Shri M M Rajendran
Former Governor, Orissa
Education back ground : M.A. (Physics) University of Madras. Studied Administration"
in USA for 5 months and in Asian Institute of Labour, Manila with a fellowship awarded by the U.S. Department of Labour and sponsored by Government of India. Also studied "Social Development Planning" in the then U.N. Asian Institute for Development, Bangkok and also "Urban Development and Planning" in the U.N. Institute in Nagoya,
Japan.
Field of Work – Positions : Wide experience in development administration at the held
with details grass roots, having been District Collector of two major districts for over 4 years and Secretary in the Rural Development and Local Administration Department of the State of Tamil Nadu. Extensive experience in Labour and Industrial Relations as a
successful Labour Commissioner for over 3 years, Secretary in the State Department of Labour and Employment and at the national level as member of the Committee on Labour Welfare and National Committee on Child Labour. State Level Experience covers General Administration and other important areas particularly in infrastructure, having been Secretary of Departments of Power, Irrigation, Water Supply, Roads, Buildings, Housing and Urban Development. Has been Chairman and Chief Executive of two major State Government undertakings, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board and Tamil Nadu Housing Board. Has also been part-time Chairman of Public Sector/Joint Sector undertakings and part-time Director of many State and Central Government undertakings. Was appointed Chief Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu in February, 1988, when the State was under President’s Rule and continued as Chief Secretary under an elected Government from January, 1989 till January, 1991. Moved to Government of India and worked as Secretary in two Ministries including as Secretary, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs from where retired in 1993.
Important contributions in : In the Government of India, worked for 5 years Joint
public life (with details) Secretary in the then Ministry of Education and Social Welfare in charge of Nutrition and Child Development and played a major role in conceptualizing and developing the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme which has won appreciation at national level. This model for nutrition and health
care of children and mothers was later replicated in several developing countries, while working in UNICEF Headquarters, through the Joint WHO/UNICEF Nutrition Support Programme. Was a member of the UNICEF Executive Board and Vice-Chairman of its Programme Committee. The contribution to streamlining Tamil Nadu’s Administration as
Chief Secretary during one year of President’s Rule in 19880-89 and two years under elected Government has been widely applauded. On the invitation of UNICEF, United Nations, joined as its Senior Adviser in UNICEF Headquarters in New York, in June,
1981, on deputation from Government basis, gave up this lucrative job to return to Government in January, 1987 and worked as State Vigilance Commissioner and Commissioner for Administrative Reforms. Widely travelled and participated in several international meetings including many United Nations bodies.
Distinctions/Honours : 2 University Gold Medals in Madras University for
received (with details) standing first in the Master’s Examination.
Publications (if any, with : Chaired the Advisory Committee and brought
details) out the Book "Profile of the Child in India", Published by
the Ministry of Social Welfare, Government of India. Paper on "Integrated Approach to Child Development" presented at the International conference on Primary Health Care,
Alma Ata, USSR. "Primary Health Care in India" – Integrated Child Development
Services in India" – A paper presented at the WHO/UNICEF Workshop; and Symposium on "Innovative approaches to meet the basic needs of the young child in developing Countries" held in Athens. Published in Ekistics 272 September/October, 1978.
"Delivery of Special Nutrition Programme" – a paper presented at a National Seminar on Special Nutrition for children and mothers. "Child Welfare Services in China" – a study of Child Care in China – Published by UNICEF – 1979. “Rajendran Committee Report" on Sports Schemes in India, published by Ministry of Human Resources Development,
Government of India, 1992.
Hobbies, if any : Reading Books on Public Affairs, Development and Public
Administration and Photography.
Any other information : Involved in the activities of the India International Centre,
New Delhi, Life Member of the Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Ms. Sivasankari
Ms. Sivasankari
Writer & Activist
An awareness on social issues; a special sensitivity to social problems; a commitment to set people thinking - these are the unique characteristics of the writer Sivasankari. Hers has been a career devoted to touching the hearts of people through in-depth research.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Having carved a niche for herself in the Tamil literary world during the last four decades, her works include more than 36 novels, 48 short novels, 150 short stories, 15 travelogues, 7 collections of articles, 13 collections of short stories, one talking book, 3 volumes of literary research book, 2 volumes of anthologies, and 2 biographies - of Smt. Indira Gandhi, the late Prime Minister, and of Sri. G.D. Naidu, a pioneer in many fields.
Her novels on Drug Abuse, Alcoholism and Old Age Problem, written after many years of research and authentic spadework, have been serialised in National and Regional television networks with tremendous public response, and SUBAH - the serial on drug menace - was adjudged as one of the mega hits of 1987.
Her stories and articles published in prominent Tamil periodicals have been translated into English and other Indian languages. AVAN - the novel on drug addiction - has been translated into Ukrainian.
Her article on Eye Donation made a deep impact on the readers resulting in thousands of people pledging their eyes for donation after death. Articles on the physically and mentally challenged, and the old aged, have awakened social awareness among readers and grateful acknowledgements are received in public forums from experts and welfare organizations.
