The socio-religious environment in India is so surcharged that one has to be extra cautious in expressing an opinion, or even in mentioning a fact. One of the leading Tamil newspapers, Dinamalar had to apologise for having published a caricature in certain editions of its book-supplement on Monday. The editor in his front page open apology said that he was not aware of the caricature in question till there were protests from Muslims against it. He also said the employee who was responsible for the publication of this caricature had been 'punished.' This clarificatory apology brought the protests to an end.

Dinamalar has moved a court to restrain Sun TV from telecasting of news of the protests. Media wars have taken the proportions of a star-war. There used to be a time when there was perfect harmony among rival publications in the State. Commercial interests have blurred that vision of fraternity and tranquility.



In our society, the position one occupies decides his or her potential. It is enough one becomes a Governor or even a Lieutenant Governor. Overnight he becomes an authority on any and every topic under the sun. He is called in to inaugurate a Science Congress, a music festival, a seminar on nanotechnology, an international conference on Super-computer, a Convocation, a cultural or an agricultural show. And there he is, to deliver an oration on a subject about which he was blissfully ignorant until then!
They become instantly and eminently eligible to be the recipients of honorary doctorates from reputed Universities. The One hundred and fifty year old Madras University recently honoured Dr Manmohan Singh, Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Dr. Kalignar Karunanidhi. According to the infinite wisdom of the University, none other in the public life of India - especially no one in the opposition - measures up to the University's towering standards and expectations. Long live the University!

Load-shedding, a synonym for power cut has become so frequent that the duration of power supply has dwindled. Our present lifestyle depends on power for almost everything - from using the lift, running the motor to fill the overhead tank, to use the grinder, the geyser, the AC and to illuminate our homes. Life without power is unimaginable. Chennai's suburbs are going through a dark phase of untold misery. An employee of the TNEB was heard saying that in Tamil Nadu, no opposition party is needed to unseat the Government; EB would suffice! A good-humoured comment! Isn't it?

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