Selwin E. Prabakar

The Shawshank Redemption flopped in theaters, $16 million worldwide on a $25 million budget, opening weekend just $727,000 in 1994, it disappeared almost immediately. It lost all seven Oscar nominations to Forrest Gump, no awards, no box office, the studio labeled it a failure and the director walked away devastated. Then something quiet started happening, VHS rentals, cable reruns, someone watching it alone on a Tuesday night and calling a friend the next morning. People who watched it told their friends, their friends told more people, it spread slowly, one recommendation at a time, no marketing push just genuine word of mouth. By 2008 it reached number one on IMDb, the audience voted it the greatest film ever made and it has stayed there ever since. It took 14 years to get there, a box office bomb turned into the highest rated film in history, built entirely by viewers long after the studio had already moved on.

The ECI’s Boxing Ring: Awarding the Cup to the One Who Got Pummeled The Election Commission of India (ECI) @ECISVEEP has just performed a masterclass in irony. By recalling Sandeep Mittal’s transfer in an attempt to signal "integrity," they have instead exposed a much larger, more systemic failure: the elevation of Sandeep Rai Rathore as DGP (HoPF). If the ECI were a referee in a boxing match, they would be the ones handing the championship belt to the fighter who spent 12 rounds face-down on the ring, simply because he "sustained the most bruises." It is pure Vadivelu-tier logic: "Look at my injuries; I deserve the cup!" Imagine a student from the Class of 1992. While his classmates have long since graduated and are now leading departments, this student by name Sandeep Rai Rathore is still sitting in a classroom with the Class of 1995/96. The documents do not lie. Look at the ones here. In the February 26, 2024 order, Rathore’s 1992 batchmates (Golcha, Saxena, Prabhat, and others) were empanelled as DGs/DG Equivalents at the Centre. Exactly the same year, same month February 4, 2024 order, Rathore is listed at Serial No. 1, but look at the rank: ADG/ADG Equivalent. He was empaneled as an ADGP alongside officers from the 1993, 1994, and 1995 batches. In the world of bureaucracy, this isn't just a "delay", it is a demotion by merit. It is perhaps the most disgraceful milestone in a bureaucrat's career. While his peers were deemed fit to lead at the highest level (DG), the Central Government’s "360-degree analysis" clearly flagged Rathore’s record, keeping him stuck at the ADGP level. How does an officer deemed unfit for DG empanelment by the Government of India suddenly become the ECI’s "Gold Medalist" for the top job in the State? This is the critical question the media is failing to ask. Technically, Rathore is a squatter in a rank he has not earned through Central empanelment. By appointing him, the ECI is not just ignoring seniority; they are ignoring the integrity clearances that held him back in the first place. This sets a very bad precedence for entire bureaucracy and ECI, a Constitutional body is setting this bad precedence. The ECI has essentially made a "failed student" as the "best outgoing performer." If the ECI wants to salvage its credibility as a Constitutional body, it must look at the "Grade Sheet." If the Centre maintains that an officer is unfit for DG empanelment, that officer is unfit to lead a state’s police force as HoPF during an election. It is that simple. You cannot award the DGP (HoPF) post to an officer who is effectively "repeating a grade" while his peers have moved on. A boxing ring should not reward the person who took the most hits due to their own lack of defense and capability. The ECI needs to stop being a "sympathetic spectator" and start being a referee. Mr. Gyanesh Kumar may have been misled; however, he now has a critical duty to protect the institutional integrity of the Election Commission of India, the highest body in the pillars of Indian democracy. Dear @ECISVEEP @SpokespersonECI: Integrity is not a participation trophy. You must recall Sandeep Rai Rathore and uphold the institutional integrity of the ECI, as well as the merit-based values enshrined in the Indian bureaucracy.

In Jubilee Hills, a drunk driver driving a BMW was caught using a high-tech system to swap number plates and dodge traffic fines, Traffic cops left stunned as the accused tried to fool them with remote operated Chinese flip number plates. Case registered. #Hyderabad

பிரபல திரைப்பட பாடகி ஆஷா போஸ்லே (92) காலமானார் - வைரமுத்து இரங்கல் #AshaBhosle | #RIPAshaBhosle | #Vairamuthu

This is brilliant. To write all the jokes in such quick time and put it out there. SNL rocks!