Six of her novels have been filmed in Tamil receiving popular public acclaim for their integrity and social commitment. One story has been filmed in Kannada and one in Telugu languages.
Sivasankari has been reporting on significant events and has also presented several in-depth interviews with dignitaries from various walks of life, including the Prime Ministers late Smt. Indira Gandhi and Sri. Rajiv Gandhi, and the Nobel Laureate Mother Teresa.
She is the first writer to have narrated her story through video and audiotapes. She has presented constructive and thought-motivating programs for television, and has also anchored the most popular Talk Show NETRU, INDRU, NAALAI on varied topics of social relevance, in the satellite channel SUN TV.
Sivasankari has accompanied the Prime Minister late Sri. Rajiv Gandhi on his CHOGM tours twice and has written two travelogues titled TRAVELS WITH RAJIV GANDHI, and these were translated into Japanese and published as the first ever of its kind in Japan during May’95.
She was instrumental in setting up the RAJAJI CENTRE FOR DE-ADDICTION at the VHS Hospital, Taramani, Chennai.
She is presently working on a project titled KNIT INDIA THROUGH LITERATURE with a mission to meet and interview the stalwart writers of all the 18 Indian languages that are approved by the VIIIth Schedule of Indian constitution. These interviews accompanied by a creative work of the respective writer, are published along with her travelogues of the regions, as also an in-depth article by a scholar on the cultural and literary heritage of the various languages. The Tamil and English editions of the first volume the SOUTH, the second volume the EAST and the third volume the WEST of this project KNIT INDIA THROUGH LITERATURE have already been published.
AWARDS
As a Writer…
• The coveted KASTURI SRINIVASAN AWARD for PAALANGAL - a novel spanning three generations - as the outstanding Tamil novel published in 1983-84.
• The prestigious DR. RAJAH SIR ANNAMALAI CHETTIAR AWARD in 1988 for the book CHINNA NOOLKANDA NAMMAI SIRAIPPADUTHUVATHU? - a series of 52 non-fiction articles emphasizing on self-improvement, parts of which are often quoted by eminent personalities in their speeches and writings.
• BHARATIYA BASHA PARISHAD Award from a Calcutta based literary forum, for VERILLATHA MARANGAL novel - as the best Tamil novel published in 1989-90.
• TAMIL ANNAI AWARD from Tamil University, Thanjavur in January 1989.
• RAJIV GANDHI NATIONAL INTEGRATION AWARD, jointly constituted by the Tamil magazine Idhayam Pesugirathu and Indian Bank for taking up the project KNIT INDIA THROUGH LITERATURE.
• The BEST CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR 1998 award from Tiruppur Tamil Sangam for the talking book AMMA SONNA KATHAIGAL (Stories retold by mother) - a book with six stories and an audio cassette wherein Sivasankari herself has narrated the stories, the first of its kind in Tamil.
• PREMCHAND RASTRIYA SAHITYA SAMMAN Award by Rastriya Hindi Academy, Calcutta, in October 2001.
As an Activist…
• FOR THE SAKE OF HONOUR AWARD by The Association of Book Printers & Sellers of South India, in December’87 - for the service rendered to society through writings.
• RAJIV VIRUDU - award given by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee in September’88.
• FOR THE SAKE OF HONOUR AWARD from Rotary Club of Madras in 1989.
• MELVIN JONES AWARD - the highest International award given by the Lions International Organization in July 1990.
• The STREE RATNA AWARD by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai Kendra & Director K.Subrahmanyam Memorial Trust on 8.3.98, the International Women’s Day.
• MANUSHREE - a national award by Athimabbe Foundation, Bangalore in April 1998.
• BHARATI Award by Vanavil Cultural Centre, Chennai in December 2002.
• NAYAGI-2005 Award by the Inner Wheel Club of Thanjavur in March 2005.
• LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD by Rotary Club of Chennai Kilpauk, R.I. Dt. 3230 in March 2006.
• The ASTITVA Award by Zee TV & Archana Trust Suburban, Mumbai, in August’06 - for Excellence as an Author 2006.
HONOURS
• Honoured by The Madras & Coromandel Jaycees as an OUTSTANDING YOUNG PERSON in the field of Journalism for the year 1976.
• Visited U.S.A. under International Writing Program (IWP) and International Visiting Program (IVP) in 1986.
• Honoured by BHARAT ELECTRONICS in 1991.
• Honoured by TELUGU ARTS ACADEMY in 1991.
• Honoured as one of the fifty women who have influenced the evolution of independent India under the title WOMEN WHO’VE MADE INDIA by the magazine Femina in 1997, the Golden Jubilee year of Indian Independence.
• Honoured as SINTHANAI SELVI by All Women’s Organizations of Trichy in March 1998.
• First Tamil writer to be honoured with the prestigious HONORARY CITIZEN award by Dr. Jerry Kuhaida, the Hon. Mayor of the City of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A. in July 1999.
• Honoured as the WOMAN OF 1999-2000 by the International Women’s Association in March 2000.
• Honoured as one of the four writers whose works were recorded in their own voices for the Archives of U.S. Library of Congress to mark the Bicentennial Celebration of the Library in August 2000.
