VSK TN
Chennai Sandesh
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6, January, 2014
A Supreme Court verdict that comes to the aid of Hindu Temple protection movement
Is this the beginning of kicking out secular government’s stranglehold on Hindu religious centres, wonder Hindu activists. Read on: The Supreme Court on January 6, 2014 quashed the Tamil Nadu government’s February 2009 order appointing Executive Officer to manage the affairs and properties of the Natarajar temple at Chidambaram, Tamilnadu. A Bench of Justices B.S. Chauhan and S.A. Bobde, allowing a batch of appeals filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and Podhu Dikshitars against the Madras High Court verdict upholding the GO, held that the right of the Dikshitars to manage the temple could not be taken away by the government. The Bench accepted the contention of the Dikshitars that they were a religious denomination as per the Article 26 of the Constitution “which guarantees right to establish and maintain institutions for religious purposes.” Quoting the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, Dr. Swamy argued that if there were allegations of misappropriation, the issue should be dealt with under the provisions of the IPC and not by taking over the temple administration.
A friend of eco-farmers, Nammalwar, no more
Renowned organic farming scientist G Nammalvar (75) died on December 30, 2013 at Pichinikkadu village near Pattukkottai after a brief illness. Nammalvar was staying at the village to campaign against the proposed Coal Bed Methane project in Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts since December 2. He is survived by his wife and a daughter. Born in Ilangadu village near Tirukkattuppalli in Thanjavur, Nammalvar got his B.Sc degree in Agriculture from Annamalai University and later joined TN Agricultural University’s research station as a scientist. He quit his job to work as an agronomist in Kalakkad in Tirunelveli to improve the living standard of farmers there. He went on to become a part of Low External Input and Sustainable Agriculture network to promote ecological farming.
Dr Padma Subrahmanyam to launch movement demanding respect for women
Traumatised and shocked by the action of certain schools in Chennai installing condom vending machines on the school premises and the authorities counselling parents that “there was nothing wrong in their daughters having sex with friends,” a group of eminent women have come together to fight for women’s respect. Dr Padma Subrahmanyam, the legendary Bhata Natyam danseuse and scholar will lead the group named Swami Vivekananda 150 Women’s Initiative (SV150 WI). The SV 150 WI has convened a massive convention at Chennai on January 23, 2014 where the participants will bury the women’s lib movement once and for ever and launch a new initiative with the objective of making the world respect women. She said Swami Vivekananda had great confidence and trust in Indian women. Dr Padma Subrahmanyam declined to reveal the names of the schools.