Arresting tales of M. Natarajan

"AIADMK's powerful mystery man, a.k.a. Sasikala's husband."

Natarajan is in the news after being arrested on a charge of land grabbing, an action seen as part of an ongoing political purge following the expulsion of Ms. Sasikala from the Jayalalithaa household and the party, along with a host of family members. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Arresting tales of M. Natarajan

The latest arrest of Natarajan is unlikely to end speculation on what his real role is in the political drama playing out partially before the public eye and largely behind it.

Elsewhere, there may be a mystery behind every crime; in Tamil Nadu, the mystery is more in the arrest than in the offence.

Working for labour

"The current National Floor Level Minimum Wage (NFLMW) fixed by the Centre in 2011 is Rs.115 a day. But under the 1948 law, States are free to set their own minimum. As a result, the rates significantly, and as many as 21 States still fall below the national minimum.

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Working for labour: Amendments to the Minimum Wages Act are thus critical to a guaranteed subsistence income for millions of unskilled labourers, including women, who fall well below the standard human development indicators."

Also, it is erroneous to reason that expenditure on the workforce is a burden, rather than a necessary investment to enhance value and raise the productivity of enterprises. Even in countries that have embarked upon the deregulation of labour markets, social and welfare protection mechanisms exist which provide a society-wide cushion to the unemployed or indigent.

Taking German lessons

"The resignation of German President Christian Wulff has diminished the standing of Chancellor Angela Merkel but the episode confirms the strength of the country's public processes. "

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Taking German lessons: Mr. Wulff is the second Merkel presidential nominee in under two years to quit amid controversy; after his predecessor, Horst Köhler.

The contrast with India, where governments and prosecutors must be dragged kicking and screaming to court before they agree to investigate and prosecute politicians accused of corruption couldn't be greater.

Germany has provided a clear lesson in what substantive probity in public life can mean.

Sachin will know when the time comes

"Sachin has done enough to deserve the right to choose his own time of departure"

He has played far too long, and for the most part with unmatched brilliance, to wait for some kindly soul to tell him that he is past his shelf-life. The Hindu : Columns / Nirmal Shekar : Sachin will know when the time comes

Of course, a lot of sportsmen, great and average, will want to go out with the proverbial bang. But more often than not, the bang has very little to do with what a player does or does not do in his last appearance.

Time almost always has the last say, in sport as in life. If the ageing process accelerates in sport, then some sportsmen are intelligent enough to become conscious of their eroding skills, of the slight diminishment of reflexes, footwork and eyesight.

Merely because we want to remember our great sporting heroes as immortal icons who said goodbye in style, it is ridiculous to expect them to quit at or near the peak of their powers.

'India and Brazil have no possibility of conflict at all'

Q&A

Talk of economic cooperation between the BRIC nations - Brazil, Russia, India and China - is frequent. But visiting India recently, the Brazilian defence minister Celso Amorim spoke with Josy Joseph about the importance of strengthening bilateral defence ties, sharing valuable tips - and enjoying a relationship free of disputes:

Interview - Q&A

-The Times of India, February 22, 2012 

Pakistan's Festering Wound

Islamabad must end the repression of the Baloch people and engage with them

Pakistan's Festering Wound

-The Times of India, February 22, 2012

Green Gift

The perfect eco-friendly present to give to someone is a tree

Green Gift

-The Times of India, February 22, 2012 

End Of Meat?

Scientists are making it in the lab

End Of Meat

-The Times of India, February 22, 2012

Turbulent Flight

Improving viability of airlines should be top priority for government

Turbulent Flight

-The Times of India, February 22, 2012

Former England football captain says footballers are overpaid

Times View - Pay reflects demand
Counter View - A sheer travesty

-The Times of India, February 21, 2012

Unshackling Our Thinkers

Government's attitude towards research funding must change for our researchers to compete globally

Unshackling Our Thinkers

-The Times of India, February 21, 2012

Anything goes

It takes ingenuity to specialise in botched jobs

Anything goes

-The Times of India, February 21, 2012

Rape Gaffe

Mamata scents conspiracy again

Rape Gaffe

-The Times of India, February 21, 2012

Poll Vault

High voter turnouts may signal high popular aspiration

Poll Vault

-The Times of India, February 21, 2012

India's destiny not caste in stone

"Outside politics, there are other areas of life in which caste consciousness has been dying down."

Democracy was expected to efface the distinctions of caste, but its consequences have been very different from what was expected. There are areas of life, other than politics, in which the consciousness of caste has been dying down, though not very rapidly or dramatically. The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : India's destiny not caste in stone

There has been a steady erosion of the rules relating to commensality or inter-dining. Also, caste consciousness in matrimonial matters has been on the decline in recent decades. Rapid economic growth and the expansion of the middle class are accompanied by new opportunities for individual mobility which further loosens the association between caste and occupation.

If, in spite of all this, caste is maintaining or even strengthening its hold over the public consciousness, it is due to the adoption of universal adult franchise after independence, which altered the character and scope of the involvement of caste in the political process. The consciousness of caste is brought to the fore at the time of elections.

Unfortunately, the discussions on television create the illusion that caste is an unalterable feature of Indian society. It will be a pity if we allow what goes on in the media to reinforce the consciousness of caste and to persuade us that caste is India's destiny.

Seeding a policy without the dirt on climate change

"ICAR says knowledge of climate change impact in India is 'fragmentary'"

There are no conclusive studies in India on the prospective impact of climate change on the agriculture sector including livestock and fisheries. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Seeding a policy without the dirt on climate change Then, how can the government be tailoring its policies to mitigate the impact of climate change on agriculture.

The government is moving towards the 12th Plan with a strategy that has potential to affect the country's food security and make it dependent on imports in the long term.

The simple requirement of farmers on the ground is advanced and accurate information on weather. Coastal States seek policies to sustain productive and protective habitats such as mangroves, coral reefs, wetlands and fisheries. Hilly States want development of traditional forest land to indigenously manage natural resources. High-altitude States prefer integrated soil and watershed management in a farming system mode to sustain them through the year. But the government has done precious little towards this.

Rather than the top-down policy shifts that could jeopardise food security, there is pressing need for honest location-specific research in partnership with small and marginal farmers to assess over a period of time the impact of climate change.

Instead of being driven by international funding, such research should be driven by the needs of farmers.

For oil and peace, India must stand up in the two Sudans

"South Sudan's oil shutdown dealt a major blow to the overseas oil ambitions of India's leading national oil company ONGC Videsh Ltd. (OVL)"

Since South Sudan won its independence from Sudan last year, a dispute over oil is edging the former foes closer to reigniting one of Africa's longest and deadliest wars. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : For oil and peace, India must stand up in the two Sudans. OVL has invested over $2.5 billion, but South Sudan's shutdown of its oil production has dealt a major blow to the company's overseas oil ambitions. The crown jewel of OVL's international portfolio lies dormant, precariously straddled across an undemarcated border, as the two sides engage in political brinkmanship and the ugly face of war nears.

India was the first Asian country to open a consulate in South Sudan's capital Juba. Yet first-mover advantage is useless if India does not make an effort to exploit it. New Delhi has done little to protect its economic interests in Sudan and South Sudan, or foster peace between the two sides.

If India truly wants to make a unique mark, it must roll up its sleeves and lend a hand in ending Africa's longstanding conflicts.