‘To be a successful police officer be a bit early to office; Remain a bit late in office’. ❤️

When does Rashness Happen?

Shri Amalraj IPS | @ MCC Today

Road Safety Awareness Programme

#incampustoday

“Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others,” said Otto von Bismarck, the Iron Chancellor and founder of Modern Germany.

Should we remain a fool to learn that an accident can happen to us?

asked Mr. Amalraj, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Tambaram, while addressing NSS Volunteers during the Road Safety Awareness Programme in the Chemistry Seminar Hall today.

He added saying –

You are the centre of Tambaram. In the year 2022, we had 1720 road accidents.

Last year we had 1986 accidents. That means, almost 2000 accidents take place every year, on an average of three to four accidents per day.

Accidents can happen to any of us. There is no partiality when it comes to accidents. We are not batman to escape all accidents. Anybody can get injured.

Last year 19 college students died in road accidents. 56 were injured. Who are those College students?

They're not unknown to us. They're not disposable commodities. Luckily we survived road accidents.

What are the types of vehicles that meet with accidents?

273 two-wheeler riders died in road accidents out of the 593.

10 fatal accidents on bicycle, while 164 pedestrian deaths were reported.

Other vehicles like buses and vans are less in number.

Two-wheeler riders and pedestrians are prone to accidents.

1432 people were injured while riding 2 wheelers.

581 road users were injured last year.

Accidents take place at all times. There’s no hard and fast rule on that aspect.

However, the maximum accidents happen not during midnight, but from 2 to 4 pm, in the afternoon.

121 accidents took place between 1 and 2 pm.

As regards the roads prone to accidents – National Highways are prone to most of the accidents.

Road safety is a life science in which we learn from the experience of others.

The easiest way to prevent accidents is to follow the basic rules of road safety at every stage, like, wearing helmet, stopping at the red light, give way for pedestrian crossing, etc,

Don’t follow the rules just because someone is watching you or the police might impose a fine on you. Sometimes, police personnel may not be on the roads at all.

So my dear students, always make it a point to stick to the rules.

When does rashness happen?

Rashness happens only when you’re late. So you should remember to start early.

By habit you should make it a point to start a bit early.

In the police force, we have a saying –

‘To be a successful police officer be a bit early to office. Remain a bit late in office’.

Never rush.

We used to have periodic meetings in the Marina office. Some officers always come well in advance.

For them it’s become a habit. When the Chief Minister calls for a meeting, you’re there on time. Once you make it a daily routine, it becomes part of your habit.

80% of the work that we do, happens because of our habit: be it the dress we wear, the food we eat, or the friends with whom we talk, etc.

Similarly, the habit of being early a bit always helps in preventing accidents.

To catch a bus, be there a bit in advance. Tell this to your friends and relatives as well.

The beauty of life is not just winning. It’s about following rules.

Winning is always there. You will always win. Win depends on your opponent. If your opponent is a child, you win easily. At the same time, if your opponent is tougher than you, then it’s quite a task to win!

So what matters is, follow the rules and win. When you write an exam, no one is watching, still you follow the rules. That's integrity. Winning that way, gives you credibility and integrity.

In China, they say it's not the result that counts, but the journey. Getting the mark sheet is immaterial. The three-year journey will stand with you. The journey makes it memorable!

Any challenge that you have in life, always make sure that you stick to the rules. If so, nobody can question you in your times of crisis.

When we die, people forget. We becomes statistics. Let’s not become the cause to add up to the statistics. If life is taken away, we become statistics!

So to sum up what I’ve said –

1. Follow rules always

2. Be a bit early by habit on a regular basis.

3. Lead by example. Be a perfectionist.

The Principal and Secretary of Madras Christian College, Dr. P. Wilson welcomed the gathering and spoke on the importance of road safety.

The programme was followed by the Road Safety Awareness Rally which was inaugurated by our Principal and the Commissioner of Police Mr. Amalraj IPS.

Volunteers of NSS participated in the rally in large numbers, carrying placards, posters and banners.

The Road Safety Awareness Programme was organised by the Deanery of Student Affairs, in association with Department of Social Work (Aided) and National Service Scheme, MCC. Prof. Daniel and team gave a wonderful rendition of the Tamizh Thaai Valzhthu.

