (because I grew up in Delhi) people like Latha Mangeskar, Asha Bonsle, Kishore Kumar and Mohammad Rafi. When I came down South, people such as P. Susila, Janaki and Chithra were added to that list. I also like Arabic music from Egypt and Turkey, and I perform fusion music so I listen to it as well. Actually, I have a very eclectic taste and everywhere I travel I pick up the music of the topcharted people and bring it back home. Has it always been your dream to become a singer? Not at all! This career happened by accident. It wasn’t meant to be, I was an advertising person planning to go to the USA but September 11th happened so I couldn’t get a scholarship and I decided to do the same programme in India. While working I got a break into this career by ac-


October 2009

CELEBRITY 11

What projects are you involved in now?

cident and decided to chuck my real job and get into this! Is it one of your ambitions to take Indian music to an international audience? Fortunately, what happens with film music is that when you get a couple of hits, you are exposed to an international audience. Within the first years of my career, I had already toured five countries. Basically, we are singing to Sri Lankan and Indian audiences who understand the language but there are also Indian audiences abroad. Then again I am just a singer, I don’t write the songs, own the rights to them or decide to export them. I’m just an executer.

They are confidential so I can’t tell you! What are your plans for the future? I am very open to new work and I would like to work with people I never worked with. I would love to do an album but as I said before I am just an executer, it’s not in my hands to organise everything. I would like to do something more concrete in Hindustani classical music in the next five years but I’m still in the beginning stages of learning about this genre.

What is it like working with AR Rahman? It was awesome! I got to work with him early on in my career. The great thing about Rahman is that he just gives you the skeleton of the song and lets you freak out, he really pushes you to your creative edge. What is your message or advice to any future singers? When we started, which is not so long ago, we didn’t have any of these reality shows, TV was not so hot. Now you have five reality TV shows on every channel and because of this hundreds of new singers are emerging and try to get into this particular business. What I would tell them is to remain true to their music whether fortune/ fame come or not, and never stop learning. It is important to not only grow as a musician, but also as a person.

Mathangi planting a tree in honour of Exnora’s 99999 campaign

With all the publicity surrounding public figures, it’s always great to see them use it to do something positive. Ordinary people look up to people in the public eye so they have the perfect platform in which to make a difference. Mathangi is the perfect example of a positive role model and her philosophy on environmental awareness is one that is accessible and easy to follow. It is obvious that her career will continue to flourish and hopefully she will continue to use her success to make a meaningful contribution to society.

Dela Gwala, South Africa Marie-Laure Bonifassi, France


12 WEEKEND WANDER

Thai Temptations

October 2009

Kento Saito travels through Thailand and discovers a country with a historic past and a vibrant modernity. The best way to discover a country is to actually experience it, not through guidebooks, he says.

The modern monorail goes through the city, between buildings that flash red neon, a very tall hotel, very long highway and a huge shopping centre. Sitting down at the moderate restaurant in the big city, I feel comfortable and enjoy delicious global cuisine, besides local food. For example, fresh crimson shrimps grilled in French sauce, a big duck roasted Chinese style, a mountain of colourful southern fruits emitting sour smell and crisp vegetables with ripe cheese. Even the water in the hotel shower is hot, clean and powerful. After I showered, I lunged towards the soft and snug bed. Today Bangkok is a leading modern city in Asia, comparable with Tokyo or Hong Kong. The Historic Past At the beginning of the 13th century, when the old Thai king founded the oldest Thai kingdom ‘The Sukhothai dynasty’, there were only rivers and open spaces. Few people lived in Thailand. Then about a century later, the Sukhothai dynasty was destroyed by the Ayutthaya dynasty. And from that time, Thailand gradually became

a big country as it annexed other countries after wars, immigration from Europe and China and then began trading with these countries and Japan. As commerce and agriculture developed, the population increased. So by the end of the 18th century, when the Ayutthaya dynasty was destroyed by internal trouble and the invasion of Burma. Eventually in about just 500 years Thailand was already becoming a famous country in Southeast Asia. Unlike neighboring Cambodia, Thailand was not colonised by other countries. After World War II, by the end of 1980 Thailand succeeded in changing to export oriented trades with the other ASEAN countries such as Singapore or Malaysia. A lot of buildings were constructed and subways opened. Glamorous Bangkok Today, even at night, the downtown of Bangkok brightens up as though it is daytime. The centre of the town is flooded with fashionable boutiques or department stores. If you open the

guide book about Bangkok, you can see a lot of expensive hotels and restaurants. Today we can eat delicious foods in every famous city: Paris, New York or Berlin. Expensive hotels, comfort-