• Honoured with The ROLL OF HONOUR in October 2000 by The Mylapore Academy, for Creative Awareness to Social Issues Through Stories in TV serials for the year 1999.
• Honoured by the All India Radio (AIR) by recording her interview in Tamil on her life & times for their Archival programme in January 2003.
ACADEMIC RECONGNITION
• Madurai Kamaraj University conducted a two-day seminar with 8 Professors of five participating Universities, exclusively on Sivasankari’s works.
• More than eighty University research scholars have so far engaged in research of her works for M.Phil and Ph.D. programs in literature.
• Designated Board Member of the Central Film Censor Board for three years till 1998.
• Founder/Managing Trustee of AGNI (Awakened Group for National Integration) a citizen’s movement, which believes in betterment of society through individual awakening.
• Former Member in the National High Level Committee for Awareness on Drug Abuse.
• Former member of the Senate of Bharathidasan University - Trichy, Avinashilingam College of Home Science - Coimbatore, and Gandhigram Rural University - Gandhigram.
• Member of the Delegation that participated in the International Women’s Meet at Moscow.
• Former member of the Advisory Committee of AIR.
• Former member of the Advisory Board of the Central SAHITYA AKADEMI.
EDUCATIONAL & CULTURAL BACKGROUND
• Bachelor of Science (Zoology) - First Rank in college and 9th in the University.
• Former exponent of Bharatanatyam, the Indian classical dance, giving concerts in India & abroad.
• Well trained in South Indian Classical music.
As a young girl, I had often heard my mother narrate this little tale:
Once upon a time there was a kind - hearted girl who lived in a small village. The girl was a poor orphan, but she always wanted to help people around her. While saying her prayers one night, she wished for a money-bearing tree that would allow her to help a lot more people. When she woke up the next morning, she found a huge tree near her little hut. Instead of fruits, the tree bore gold coins. Passers by wondered who had sown the seed from which the tree had sprouted. The girl had no answer to the question, but she continued to pluck the coins and distribute them to people around. As a result, poverty was removed from her land.
Thinking back on this story, I feel that the latter half of it in particular describes my own situation quite accurately.
I do not know who sowed in me the seed that has today grown into the 'Knit India through Literature' project. But, blessed with the right type of soil, water and fertiliser, the seed has grown into a huge tree that abounds with fragrant flowers and luscious fruit. Yet, I do not want to enjoy them all by myself; but I would rather share this bounty with my countrymen.
Four novels - two on DRUG ABUDE, another on ALCOHOLISM and the other on OLD AGE PROBLEM, written after many years of research and authentic spadework, have been serialised in National and Regional television networks with tremendous public response, and the first one SUBAH was adjudged as one of the mega hits of 1987.
Stories and articles published in prominent Tamil periodicals have been translated into English and other Indian languages. AVAN - the novel on drugs has been translated into Ukrainian and has been brought in book form.
An article on Eye Donation made a deep impact on the readers resulting in thousands of people pledging their eyes for donation after death. Articles on the physically handicapped, the old aged and the mentally retarded have awakened social awareness among readers and grateful acknowledgements were received in public forums from experts and welfare organisations.
HONOURS
• Outstanding awards from magazines like ANANDA VIKATAN, KALKI, AMUDASURABHI and literary forums like ILAKKIYA CHINTANAI for many short stories.
• The coveted KASTURI SRINIVASAN AWARD for PAALANGAL - a novel on three generations as the outstanding Tamil novel published in 1983-84.
• In September '88 the prestigious DR. RAJAH SIR ANNAMALAI CHETTIAR AWARD for the outstanding book CHINNA NOOLKANDA NAMMAI SIRAIPPADUTHUVATHU? - a series of 52 non-fiction articles emphasizing on self-improvement, parts of which are often quoted by eminent personalities in their speeches and writings.
• BHARATIYA BASHA PARISHAD, a Calcutta based literary forum, selected VERILLATHA MARANGAL novel as the best Tamil novel published in 1989-90.
• The MADRAS & COROMANDEL JAYCEES selected her as an outstanding young person in the field of Journalism for the year 1976.
• Visited U.S.A. under International Writing Program (IWP) and International Visiting Program (IVP) in 1986.
• The Association of Book Printers & Sellers of South India, gave the FOR THE SAKE OF HONOUR AWARD in December '87 for the service rendered to society through writings.
• RAJIV VIRUDU - an award given by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee in September '88 for the service to society through writings.
• FOR THE SAKE OF HONOUR AWARD from Rotary Club of Madras in 1989.
• TAMIL ANNAI AWARD from Tamil University, Thanjavur in January 1989.
• MELVIN JONES AWARD - the highest International award given by the Lions Internatinal Organization in July 1990.
• RAJIV GANDHI NATIONAL INTEGRATION AWARD, jointly constituted by the Tamil magazine IDHAYAM PESUGIRATHU and INDIAN BANK for taking up the project KNIT INDIA THROUGH LITERATURE.
• Honoured by BHARAT ELECTONICS and received award from TELUGU ARTS ACADEMY, in 1991 for serving the community through thought-provoking writings.
