POETS DAUGHTER TOO A POET : PUDHUVAI SIVAM & POONGODI PARANGUSAM

Kalaimaamani  POONGODI PARANGUSAM

N.Nandhivarman

 Poet’s daughter being a Poet is rare, usually such tradition lacks continuity. But the daughter of Late Poet and Parliamentarian Puthuvai Sivam has established her credentials as a Tamil Poet who had won the prestigious Kalaimaamani award for the year 2004-2005 for language and literature. Poongodi Parangusam is an educationist who gave up her career to devote more time to her family. But the passion for writing did not dry in her. In most of the cultural meetings one could notice her either delivering speeches or rendering poems.

 Poongodi a postgraduate teacher worked in various schools from 1964 to 1996 the last being Government High School Reddiarpalayam. She had other roles to perform at home as mother of three children and wife of an industrialist Parangusam. Her father S.Sivapragasam, known as Puthuvai Sivam was Rajya Sabha member in seventies. At that time she wedded Parangusam and her marriage was performed by then Tamil Nadu Education Minister Navalar Nedunchezhian. It is no surprise because her father an ardent disciple of Pavendhar Bharathidasan was following the tradition of self-respect marriages. But when it came to the marriages of her children she kept up that tradition in midst of changing times. Her daughter Tamizharasi a dentist married Senthil Kumar a dentist. Her second daughter Ezhilarasi an architect married Sridharan another architect.

 “ The fore thought to give green signal to these love marriages among persons of same profession shows Poongodi as a modern mother. The most surprising part is her second daughter Ezhilarasi’s marriage in a Namboodri family of Kerala, yet she conducted the marriages as self respect marriages only,” says Durai Malirayan a poet of many epics.

 Having accomplished her family tasks she took voluntary retirement and then she faced many legal battles with the land mafia and undeterred she fights against heavy odds. All these experiences brought out a poet activating her inner voice. She started writing poetry particularly the traditional poetry with meter. “ There are many who write modern verses. But to write poetry following the rules of Tamil grammar is a daunting task. And Poongodi does her poetical work with meticulous care and powerful articulation “ opines Professor Ilamathi Janakiraman of Pondicherry University.

 As a   recognition of her works the  Department Arts and Culture of Pondicherry government had conferred Kalaimaamani award for language and literature. Her recent book  Vanna Vilakkugal which means colorful lights is a hit among the Tamil audiences. The themes she had chosen to write poetry is varied and remarkable. She stresses the need for Tamils across the globe uniting to uphold their language and culture. Poongodi records her voice on feminism. Her poems include current governmental schemes like the Tank Rehabilitation project executed with European Commission’s assistance. She had written poems on Bharathiar, Bharathidasan, Deveneya Paavanar and Late K.Kamaraj. Among the list of personalities glorified in her poems is the Chief Minister Rangasamy  whose simplicity and down to earth approach  finds special place in her poetic portrayal.

 In the preface to her book Santhapaamani Aranga Natarasan says “To me it seems she is the first Feminine Poet who had rendered A book of Poems composed in accordance with Tamil grammatical rules and meter” Poongodi Parangusam had not even left the India shining campaign of last elections untouched. Her poetic criticism on the un-kept promises of politicians election after election echoes general public opinion.

 As she backs her husband in his dual role as agriculturalist and industrialist, her poems stress the importance of farming sector and the need to bring cheers to the tillers and toilers of soil. “ The award given to me has made me conscious of my contributions to society and I am writing on the President A.P.J.Abdul Kalam’s dream of seeing India a Super Power by 2020. It will be my humble token of respects to that great visionary” says Poongodi Parangusam with eyes on future.

