Ripples on the brain

Kuppu: Hi Suppu.

Suppu: Hi maama.

Kuppu: So what’s up. How’s your school going?

Suppu: As usual, nothing special. In fact I find it boring.

Kuppu: Hmm…you’re too young to find life boring. Not so soon…

Suppu: I just find my school boring. I definitely find a lot of things interesting outside school.

Kuppu: Like?

Suppu: Like the recent announcement from the Tamil Nadu government on the gold ring for every new born child with a Tamil name.

Kuppu: Yeah, that is yet another welfare measure from the state. It is so heartening to see all that they have done so far for the people of the state and for promoting our language. A couple of years ago they came with the rule on Tamil names for Tamil films and now this. They have even recently appointed a committee to study if the tax concessions for Tamil films are being passed on to the people. But what did you find interesting in that?

Suppu: No, just the rule itself. How would you just identify a Tamil name?

Kuppu: Why? Isn’t that a no-brainer? Ezhilarasan, Kuralarasan, Kalaichelvi, Malarvizhi, Periyasami are all Tamil names.

Suppu: I get the obvious ones. But what about names like Abhinav, Abhilash, Keshav, Pranav, Shreya, Shradhdha, Anaga, Abhinaya, Ananya etc.?

Kuppu: Come on, I expect you to be more intelligent. Those are definitely not Tamil names. They are mostly Sanskrit.

Suppu: Okay, then what about Saraswati, Karthik, Meenakshi, Sharadha, Deepa, Shanti?

Kuppu: Well…hmm… Some like Saraswati, Karthik, err, are still Sanskrit. Karthikeyan is probably a more Tamil name. I’m a little confused about the rest. But that might be because of my ignorance.

Suppu: And I’ve not even started maama. What about Arjun, Ashok, Nakul, Ram?

Kuppu: Well, Arjunan, Ashokan, Nakulan, Raman should be Tamil names. I don’t know if whatever you’ve called out will be accepted as Tamil names because they sound like North Indian names. But, I think I see your point. It is not as easy as I initially thought. But it isn’t as difficult either for someone like our Chief Minister. If he can order a committee to be formed, just like the one that was formed for the Tamil movies, which can be led by a retired judge, then that committee can arrive at a comprehensive list of all Tamil names and the non-Tamil ones so that this rule can be applied better.

Suppu: I see. Just tell me one more thing. Are the names Peter, John, Joseph, Jacob Tamil.

Kuppu: Why? Definitely not!

Suppu: What about Mohammed, Siddique, Shamshuddin, Sirajuddin, Salman?

Kuppu: Hmm… I see where you’re going, you’re trying to get us into trouble here. I think the same committee can look at bring in reservations for minorities under this rule so that they don’t feel discriminated. They can look at what additional names can be considered Tamil. That should fix the concerns.

Suppu: I rest my case. See you.

Kuppu: !!?!!

Suppu: Good morning Mama.
Kuppu: (turning away from the newspaper he was reading) Good morning Suppu, aren’t you late for school today?

Suppu: No, since mom’s at home today, she told me that she’ll take me to the Vedanthangal bird sanctuary which is currently a host to a lot of colourful winged visitors, thanks to the rains last week. So, I have taken a day’s leave. By the way, what is there in this box in the newspaper, mama?
Kuppu: Oh that? That is an advertisement for some inauguration function of the State Government that will happen today.

Suppu: I recognize this thatha. His photo was also in the letter that you received the other day.
Kuppu: Letter? Which letter?

Suppu: I don’t know. It had BSNL written on the cover.
Kuppu: That was the monthly telephone bill, pattamma. Yes, you’re right. His photo was there too.

Suppu: Is this thatha so famous that his photo appears everywhere.
Kuppu: He’s the Chief Minister. So, he’ll get publicity whenever important events of the State Government take place.

Suppu: But mama, what is this “publicity”? Won’t these events be reported in the media when they happen?
Kuppu: Yeah, they receive wide coverage as well. But then, this is a probably like an advertisement…

Suppu: Mama, my amma tells me that for an advertisement to appear in a media, the advertiser has to pay the media. In that case, who pays for this advertisement?
Kuppu: Well, your mom is right. The State Government pays for the advertisement.

Suppu: And I also know State Government gets the money in turn from the public directly or indirectly through taxes. So, the public pays for these redundant advertisements about events which are anyway reported by the mainstream media. But mama, does that thatha also head the BSNL? Why did his photo appear in the bill?
Kuppu: Well, err… you see hmm… the Chief Minister’s nephew is the telecom minister or something and … To be honest, I don’t know.

Suppu: Okay, forget that. Who’s this aunty whose photo appears in all government advertisements? Is she the Prime Minister or something?
Kuppu: Well, she could have been the PM if she’d wanted. But she’s not one now. You see, she heads the party that rules the country.

Suppu: Now, does that give any reason why her photo should be in the publicity materials of the Government using the public money?
And I don’t understand what is with this photo. Why should a government officials photo appear everywhere? I can understand if they are in the show business. Amma tells me about great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi. If the people really like the leaders, they keep them in their hearts. So, instead of ensuring that their images capture the media, shouldn’t the leaders ensure they capture the hearts of the public?
Kuppu: err… pattama, I think your mom’s calling you to dress you up for the outing. Go ahead and have a nice trip. Do take a lot of pictures of the exotic birds and show them to me.

Suppu: Kuppu mama, what is this Mullaperiyar issue? Is it similar to the Cauvery issue?
Kuppu: No pattamma, this issue is slightly different.

Suppu: In what ways?
Kuppu: See, for one, the Periyar river on which the dam has been built is not a multi-state river. Its entire course is in Kerala only. The Mullaperiyar dam is, hence, situated in Kerala.