• Honoured as one of the fifty women who have influenced the evolution of independent India under the title Women who've made India by the magazine FEMINA on August 15, 1997.
• Her talking book AMMA SONNA KATHAIGAL (Stories retold by mother), a book with six stories and an audio cassette wherein she herself has narrated the stories, the first of its kind in Tamil, won the BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 1998 award from the TIRUPPUR TAMIL SANGAM.
• Honoured as SINTHANAI SELVI by All Women's Organizations of Trichy in March 1998.
• The SREE RATNA AWARD by BHARATIYA VIDYA BHAVAN, Chennai Kendra & DIRECTOR K. SUBRAHMANYAM MEMORIAL TRUST on 8.3.98, the International Women's Day.
• The national MANSHREE award by ATHIMABBE FOUNDATION, Bangalore in April 1998.
• First Tamil writer to be honored with the prestigious HONORARY CITIZEN award by Dr. Jerry Kuhaida, the Hon. Mayor of the City of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A. in July 1999.
• Honoured as the Women of 1999-2000 by the International Women's Association in March 2000.
• Selected as one of the four writers whose works were recorded in her own voice for the Archives of U.S.
Library of Congress to mark the Bicentennial Celebration of the Library in August 2000.
• The ROLL OF HONOUR in October 2000 by The Mylapore Academy, for Creative Awareness to Social Issues Through Stories in TV serials for the year 1999.
Writer & Activist
An awareness on social issues; a special sensitivity to social problems; a commitment to set people thinking - these are the unique characteristics of the writer Sivasankari. Hers has been a career devoted to touching the hearts of people through in-depth research.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Having carved a niche for herself in the Tamil literary world during the last four decades, her works include more than 36 novels, 48 short novels, 150 short stories, 15 travelogues, 7 collections of articles, 13 collections of short stories, one talking book, 3 volumes of literary research book, 2 volumes of anthologies, and 2 biographies - of Smt. Indira Gandhi, the late Prime Minister, and of Sri. G.D. Naidu, a pioneer in many fields.
Her novels on Drug Abuse, Alcoholism and Old Age Problem, written after many years of research and authentic spadework, have been serialised in National and Regional television networks with tremendous public response, and SUBAH - the serial on drug menace - was adjudged as one of the mega hits of 1987.
Her stories and articles published in prominent Tamil periodicals have been translated into English and other Indian languages. AVAN - the novel on drug addiction - has been translated into Ukrainian.
Her article on Eye Donation made a deep impact on the readers resulting in thousands of people pledging their eyes for donation after death. Articles on the physically and mentally challenged, and the old aged, have awakened social awareness among readers and grateful acknowledgements are received in public forums from experts and welfare organizations.
Six of her novels have been filmed in Tamil receiving popular public acclaim for their integrity and social commitment. One story has been filmed in Kannada and one in Telugu languages.
Sivasankari has been reporting on significant events and has also presented several in-depth interviews with dignitaries from various walks of life, including the Prime Ministers late Smt. Indira Gandhi and Sri. Rajiv Gandhi, and the Nobel Laureate Mother Teresa.
She is the first writer to have narrated her story through video and audiotapes. She has presented constructive and thought-motivating programs for television, and has also anchored the most popular Talk Show NETRU, INDRU, NAALAI on varied topics of social relevance, in the satellite channel SUN TV.
Sivasankari has accompanied the Prime Minister late Sri. Rajiv Gandhi on his CHOGM tours twice and has written two travelogues titled TRAVELS WITH RAJIV GANDHI, and these were translated into Japanese and published as the first ever of its kind in Japan during May’95.
She was instrumental in setting up the RAJAJI CENTRE FOR DE-ADDICTION at the VHS Hospital, Taramani, Chennai.
She is presently working on a project titled KNIT INDIA THROUGH LITERATURE with a mission to meet and interview the stalwart writers of all the 18 Indian languages that are approved by the VIIIth Schedule of Indian constitution. These interviews accompanied by a creative work of the respective writer, are published along with her travelogues of the regions, as also an in-depth article by a scholar on the cultural and literary heritage of the various languages. The Tamil and English editions of the first volume the SOUTH, the second volume the EAST and the third volume the WEST of this project KNIT INDIA THROUGH LITERATURE have already been published.
AWARDS
As a Writer…
• The coveted KASTURI SRINIVASAN AWARD for PAALANGAL - a novel spanning three generations - as the outstanding Tamil novel published in 1983-84.
• The prestigious DR. RAJAH SIR ANNAMALAI CHETTIAR AWARD in 1988 for the book CHINNA NOOLKANDA NAMMAI SIRAIPPADUTHUVATHU? - a series of 52 non-fiction articles emphasizing on self-improvement, parts of which are often quoted by eminent personalities in their speeches and writings.
• BHARATIYA BASHA PARISHAD Award from a Calcutta based literary forum, for VERILLATHA MARANGAL novel - as the best Tamil novel published in 1989-90.
• TAMIL ANNAI AWARD from Tamil University, Thanjavur in January 1989.