Bangkok at night

able trains and shops are everywhere. There are almost good facilities in all famous cities. Sights and Scenes But scenes or experiences in all such cities are unique to each country. The beautiful palm tree waving in the moonlight shadow in the ruins


October 2009 of Ayutthaya, the holy camellia that shines in the temple on the top of mountain and scarlet sunset clouds in Pattaya beach are scenes you can find only in Thailand. Experience Thailand In my country (Japan), I can eat all kinds of foods that we can eat in expensive Thai restaurants. Curry, coconut dessert or seafood. But I cannot eat the foods sold in stands in the Thailand’s streets in my country. What a delicious coconut I ate, after walking around the downtown in the brilliant sunshine! Though no more than Rs.10 it was, so cool and sweet. And the other, in the public dining we can have delicious food for only RS.20 to Rs.30. The smoked fish, green curry, red curry, pine rice, sweet chili rice, noodle and chicken are available for about Rs.5. At the temple, a Buddhist monk gave me a string as a talisman. A woman who is kindness gave me advice how to get the train. Such ex-

WEEKEND WANDER 13 periences are very special for me and I never experience that in my country. Guidebooks provide me only with tourist information; not experiences. The Dark Side But a guidebook not only hides such things, but also disgusting things. Opposite to the bright town there is a dark town, darker than a moonless night. For example, the road which was further away from the big street had many stray dogs. In the street, four or five children lived in a space about the size of bathroom. An old man with no legs was sitting down. Many suspicious characters invited me to go to a club. Many sex workers and drunken persons solicited me. Just as hotels are a part of Thailand, good cheap food and such dangerous streets are also a part of this country. However, this is not only in Thailand. Even in America or Europe, there are many people who live from

The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market near Bangkok

hand to mouth. Almost countries have three faces: a tourist face (fine hotels, museums and restaurants), citizens face (public food, public school and facilities for travels) and the poor face (the polluted rivers, slums and nuclear wastes) which are often neglected by even the government. Experience to Know Perhaps journalists are the only people who can tell such neglected truths to many people. So what is the thing we can trust? Maybe it is only thing that you see or experience directly as long as you trust your eyes. We cannot eat foods that tempt us, smell roses, and touch the skin of the great blue heron as long as they exist only in pictures in the guidebook. Kento Saito, Japan


14 CULTURE

October 2009

Discovering Villu Pattu Olivia Hanson finds out more about the subtleties of Villu Pattu, one of Tamil Nadu’s most ancient art forms, through her encounter with Villu Pattu artiste Gandhimadhi. Gandhimadhi is the main singer, and the other five make up the chorus, playing the bow, the kudam, the udukku, the thala and the kattai. They also do a “question and answer” style of singing during the climaxes of songs. Gandhimadhi sings all kinds of ancient temple and folklore songs. She particularly enjoys songs about Lord Murugan, Shiva’s son, but often she is asked by the temples she performs at to sing a specific list of their choice.

Going Places Ghandimadhi creating art

In an old twisting back-street of Sivakasi lives Gandhimadhi; a renowned Villu Pattu artiste who has travelled India with her group and won multiple awards, including the prestigious Tamil Nadu Artists’ Award. For those of you not in the know, Villu Pattu is a traditional form of musical story-telling that originated in Tamil Nadu. Gandhimadhi tells us that it began in ancient times when hunters and soldiers still used bows and arrows. In the evenings, they needed relaxation after their hunts and battles, so they began stringing their bows with bells which they played and sang along to. A bow-shaped instrument is still played by Villu Pattu groups today.

An Early Start Gandhimadhi began singing Villu Pattu songs with a group thirty years ago. She says she wasn’t inspired by an event in particular, but rather by her traditional artistic family, who encouraged her to start singing lessons and musical study when she was ten years old. As well as singing beautifully, she also plays various instruments, and she has learnt to both play and sing at the same time during Villu Pattu performances.

The Core Team Her group consists of six people, two of whom are women, which is an average size for Villu Pattu groups.

