Nisanth

@PMNehru "Modi's overseas titles" files would be an interesting research area to make a documentary/film about this much involvement in getting this PR acts done or about the ministry involved in it.

Today, Narendra Modi received the 'Guardian of the Blue Horizon' title in Seychelles. A few things about this title: 1. Modi is the first and only person to receive this title. 2. It is not part of the regular national awards/medals system (those have existed since 2022 for citizens). 3. Seychelles' Cabinet formally approved the creation of this special Presidential distinction just four days before Modi's visit. 4. Official descriptions call it a "symbolic Presidential recognition" and "special presidential" distinction. If anyone still thinks that these 'honorary' titles that he receives aren't requested by his PR personnel, I have a Taj Mahal to sell them.

@TNGeography Same as with the problem in TN toxic waste issue. The problem is, more tamils see it as a lucrative business, than the malayalees conspirating against tamil land. The correction is within us but such kind of thinking won't have an anchor point in the tamil psyche & politics.

This is happening a lot, most Indian claim conspiracy against India. Sadly, indian farming is getting more toxic, destroying our soil, river, environment, and health. Our food has more chemicals than ever

1877 was the worst year in Tamil Nadu history, we suffered the Thathu Panjam (தாது வருடப் பஞ்சம்), 1/5th of Tamils died in hunger, almost all are affected, most death in Tamils history. In 2026, we may see super El Nino on the likes of 1877 (lets hope IoD help us). 1/2

@americakaran They might not have looked into the "Joseph" part.

This is where class analysis of political support comes in.

@guptar This was not the norm when the duopoly existed before for almost half the century. Vijay is from outside of the establishment, so he naturally breeds the new culture.

I am quite charmed by Tamil Nadu's political civility. Of course, there are behind the scenes power machinations etc but on the whole outgoing and new Chief Ministers have comported themselves with fair amount of grace

@Tim_Clif The bitter part is, they have silently transformed it.

I'll tell you the most ignored major city, it's Hyderabad. What even happens there ? Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata are always in news for good or bad reasons. But nobody hears any news from Hyderabad despite it being such an important city.

@americakaran That was the not the case for tamils. We had the most IAS fueled government since 2000's. Every numbers of this govt were not prosperous economic realities apart from cash transfers. Also, state was tamed to sow communal roots in all possible ways.

Honestly disappointed in Tamil Nadu. DMK ran the most competent government in India. But I trust them to make it work out. Tamils make things work.

@Aunindyo2023 simply to say that the system was a very weak one, patronised by both the parties for so long time. Now, it has opened up deep cracks in all spheres that is long past the post to be reversed politically for them to hold power comfortably again. Vijay, brilliantly captured on it.

How did Stalin lose despite such high economic growth in Tamil Nadu? Actually, he lost because of it. It is true that factory production has grown at a remarkable pace under the DMK - three times as fast as the rest of India. But this has come at the expense of the states workers - often from the most exploited castes - who work long hours for poor pay. This is especially true in the Coimbatore-Tiruppur textile and garment belt. Several investigations have revealed that young underage girls are employed in these factories, under a modern day variant of bonded labour. Even in the more 'modern' electronics industry, wages have been stagnant for years and workers have been angry for a while. A case in point, is the 38-day Samsung strike in Sriperumbudur in late 2024, where workers complained of poor working conditions and low pay hikes. But this is no different from other states with robust factory sectors. Everywhere real income of workers has been stagnant for over a decade, while profits have shot up. What makes Tamil Nadu different is that its business class has a much wider base, unlike other states where a few families and conglomerates control everything. This means, it is much more difficult for a party in power to develop a symbiotic relationship with the corporates of the state. In other states, it has been historically possible for the state govt to patronise a few business houses, and in return get funding and financial heft to control institutions, including the media. In Tamil Nadu, favouritism in govt contracts immediately gets a pushback from those left behind, because they also have signficant clout. Stalin's govt has been accused of favouring a few corporates in doling out govt contracts in several sectors. The AIADMK even submitted a formal dossier, this January, alleging irregularities in govt contracts worth ₹4 lakh crore. It is not that Tamil Nadu doesn't have large business houses. There are several - TVS, Murugappa, Amalgamation, Sanmar, Ramco, etc - and their relationship with Dravidian politics has been well studied by scholars. But many of these have had a love-hate relationship DMK-aligned entitites like the Sun group, owned by the Marans. Although Stalin fell out with his cousins - the Marans - they reconciled and the relationship has been stable since then. There were even reports last year that Stalin had personally intervened to resolve disputes within the Maran family. That is why Sun's shares crashed on the 4th, when it became clear that the DMK was heading for a crushing defeat. The point is that Tamil Nadu's stellar economic growth hides internal tensions - from inter-capitalist rivalries to worker agitations - which erupt every now and then. This time, these tensions have combined to push up Joseph Vijay, and take down MK Stalin.