• RAJIV GANDHI NATIONAL INTEGRATION AWARD, jointly constituted by the Tamil magazine Idhayam Pesugirathu and Indian Bank for taking up the project KNIT INDIA THROUGH LITERATURE.
• The BEST CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR 1998 award from Tiruppur Tamil Sangam for the talking book AMMA SONNA KATHAIGAL (Stories retold by mother) - a book with six stories and an audio cassette wherein Sivasankari herself has narrated the stories, the first of its kind in Tamil.
• PREMCHAND RASTRIYA SAHITYA SAMMAN Award by Rastriya Hindi Academy, Calcutta, in October 2001.
As an Activist…
• FOR THE SAKE OF HONOUR AWARD by The Association of Book Printers & Sellers of South India, in December’87 - for the service rendered to society through writings.
• RAJIV VIRUDU - award given by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee in September’88.
• FOR THE SAKE OF HONOUR AWARD from Rotary Club of Madras in 1989.
• MELVIN JONES AWARD - the highest International award given by the Lions International Organization in July 1990.
• The STREE RATNA AWARD by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai Kendra & Director K.Subrahmanyam Memorial Trust on 8.3.98, the International Women’s Day.
• MANUSHREE - a national award by Athimabbe Foundation, Bangalore in April 1998.
• BHARATI Award by Vanavil Cultural Centre, Chennai in December 2002.
• NAYAGI-2005 Award by the Inner Wheel Club of Thanjavur in March 2005.
• LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD by Rotary Club of Chennai Kilpauk, R.I. Dt. 3230 in March 2006.
• The ASTITVA Award by Zee TV & Archana Trust Suburban, Mumbai, in August’06 - for Excellence as an Author 2006.
HONOURS
• Honoured by The Madras & Coromandel Jaycees as an OUTSTANDING YOUNG PERSON in the field of Journalism for the year 1976.
• Visited U.S.A. under International Writing Program (IWP) and International Visiting Program (IVP) in 1986.
• Honoured by BHARAT ELECTRONICS in 1991.
• Honoured by TELUGU ARTS ACADEMY in 1991.
• Honoured as one of the fifty women who have influenced the evolution of independent India under the title WOMEN WHO’VE MADE INDIA by the magazine Femina in 1997, the Golden Jubilee year of Indian Independence.
• Honoured as SINTHANAI SELVI by All Women’s Organizations of Trichy in March 1998.
• First Tamil writer to be honoured with the prestigious HONORARY CITIZEN award by Dr. Jerry Kuhaida, the Hon. Mayor of the City of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A. in July 1999.
• Honoured as the WOMAN OF 1999-2000 by the International Women’s Association in March 2000.
• Honoured as one of the four writers whose works were recorded in their own voices for the Archives of U.S. Library of Congress to mark the Bicentennial Celebration of the Library in August 2000.
• Honoured with The ROLL OF HONOUR in October 2000 by The Mylapore Academy, for Creative Awareness to Social Issues Through Stories in TV serials for the year 1999.
• Honoured by the All India Radio (AIR) by recording her interview in Tamil on her life & times for their Archival programme in January 2003.
ACADEMIC RECONGNITION
• Madurai Kamaraj University conducted a two-day seminar with 8 Professors of five participating Universities, exclusively on Sivasankari’s works.
• More than eighty University research scholars have so far engaged in research of her works for M.Phil and Ph.D. programs in literature.
• Designated Board Member of the Central Film Censor Board for three years till 1998.
• Founder/Managing Trustee of AGNI (Awakened Group for National Integration) a citizen’s movement, which believes in betterment of society through individual awakening.
• Former Member in the National High Level Committee for Awareness on Drug Abuse.
• Former member of the Senate of Bharathidasan University - Trichy, Avinashilingam College of Home Science - Coimbatore, and Gandhigram Rural University - Gandhigram.
• Member of the Delegation that participated in the International Women’s Meet at Moscow.
• Former member of the Advisory Committee of AIR.
• Former member of the Advisory Board of the Central SAHITYA AKADEMI.
EDUCATIONAL & CULTURAL BACKGROUND
• Bachelor of Science (Zoology) - First Rank in college and 9th in the University.
• Former exponent of Bharatanatyam, the Indian classical dance, giving concerts in India & abroad.
• Well trained in South Indian Classical music.
As a young girl, I had often heard my mother narrate this little tale:
Once upon a time there was a kind - hearted girl who lived in a small village. The girl was a poor orphan, but she always wanted to help people around her. While saying her prayers one night, she wished for a money-bearing tree that would allow her to help a lot more people. When she woke up the next morning, she found a huge tree near her little hut. Instead of fruits, the tree bore gold coins. Passers by wondered who had sown the seed from which the tree had sprouted. The girl had no answer to the question, but she continued to pluck the coins and distribute them to people around. As a result, poverty was removed from her land.
Thinking back on this story, I feel that the latter half of it in particular describes my own situation quite accurately.