How can Sandeep Rai Rathore, (Elections) DGP unilaterally issue an order assigning “full additional charge” of DVAC to Sandeep Mittal ? 1. Isn’t this unilateral order assigning Sandeep Mittal with additional charge of DVAC in violation of ECI’s communication dated 11.4.2026 ? How can the communication of ECI be overruled during elections ? 2. In any case, can the DGP issue such an appointment / transfer order ? Isn’t the Home Department of the State Govt the competent authority to issue such orders ? Good that the newly appointed Home Secretary by the ECI has corrected the error by (Elections) DGP. Nevertheless, all these could have been avoided if ECI was careful enough to understand that Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption is no way connected to conduct of elections.

‘Zakaria’s annoyance at Trump’s transactional style is the embarrassment of a sarkari liberal used to servicing American power via the rhetoric of free trade, the free world and the furtherance of democracy.’ [Telegraph India]

I understand that Mr N Muruganandam, who was Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary till a few days ago, demitted his charge within minutes of the Election Commission's communication. It was very nice of him to have called his successor Dr M Saikumar and informed him of the development. I strongly feel that the EC need not hv disturbed Mr Muruganandam. Two, the EC specifying time limit for very senior officers doesn't look nice. After all, all these officers have served the govt for over 30 years. At this stage of their career, they need to be treated respectfully.

Many of us may have experienced this. Author spot on.

“Can God reveal Himself to humanity? And, to be more specific, can He reveal himself in language, the specifics of which become normative for Christian faith and action? With an inerrant Bible these things are possible. Without it, theology inevitably enters a wasteland of human speculation. The church, which needs a sure Word of God, flounders. Without an inerrant revelation, theology is not only adrift, it is meaningless. Having repudiated its right to speak on the basis of Scripture, it forfeits its right to speak on any other issue as well.” — James Montgomery Boice (1938–2000) “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” — 2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV) “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” — Isaiah 40:8 (ESV)

இந்திய தேர்தல் ஆணையம் @ECISVEEP மற்றும் @tnpoliceoffl -ன் DGP அலுவலகம் இணைந்து ஆடும் அரசியல் ஆட்டம் மிக மோசமானதாக இருக்கிறது Vigilance Commissioner-ன் அதிகாரத்திற்குட்ட விவகாரத்தில் DGP அலுவலகம் சட்டவிரோதமாக தலையிட்டுள்ளது தேர்தல் ஆணையம் திரு.சந்தீப் மிட்டலை DVAC இயக்குநர் பொறுப்பில் இருந்து நீக்கி Armed Force DGP-ஆக மட்டும் நியமித்து 11-04-2026 அன்று உத்தரவிட்டது ஆனால் @ECISVEEP ன் இந்த உத்தரவையும் மீறி அதே தினம் @tnpoliceoffl-ன் DGP சந்தீப்ராய் ரத்தோர் சட்டவிரோதமாக திரு.சந்தீப் மிட்டலுக்கு கடிதம் எழுதி DVAC இயக்குநர் பொறுப்பை கூடுதலாக கவனிக்க வேண்டுமென கடிதம் எழுதியுள்ளார் உண்மையில் நடப்பதையெல்லாம் பார்த்தால் மிகவும் ஆச்சர்யமாக உள்ளது DVAC இயக்குநர் விவகாரத்தில் மாநிலத்தின் DGP எப்படி தலையிட இயலும் !? அதுவும் தேர்தல் நடத்தை விதிமுறைகள் அமலில் இருக்கும் போது !! தேர்தல் ஆணையத்தின் உத்தரவு பிறப்பித்து பின்னரும் கடிதம் எழுதியுள்ளார் ! என்ன தான் நடக்கிறது @ECISVEEP ? இப்படி வெளிப்படையாக அதிகார துஷ்பிரயோகம் செய்த DGP மீது @ECISVEEP @TNelectionsCEO கடும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும்