Courtesy: New Indian Express dated : 27.8.2005

  

PONDICHERRY ANTI LAND HOUSE GRAB STRUGGLE : 6.12.1998 THE WEEK

SEA EROSION AND PONDICHERRY

THE DUTCH RULE OF PONDICHERRY

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Pondicherry: The Dutch Connections (1693-1699)
by N. Nandhivarman
The French connection Pondicherry has is known to one and all but not its Dutch connections. On September 7,1693 Pondicherry fell into the hands of the Dutch and remained five and half years in their possession until March 1699. It is common knowledge that Pondicherry near the beach area after grand canal in the east is known as white town and the west of grand canal is called as black town. French are not responsible for this divide on racial lines. The Dutch wanted to carve out a white area exclusively for themselves. They wanted to relocate Indian people from the white town area. " It is also beyond doubt that in their project to relocate the Indian community in a separate area to the west of the establishment and keeping the old town on the seashore for themselves, the Dutch are also at the origin of the separation between Ville Noire i.e. white town and Ville Blanche i.e. black town " opines Professor Jean Deloche of the Institut Francaise de Pondicherry. During that period Dutch tried to develop the Pondicherry into a great manufacturing center. By entering into an agreement with Raja Ram, the ruler of Senji, they enlarged the territory under their control. Then they planned a new town based on the grid pattern. Jacob Verbergmoes, the land surveyor worked out a great urban project for the Dutch.. "The Dutch did not alter the layout of the old town i.e. the fort area to the east of the marshy depression. They kept the rough fence bordering the northern and southern part. They did not modify the fort and its outer works; on the contrary they even repaired the breaches made in the walls and the damage done to the bastions. They did not demolish the Malabar church for the native Christians or the French storehouses and the godowns but they decided not to rebuild the blocks of stone houses to the East of the Fort which had been destroyed by Francois Martin during the siege. The streets therefore had the same alignments. On the Western side on the other hand they completely changed the structure of the town. First they seized the properties of the French company and the religious orders, particularly the gardens" In fact, the Dutch plans of Pondicherry preserved at the National Archives at The Hague show that the orthogonal street pattern of the town is a creation of the Dutch. The plans of 1693 show that, in Francois Martin's time, the streets or lanes were following an irregular pattern, without any shape or symmetry, whereas in the plans drafted in 1694, during the Dutch occupation, one finds the design of a large new town, with a very regular geometric lay out, rectangular blocks of houses, separated by straight streets, intersecting at right angles. This great urban project of the Dutch company was adopted by the French who systematically carried out the extensive straightening out of streets into a planned grid, during the first half of the 18 th century" This is how Jean Deloche summarizes the contents of his book published in 2004 with 11 figures and 6 plates. " Origins of the Urban Development of Pondicherry according to 17 th Century Dutch Plans" is a masterpiece placing truth in its right place. People must appreciate the French Institution here and the French author who did not falter in placing truth above all. The Dutch evidences had thrown more light on the History of Pondicherry's Urban Development. The Plan of the fortress and town "Poedechery" as it is currently being built on 20 th November 1694, available with Dutch Museum not only gives authentic version of the scene of those days but also spells Pudhucherri, the correct Tamil name instead of the corrupted version of Pondicherry. In his book "City Planning and Architecture in Pondicherry " P. Richard thinks that the French adapted "their plan to the natural conditions of the littoral. This was possible because of the straight coast line was a very strong feature of the site and has from the beginning, determined the general orientation of the buildings and the direction of the streets, behind the dune, the low marshy lands and their outlet, running parallel to the seashore, increased this trend." Ron van Oers is of the opinion that Dutch colonial settlements were built on a "Strict geometrical design to subdivide the usable area into building plots. All had a common image of being neat and well organized." On the orthogonal street model applied in Pondicherry he says "Dutch preferred this pattern since it was symbolic of an ordered, well managed society, hierarchical but democratic, it was emblematic for the hard working god fearing Dutch Calvinists". "French appropriated this great design and that the extensive straightening out of the streets into a planned grid, systematically carried out by their governors in the first half of the 18th century, was therefore the extension of the existing Dutch orthogonal pattern into the rest of the town." Says Historian Jean Deloche who lives in Pondicherry. A great scholar who loves Tamil lives here unknown to fellow Tamils and he humbly refuses to get photographed because he wants his works to speak for ages to come.
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11-May-2008
More by :  N. Nandhivarman
Views: 2507      Comments: 1
Comments on this Article I am at least 7 years late in commenting on this blog post. I am glad I stumbled on this to learn that for a very brief period Dutch controlled Pondichery and called it correctly by the local name Pudhucherri. Thanks to Nandhivarman. A correction in the article may be in order. It is stated that "The Dutch wanted to carve out a white area exclusively for themselves."and "the Dutch are also at the origin of the separation between Ville Noire i.e. white town and Ville Blanche i.e. black town " opines Professor Jean Deloche of the Institut Francaise de Pondicherry." I think Prof. Jean Deloche is misquoted here, for Ville Noire means black town and not white town as mentioned above. Also Blanche (Blank) stands for no color or white. All wine drinkers know this! Thus Ville Blanche would be the white town. The blog count says 2054 people read this article but nobody seemed to have noticed this error. May be it is time to keep the record straight. Cheers! p. Rao 09/17/2015 00:38 AM

