Shaastra 2008 , the annual technical festival of IIT Madras was inaugurated along with the Golden Jubilee conclave of IIT Madras in its newly renovated and airconditioned Students Activity Centre.I was pleasantly surprised to see the way the students organized the event right from registration desk to escorting us to our designated round table seating in the auditorium. The theme of the conclave is “Celebrating the spirit of emergent India”.The event attracted several sponsors indicating how Shaastra has evolved into the most sought after technical festival of the country. I had a chance to interact with Ms Kanimozhi , MP and daughter of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Dr M Karunanidhi .She is also a revered writer, social activist and poet having a great influence over the young population . Kanimozhi with her charming and endearing personality not having any political controversy has promise to make it really big in Indian politics.I will not be even surprised if she becomes the Chief Minister of TN some day. She was narrating how challenging it is for a Chief Minister’s daughter to enter politics in view of the mounting expectations and also being under scanner and spotlight right from the day one , not giving any room to make mistake and learn . Rather it is much easier for an ordinary person to enter politics since you get more time to settle down and can also afford to make mistakes.

Oct 2 ,2008 will be remembered in India for another reason. Smoking in Public places is banned in India from this day on.Dr A Ramadoss, the Union Minister of Health and family welfare who also attended the function outlined four evils as Tobacco, Alcohol,Junk foods and drugs and asked the youth to stay away ,more so since India has more than 600 Million people below the age of 30 years which can be turned into a great asset for India. Contrary to the belief that a ban on smoking will bring down sales in pubs , he was giving the example of how in Ireland the revenue in Irish pubs has doubled following a ban on smoking. Ban on smoking will essentially attract many new customers who prefer smoke free environment. I had earlier formed a different opinion on Dr Ramadoss as an arrogant person unduly flaunting the legislative power following his controversial interference at the AIIMS .But now having met him I must change my opinion to that of a Minister who knows his subject . He is not arrogant but extremely confident of what he believes in and he is one of those who would do anything to realize his vision . I also had a chance to hear Dr Ramachandra Guha on the occasion .He touched upon the greatness of India’s religious pluralism and linguistic diversity . It is on the language issue ( imposing Urdu over Bangla) that the East Pakistan got separated from Pakistan. Again it is on this language issue ( imposition of Ceylonese over Tamil) that the movement for a separate Tamil Land started there. India is managing this linguistic diversity very well. He reminded that India has more Muslims living in it than Pakistan and India has more Christians living in it than Australlia. This religious pluralism must be managed well in India. What is worrying most is the inequal growth and exploitations in the society that is giving rise to the Maoist movements in AP, MP, Chattisgarh, Bihar, Orissa and some parts of Bengal. If not addressed well this movement very soon may spread into the heartland of urban society . It is a wake up call for all of us .