Suppu: So, Tamil Nadu is not even related to the project?
Kuppu: No, the dam and the water storage area belong to Tamil Nadu and the state is entitled to “all” the water that flows through the river.

Suppu: A river that flows entirely in Kerala whose water belongs to Tamil Nadu? Now that is pretty interesting!
Kuppu: Yes, pre-independence, the Madras Presidency belonged to the British. The Periyar river used to flow in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore. The British realized that waters from the river could be used in the rain shadow and parched areas of Theni, Madurai district, Sivaganga district and Ramanathapuram district. So, the British forced Travancore to sign a treaty in 1886 to lease the dam to the Madras government for 999 years…

Suppu: Doesn’t that sound very familiar?
Kuppu: You’re right. That is very similar to the way the Cauvery water sharing agreement was signed between the Madras Presidency and the princely state of Mysore. Even there, the water sharing agreement initially favoured the British Madras Presidency.
Coming back to Mullaperiyar, then the British constructed the dam to store the water and elaborate tunnels to transfer the water into its territories (under Madras State). The dam that is present now was constructed in the year 1895.

Suppu: Oh, I think I understand. So, post-independence, Kerala wants a share of water that flows in Periyar.
Kuppu: Though Kerala probably wants water from the river, even as late as 1970, they inked an interstate agreement with Tamil Nadu which revalidated the agreement of 1886.

Suppu: So, in effect it agreed that it doesn’t require water from the river. Anyways, they have 43 other rivers and are fed by copious rain from South West monsoon every year, so Kerala need not worry.
Kuppu: Wrong. According to Kerala, the other rivers are “minor rivers” and are not sufficient to meet its demands. They even constructed a Idukki hydel project 50km downstream of Periyar dam. The settlements along the river course have also increased and they require water from the river.

Suppu: Shouldn’t have Kerala government regulated the development in the area around the course of river knowing well that the water from the river is not guaranteed? Isn’t the problem very simple now? Kerala and Tamil Nadu need to enter into another water-sharing agreement…
Kuppu: No Suppu. The world is not as simple as you think, especially if the politicians of the country are involved. In 1979, Kerala discovered leaks in the dam and promptly questioned the safety of the dam. Then, as a matter of precaution, Tamil Nadu was asked to lower the water lever in the reservoir from 142ft to 136ft until measures were taken to strengthen the dam.

Suppu: I see. So, Kerala found an easier short term route to getting more water downstream from the dam instead of laborious re-negotiations with its neighbour. But, mama, isn’t the safety of the dam important to Kerala?
Kuppu: Absolutely correct. That is the reason Tamil Nadu has carried out strengthening activities as was recommended by the CWC (Central Water Commission). As per CWC recommendations, after the strengthening activities are completed, the reservoir can store upto even 152ft.

Suppu: Let me try to guess what would have happened next. After the completion of repair activities, Tamil Nadu would’ve claimed that the storage level can now increased from 152ft whereas Kerala would still doubt the strength of the dam and want the level to be maintained 136ft.
Kuppu: Yes. You’re more intelligent than what I thought. Moreover, in the interim period when the storage was reduced, it has been observed that some property developers have constructed multi-storey structures in the area that was once occupied by the water in the reservoir which has also been inhabited. Moreover, Kerala claims that the additional storage will also threaten the vegetation and the wildlife in the Periyar tiger reserve.
Tamil Nadu took the matter to the Supreme Court which has allowed for the storage level to be increased to 142ft, but Kerala objects to this decision and hence the present “talks”.

Suppu: Mama, I thought talks should take place between two parties, not with the media as a mediator. As you had told me earlier, media conveniently interprets news and views that way it wants. In Kerala, it creates an unnecessary panic everyday by telling the people that the dam might burst any moment now (in fact it has been doing that for that last 15 years). In Tamil Nadu, the same media claims that Kerala wastes the water from Periyar river by draining it into the Arabian sea.
Why can’t these two parties avoid pretensions and take proper actions? Like checking if the strength of dam is an issue at all at the moment. For the to happen, I think Tamil Nadu should realize and accept that it can no longer be the sole beneficiary of water from the dam (and then see if Kerala still has a problem with the dam strength). Then a forward-looking water sharing agreement should be worked out between the states. Instead of doing that the politicians are arguing on a trivial issue.
Mama, whatever happened to Cauvery issue now.
Kuppu: That issue will crop up only if there is a deficient rainfall kannamma. Otherwise there’s no problem.

Suppu: Oh ok. Everything is very clear to me now. Whenever there’s a deficient rainfall Cauvery issue will raise its head. If there’s a normal/excess rainfall, the Mullaperiyar issue will crop up. Shouldn’t it be the other way round? Can’t these issues be looked at better when there’s less sensation surrounding them? Also, shouldn’t Tamil Nadu now simultaneously look at other ways to manage its water resources? For example, Palar and Tamaraparani rivers almost entirely flow in the state. Shouldn’t it improve the storage of rivers like these and use it for agriculture? Instead of desilting the rivers, it is a mute spectator to illegal sand quarrying. Look at how the Cooum river has almost been destroyed. Whenever I think of thatha-paati’s house, that foul smell comes to my mind. Moreover, some people are advocating this river-linking to solve all water problems. Even assuming that herculean engineering feat is achieved, how do we manage the interstate water conflict given the fact that there is no comprehensive water policy in the country even now?
Kuppu: err.. pattamma you are asking too many questions. Why don’t you go to sleep now? If your amma finds out that you have still not slept, she will scold both of us. Here listen to this music and sleep.

“Omana thingal kidavo” song from Bombay Jayashree’s Vatsalyam album plays on the CD player as both of them doze off.

Source: wikipedia, Frontline, Countercurrents