Villu Pattu has taken Gandhimadhi all over India; from Madurai’s Meenakshi Amman Temple to Mumbai to New Delhi. There was even an opportunity for her group to perform in Malaysia. However, at the time she did not have a passport. Now she has applied for one and is prepared for future adventures! If she had the chance, she would like to expand her group, however it is difficult these days, when folklore is going out of fashion and people only seem to be interested in pop music and dance. Gandhimadhi worries because there is no good income to be made anymore, and many new groups from Mumbai and Madurai are destroying Villu Pattu by performing with recorded music. This is something Gandhimadhi cannot understand, as her favourite part of Villu Pattu is singing live to a captive audience.

Mesmerising Performance After the interview, Gandhimadhi treated us to a solo Villu Pattu performance. She assembled the large bow strung with different-sized bells and placed the hollow kudam in front of her with its palm-tree bark paddle. Having retrieved her lyric book, she began singing softly and melodiously, sometimes playing the bow with two thick sticks looped with tiny cymbals. It was a mesmerising performance – people who snub Tamil folklore for American pop are really missing out!

Olivia Hanson, UK


October 2009

CULTURE 15

Narikuruvas:

Torchbearers of a Vanishing Tribal Tradition An appraisal of the lifestyle of the tribal Narikuruva community, whose current lifestyle seems to be dictated by the necessity and the adversities of the modern world. that the community speaks as a whole. The people were very enthusiastic to tell us everything but in the jumble of words, it became apparent that whilst the Narikurava may still refer to past traditions, such as tiger hunting, as if they continue today, many of the ancient Narikurava traditions have in fact become obsolete owing to the hardships of the modern day world.

Every year during Tamil Nadu’s principle period of festivities, the months of Aadi and Aavani (July, August), the area around Sivakasi becomes home to the nomadic Narikuruva tribal community, who come to tap the commercial market for religious paraphernalia and other goods, as well as the large numbers of people concentrated in the area during the festivities. During the eleven day Murugan Temple Festival, Sivakasi Times went to meet a community of Narikuravas living within Thiruthangal. Traditional Hunters Historically, the Narikurava people are hunters by trade. Yet nowadays, the endangering of many of the species they once hunted, including tigers, and the subsequent protection of such species, has largely made hunting infeasible as the principle means for sustenance. They do, however, spend a small portion of the year, from April to May, hunting for animals such as birds. A Vanishing Tradition? Though the community has a leader, Ramakrishnan, who sits on the mat in a place of honour, his hair wrapped in a turban, the whole community gathers for the interview and the muddled voices talking over one another give the sense

Look up the name ‘Narikurava’ on the internet and an abundance of information about the fascinating and unique cultural practices of the tribe presents itself. The true story of the Narikurava is far from this exotic picture, however. The nomadic lifestyle of the community now seems to be more of a necessity, as the tribe travel to find a market for their goods and to return once a year to their home-place of Thondaiman Pudhukottai for their main festival, at which they worship Hindu gods and in particular Kali. The community does, however, maintain belief in the protection offered by the forest, and aims to spend half of the year living in the Western Ghat forests. Pressures of Modernity Yet it is financial incentives, rather than cultural or religious ones, that dictate the lifestyle of the community now. Money seems to be the foremost issue amongst the community, although it is also a confusing and contradictory one. The community claims not to care about money, yet at the same time it is obviously essential for daily existence. Furthermore, the yearly festival of the Narikurava requires Rs.50,000 contributions from each clan. The community earns money by selling beads that hold value for Hindus, which they sell at temples, as well as herbal medicines, tattooing, and flogging any other practice or good that may be profitable. When we visited, we were offered beads, henna, and had our hands stamped with colourful patterns at a cost of ten rupees. Twenty of the 30 families that make


16 CULTURE

October 2009

up the community were already at the temple selling goods at the time we visited and the interview had to be conducted rather hurriedly so that the rest of the families could join them. Ramakrishnan says that he can expect to earn Rs. 100 to Rs. 150 each day to sustain five or six people. A Difficult Life The Narikurava tell us that everything in life is difficult for them. Certainly their settlement seems to be a testimony to that statement. You may perhaps have passed by it, though it doesn’t seem like much to the beholder. The nature of travelling life means that only a few possessions can be carried. Families live under very low, flimsy plastic roofs supported by wooden posts, with mats spread over the floor. Their possessions are related to everyday activities such as washing and cooking, and to their occupations. In the corner sits a large pot that contains over a thousand medicinal herbs and large piles of copper wire and beads are produced for our visit. The Narikurava have nothing to ease their life, although in spite of this they still seem enthusiastic to see us and to tell us about their lives and are especially eager to have photos taken of themselves. The community appears, however, to have tired of nomadic life. They tell us that they would rather integrate into society, own houses and live like anyone else. Yet the large amount of money they must save for their yearly festival makes it impossible to save enough money for any other purpose. Nevertheless, the festival is still the one day of the year when the Narikurava can forget their cares and have a good time.