KARAI UNION PRADESAM-NOVEMBER 2007 ISSUE

KARAI UNION PRADESAM- OCTOBER 2007 ISSUE

KARAIKAL UNION PRADESAM -FORTNIGHTLY -FIRST ISSUE

YAZHPANAM CAME TO PONDICHERRY

MEDIA MEN OF FRENCH INDIA

MUSIC OF MOSQUITO'S IN PONDICHERRY

GNANOU DIAGOU TRANSLATIONS OF SANGAM CLASSICS IN FRENCH

ASYLUM SOUGHT FOR KARMAPA RIMPOCHE : TIBETAN LEADER

ASLYUM SOUGHT FOR TIBETAN LEADER

"ASYLUM TO KARMAPA WILL MAR RELATIONS" With this headline "The New Indian Express" front page-all edition news describes the unhappiness by Chinese government over granting of asylum to 14 year old Tibetan spiritual leader Karmapa Rimpoche. Beneath that news in a box item "Asylum for Karmapa" was the UNI story from Pondicherry. It is given as follows:

The Dravida Peravai, a political party here, today urged the Center to grant asylum to Karmapa. Dravida Peravai General Secretary N.Nandhivarman made this demand in a representation to External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh.[UNI] The full text of the memorandum is given here.

Today's new stories reveal the escape of 14 year old Karmapa and his 24 year old sister with the help of 4 others negotiating 16000 feet snowbound mountain passes and trekking 900 miles from Tibet to India. We demand that Indian government must grant political asylum to the 14 year old Karmapa Lama Ugyen Trinley Dorje and his team.

Chinese staked their claim to Tibet on the marriage of a Tibetan King Sonsten Gampo to a Chinese Princess in the 17 th century. This claim lacked logic because the Tibetan King's senior bride Princess Brikuti Devi of Nepal deserves first preference over Chinese Princess and thus the Chinese claim is unsustainable. Having failed to clinch their claim Chinese retreated to 13 th century evidences basing on the establishment of Mongol influence over Tibet. However Mongols are a different nation and Chinese have always considered them as aliens. In 1911 when the Nationalist Revolution toppled the Chi'ng dynasty, Sun Yatsen said that the " China had been twice occupied by foreign powers, the first by Yuans ( Mongol emperors) and second by Chi'ngs ( Manchu emperors). In any case, the Mongol influence in Tibet came to an end in 1350, eighteen years before China overthrew them. It becomes evident that China is building a castle of lies to invade Tibet.

In 1949 when Nepal applied for U.N. Membership it cited its diplomatic relations with Tibet to prove that it was a sovereign state. The U.N. accepted this argument and thus effectively recognized Tibet's status as a sovereign state. During the UN general assembly debate on Tibet Irish representative Frank Aitken stated " For 1000 years or for a couple of 1000 years , at any rate Tibet was as free and fully in control of its own affairs as ant nation in this assembly and a thousand times more free to look after its own affairs than many of the nations here [ UN General assembly docs A/PV 898/1960;a/PV 1394, 1401, 1965 ].................

The lengthy letter ends with the appeal to Government of India " Let us provide asylum to Karmapa Lama Ugyen Trinley Dorje and Gandhian land must not fail in its historical duty...

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SYMPOSIUM ON HUMAN GENOME PROJECT in 2000

Dravida Peravai sets new trend

Symposium on Human Genome Project

To hold a symposium on Human Genome project is not in the agendas of action pursued by political parties. On 15.12.2000 in its party auditorium Dravida Peravai invited Dr.Pandjassarame Kangueane of the National University of Singapore to deliver a lecture on this subject.