I do not know who sowed in me the seed that has today grown into the 'Knit India through Literature' project. But, blessed with the right type of soil, water and fertiliser, the seed has grown into a huge tree that abounds with fragrant flowers and luscious fruit. Yet, I do not want to enjoy them all by myself; but I would rather share this bounty with my countrymen.
Four novels - two on DRUG ABUDE, another on ALCOHOLISM and the other on OLD AGE PROBLEM, written after many years of research and authentic spadework, have been serialised in National and Regional television networks with tremendous public response, and the first one SUBAH was adjudged as one of the mega hits of 1987.
Stories and articles published in prominent Tamil periodicals have been translated into English and other Indian languages. AVAN - the novel on drugs has been translated into Ukrainian and has been brought in book form.
An article on Eye Donation made a deep impact on the readers resulting in thousands of people pledging their eyes for donation after death. Articles on the physically handicapped, the old aged and the mentally retarded have awakened social awareness among readers and grateful acknowledgements were received in public forums from experts and welfare organisations.
HONOURS
• Outstanding awards from magazines like ANANDA VIKATAN, KALKI, AMUDASURABHI and literary forums like ILAKKIYA CHINTANAI for many short stories.
• The coveted KASTURI SRINIVASAN AWARD for PAALANGAL - a novel on three generations as the outstanding Tamil novel published in 1983-84.
• In September '88 the prestigious DR. RAJAH SIR ANNAMALAI CHETTIAR AWARD for the outstanding book CHINNA NOOLKANDA NAMMAI SIRAIPPADUTHUVATHU? - a series of 52 non-fiction articles emphasizing on self-improvement, parts of which are often quoted by eminent personalities in their speeches and writings.
• BHARATIYA BASHA PARISHAD, a Calcutta based literary forum, selected VERILLATHA MARANGAL novel as the best Tamil novel published in 1989-90.
• The MADRAS & COROMANDEL JAYCEES selected her as an outstanding young person in the field of Journalism for the year 1976.
• Visited U.S.A. under International Writing Program (IWP) and International Visiting Program (IVP) in 1986.
• The Association of Book Printers & Sellers of South India, gave the FOR THE SAKE OF HONOUR AWARD in December '87 for the service rendered to society through writings.
• RAJIV VIRUDU - an award given by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee in September '88 for the service to society through writings.
• FOR THE SAKE OF HONOUR AWARD from Rotary Club of Madras in 1989.
• TAMIL ANNAI AWARD from Tamil University, Thanjavur in January 1989.
• MELVIN JONES AWARD - the highest International award given by the Lions Internatinal Organization in July 1990.
• RAJIV GANDHI NATIONAL INTEGRATION AWARD, jointly constituted by the Tamil magazine IDHAYAM PESUGIRATHU and INDIAN BANK for taking up the project KNIT INDIA THROUGH LITERATURE.
• Honoured by BHARAT ELECTONICS and received award from TELUGU ARTS ACADEMY, in 1991 for serving the community through thought-provoking writings.
• Honoured as one of the fifty women who have influenced the evolution of independent India under the title Women who've made India by the magazine FEMINA on August 15, 1997.
• Her talking book AMMA SONNA KATHAIGAL (Stories retold by mother), a book with six stories and an audio cassette wherein she herself has narrated the stories, the first of its kind in Tamil, won the BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 1998 award from the TIRUPPUR TAMIL SANGAM.
• Honoured as SINTHANAI SELVI by All Women's Organizations of Trichy in March 1998.
• The SREE RATNA AWARD by BHARATIYA VIDYA BHAVAN, Chennai Kendra & DIRECTOR K. SUBRAHMANYAM MEMORIAL TRUST on 8.3.98, the International Women's Day.
• The national MANSHREE award by ATHIMABBE FOUNDATION, Bangalore in April 1998.
• First Tamil writer to be honored with the prestigious HONORARY CITIZEN award by Dr. Jerry Kuhaida, the Hon. Mayor of the City of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A. in July 1999.
• Honoured as the Women of 1999-2000 by the International Women's Association in March 2000.
• Selected as one of the four writers whose works were recorded in her own voice for the Archives of U.S.
Library of Congress to mark the Bicentennial Celebration of the Library in August 2000.
• The ROLL OF HONOUR in October 2000 by The Mylapore Academy, for Creative Awareness to Social Issues Through Stories in TV serials for the year 1999.
Mr. Karumuttu Kannan
KARUMUTTU T. KANNAN
MANAGING DIRECTOR: THIAGARAJAR MILLS LIMITED
CHAIRMAN : VTM LIMITED
Mr. Kannan is connected with a number of Organisations related to Industry, Education and Charity.
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Thirukoil, Madurai.
Member of the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission.
Member of the Syndicate, Anna University, Tirunelveli
Member in the High Level Advisory Committee to ensure better administration in Temples under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Govt of Tamil Nadu.
Chairman, Textiles Committee, Mumbai.
Past Member of the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education.
Past Chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry, Southern Region, Chennai.
Past Chairman of The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council, Mumbai.
Was Chairman of The Southern India Mills' Association during 1990-92.
President of Thiagarajar College, Madurai; Chairman & Correspondent of Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Thirupparankundram, Madurai - Pioneer Educational Institutions at Madurai.