is Pattani and they speak Tamil with a smattering of Pattani words. In their native settlement of Thondaiman Pudhukottai, a school has been set up with governmental support for the education of Narikurava children. Yet the children must reside here, separated from the care of their families and native communities. Resultantly, many children give up school very young, by fifth standard, so that they can stay with their families. Some of the children make it to twelfth standard but they do not have the opportunity for college education beyond this. The community tells us that they feel the government should do more to aid in the education of their young. These factors combined mean that as things stand, integration into mainstream society seems to be impossibility for the Narikurava people. Identity Loss The decline in cultural practices amongst the Narikurava community we met means that they no longer seem to be a truly tribal community, as they once were. As well as tiger hunting, the tribe was once distinguishable for its music and other cultural values. For instance, if a woman were not to be back with the community by 6, she would not be accepted back at all. Fifty years ago seems to be the distinction the tribe makes between a past way of life and the modern lifestyle of the community; there is a sense that a visit fifty years ago would have revealed a very different community. The dress and practices of the people now seem to have assimilated to that of those around them, and their lifestyle is dictated by necessity and the adversities of the modern world.

Alexandra Blake, UK

Barriers to Change Education is another barrier to the alteration or improvement of their lifestyle. The first language of the Narikurava

Narikuruvas’ family on the Thiruthangal road side


October 2009

FILMS 17

Making Children Smile A review on the award winning short film acclaimed for its sensitive portrayal of a child with a cleft lip and what it takes for her and others like her to smile again. Film: Smile Pinki (2008) Languages: Hindi, Bojphuri Director: Megan Mylan Cast: Pinki Sonkar, Dr. Subodh Kumar Singh, Ghutaru Chauhan

What does it need to bring back the smile to a child’s face? The short documentary “Smile Pinki”, directed by Megan Mylan, shows the efforts of plastic surgeon Dr. Subodh Kumar Singh and his team of social workers from the “Smile Train” programme, who work towards exactly that aim of bringing back the smiles to the faces of children born with a cleft lip. A Birth Defect Cleft lip, or also cleft palate, occurs during the first weeks of pregnancy, when the important tissues in the skull fail to join as they should, leaving a gap in the lip and/or palate (roof of the mouth) behind. This occurs in one of 600-800 births, among other reasons often also due to nutritional deficiencies of the pregnant women. Babies born with this malfunction get routinely operated on in Western countries, but in less developed countries the affected families mostly lack the money to pay for this operation, therefore those children grow up being discriminated and ostracised for their visual appearance. Often these children don’t dare go to school because of the harassment they encounter there, and most of the families have given up on ever getting them married. Pinki’s Struggle In Megan Mylan’s documentary, the viewer follows Pinki’s struggle out of the isolation and shame she faces in her small village in Mirzapur due to her cleft lip, into a life where she can laugh and smile again with the other children of her town. This is possible only because one of the social workers from the “Smile Train” programme comes to her village, looking for people born with cleft lip,

to provide them with free operations which will change their lives completely. Although the family struggles even to obtain enough money for the trip to the hospital in Varanasi, the little girl bravely states she will walk all the way, to “get her face fixed”. In a very touching moment her father is telling her that her feet will get tired on the long trip, but at the same time assuring her that when this happens, he will carry her for the rest of the trip. The film has a very slow and down to earth pace and shows the facts with no exaggerations. Still, it is a very moving documentary, as it depicts the situation of the families too poor to afford the important operation for their children very well, showing their exasperation over their helplessness to enable a normal life for the affected children. Smiling Again Only after the surgery, performed by plastic surgeon Dr. Subodh Kumar Singh, you see the families happy and full of hope for the future of their child, knowing that now the child will be able to go to school, marry and lead a normal life among the others, without being exposed to the constant discrimination they were forced to face earlier. In the end you see Pinki laughing and playing among all the other children of her village, finally truly being one of them. The film was honored with the Pinki a few months after the operation 81st Academy Award (more commonly known as Oscar) for Best Documentary (Short Subject) in 2008.