To know about the scientific achievement we are reproducing from THE TIMES OF INDIA report:

Human Genome mapping Complete: Experts

Bethesda( Maryland): The human genome is complete and the human genome project is over, leaders of public consortium of academic centers said on Monday. "We have before us the instruction set that carries each of us from one cell egg through adulthood to grave" Dr.Robert Waterson, a leading genome sequencer said at a news conference here at the National Institute of Health. Their announcement marked the end of a scientific venture that began in October 1990 and was expected to take 15 years. Monday's finishing date two years ahead of schedule, was timed to coincide with the 50 th anniversary of the discovery of the structure of DNA by Dr.James D.Watson and Dr.Francis Crick. Their article appeared in the April 25, 1953 issue of "Nature".

Dr.Watson who became the first Director of the Human Genome project at the institute was at a conference here on Monday to celebrate the genome's completion. He had sought that goal, he said realizing that a family members illness would never be treatable "until we understand the human programme for health and disease. A working draft of the human genome sequence was announced with much fanfare 3 years ago in a White House ceremony. But at that stage the human genome project had completed only 85 percent of the genome and its commercial rival the Celera Corporation using the projects data as well as its own, had attained somewhat more. The project's draft was not a thing of beauty. It consisted thousands of short segments of DNA, whose order and orientation in the full genome was largely unknown. Three years later, the international consortium of genome sequencing centers has now put all the fragments in order and closed most of the gaps, producing an extensive and highly accurate sequence of the 3.1 billion u units of DNA of the human genome. The data perceived as the foundation of a new era of medicine, will be posted for free on genetic data banks. Celera whose data was available by subscription never intended to carry its draft genome to completion.

The working draft of three years ago contained most human genes and was useful for researchers seeking a specific gene. But up to a year ago biologists said they often had to do considerable extra sequencing work on the DNA regions they were interested in. The completed genome announced on Monday is far more accurate. It can be used out of the box, so to speak, without extra re-sequencing. The genes and other important elements of the genome are now almost in their correct position, a vital requirement for researchers seeking to locate a gene that contributes to disease. Scientists praised the  human genome project for its further 3 years of hard work and for producing a resource of enormous value to research. But several qualified their administration by noting that even if the project is complete, the human genome is not. The parts of the genome still missing are of minor importance, but many biologists would like to see them sequenced before declaring the genome finished. The human genome is packed in 23 pairs of chromosomes, each a giant molecule of DNA. Though DNA's best known role is to encode the information needed to build specific proteins, the working parts of the living cell, some of the DNA performs structured roles. This included the DNA at the tips of each chromosome/0 and at the center. The tip and center DNA consists of monotonously repeated sequences whose extract order of units is so hard to determine that the consortium's leaders said from the outset they would not try to do so. .... [news report by: Nicholas Wade in 2003]

On this issue even in 2000 itself Dravida Peravai, the only political party in India which showed interest in developing scientific temper, organized a symposium. The invitation of the symposium is as follows:

FUTURE MEDICINE INFLUENCED BY HUMAN GENOME PROJECT AND COMPUTATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS: SYMPOSIUM

Venue: Anna Arangam- Date:15.12.2000--Welcome Address: Ms.Hemavathy [Vice president Science Forum ] President: N.Nandhivarman [ General Secretary Dravida Peravai ] in the august presence of Dr.S.V.Narayanan  Dean of School of Management, Pondicherry University 

Keynote Address in Tamil

by young scientist of Singapore and son of Pondicherry's soil

Dr.Pandjassarame Kangueane B.Tech. Ph.D

" The future is full of promise as it is fraught with uncertainty. The industrial society is giving way to one based on knowledge and those without it. We must learn and be part of the knowledge based world. Knowledge is fundamental in Biology, a discipline of extreme complexity. The Human Genome Project and computational developments will change the practice of medicine in future. in his key note address, the young scientist of our soil will outline how HLA (gene) INFORMATICS can be utilized in vaccine design, diagnosis and treatment" All from all walks of life are cordially invited, said the invitation. Dr.Arima Magizhgo delivered the vote of thanks.