Besides these, he is the Director of several Companies
MANAGING DIRECTOR: THIAGARAJAR MILLS LIMITED
CHAIRMAN : VTM LIMITED
Mr. Kannan is connected with a number of Organisations related to Industry, Education and Charity.
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Thirukoil, Madurai.
Member of the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission.
Member of the Syndicate, Anna University, Tirunelveli
Member in the High Level Advisory Committee to ensure better administration in Temples under the control of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Govt of Tamil Nadu.
Chairman, Textiles Committee, Mumbai.
Past Member of the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education.
Past Chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry, Southern Region, Chennai.
Past Chairman of The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council, Mumbai.
Was Chairman of The Southern India Mills' Association during 1990-92.
President of Thiagarajar College, Madurai; Chairman & Correspondent of Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Thirupparankundram, Madurai - Pioneer Educational Institutions at Madurai.
Besides these, he is the Director of several Companies
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Mr. Cho Ramaswamy
Early life
Ramaswamy was born on 5 October 1934 in Chennai. He is well known for his knowledge of Indian and World Politics. He was widely believed to have been the chief architect of the victory of current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M Karunanidhi, in the 1996 state assembly election by helping him forge an alliance with the TMC, a break away faction of Congress led by G. K. Moopanar with aid from popular film actor Rajinikanth. However, his relationship with Karunanidhi soured after the latter authorized the release of funds to pay for the ransom of Kannada actor Rajkumar, who had been kidnapped by the sandalwood smuggler Veerappan. Ramaswamy has since been a critic of Karunanidhi. He is a leading lawyer and consumer activist in the state of Tamil Nadu. He is also known as the Ralph Nadar of India.
Bibliography
Plays
1. Muhammad Bin Thuglak
2. Yaarukkum Vekamillai
3. Saathiram Sonnadhillai
4. Nermai Urangum Neram
5. Iraivan Irandhuvittana
6. Enru Thaniyum Inda Sudandira Thaagam
7. Judgement Reserved
8. Quo Vadis
9. Unmayae Unn Villai Ennae?
10. Saraswathi Sabatham
11. Madras by Night
Movies Acted
1. Guru sishyan
2. Adhisayappiravi
3. Aarilirundhu Arubadhuvarai
4. Kaadhalaa Kaadhalaa
5. Manithan
6. Then Mazhai
7. Nirai Kudam
8. Galaattaa Kalyaanam
9. Mugammad Bin Thuglak
10. En Annan
11. Maattukaaravelan
12. Pommalaattam
13. Engal Thangam
14. Aayiram Poi
15. Neelagiri Express
16. Paar Magale Paar
17. Thanga Pathakkam
18. Mr. Sampath
19. Unmaye un vilai enna
20. Thanikudithanam
21. Vandhaale Maharaasi
22. Suryakaanthi
23. Gowravam
24. Kazhugu
25. Ninaivil Nindraval
26. Then Kinnam
27. Anand
Religious Works
1. Hindu Maha Samudram Vol -I
2. Mahabaratham Pesugirathu
3. Valmiki Ramayanam
4. Verukathagada Bramaniyam
5. Nane Raja
Other Noteworthy Works
1. Engey Brahmanan?
2. Verukatthakkatha Brahmaneeyam
3. Sambavami Yuge Yuge
4. Vande Mataram
5. Washington il Nallathambi
6. Sarakar Pugunda Veedu
7. Koovam nadikaraiyinile
8. Adhigaprasangam
9. Yaro ivar yaro
10. Saadhal Ellaiyel Kaadhal
11. Mydear BrahmaDeva
12. India Enge Pogiradhu ?
13. Kamarajarai sandhitthen
14. Puratchi Geethai
15. Sattam Thalai Guniyattum
16. Enge Pogirai ?
17. Enbak kana Onru Kandaen
18. Saraswathi Sabatham
19. Manam Oru Kurangu
20. En koodathu ?
21. Eravil Chennai
22. Uravugal Ellaiyadi Pappa
23. Edarkaga ?
24. Thiraiyulagathai Thirumbi Parkiraen
25. Unmayae Unn Villai Ennae?
26. Brahmanan Oru Madayan
Nomination to Rajya Sabha
He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the then President of India, K. R. Narayanan, as in the Rajya Sabha 12 members are nominated by the President of India from amongst persons who have special knowledge or practical experience in the fields such as literature, science, art or social service, and he served as MP of Rajya Sabha from November, 1999 to November, 2005.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Mr. S Gurumuthy
Gurumurthy is an columnist whose columns have found place on several dailies and periodicals. He is known for his association with RSS and his pro-Hindu views.
He is a strong proponent of the traditional Indian economic wisdom that was a part of every home and village model but has been associated with some of the biggest corporate deals in India.