Dorett Odoni, Switzerland

There’s no song like a love song No love like true love No smile like the smile of a child Chorus from the song “Smile of a Child”, Incognito


18 BOOKS

October 2009

Trinkets of Wisdom Almost a decade after her last published work, Maya Angelou is back with a little book of treasures guaranteed to warm your heart

Maya Angelou is a world renowned literary icon whose insightful anecdotes have become a part of people’s lives all around the world. Her latest offering, Letter to my daughter, is a collection of writing that showcases her distinctive prose and her uncanny ability to reach out to her audience. From the first page, you feel a sense of comfort which stays with you throughout the book and lasts long after you have put it down. The dedication at the beginning of the book makes you feel part of what you’re reading as she states that this book is in honour of woman all around the world – the daughters she never had.

with the reader. Angelou takes on the voice of a friend, mother, grandmother and a teacher without preaching to or lecturing the reader. Although the prose isn’t written in dialogue form, it feels as though she is speaking directly to you. Page by page she bravely tackles her past, from an unexpected teenage pregnancy and the consequent birth of her beloved son to the deaths of her grandmother and dear friends. Angelou explores the universal questions of religion, love, family, friendship and even injustice, using her personal growth as a platform. Authentic Sharing

she has achieved. A Peoples’ Person Maya Angelou is a poet, educator, historian, civil rights activist, actor, playwright, producer, director, but most of all, an amazing author. She has perfected the art of writing a memoir or an autobiography. She takes lessons learned and weaves them into tales that inspire awe as well as admiration. In Letter to my daughter, she writes the following “I may never be known as a philanthropist, but I certainly am a lover of mankind, and I will give freely of my resources. I am happy to describe myself as charitable.” That excerpt is a perfect description of who she is (someone who is generous with herself) and the reason that everyone should read this book and pick up some of her other titles which include: I know why the caged bird sings, Gather together in my name and I shall not be moved.

Each chapter is littered with the colourful characters who have had an impact on her life. Throughout the book you get to rediscover places she has seen and the people she has met. Starting with her childhood in Stamps, Arkansas, with her conservative grandmother, moving on to her youth with her liberal mother and then to her travels as Dela Gwala, South Africa an adult. These journeys provide some much needed light hearted moments in which the author ridicules her cultural blunders in countries like Angola and Morocco. It’s in these instances that Angelou’s true charm shines through. This Bonding with Readers book is narrated in the first person but every word speaks of honesty This book is a combination of es- and truth – you never get the sense says, stories and poetry each filled that she is trying to showcase herwith invaluable gems of wisdom. self in favourable light. Maya AnThe way in which the book is writ- gelou has the ability to step back ten seems to imitate the ebb and and take an honest look at herself. flow of life as every chapter is a She can be self-deprecating but The literary icon herself, Maya Angelou personal experience she shares you also get insight into all that


October 2009

SPORT 19

Badminton Lights Up Sivakasi Simon Reynolds reports on the State Badminton Championshonship, held recently in Sivakasi. The Tamil Nadu Senior Inter District and Veteran State Badminton Championships, sponsored by Yonex, was held in Sivakasi’s AJ Stadium from September 2-6, 2009. Nine Districts Converge Men and women from Under 13 to Senior level travelled from all over Tamil Nadu to take part in singles, doubles and mixed doubles action. Nine districts were represented in the men’s competitions, with four districts in the women’s competitions. The guests of honour that opened the championships were the District Collector of Virudhunagar, Sigy Thomas Vaidhyan; and Member Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Sports Authority, Satyabrata Sahoo. District Collector Vaidhyan addressed the participants, paying tribute to Sivakasi, in particular the AJ Stadium. A Stadium of International Standards “This stadium has hosted a number of state-level events and national competitions because of its international standards,” she said. Secretary Satyabrata Sahoo was optimistic about the event, expressing his wish that many of the competitors “reach national and international level” in the future. Sahoo also spoke of the importance of developing talented individuals and taking advantage of the increasing popularity and enthusiasm of badminton amongst young people. “It is imperative that we show a spirit of excellence, develop interest and nurture this talent. If we find there is enough funding available, we will consider opening an academy exclusively for badminton in the area.” he said. A Star is Born Part of the talent that Secretary

Sahoo alluded to is AK Sudharsan, a winner at Under 16 level in the 2008 edition of the event, and currently ranked number two in India for his age group. The seventeen-year-old has been playing badminton since the age of seven, and harbours high hopes of eventually representing India in the Olympics. He is playing at Under 19 level this year, and shows encouraging promise as a potential future sporting star in the area.

