Random Thoughts - Pattabhi Sitaraman

The change in the ruling party from Indian National Congress to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK for short) happened thanks to the meticulous planning and execution to perfection through a very popular medium cinema. The DMK boasted of two of the most charismatic actors of those days in their ranks.  The founder of the party CN Annadurai was also involved in cinema through his script writing. His deputy in the party and later Chief Minister M Karunanithi wrote dialogues for the movie in which the legendary actor Shivaji Ganesan acted for the first time. The dialogues were more aimed towards the political scenario existing then than on the development of the story line in the movie.  Likewise the movies with the other legendary actor M G Ramachandran (MGR for short) were scripted to send a message to the masses that the political scenario in the state had been not helping the poor but further enriching the rich. The dialogues and script of the movies were aimed at the poorest o...

The Rajputs are a race in western part of India who are known for their valour and rule. They had lot of mini kingdoms ruled by many Rajput Kings in different parts of today's Rajasthan, from Jaipur, Chittor, Jodhpur, Udaipur to Alwar and many other places.  These kings were known for their fortification of their cities with huge forts that stand testimony to their architecture even today.  Many of these forts were built to defend their and their citizens' honour and cities from the marauding Muslim sultans of Delhi and later British.  Some of these forts were built by the kings atop hills to prevent easy capture by the invading armies.   One of the Rajput kings of Chittor was Rana Ratan Sen. He fought the war with Allaudin Khilji. He had a neighbour in  Kumbhalgar King Devpal with whom he had a continuing feud.  In the battle between the two the Rana was killed.  As customary his queens committed self immolation (Jauhar) in the funeral...

India was once a very rich country known for its silk, spices and riches. India was the leading producer of gold in the world. The country was the most sought after by almost all the people of the world from middle east, far east and China. There were trade relations with India and the trade routes were established over land and also through water ways and seas.  The Greeks and Arabs traveled to  India attracted by the benevolent rulers and the spices and silk available in plenty. The attraction of the Indian spices made the Europeans make a beeline to the country over the land which was very hostile as there were wars among the people different faiths raging in many parts of Europe and Asia which were part of the land route to India.  This paved the way for finding a sea route to the country which Vasco Da Gama succeeded when Christopher Columbus landed on the eastern shores of islands abutting the unknown continent later came to be known as Americas.  ...

On the 8th November 2016, the Prime Minister Mr.Narendra Modi addressed the Indian public through the medium of television and informed the public that from midnight of that date all the 500 and 1000 INR notes in circulation will be withdrawn and they ceased to be legal tender. The government had kept the window open for a period of 90 days and changed the rules from day to day on the quantum of notes that they could be exchanged for new notes or depositing into the accounts of account holders.  Effectively a huge percentage of currency in circulation had been withdrawn leaving the people gasping for change as not much of lower denomination notes was in circulation in the past decade.  The decision was taken in utmost secrecy with only a handful of officials in the ministry of finance knowing about that action. The cabinet colleagues were totally kept in dark about this move of the government. The cabinet meeting that took place prior to the address of the Prime Minister to ...