Dr. Huldah Samuel, Dean of Women Students did an excellent compering of the programme.

The rally began near the infirmary and congregated near the Bell Tower. Dr. Sudarshan, Prof. Tony Thomas were coordinators of the programme, along with this blogger. 😊

One Scandal! Three Parties!!

When Hawala Rocked India & Its Celebrated Politicians

29th January 1996

#memoriesfromdiaries

#newspaperinlearning

Come January-end, and we all had to draw our records, right? Be it Botany or Zoology, we had pages and pages of drawings to be completed on our records, in ‘record’ time! 😊

That’s the entire day for me on this particular day on record mode! 

Coming to the news of the day –

Could you believe a system, by means of which crores of rupees were transferred to another person’s (politician’s) account that was illegally maintained in another country, without any physical movement of cash, whatsoever?

That’s hawala transaction for you!

Three famous political parties including the Congress, the BJP and the JD were involved in the Hawala Scandal, which had a cascading effect on the Indian political scene in the 1990s.

As a fallout of the scandal, seven ministers from the Congress quit their respective posts, BJP’s L. K. Advani resigned as an MP, and Janata Dal President S. R. Bommai had to quit his post as President of his party.

It was at this juncture that Laloo Prasad Yadav took over as the President of the Janata Dal, on this particular day, 29th January 1996.

Cordially Inviting You for the National Conference @ SDNB Vaishnav College ❤️

 

"Neglecting his serious injuries, Col. Nair organized his Soldiers in an Assault line and Charged at the Insurgents"

‘He was seriously injured but did not lose his courage!’

Titbits On President Shankar Dayal Sharma | & Col. Nair

26th January 1994 | The Uniqueness of Dr. Sharma

#memoriesfromdiaries

#newspaperinlearning

Before we get to our diary entry for this particular day, let’s take a brief foray into a few interesting titbits on President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, an MA in English Literature, and the ninth president of India – who has some unique distinctions to his credit.

Firstly, he had the unique distinction of dealing with four Prime Ministers during his five-year tenure as President of India.

In the last year of his presidency, he had appointed three Prime Ministers!

Secondly, akin to T. N. Seshan, he was very assertive of his Presidential duties.

He had acted tough with the Prime Minister on many occasions, and had even refused to sign last-minute ordinances.

Thirdly, in the early years of our Independence, he was quite instrumental in the merger of the princely Bhopal State with the Union of India, in the years 1948-49!

Finally, when Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in May 1991, Sonia Gandhi offered him the post of President of the Congress party and then the post of Prime Minister of India. But Dr. Sharma had refused the offers citing his advanced age and poor health as reasons. It was only then, the very next year he was chosen as the President of India.

Coming back to 26th January 1994 -

Well, ever since India officially became a republic in the year 1950, India has been consistently playing host to the head of state of another country as the State Guest of Honour for Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.

The guest ‘head of state’ is chosen based on rubrics connected with economic, political and other strategic interests.

This particular year – 1994 – on the occasion of our Republic Day – The Prime Minister of Singapore Mr. Goh Chok Tong, was the Guest of Honour.

[This was indeed the beginning of a long journey of cooperation and friendship between the two countries. The PM of India Mr. Rao, followed suit by visiting Singapore in September of the same year].

On the occasion of the Republic Day Ceremony on 26th January 1994, the President of India Mr. Shankar Dayal Sharma honoured Colonel Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair with the highest peace award – the Ashoka Chakra Award for his courage.

According to reports –

Colonel Neelakantan Jayachandran Nair was an outstanding and decorated officer of the Indian Army. He was born in 1951 in Ernakulam district, Kerala. He had his schooling from Sainik School, Kazhakootam, Kerala.

Colonel Nair’s career in the Indian Army spanned more than two decades, during which he had held various command and as well as staff appointments.

In December 1993, Col Nair was leading an advance platoon in Nagaland, when they were trapped by about one hundred insurgents. The irresistible fire from automatic weapons killed 13 jawans and 1 Junior Commissioned officer on the spot.

He too was seriously injured in the incident but did not lose his courage nor was unnerved. Neglecting his serious injuries, he organized his soldiers in an assault line and charged at the insurgents.