Local teen badminton sensation AK Sudharsan

Girls Show the Way “I definitely think that I can win.” Sudharsan enthused in relation to his chances at this year’s event, with a grin. Representing Namakkal Don Bosco Arts College, the trio of Amaravathi, Ayul Selvi and Shoba were college champions at Ball Badminton, and runners-up in Badminton. Also interested in Volleyball and Throwball, the girls had ambitions of

turning in an impressive performance at this year’s championships. They reached college on the back of their impressive sporting quota, and are an example of further interest for badminton in Tamil Nadu. The Need to Retain Talent However, Rajini Kanth, Badminton Coach at the Madurai Sports Development Authority, spoke of the difficulty to prevent less wealthy people from leaving the game once they finish school. “At nineteen, people are going to college, or working and they don’t have time or can’t afford to play. Poor people can’t afford to play badminton.” Kanth, who has been coach for five years, also said that improved infrastructure is not the only solution and existing facilities rely heavily on sponsorship. Yonex sponsored of the championships this year. Kanth was of the opinion that greater accessibility would be more beneficial in the long run, and would see gifted players, such as AK Sudharsan, staying in the game. A Fireworks display was hosted on the evening of Saturday the 5th of September to celebrate the event being held in Sivakasi. In the end, MR Manikandan dominated the men’s competitions, taking home a winner’s medal in both the singles, defeating Siddarth Jain in the final, and the doubles where he was partnered by his opponent from the single’s final. On the women’s side of the competition, A. Priya was beaten by S. Archana in the singles’s final, but managed to win the double’s along with K. Suneri.

Simon Reynolds, Ireland


20 SPORT

October 2009

Kabaddi : The People’s Sport A ring side view of Kabaddi, the Indian team sport for the brave and bold. Kabaddi is a sport that can be difficult to define or even describe. For starters the name of the sport differs from region to region and even country to country - so in the South of India you might be playing Chadugudu, in the East of India as well as in Bangladesh it is referred to as Hadudu. For a first time viewer, it seems like a 45 minute whirl wind of tackles, quick movements and (if played outdoors) dust. To someone who isn’t familiar with the sport it can seem like a confusing combination of rugby and wrestling with rules that are hard to understand but the great thing about this full on contact sport is the fact that there is much more to it than meets the eye.

half, he is risking serious injury in order to get his team a point. A Sense of Tradition The most impressive thing about the game of Kabaddi is the sense of tradition you feel when watching a game. From the action of the raider chanting ‘Kabaddi’ when he steps into the opposing team’s half to the players ceremoniously touching the ground when they swap halves – there is always this sense of history. A Protest Sport

The intense Kabaddi action at Ayanadar Janaki College

One of the coaches from the Ayanadar Janaki Ammal College was kind enough to explain the origins of the game – the details of which are as hotly contested as the game itself. The game was originally a protest sport, played by the freedom fighters trying to gain independence from the British. Ironically, the British army has now adopted the game as a way to keep their soldiers fit and as a way of recruiting soldiers from the British Asian community.

Brain and Brawn

A Great Unifier

If you speak to anyone who is anyway involved in this game, they will tell you that it is the ultimate showcase of masculinity and apparently it’s also been known to attract the attention of some adoring female fans. But beyond the obvious abundance of testosterone lies a game that requires brains as well as brawn. This sport requires each player to have many skills including agility, strength as well as the ability to think on your feet but most of all Kabaddi requires power, bravery and courage. Each time the raider steps into the opposing team’s