Early life and education
Gurumurthy was born in a small village, 160 kilometres South of Chennai. He had his schooling in a local school and higher education at the Vivekananda College, Chennai. Unable to realize his dreams to study law, he chose to become a Chartered Accountant. After completing the course in 1972, he joined an auditing firm and was allotted the job of maintaining the books of some of the companies of the press baron, Ramnath Goenka. Impressed by this young accountant, in 1975, Goenka himself offered a job, which Gurumurthy declined. In 1976, he started his own firm, Guru & Varadhan, which was financially supported by the Goenka family. He was drawn into RSS since his college days and continues his affiliation with the organization and has had an important role in many assignments. He is a leading member of the think-tank of Sangh Parivar.
War with Reliance
He was not happy with the aggressive empire building by Dhirubhai Ambani and strongly believed Ambani's business practices were highly unhealthy for the nation. Goenka entrusted the job of fighting what he considered the Goliath of Reliance with Gurumurthy. His articles in The Indian Express created unusual stir in the corporate world, which brought lot of troubles to the conglomerate. All his articles were written based on extensive study and lot of pains he took to collect all pertinent data. The articles meticulously pointed out many of the irregularities in the Reliance Group of Companies. One of his articles, co-authored by Arun Shourie claimed Reliance was operating an entire plant with the machines that were actually imported as spare parts, paying lower Customs Duty, and doubling its production.
Views
After this, Gurumurthy wrote on the Bofors issue and later regarding the Swadeshi Movement. Later many of his articles in The New Indian Express highlighted the disadvantages of globalization. His articles espoused the cause of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the concept of a united India.
The Mole Controversy
He came to the limelight again, when he publicly accused two of the then senior Indian bureaucrats of being American moles. He indirectly named them in the New Indian Express Article titled "US plots Gujral-Sharif show" dated 20-09-1997. Later, in his article "Not one mole, Mr. Prime Minister and Mr. Jaswant, but Two!" dated 27-07-2006, he explicitly named Dr. V S Arunachalam and Naresh Chandra Saxena as the two he identified as moles.
Views on the Sankararaman Murder Case
Later he wrote extensively on the much infamous Sankararaman Murder case, in which Kanchi Mutt's Shankaracharya was the prime-accused.
Corporate Roles
Gurumurthy is known to have played a pivotal mediating role to resolve the feud between Bajaj Auto Ltd Chairman Rahul Bajaj and his younger brother Shishir who controls Bajaj Hindustan Ltd and has a stake in Bajaj Auto and other group firms.
He also played a major role in the transfer of L&T's cement division to Aditya Birla Group. In 2004 Gurumurthy also ended another corporate stalemate when he persuaded non-resident Indian investor C Sivasankaran to divest his 33 per cent holding in the Tuticorin-based Tamilnadu Mercantile Bank for Rs 130 crore (Rs 1.3 billion)"S Gurumurthy is the man behind L&T deal".
His articles are of good stability and show experience and authority over issues. Gurumurthy's knowledge of economics and accounting principles is outstanding and his articles, though polemical, are always painstakingly well researched and crafted.
Swadeshi Jagran Manch
He is a staunch proponent of the Swadeshi model of economic development and is a leading light of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), which is currently spearheading the agitation against some of the economic policies.
Besides politics, he also enjoys considerable clout in corporate circles.
His role in on reliance issues adopted in cinema, R.Madhavan played his role as Shyam Saxena in the movie GURU.
Mr. P S Raman
P.S. Raman is the Advocate-General, Tamil Nadu. He succeeds G. Masilamani, who has resigned.
Pattabhi Sundar Raman was born on November 7, 1960. He did his schooling at Vidya Mandir, Chennai and his graduation in commerce from the Loyola College, Chennai, and law degree from Madras Law College.
He is a lawyer for the past 24 years, practising in the Madras High Court and Supreme Court. He is a second-generation lawyer, being the son of late V.P. Raman, a former Advocate-General of Tamil Nadu and Additional Solicitor-General of India.
Mr. Raman had assisted his seniors in several leading constitutional and civil cases. He was designated a Senior Advocate of the Madras High Court in September 2004. After the new government was formed in the State in 2006, he was appointed Additional Advocate-General. He is a cricket enthusiast.
Justice S Mohan
Mr. Justice Shanmughasundaram Mohan, Born on 11.2.1930. Graduated from the Presidency College, Madras; Took Law degree from University of Madras; Awarded Lakshminarasa Reddy GOLD MEDAL; Took Master of Law degree in Constitution and International Law; Also recipient of Sri Muthuswamy Iyer Scholarship. Enrolled as Advocate in the High Court of Madras in August, 1954; Appointed as Assistant Govt. Pleader in 1966; appointed as special government pleader in 1967 and as government pleader in 1969. Acted as an Advocate General of Madras in 1971. Appointed as Additional Judge of Madras High Court in February, 1974 and as permanent Judge of the same High Court on 1.8.1975; Appointed as Acting Chief Justice of Madras High Court on 13.12.1988. Appointed as Chief Justice of that High Court on 19.10.1989; Sworn in as Chief Justice, High Court of Karnataka on 26.10.1989; Appointed as Acting Governor of Karnataka from 5.2.1990 to 8.5.1990. Elevated to the bench of the Supreme Court of India on 7.10.1991; Retired on 10.2.1995.
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