Insurgents broke ranks and ran away but Col Nair sacrificed his life in this operation. For his courage and gallantry he was awarded the Ashoka Chakra posthumously in 1994.

And on the International News, the Clinton controversy refuses to die down, with India’s vituperative rhetoric adding fuel to the fire. Even the opposition party then - the BJP had voiced its strongest condemnation of Bill Clinton’s interference in the internal affairs of India.

The main headline for today, by the President of India, on his Republic Day Address, titled, ‘India will brook no Interference’ is tangible proof to the condemnation!

Photo & News on Col. Nair & President of India: thankyouindianarmydotcom & academicacceleratordotcom

To Admire! To Appreciate! & To Acknowledge! Their Vibrancy, their Consistency and their Passion ❤️

So in Awe & Admiration! ❤️

So proud of you our dear Students! ❤️

MCC-ians are always a class apart! Be it in their style! Be it in their substance! Be it in their sensibilities!

Something that makes them so unique, so phenomenal and a cut above the rest!

Well, in this post, I’d like to acknowledge a few such vibrant literary beings who’ve made us proud this past week!

So happy to note that Gayathri K, who has been consistently doing her Friday inspirationals for almost a year now, on her YouTube Channel, has now started her Monday Motivational Vlog as well, and she’s been doing it systematically, on really inspiring topics, for many weeks now. You may want to access her YouTube Channel HERE.

Special congratulations to Sunyogita, Sneha Dominic, and Alan Caldwell on having cleared their NET this week. We are so proud of you.

Special congratulations to Jennifer on resolving to write her diary this new year, and so happy to note that she’s already completed two weeks of diary-ing! Congratulations, Jennifer. 

Today, after class, I met with Jeffery from the I MA English Class, who showed me his pencil sketches which are super-awesome! Sharing his Insta Art Account for us HERE. Please do subscribe to his Art Account and encourage Jeffery.

I also met with Annie from I MA English, who has got her vibrant Insta Art Account as well. Her sketches are phenomenal! I was so surprised, that I had to ask, Annie is this yours? So amazingly done! Sharing her Insta Account HERE. Please do subscribe to her Art Account and encourage Annie.

Also, added happiness to note that Annie has been writing on Medium on topics close to her heart. You may want to read them HERE.

Today, my day was made when Vannamathi shared from her daily newspaper reading with me. So happy that our students have taken to the joys of reading the daily newspaper. Keep up the good work, Vannamathi. So happy for you.

Today, Sherlin, I MA English, had come to meet me to show me her abstract. So happy to share the news that her abstract has been accepted for the Conference. Congratulations Sherlin.

Another surprise, when a student from III BA English, Brighty, shared the news that her abstract has been accepted for presentation in a National Conference. Congratulations Brighty.

A few of our students had shared from their visit to the Chennai Book Fair. Special congratulations to Souparno, Alan Caldwell, and Abraham, for having visited the annual Chennai Book Fair. Special congratulations to Ganesh Aadhitya, for having visited the Kalaignar Centenary Library as promised. 

Abraham, II BA English, at the Anna Centenary Library

Ganesh Aadhitya at the Kalaignar Centenary Library

Alan Caldwell at the Chennai Book Fair

Souparno at the Chennai Book Fair

Today, I also happened to be part of the Comprehensive Viva of Dr. Rajasekaran’s PhD Candidate at VIT, Chennai. She has done her thesis on Commodity Feminism, which looked very inspiring and promising. Congrats Sathvika and Dr. Rajasekaran.

Kevin Woods stuck to his punctuality, and met me sharp at 10.20 am, as promised. We discussed elaborately on his dissertation, and on ways to make it more effective.

Alan Savio, from I MA English, has published yet another lovely blog post today. It’s on a beautiful vignette – Dawn at Central. He’s got a gripping writing style. You may want to read his blog posts HERE on his blog. Congratulations, Alan!

Abraham, from II BA English, has also been regularly writing poetry on his blog. You may want to read his blog posts HERE on his blog. Congratulations Abraham!

Today I also spoke to Manimaran, our illustrious alumnus, inviting them (Manimaran & Haleem) to MCC on having won Best Director Awards in the National Short Film Competition.

You may want to watch Manimaran's latest short film which is so artistically made, and so gripping, HERE. 