எம்.ஜி.ஆர் தமிழரே

எம்.ஜி.ஆர் தமிழரே

Published on Dec 2, 2013

இன்னா செய்தாரை ஒறுத்தல் என்ற குறளுக்கு ஏற்ப ஆராயாமல் அமெரிக்க உளவாளி என்ற பழியை சிலர் சொல்ல விசாரிக்காமல் அண்ணா தி.மு.கழகத்தை ஆரம்பித்த என்னை வெளியேற்றிய எம்.ஜி.ஆர் தமிழரே என்று அ.ஜெ.கெ. தொலைக்காட்சியில் என் பதிவு இனி...

TO CONTINUE OR QUIT POLITICS ?

N.Nandhivarman today has friends and acquaintances among politicians and media across the world and across India including Nepal. This became possible because of the love and affection showered on him by Comrade George Fernandes. Dravida Peravai was registered with Election Commission of India from 25.10.1996.

Comrade George Fernandes admitted Dravida Peravai as Associate Party and N.Nandhivarman as special invitee to the National Executive of Samata Party with effect from 25-26th April 1998. The minutes of the Samata party begins like this :" Party President George Fernandes welcomed new persons attending the National Executive including Dr[Mrs] Beatrix D'Souza of Tamilnadu who joined the Samata Party, Mr.N.Nandhivarman[Dravida Peravai] Pondicherry, Brigadier T.Sailo [People's Conference] Mizoram, Mr.Vamuzo [Nagaland People's Council] , Srimathy Chennaputi Vidya, independent candidate from Vijayawada. The picture below is from the Vijayawada National Executive wherein Union Ministers George Fernandes, Nitish Kumar, Digvijay Singh are in left row, Raghunatha Jha M.P[Bihar] , Gopal Pachariwal[Rajasthan Samata President] Radhakrishna Kesari[Jharkand Minister] and Dravida Peravai N.Nandhivarman are seated in front row.

 In all Executive Meetings from 1998 to 2004 when George Fernandes was unseated as President at Patna , in all meetings hardly few will speak. Comrade George gave opportunity apart from openly praising Nandhivarman as his close friend in all such meetings. This had made Dravida Peravai known to all States and N.Nandhivarman has friends in every state of India and Nepal. Should N.Nandhivarman shut down Dravida Peravai, the one man army that served the nation for 19 years on 25.10.2015. Should Dravida Peravai exist as living example of a clean party upholding morality in personal and public life or go out of political mainstream ? Your views are solicited.

AT THE DAWN OF MILLENNIUM DRAVIDA PERAVAI CAMPAIGNS

At the dawn of this millennium Dravida Peravai , the political party wedded to Periyarism-Annaism emerges as a front runner to uphold the legacy of the Dravidian movement. The agenda and actions of this year i.e. 2000 AD will speak for itself .

On the very first day of January 1 of 2000, 1856 cargo handling labourers and 64 staff were made Government Staff under Tuticurin Port Trust, in culmination of 18 year long demand. This was possible because Ministry of Surface Transport headed by Comrade Nitish Kumar Vide Notification no: PT-18011/3/98/PT had nominated N.Nandhivarman, V.V.D.Brammanandham, P.Kathirvel and Anton Gomez as Trustees of Tutucurin Port Trust. Immediately N.Nandhivarman took up the matter with the NDA led Union Government through NDA Convenor Comrade George Fernandes. Meanwhile Nitish Kumar was replaced by Rajnath Singh as Minister of Surface Transport. Yet 2000 Labourers were made Government staff with effect from 1.1.2000 and the above poster is a thanksgiving poster.