Glaring abuse of office by @tnpoliceoffl DGP Mr.Sandeep Rai Rathore @ECISVEEP appointed Elections DGP Mr.Sandeep Rai has overstepped his authority and overruled the orders of the Election Commission of India. ECI vide communication dated 11.4.2026 had withdrawn the appointment of @smittal_ips as Director of DVAC and placed him as DGP, Armed Force. Overruling the said communication of @ECISVEEP @TNelectionsCEO , Mr.Rathore has issued a unilateral order (11-04-26) giving additional charge of Director, DVAC to the same Mr.Sandeep Mittal, IPS It is noteworthy that Mr.Rathore is not even the competent authority to issue any such appointment orders as the powers are vested with the Home Department of TN Govt In either case, no such orders could have been passed without the direction of ECI and MCC is in place By issuing such an order, Mr.Rathore has not just acted against the communication of ECI but also violated the service rules as Home Department is the competent authority to issue appoint / transfer orders in the police force. Why is Rathore desperate to have a person of his choice as Director of DVAC ? Is it because of a pending vigilance (DE) enquiry against him in DVAC By acting hastily,DGP of @tnpoliceoffl has violated both the ECI orders and the Govt rules

Holy cow. I’ve been reading the Rockefeller archives, and found this gem, where John D. Rockefeller comments on Napoleon Bonaparte. "It is hard to imagine Napoleon as a business man, but I have thought that if he had applied himself to commerce and industry he would have been the greatest business man the world had ever known. My, what a genius for organization! He also had what I have always regarded as a prime necessity for large success in any enterprise - that is a thorough understanding of men and ability to inspire in them confidence in him and what is of equal importance, confidence in themselves. See the men he picked as Marshalls, and the heights to which they rose under his inspiration and leadership. It is by such traits as these, that men get the world of the world done. It is all a battlefield. Bonaparte, without the able marshals he had about him, would not have been the master of his age. he went into a battle with the knowledge that his marshals could be depended on - that in a given situation they could be relied upon do to the necessary thing. Their devotion to him, coupled with their enthusiasm - that’s another great attribute - and the qualities which his influence upon them brought out, won the fight. Another thing about Napoleon was his virility - his humanity. I mean humanity in the broad sense, of course. He was a human being, and virile because he came direct from the ranks of the people. There was none of the stagnant blood of nobility or royalty in his veins. There’s where he had the advantage over the the monarchs of Europe to begin with. He could think quicker and along more individual and original lines than any of them. And being from the people, he was in close touch with the people. The men with whom he had to combat didn’t understand either him, or the people and it is always hard to successful control what you don’t understand. Napoleon didn’t play the game, as the saying goes, as they understood it. And then, coming direct from the people he had the sympathy; he appealed to their imagination; Europe had not yet been education to the fact that it could get along without any kings at all, and the French people, I believe, reasoned that if they have to have king to rule them, it was better to have a king of their own kind and from their own ranks, than from the breed which had ruled them for a thousand years. In an age when the people had been but recently released from slavery and had not acquired the art of governing themselves, leaders of their own kind were few, and that made it easier for Napoleon to rise to the heights which he attained. A Napoleon would be impossible in our day. Democracy has educated us away from such a think. There are too many able and ambitious rivals to hold in check one who aimed too high."

🤭

Worst party. Worst leader. Worst followers.

Somebody explain it to him before his anxiety level peaks 😂

After DMK flags DGP (DVAC) Sandeep Mittal's pro-RSS and politically partisan social media posts, EC modifies his posting and confines his responsibility to the Armed Police alone.

தமிழக அரசின் புதிய உள்துறைச் செயலாளராக மணிவாசன் ஐஏஎஸ் நியமனம் -இந்திய தேர்தல் ஆணையம் உத்தரவு

தேர்தலை முன்னிட்டு தமிழகத்தில் இதுவரை மாற்றப்பட்டுள்ள முக்கிய அதிகாரிகள் #TNSecretariat | #TNGovernment | #ECI | #Election2026

As pointed out by many, Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption is no way linked to active election duty, yet, ECI transferred DGP, DVAC too. Now realising the error, ECI has modified the transfer order.