Kabaddi is essentially an Indian game but now it has spread to all corners of the globe-it is particularly popular in South East Asia and even South Asia. If you want to catch some Kabaddi action, this game is definitely being played all over Sivakasi. The reporters from the Sivakasi Times were fortunate enough to watch a closely contested game between Rajus College and Kaliswari College hosted

by the Ayandan Janaki Ammal College. Both teams showed an immense amount of stamina, endurance and determination. It was easy to see why this sport creates job opportunities for its players because many of the skills displayed are skills that are important in everyday life. This college level competition also unifies the players from the different areas and often creates an important backdrop for many Hindu festivals. Kabaddi is the people’s sport - it is played in the villages, it is played in the cities, it is played by men and it is played by women. It is easily accessible to anyone because there is practically no equipment required. This is a game which keeps on evolving and more and more people are taking notice. Maybe with a couple more developments and more media coverage, it might become India’s sporting craze – surpassing even cricket. Dela Gwala, South Africa

A raider preparing to strike


October 2009

EVENTS 21

Simply Delicious ! Anthony Virenque visits the first food festival organised by students from V.V.Vanniaperumal College for Women in Virudhunagar who displayed their cooking skills during a one-day food festival. tatoes mixed with ginger, cumin seed, turmeric and chilli powder. The result? Simply Delicious! I finished with the amazing and sweet jalebi, one of the most sought after Indian sweets. It’s made by mixing some flour, semolina or rice flour, baking powder, curd and water in a bowl. Saffron powder is added while preparing the string syrup with sugar, saffron and cardamom powder. The mixture is fried in hot oil until it is wgolden and then soaked in the syrup.The result? Melting moments!

Student serves up a delicious treat

It was a day of discovery in Virudhunagar, where the V.V.Vanniaperumal, College for Women morphed in a real great local buffet. Many students were taking part in the festival by presenting and selling their favourite dishes they cook with passion.

The experience was a sensual delight that blended sight smell, taste, flavours and colors. It will always lWinger in my taste buds and memory! Anthony Virenque, France

At the beginning, all the pleasure was for our eyes when we entered the large festive room to discover the numerous and wonderful aspects of the colourful Indian cooking. All students from the Food Processing department were well prepared for this day. During the morning they made lots of different dishes in order to collect money for their student association as the Union Joint Secretary and the Union Vice Chairperson. For only Rs 10-50 other students could enjoy the culinary art of their college mates. I made my way from the popular and original burger to the traditional Masala Chicken to get to Channa Masala - Chick peas soaked in water one entire night. The boiled peas is fried with onions, chopped tomatoes and diced po-

Students standing behind their delectable dishes

“There is no love sincerer than the love of food”. George Bernard Shaw.


22 EVENTS

October 2009

Talent Bazaar A report on a two-day intercollegiate software program competition held at the computer sciences department of VHSNS College in Virudhunagar. Each year, two days of intense intercollegiate software program competitions all over the district of Tamil Nadu take place at the computer sciences department of VHSNS College. This year, it happened on the 3rd and 4th of September. The winning college got a trophy and books on computer sciences for its students. These competitions take place the whole day, where students spend their day working in teams and challenging other students.

The room dedicated to the software program in VHNSN college

Pride of the College Raj Gopalakrishnan explains to us the different subjects taught in the department. A former student of VHSNS, he is “the pride of this college” according to the Dr. T. Kathirvalavakumar, Reader and Head, computer sciences department. He moved to the United States, where he now works (Albany, New York) as a systems architect and he is helping with donations for this department to develop and for its students to get similar opportunities as he did.

High Level and Low Level Languages The department is divided into two branches according to the interests and skills of the students: the “high level language” branch and the “low level language”. The first one includes application (softwares, applications for booking tickets online and banking, as well as data management) and the telecommunications (3G and 4G applications). 80 percent of the students chose this first branch “because it takes less time to get a job and gives a hard yield” explains Raj Gopalakrishnan. The second branch is less attractive as “the jobs require a lot of time before yielding a result, and money follows results,” he

continues. Indeed, this particular branch is dedicated to the greatly prized and very profitable field of Artificial Intelligence (A.I), that is to say “incorporating knowledge inside the system” as Dr. Kathirvalavakumar sums it up. This branch leads to doctorate and research.

Future Plans As a matter of fact, one of the ambitions of the VHSNS College is to open a research centre in the future, as the percentage of doctorates is increasing. “The software programs teaches our students how to design, plan and implement” : Three key words that make this programme complete in todays very demanding market place, Dr. Kathirvalavakumar explains. As the marketplace stakes are high, VHSNS college remains very concerned about the future of its students. It invites companies, which are thus able to test the skills of the students and recruit among them, giving them jobs and opportunities.