There are 668 registered political parties  in the registers of the Election Commission of India. In this lists drawn alphabetically Dravida Peravai stands 217.As one among the very few active parties Dravida Peravai presents a balance sheet of its activities during the year 2000 AD

3.1.2000: Dravida Peravai, is indebted to Comrade George Fernandes for according this party associate party status in the Samata Party National Executive. In the National Executive of Samta Party held at Parliament Annexe on 25/26^th April 1998 , N.Nandhivarman [Dravida Peravai],Brigadier T.Sailo [People’s Conference Mizoram],Mr.Vamuzo [Nagaland People’s Council] were admitted as Special Invitees and their respective parties associate parties of Samata Party. After the demise of Periyar and Aringnar Anna, Comrade George Fernandes remains the guiding spirit behind our actions and thoughts. Hence as a millennium gift Dravida Peravai launched the web site of Comrade George Fernandes titled as :

INTERNATIONAL  TORCH BEARER OF SOCIALISM   

       http://samata.jumppolitics.com

http://www.angelfire.com/celeb/socialist

11.1.2000: Dravida Peravai sought political asylum for the 17th KARMAPA. This was reported in front page of THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS. Further Dravida Peravai launched a web site in support of the cause of FREE TIBET.  http://freetibet.jumppolitics.com     http://members.rediff.com/annaist

UNIFORM SALES TAX: SUCCESS TO OUR STRATEGY

MAINSTREAM PARTIES FACE HUMILIATING DEFEAT :

The beginning of the movement

12.1.2000: 11 Political parties Memorandum to Lt. Governor of Pondicherry

Under the leadership of Dravida Peravai General Secretary N.Nandhivarman, MDMK, GKNC, CPI(M.L),Samata, RJD,Janata,Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam,BSP,Tamizhar Dravida Kazhagam, TamilNadu Marxiya Leniniya Katchi met the LT. GOVERNOR and presented a memorandum urging the introduction of Uniform Sales Tax ( Daily Thanthi, Dinamani, The New Indian Express, The Hindu, Dinamalar and Malai Malar reported this event)

13.1.2000: Leaders of 11 political parties under the leadership of Dravida Peravai General Secretary met the Union Minister of State for Textiles Mr. Ginjee. N.Ramachandiran and urged him to persuade the Central Government to speedily implement Uniform Sales Tax.(The New Indian Express and Daily Thanthi report)

13.1.2000: Street Corner Meetings: 11 parties conduct street corner meetings throughout Pondicherry region.(Dinamani and Malai Malar report)

20.1.2000: 11 parties headed by Dravida Peravai General Secretary met the Central team sent by the Union Finance Ministry at the Conference hall of the Secretariat. In fact these 11 parties described as PRO-UST parties met separately and other parties met at a different time.(Dinamalar, Daily Thanthi, Malai Malar report)

30.1.2000: JUNIOR VIKATAN, the leading Tamil bi-weekly in a report titled DELHI BEATS : PONDY WEEPS highlighted the interview given by Dravida Peravai General Secretary.

30.1.2000: In a seminar organized by the PONDICHERRY INSTITUTE OF LINGUISTICS AND CULTURE, Dravida Peravai General Secretary N.Nandhivarman presented a paper on the ENVIRO-HISTORY OF PONDICHERRY, which forewarns about the ecological disasters ahead for Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.

WE HAD A WEB SITE WHICH HAD LAPSED BUT IN THAT WEBSITE FOR ENTIRE 2000 DATEWISE OUR ACTIVITIES WERE RECORDED. BEING BLOG FOR SPACE RESTRAINT WE WILL REPRODUCE MONTH BY MONTH REPORT. THE ABOVE IS FOR JANUARY 2000

VATICAN MUSEUM AND INDIAN MUSEUMS

VATICAN MUSEUM

POPE AND PEOPLES HOPE

N.NANDHIVARMAN

The new Pope blesses the people. All eyes are on his blessing hand. The people see a golden ring, which carries the picture of fishermen spreading his net to catch. This is one of the two symbols of papacy. To the tsunami struck fishermen, this symbol reminds that all Popes care for fishermen. But it draws a biblical reference too. Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gen-nes-‘a-ret, he saw two boats and fishermen washing their nets because they did not get good catches on that day. Jesus gets into the boat and tells to Simon “ Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch”. He obeys and nets good catch, may be by divine blessing. But this biblical story also stresses the scientific invention of good catches in deep waters. Simon, the fishermen became the first disciple of Jesus assuming the name Saint Peter. In remembrance of that it is customary to give a fishermen ring to the new Pope. A pallium made out of white wool would also be presented to the newly chosen. That symbolizes the shepherd’s treading the footsteps of Jesus, who is also known as Good Shepherd. When Joseph Ratzinger, a 78-year-old German is chosen to lead the 1.1 billion-member Church these two gifts symbolizes the early composition of the followers of Christianity. The new Pope   is aware of the challenges in the developing world to declining religious faith in the West. “ So many currents, ideologies and different ways of thinking” had shaken the faith of many Christians and the Catholic Church faced an uncertain future threatened by the rise of Christian sects around the world, Ratzinger said in a homily.