@americakaran The linguistic pride facade of DMK for so many years was just for power & brand consolidation. Large no of masses silently authorise vijay as 1st (ethnic) tamil to lead the state since kamaraj. This is where & how the "leader of Tamilakam" rebrands itself now post Dravidianism.

@vantagept_ Oh I understand. Their arrogance, rowdyism, dynasticism. But I view Stalin as a leader for Tamilagam, he did that role. I don’t and cannot see Vijay that way. Not yet atleast

While I celebrate the loss of Communists in Tamilakam, I’m worried about the Joseph/Stalin victory/defeat. Stalin deserved better.

@americakaran Don't know much about it other than took some medicines. Can you elaborate?

@vantagept_ Is it scientific?

Bad ideas linger in India longer than most places. It will take far longer to get rid of European pseudo-medicine than it took to reject European pseudo-economics. Frankly India would’ve been far better off if a century ago when such nonsense was mainstream no one was literate.

@americakaran Why do call it a pseudo? Any specific reasons?

@vantagept_ Homeopathy

@RishiJoeSanu Numbers were not converted to prosperous realities, (esp in TN anymore). Mallus should calm down a little bit rather than kanging for a 3 generational notorious oligarchy rule. This 5 year rule was a modi style governance with dravidian (political) characteristics.

Clocking an annual GDP growth rate of 11% is apparently not enough to win an election in Tamil Nadu.

@mxtaverse TN had a heavy undercurrent wave against the ruling govt, hidden & deliberately underplayed by the media (still), which was felt clearly on the polling day. Hope, this proves to be numbers on 4th.

If this actually happens, this will be the greatest electoral debut in India's election history.

@americakaran Ltte like stuff never will happen in tamil modern history. Lankan tamils are very different in their linguistic identity & approach than the indian ones, who were continuously subjugated by foreign rulers about 700 years. TN tamil is just a perfect modern wage slave for globalism

No one in South Asia can do what Tamils are capable of. (Only Telugus come close). They are our most Asian society. There’s a reason other Indian terrorists do not look like LTTE, possibly the most organized, disciplined and innovative terrorist group ever.

@TNGeography Question is how come we achieve as an entrepreneurial society, with this hostile social & business environment & gundaism based identity politics. As an youngster it's really heavy & tiresome to grow/even start to think clear in this situation. How do you think the way forward?

Tamil Nadu faces one of the most crucial elections in its history. With population growth stabilising & the average age now 36+, the next 10 yrs will decide: will TN remain lower-middle-class or finally rise to upper-middle-class prosperity? Need eagle-eyed focus on economy 1/3

@IndianTintin_ So true, even tamil anti-caste directors who have a alleged reputation of making their own caste as their main crew, repeatedly casted mallu & other non tamil heroines as their female leads. When confronted, they simply dismissed it as "prefers dedication over skin color".

What explains Tamil Cinema's obsession with North-Western and South-Western girls? Why do casting directors, producers and directors avoid Tamil non Brahmin women? Malayali, Tuluva, Kodava, Konkani, Punjabi, Brahmin and Sindhi women are 95%+ Tamil heroines. Simple answer: Colourism. AASIphobia. Self-hatred. The Dravidianist ideologue makes movies on oppression, depression, repression, supression and benchpression, claims to be progressive, all the while hating what he sees in the mirror.

There was a time when humor was generated mostly by closely observing the world and poking fun at human foibles, pretentions & irrationalities. Now it's all about harsh takedowns and crudeness. Very off-putting

@americakaran No, in a poltical sense, tamil identity (not dravidian) & phases like "TN for tamils only", "an ethnic tamil should rule TN" are still fringe ideas & dismissed as rabble rousing in TN politics. The Word "dravidian stock" & "tamil stock" has a deep distinction in tamil politics.

@vantagept_ Tamil ethnic identity is rather strong?

Kerala sees this, and raises the stakes. We have three world religions, not two. Including nearly every stripe of Christianity: Western/Eastern Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican, Evangelical, Assyrian CotE. And atleast one synagogue, gurudwara, Parsi fire temple.