India : A Global Destination This competition is certainly more important than I had imagined. Now it should be clearer why this special competition is a more important event than we could imagine. Indeed, India is rising as one of the world’s leading countries in the developing field of Artificial Intelligence or simpler computer sciences. The United States, Japan and Europe must deal with a new competitor and are actually using it as an ally in this race for high technologies. “Foreign companies are regularly sending projects to India” explains Raj Gopalakrishnan, who earlier worked for these foreign companies. That is one of the facets of globalisation: Indian students training so that developed countries could find a cheap and skilled workforce abroad. Fortunately, some students in these colleges will be helping their own country to develop or fly abroad to work in the USA or in Europe and get higher salaries, a percentage of which will probably be sent to India. And that is also what globalisation looks like: new countries compete in the market place, incoming capital flows from the Diaspora, using the resources of developed country to develop others… Besides, these projects from foreign companies expand job opportunities which is, after all, the primary ambition of most of the students.

Marie-Laure Bonifassi, France


October 2009

Sivakasi Times meets YRTV School

On September 16th, volunteer journalists from the Sivakasi Times had the opportunity to meet the teachers from the YRTV School for the outreach program. We were welcomed very warmly by the school principal, who showed a great interest in our different cultures and languages. Following a short tour through the school, we had the change to talk to the school teachers. After a short introduction about who we were and where we came from their main interest was why, out of all the places, we chose to come to India. Of course it’s because of the rich culture variety, the fascination for the different religions, the tasty Indian food and the well known friendliness, tolerance and beauty of the people. We had an interesting discussion about the different family structures, common foods and the weather in our countries. Of course, they also wanted to know which places we liked most in India and what we thought about the Indian men and especially the women. Our male volunteers were great fans of the colourful Indian Saris and the women’s beautiful eyes.

Outreach/News 23

of the Sivakasi Times. They liked the different appearance and style of writing in the magazine and seemed to have enjoyed the movie and book reviews very much. They also told us they liked the Weekend Wander section, although they prefered to have a more personal article rather than an objective description of the place we write about. Again, it’s all about cultural exchange, telling them how we felt about the place, what was different from the place we were born and raised in and what we thought about those differences. They also told us they would really appreciate two or three pages with colour photos inside the magazine All in all it was a very interesting and enriching discussion. We thank the principal and the teachers from YRTV School for their time and interest in our countries. Dorett Odoni, Switzerland

After having some fun time we also discussed some deeper themes like corruption in our countries, main income source and the general school system. Being from as much as five countries ourselves, (South Africa, France, Ireland, Japan and Switzerland) this cultural exchange was also very interesting for us. We also got a short feedback on the September 2009 issue

Meeting the teachers from YRTV School

This Month’s Headlines

A collision between a van and a lorry on TiruchuzhiNarikudi road at 5.30 p.m killed eight people. Besides, a woman, four children and two other members of the same family were injured and taken to the Government Rajaji Hospital, in Madurai. Virudhunagar district reaches the second place in the state as far as family planning is concerned. Four thousand and four hundred surgeries have been performed during April-August 2009. This programme includes counseling pregnant women and mothers as well as “appealing to the village health nurses” to monitor them. As many land grabbing cases have been reported in Virudhunagar district this month (according to the statement of Collector Sigy Thomas Vaidhyar), the farmers have been asked to submit a memorandum about these fraudulent activities in order to avoid the use of fake documents in future. Mason K. Nagraj (35) and his wife N. Suryakala (30) died by immolation on Thuesday evening at the Government Rajaji Hosptal. He was committing suicide while she attempted to rescue him.

Tamil Nadu Minister for food, E. V. Velu is setting up verification procedures for ration cards in the state, which should not “affect the poor”. He mentions 1.40 crore bogus ration cards, resulting from the distribution of new cards and duplications while the old cards were not taken away. Eighty-eight percent of the ration cards in the district have already been checked. Collector Sigy Thomas Vaidhan is seeking funds to improve the ground water table in the district and thus answer its need in terms of drinking water. A report with various proposals on this crucial issue will come out within a month, and should provide suggestions on the number of dams to be constructed to improve the capacity of irrigation.

electricity.

September, 9, 2009 has been chosen as a symbolic date for the awareness programme on global warming; therefore the lights of most of the residential and commercial buildings in Virudhunagar district were switched off at 9 p.m for 9 minutes, as a message to promote a more controlled use of

Marie-Laure Bonifassi, France


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