"Having a clear faith according to the creed of the Church is often labeled as fundamentalism," he said, adding that the Church had to reject "a dictatorship of relativism" that denied the existence of absolute truths. "An adult faith is not one that follows tides of trends and the latest novelties. To be adult and mature the faith must be deeply rooted in friendship with Christ," he said. If we go back to the pages of the past, the first person to study the conditions of the origins of Christianity was Frederick Engels. He pointed out that the “most important condition was the formation of the Roman empire. The creation of a world monarchy paved the way for a leveling cult. The Roman conquest brought with it the defeat of the individual states. Its despotic and violent regime, oppression of the provinces, high taxes and general absence of civil rights led to apathy and demoralization among the broad masses, not only the slaves, but also the free population”. It was the background that remained conducive for the inception of a global religion. Old religions were tribal and national, hence could not go beyond limited boundaries. To fulfill this vacuum, the rulers of Roman Empire made some attempts to create a world religion. Roman government attempted to create the cult of the emperor’s genius, cult of the guardian of the city of Rome namely goddess Roma, and the cult of Jupiter Capitolius. All these failed.

 A religion of the slaves and oppressed based on the arrival of a redeemer from their sufferings emerged as many sects. In the Koran the followers of Jesus Christ are constantly referred to as Nazarenes. That was probably the original name given to the sect of Jesus’s followers. Most often his followers called themselves simply believers, brethren etc, In the beginning only their opponents referred to them as Christians. Now that global religion faces challenges, which the new Pope underlines as splitting into many sects, as in the beginning.

The father of Christianity, a Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria believed that there was a holy mediator between the God and the material world, the Divine Logos (Word). This was common idea in Greek idealist philosophy. The divine Logos, Son of God, became the central figure in Christianity namely Jesus Christ, says Fredrick Engels. In Hindu religion, the word “OM” resembles the divine logos and the son of Shiva called Muruga, fits into the Greek concept. These similarities strengthen the truth that all religions have universal concepts and beliefs.

But Pope must be perturbed over the religious intolerance that has brought terrorism to the forefront. The twin towers of America brought down by fundamentalists is the warning signal that cannot be ignored anymore. Clash of religions, cultures ignited by Osama Bin Ladens and men of his ilk, is unnecessary, unwarranted and rests on imaginary and false foundations. All religions emerged to unite people, to offer solace to the oppressed and to bring love and Peace on earth. Standing at the cross roads of history, the new Pope outlines his duties in the first words spoken, which admits the challenges ahead. In Pope, people hope, movements to global peace and equanimity eschewing enmity among fellow human beings will find support and leadership.

Courtesy: The New Indian Express: 2005

UPDATING IDEAS FOR DRAVIDA PERAVAI WEBSITE

கலைஞர் கவிதை ஒன்றில் சொல்வார், கட்டிய நாய் அல்ல நான் எட்டிய மாத்திரம் பாய்வதற்கு என்பார். என்னையும் எட்டிய மாத்திரம் பாயும் நாயாக சிலர் நினைக்கும் உலகில் உடன்பிறந்தே கொல்லும் வியாதியாக ஒற்றுமையின்மையே தமிழர் குருதியில் கலந்துள்ள நிலையில் என் கடன் பணி செய்து கிடப்பதே, என்று என் பாதையில் நடக்க எங்கள் இணைய தளம் புதுப்பிக்க என்னுள் தோன்றிய சில வடிவங்களை வரிசைகளை படமாக இணைத்து அனுப்புகிறேன். உங்கள் கருத்துக்கள் வரவேற்கப்படுகின்றன ,