"Sometimes we tend to ignore the General Knowledge component in toto!"

‘Jaya vs Reddy’ Tussle | Burman and Indipop

[This day, thirty years ago from my personal diaries]

05th January 1994

#memoriesfromdiaries #newspaperinlearning

#musingsfrommadurai

Well, I’m writing this blog post from a lovely hotel room in Madurai, at 7.30 pm today, after having listened to the lovely speakers on Google Meet, in today’s In Tandem Symposium.

In this evening's In Tandem Symposium [on Google Meet], Dr. Anne Samuel, Head & Associate Professor, Department of Fine Arts, Stella Maris College, Chennai spoke on ‘Literature & Art’, which was followed by some engaging discussions as well.

Ms. Jaysudha N, from II MA English, MCC, presented her paper on ‘Unveiling the Concealed: Women in Pre-Raphaelite Art &  Poetry’.

Ms. Snowlin J, II MA English, Queen Mary's College, presented her paper on the topic, ‘The Baroque Period: Italian Influence on Art, Architecture, Music & Poetry’.

Added memories today, when we had a lovely rendezvous over lunch at Jayaram’s, Madurai, with my good friends, Dr. Ramasubbiah, Principal, Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College, Dr. Dhayalakrishnan, HoD, Madurai Kamaraj University, and Dr. Udhayakumar, from MKU. Joining us was Dr. Ramasubbiah’s vibrant research scholar Anthea.

Madurai, as they say, is known for its admirable hospitality. Today I got to experience it yet again at the hands of Dr. Ramasubbiah and Dr. Dhayalakrishnan. Cannot thank them enough! 

Felt so happy when Dr. Udayakumar referred to Dr. Subbu Anna and Dr. Dhayalan, as the ‘literary faces’ of Madurai. Indeed, having known them for more than two decades now, I gladly second Dr. Udhayakumar on this! Interestingly, Dr. Dhayalakrishnan had quite recently received his second doctorate as well.

More on Dr. Anne Samuel’s vibrant talk, and our rendezvous today at MKU, in our next post. That’s because this post wishes to take you down the lane of memory – ‘to ‘disturb the dust on a bowl of rose-leaves!’

My personal diary entry on 5th January 1994

So come dear reader, let me take you - 

Down the passage which we did not take 

Towards the door we never opened 

Into the rose-garden!

Well, back then, in the year 1994, as a school boy, I’d divided my diary entry of the day into just three parts – personal, academic & general!

Three aspects that require our attention every day.

The Personal Component

The Academic Component

& The General Knowledge Component

Sometimes we tend to ignore the General Knowledge component in toto!

As teachers, we would strongly suggest that you give equal emphasis to all three components, this new year! 😊

Coming back –

Let me take you on a time-travel to exactly 30 years ago, on this very same day, for a peek into the day’s newspaper.

From the General Knowledge component, five note-worthy news in today’s English daily -

Firstly, on this particular day - on 5th January 1994 - the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed two Bills to pave the way for the removal of the Governor as Chancellor of State universities and make the Chief Minister as the Chancellor instead!

The issue has once again hogged the limelight of late, with ‘history repeating itself’, when in April 2022, the TN Assembly passed a bill to replace the Governor with the Chief Minister. Interestingly, in very quick succession, West Bengal and Kerala also followed suit.

While those who are in favour of the Governor claim that, ‘too much political interference in the administration of the universities’ can be avoided if the Governor is appointed as Chancellor of State Universities, the State and its Chief Ministers present a different picture.

Since they’re state-funded universities, states can implement the aspirations of the people, and award honorary doctorates to eminent personalities in their respective fields, they claim.

Interestingly, the present CM Mr. Stalin had a rare word of appreciation for his political bete noire, for her ‘bold move’ on 5th January 1994. The Bills were introduced by the then Education Minister K Ponnusamy.

Secondly, Rahul Dev Burman popularly called the ‘Music Scientist’ and the ‘King of Bollywood Music’, and credited with having brought pop to India, passed away on 4th January 1994. [mentioned in the day’s newspaper on 5th Jan 1994].

Thirdly, as regards the Ayodhya dispute, dubbed to be India’s longest-running property dispute, the Supreme Court said today [4th Jan 1994] that it will begin hearing the arguments from 22nd February 1994.

On an aside, the first recorded FIR relating to the Ayodhya dispute dates back to 30th November 1858!

Fourthly, come January, it’s customary for the TN Govt to announce its annual Pongal bonus for its employees and pensioners. On this day, Dr. J. Jayalalithaa announced a higher bonus for govt staff.

And finally, a survey finds rich deposits of lignite in Mannargudi. Mannargudi is part of the lignite basin along the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu. This survey was instrumental in many ways, as the central government, on the basis of this survey, years later, gave its clearance for coal bed methane exploration in Mannargudi.

Let me end this post with a lovely question - 

Did you read your newspaper today? If not, start reading it... rightaway!