Keep shining dear students! We are so proud of you! 

Cordially Inviting You... ❤️

"I went with two principles: Zero delay and zero deficiency" | “I am like a ball. The more you kick me, the more I will bounce back.” ❤️

This Day | Thirty Years Ago

The Game-Changer MCC-ian T. N. Seshan

12th January 1994

#memoriesfromdiaries

#newspaperinlearning

It’s not every other day that the Hon. Supreme Court cites someone as a role model for others to emulate.

On 22nd November 2022, the honourable judges of the Supreme Court observed that, ‘it wants a CEC of strong character like the late T N Seshan’, observing that, a person like former CEC, the late T N Seshan, ‘happens once in a while’.

We are so proud of our very own MCC-ian! Ain’t we? 😊

Interestingly, almost three decades ago, on this very same day, the Chief Election Commissioner Mr. T. N. Seshan had gone to court over the Congress government’s move to curtail his powers.

Some of the key initiatives he did, were really revolutionary and had a long-lasting impact on Indian politics.

Recommended by Subramania Swamy and appointed by the former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, Seshan once famously said that –

“I had never conducted an election. I went with two principles: zero delay and zero deficiency.”

Quoting from ‘The Wire’ which did a freewheeling interview with the legendary CEC –

During his initial days in office, he had identified over 100 common electoral malpractices, including the preparation of inaccurate election rolls, mistakes in setting up polling stations, coercive electioneering, spending more than the legal limit, using goons to snatch polling booths and general abuse of authority.

The challenges were enormous, but Seshan says they didn’t intimidate him. “I am like a ball. The more you kick me, the more I will bounce back.”

The cleanup began with his own office. Long lunch breaks were banned, and tennis and library during office hours was brought to an end. It was Seshan who began issuing identity cards to voters.

“We [the Election Commission] wanted to issue photo identification cards to all legal voters,” he says.

“The politicians bitterly protested this move, claiming that it was unnecessary and expensive.” After waiting nearly 18 months for the government to act, Seshan announced that if voter identity cards were not issued, no elections would be held after January 1, 1995.

A number of elections were, in fact, postponed for this reason. The Supreme Court eventually interceded and ruled that since voting was an inherent right of citizens, it could not be postponed indefinitely because voters lacked identity cards.

Even so, Seshan’s insistence led the government to start issuing identity cards. By 1996, Seshan’s last year on the job, 2 million voters had ID cards.

During the 1993 Lok Sabha elections, Seshan monitored electoral expenses round the clock from a control room at the Election Commission headquarters.

One of his officers was assigned to each state. Altogether, according to reports, 1,488 candidates for Lok Sabha were disqualified for three years because they failed to submit an account of their expenses.

It was reported that Seshan reviewed more than 40,000 alleged cases of false election returns and disqualified 14,000 potential candidates from public office.

He was impervious to the demands of politicians; so much so that in 1992, when the Commission under him cancelled elections in Bihar and Punjab, some politicians tried to have him impeached to curtail Seshan's powers.

Well, now for some more eventful news that had happened on this particular day –

The Governor of Tamil Nadu Channa Reddy and the CM Jayalalithaa continue to lock horns on a series of issues. ‘The constitutional proprieties of the State are disrespected by Channa’, says Jayalalithaa, [the CM of TN back then].

Indian troops and Pakistan troops continue to exchange heavy fire.

Supreme Court hears plea of Chandralekha.

Haryana cuts off water supply to Delhi.

[Citations are from The Wire]

Cordially Inviting You for the National Conference @ SDNB College for Women, Chennai ❤️

 

Important Dates

Abstract Submission for both paper and Poster: 20/01/2024

Full Paper Submission & Poster Submission: 26/01/2024

For Best Paper Presentation Award Full Paper should be submitted by 26/01/2024

Mail your abstracts for both paper and poster to: pgenglishodinsliterati@gmail.com

The papers should be based on original research work and should contain a minimum of 2000 words.

MLA 9th edition should be followed.

Selected papers will be published in a book with ISBN Number. Charges Apply

Registration is Free

Registration Link

https://forms.gle/NZmh4RA25SnZe7pH9

Cordially Inviting You for a Two-Day National Seminar @ DMC, Goa ❤️

 

Click HERE for the Brochure

"Veerappan will be caught soon"

Of Clinton, Kabaddi & Veerappan!

