Kaanum Kaanum Nokia

Kaanum Kaanum Nokia (Missing Missing Nokia)

The New York Times
Chennai Diary
For Our correspondent presently in
Sue Robinson

The International Ecological Footprint Organisation has stated that the ban on mobile phone on campuses would lead to the destruction of 1000 acres of forestland as the ban would force students to use paper to pass comments. It has urged Anna University to reconsider the decision by roping in film stars (not Khu Bush, we are told) for the cause. In a separate news conference,a Finland based research agency has stated that it has made path-breaking discovery that use of mobile phones sharpens the brain and enhances mental capabilities. They further state that the pressure points that are activated while using the thumbs for text messaging activate multi-tasking skills. Empirical evidence supports the claim. Jose, a student of Anna University, says, “I can text message, listen MP3, play Snake and pretend to listen to the lecture, all at the same time.”

Goddess and Communal Riots

The New York Times
Chennai Diary

From Our correspondent presently in Chennai

Sue Robinson

Actress Khu Bush ( no known relation to the President), a mother of two school-going kids sided with the students, later amidst tears, withdrew her remark. In a related incident in Madurai a place of worship(temple of Goddess Khushbhu , we are told) ) has been attacked. No reports of communal violence yet.

Communal Confusion

News just in that the no communal violence has taken place in Madurai. The majority and minority communities are confused as to who should be offended by the desecrations of the place of worship. Apparently while the place of worship was a temple, the deity was a Muslim by birth. However, certain Hindus have ruled that since the actress in question married a Hindu, she is a Hindu and therefore the Temple is entirely Hindu. However, the Prince of Terracotta, an expert on the Shariat and a member of the All Tamil Nadu Muslim Personal Law Board has stated that as per the Shariat the actress is still Muslim and has further stated that all Muslim places of worship are Wakf property.

The Supreme Court, in New Delhi, has confirmed that a title suit petition for the ‘place of worship’ has been admitted has been admitted. Since the debate as to which community owns the structure is yet to be settled and the religion of the deity is yet to be settled both communities have agreed to wait for the SC verdict before commencing the riots.

Amma, Attire and other stories

The New York Times

Chennai Diary
For Our correspondent presently in Chennai
Sue Robinson

The hand of the moral police has now struck – the schools. Yesterday, the students of PL school, a Prestigious Public school in Chennai indulged in signature campaigns and hartal outside the schools demanding ‘freedom’ from school uniforms. Vinod, a Class XII student said, “We demand the end of the uniform rule. It is repressive, regressive and unfashionable”, he said. J added, “Young people like us must be allowed to make our own choice.”
R, a class XI student, “Insisting everyone wear similar clothes is insulting our individuality and creativity”. “It is also unequal. Middle school students get to wear short pants”

The All India Women’s Democratic Association supported the students alleging the school administration was Talibanic and claiming that the uniform rule was targeted at girls and it perpetuated the age old discrimination against women in India.

The Palit Danthers of India) have filed a Public Interest Litigation against the Department of Education. The Federation of Students in India (no relation to parties cited by the Mitrokin archives) have stated that they do not support the uniforms in school but would like the students to wear red. The KMD, the principal Opposition party, have said that the FSI suggestion would be acceptable only if the colour code was red and black, and have moved a resolution to this effect.
The AIAKMD government is planning to bring out an ordinance specifying red and black as official cloth colours but only when worn with a white belt. The textile industry has booked the Nehru stadium as the venue to felicitate the ‘Revolutionary Leader’ Chief Minister at having taken the historic decision.

The World School Students’ Conference has also expressed solidarity with the students. The representatives of Pakistan however condemned the resolution.One student in Bihar and another form Mizoram committed suicide to express his solidarity with the student community.