V

Nothing much to brag about 😊

[Dinesh @Dinesssssh]

After doing all these, DMK failed in public perception management. Still it’s people like me who benefit nothing from politics has to defend DMK finding such stats, making data cards. Even on women safety, I had to make the card using NCRB data to prove TN was the best state while the PR that reached people’s heart was TN was the worst. Just imagine the fake propaganda machine to call the best state as worst and the inability of DMK IT wing to defend that false propaganda. If not for the corruption, DMK ministry last time was the best. We might never have such capable ministry again in our life time. Wish if some ministry prove me wrong in future.

[Dad's bible @DadsBible_]

Charlie Chaplin died in 1977, At the age of 88.
But he was not wrong when he said:

[Lokesh Nara @naralokesh]

At the @IndianExpress Adda, I spoke about how politics can be unforgiving. We competed fiercely with the previous DMK government in Tamil Nadu for investments - won some, lost some.

But I never heard an investor complain of being asked for money by the government. Credit where it's due: the DMK government ran a clean and professional investment process and that deserves appreciation.

[Mathar @MalarMathar]

@GLOVANS @akilan16 "யார் ஆட்சிக்கு வந்தால் நமக்கென்ன ? நாம உழைச்சா நமக்கு சோறு"

உழைக்க முதல்ல வேலை வேணும். அதுக்கு முதலீடு வரணும். போயிட்டு வர ட்ராபிக் இல்லாத போக்குவரத்து கனெக்டிவிட்டி அமைப்பு வேணும். சண்டை ,சச்சரவில்லா அமைதியான சமூகம் வேணும். இதெல்லாத்துக்கும் சரியான அரசு வேணும்.

[thewisepath @thewisepathh]

7.

[B. Kolappan @kolappan]

Sir David Attenborough and a boy from Kanniyakumari

Few people live to see their centenary. Sir David Attenborough is among those fortunate enough to do so.

The advent of television channels introduced me to him. In many ways, I feel we share common interests. But I was born in a small village in Kanniyakumari and educated in Tamil, my mother tongue, though I was deeply passionate about birds, animals, and fish.

My father often warned my brothers and me when we poked our hands into holes in trees searching for parrots, mynas, and other birds.

“One day, you will become victims of a snake bite,” he would say.

He had reason to worry. His first cousin had died of a snake bite after putting his hand into a crevice where a viper had trapped a bird in its jaws.

I, too, have climbed down into many wells in search of sparrow chicks. Sparrows often preferred the crevices inside wells for nesting. My brothers, friends, and I were frequently ridiculed by others.

“These boys are always catching fish, chasing birds, and climbing trees,” people would say.

By the time I joined an undergraduate course in Botany, I already knew a great deal about plants, birds, insects, and fish. But I could not express my ideas properly in English.

Sir Attenborough’s documentaries on pitcher plants were a revelation. I already knew that plants suffering from nitrogen deficiency trapped insects to compensate for the lack of nutrients, but I did not have the language skills to explain it in English.

When I listened to him speak about the domineering character of the giant water lily, or Victoria lily, I was enthralled. It also brought back memories of the teachers who had taught me about the plant.

I also knew that eels were no longer migrating to the sea for reproduction, even though my Zoology teacher insisted that they still did. My lack of fluency in English prevented me from disputing her claim. I knew that dams and other barriers were obstructing their migration. I had seen juvenile eels in the irrigation tanks of my village. They were born in freshwater and grew there itself.

My brother kept rabbits and pigeons, and we reared many chickens at home. At my aunt’s house, there were buffaloes, and we used to take them for baths. I would often ride them. Yet, despite not being afraid of snakes, I was terrified of the leeches in the water.

When I shared these experiences with the late Dr. Robert Grub, an ornithologist and student of Salim Ali, he remarked, “What a wonderful childhood you had.”

But growing up, I was mostly ridiculed and discouraged. In our world, what mattered was the marks you scored in school and college.

[Love Music @khnh80044]

Mama elephant thanks a person for giving water to her thirsty baby..❤️

[V @vaninatarajan]

@SriramMadras If JJ was alive, all those that you have stated would have happened right after 2 deaths at Vikravandi. She would not have waited for Karur.

[D Suresh Kumar @dsureshkumar]

Vote—yes! But don’t support anyone who leads your children astray. Choose leaders and parties committed to investing in their future.

[V @vaninatarajan]

@rvaidya2000 @Randeep_Sisodia In 1971, Madhya Pradesh was
MP = MP + Chattisgarh
Population = 3cr
LS Seats = 37

[V @vaninatarajan]

@rvaidya2000 @Randeep_Sisodia MP's population in 1971 was 3cr before it was split into MP amd Chattiagarh. Add both population and MP seats and talk sir

[Shashi Tharoor @ShashiTharoor]

The answer can be found in Europe, where the principle of degressive proportionality is applied to the composition of the European Parliament — since they have the same problem of small and big states coexisting in one Union.

India also needs a compromise between strict democratic representation (one person, one vote) and the necessity of ensuring smaller political entities have a meaningful voice. It essentially means that while larger populations get more seats, the ratio of citizens to representatives increases as the population grows.