When it was Bombay and Madras!

8th January 1994

#memoriesfromdiaries 

#nostalgia #schooldays

Today we got our marks for the Half-Yearly Exams. I got the first mark in English [both papers]. Not in other papers though! 😉

Just before our special class, we all played kabaddi during our lunch break.

Now for the General News of the day from the day’s Newspaper -  

Clinton’s assurance to pro-militant outfit makes India fume! Advani asks govt to protest US bias.

CM Jayalalithaa goes on a personal visit to Hyderabad.

Huge haul of heroin (Rs. 50 crore) in Bombay.

On an aside - the name of the city was officially changed from Bombay to Mumbai in the year 1995, when Shiv Sena came to power. The renaming was a way of paying tribute to the goddess Mumbadevi.

The much anticipated ‘Agni’ launch was postponed.

Veerappan will be caught soon, assures Dawaram.

On an aside, Veerappan was caught and killed ten years later, on 18th October 2004, by the Tamil Nadu Special Task Force under the leadership of K Vijayakumar, IPS. 

Three school girls missing from Madras.

Again, the name of the City was changed from Madras to Chennai on 17th July 1996, under the DMK regime.

UGC says governor must be the chancellor of Universities.

Israel frees 101 Palestinians.

Another US Bosnian official quits.

Hotel Barottas at Home! 😊

Hotel Barottas at Home 😊

#schooldays #memoriesfromdiaries #nostalgia

7th January 1994

[This day, 30 years ago, from my personal diary entry]

On this particular day, on the eve of our Open House at School, we had decorated our Class Black Board in as grandiose a manner as could be! 

Well, I was quite an eager-beaver when it came to Black Board Calligraphy. So a few of us made sure the board looked its bestest for the Open House.

Math was my Achilles heel you see! 😊 So I dutifully enrolled myself for Math tuition with one of the best tuition masters in town, for my daily Math coaching!

Back then, I also had this particular penchant for hotel barottas that came with a saalna combo! 😉

So en route home, bought myself a parcel of the combo! George Uncle, a family friend, and a Professor of English, [& Appa’s colleague in college], had come home to visit Dad today.  

On the General Knowledge front –

Well, I’d jotted down the news in a graded format, starting with the Main news headlines of the day, followed by State, National & International News.

So here goes -

Main News Headlines of the day

Well, the Karnataka – TN tussle on Cauvery hogs the limelight today as the main news.

One of the major perennial rivers flowing from Talakaveri in Karnataka to Tamil Nadu, the Cauvery is popularly called the Dakshina Ganga [or Ganga of the South].

The Cauvery water dispute has been going on for ages, with political parties from across the States virulently attacking each other over the river and its bounty!

The former CM Jayalalithaa had even gone on a fast twice, the most prominent one in July 1993, to make Karnataka release Cauvery water for TN.

Former CM Jayalalithaa on fast for Cauvery water, 1993

Even prominent actor Rajinikanth had offered Rs. one crore towards interlinking of rivers – after his nine-hour fast in October 2002, a sensational fast of sorts with celebrities from tinsel town all over the venue - inaugurated by former finance minister P. Chidambaram.  

Actor Rajinikanth on fast for Cauvery water, 2002

Vijayakanth with Rajinikanth at the site of the fast

P. Chidambaram with Rajinikanth at the site of the fast

Later, in the year 2009, even the former CM Karunanidhi went on a six-hour fast for Cauvery.

Former CM Karunanidhi on fast for Cauvery water

Coming back to the National News of the day -

The PM Narasimha Rao assures parliament that, the strength of army won’t be reduced.  

State News

TN Special Representative in New Delhi, P. Kolandaivelu accuses the Governor Mr. Channa Reddy.

DMK denies allegations that it tried to split Congress.

AP government to give scholarship amount in cheques.

International News

Israel to restart talks with PLO. [Yet another perennial conflict that’s been going on for ages].

UN Commander in Bosnia quits.

Clinton’s mother dies.

Pakistan assails India.

Picture Courtesy: The Hindu Archives, The Asian Age, Rajinikanth Fans Page