In the European Parliament, the allocation must follow these constraints:
*Minimum Threshold: No member state can have fewer than 6 seats.
*Maximum Ceiling: No member state can have more than 96 seats.
*Inverse Ratio: The "efficiency" of a vote must decrease as population increases. For example, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Malta might represent roughly 80,000 citizens, while an MEP from Germany represents roughly 850,000 citizens.

The goal is to prevent the "Big Four" (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) from holding a permanent absolute majority that could override the collective interests of the smaller nations, thereby maintaining the federalist spirit of the Union.

Applying this to India is what we need to debate, not women’s representation which no one objects to. We need to address the North-South divide that has arisen over delimitation. A strict population-based reallocation (proportional representation) would drastically increase seats for northern Hindi-belt states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, while states that successfully implemented population control (like Kerala and Tamil Nadu) would see their relative political influence diminish.

If India were to adopt a degressive model, the Parliament could be structured to balance population with federal equity. Similar to the EU, a "floor" could be set for smaller states (e.g., Goa, Sikkim, or the Northeast) to ensure they aren't reduced to insignificance. Instead of a fixed ratio of, say, 2 million citizens per MP, the ratio could scale. A state with 200 million people might have 2.5 million citizens per MP, while a state with 30 million might have 1 million per MP. This is to ensure no state feels disenfranchised. As @revanth_anumula suggests, another factor could be a state’s contribution to national GDP. It would be dangerous for our federalism if smaller states felt their prosperity & human development were being punished with relative disenfranchisement.

One could argue that the Rajya Sabha already exists for federal representation. However, degressive proportionality in the Lok Sabha would provide a "weighted" democratic mandate that acknowledges population without penalizing states for their developmental successes.

Finding a mathematical formula that satisfies both the high-growth and low-growth states, and both the large and small states, would require a level of bipartisan and interstate cooperation that it is in the interests of the central government to promote. I urge PM @narendramodi to initiate extensive consultations, with all parties and with all states, before rushing into a hasty delimitation process that leaves the core underlying issues unaddressed.

[Mahima Jalan ماهيما جالان @MahimaJalan2]

Work from home concept has no izzat in India. It's been 5 years since I started working from home, but even to this day I help my mom with household chores, give full attention to guests, do all the market k kaam even during office hours, give her time, and despite all this, she says, "tum toh pura din laptop pe busy rehti ho". The irony is that if I commuted 2 hours, sat in an office, and came home exhausted, I'd be taken seriously. WFH didn't blur work-life balance. The office was the only proof society accepted that your time had value.

[Sanjay Kumar K @aquasanjay]

#stophindiimposition
the host has the audacity to ask question in Hindi... the answer lies in your rather smug question itself

[Chandana 🌻✨ @RoseOnX9]

One language, two worlds 🔥

[V @vaninatarajan]

“காலம் பேசாது, ஆனால் காத்திருந்து பதில் சொல்லும்.”

[Dr Jason Philip. M.S., MCh @Jasonphilip8]

To assess how our govt performed, one has to simply review it's handling of Covid-2. The CM assumed charge on 7.5.21. In a few days, Lockdown was announced. I was working in Govt Vellore Med College. All hands were diverted to Covid wards, barring Emergencies & deliveries.
Local ministers spent the day & sleepless nights inside the hospital, making constant rounds to ensure the best Rx. New wards were erected at breakneck speeds, provided with Oxygen Cylinders, new nurses recruited, & all district officials worked in the field.
Only a fortnight back, we had seen VVIPS/millionaires/thousands die on the streets of North India, due to lack of beds/O2. Nothing of that sort happened in Tamilnadu. No pt was sent back due to lack of beds. Oxygen cylinders were made available to every single pt, who needed them.
In a historic first, CMC Vellore closed it's gates, erecting a sign- no more patients, please. But, the Govt hospital, Vellore did not. Most drs,& nurses got Covid frm the pts. That included me. I got severe Covid, ws admitted to the same hospital, & returned after recovery to serve Covid pts.
My uncle, who had raised me like a father died in a different city frm Covid, but I did not desert duty. I cdnt even cry, as the death news arrived in the middle of duty, among very sick pts. I remember a nurse tragically passing away after working in the Covid ward.
In the end, Tamilnadu defeated Covid. Because of the hardwork, dedication of Govt nurses, drs & paramedics. Above all coz of the scintillating administration of the Honourable CM Mr Stalin, his hands on approach, & of those in his cabinet.
As the tenure of this cabinet winds to a close, I remember fondly the wise, calm handling of Covid, mammoth Health Infrastructure added in 5 yrs, the schools, roads, industries, jobs, flawless Law & Order, Naan Mudhalvan & other schemes,& unprecedented prosperity brought to Tamilnadu by the Govt. And thank all involved from the bottom of my heart.

[V @vaninatarajan]

Bravery is not acing up your sleeve against people, who are bigger in stature and making adversaries randomly.

Bravery manifests like the stillness of the storm, which chose not to strike.

It was a CHOICE, not weakness.

He is not called #superstar without a reason.

[V @vaninatarajan]

@SriramMadras @TRBRajaa No idea on the ownership sir.
I am just a huge fan of their products. Product quality and variety that they offer are top class. They are the best in home furnishing AFAIK.