Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Remembering Mahakavi Bharathi on his 128th birthday
Saturday, December 12, 2009
T R Bhat, a visionary and pro-active Trade Union leader

Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Forgotten centenary of legendary statesman C Subramanian (CS)

Sunday, November 8, 2009
Americans admire Dr Abdul Kalam as “renaissance man”
Friday, October 9, 2009
Dr Abdul Kalam's motivating speech to India Vision members - Part 1
Dr Abdul Kalam speech - Audio version in mp3 format. Please click to play the audio version of his speech. The audio streaming will be smooth in broadband connections. If the streaming is not smooth, you may right click this link and download the file in mp3 format and play through any mp3 player (26 mb)
The speech may also be viewed/listened/downloaded from the following links also:
Blip TV
Odeo
Podbazaar
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Team Everest reaches children through stories!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram - A place for 'patriotic pilgrimage'
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Give more; Take more happiness - Dr Abdul Kalam's exclusive message to Indian youth
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
A tiny tea stall is the hub for Kodambakkam 2020

Monday, June 22, 2009
A Professor who inspires hundreds of his students for social cause

When I heard about Friendz For Life (FFL) initiative by Pondicherry Engineering College, Pondicherry for inclusion in India Vision Group and Action 2020 Team, the alumni and the current students pointed their fingers only towards Prof. E Srinivasan, Professor of ECE in their College as their motivator. More than 500 Engineering graduates passed out of that college in the earlier years are in continuous contact with Prof. Srinivasan and help financially and otherwise various projects covering poor students of their own Alma-mater. Presently, Alumni not only help the students from their own Alma-Mater, but also the poor children outside.
Inspired by his motivation, the students of this PEC have developed an unique model of supporting the needy. While, the Alumni fund the projects, the current students of third and fourth year implement them meticulously. Even before they pass out of this College, they get the feel and joy of supporting the needy. The current students, when they pass out, join their seniors to fund the projects and their juniors implement the projects. This cycle goes on successfully for the past three years.
I could not resist the temptation of speaking to Prof. E Srinivasan. When I called him over his mobile, he was leaving his home to personally greet a poor boy who had completed 10th standard, out of the support by the Alumni of the College. How has he been motivating his students for social cause? What prompted him to do this?
Prof. ES joined the teaching profession in this College in 1987. He hails from a middle class rural family and as a student, he was observing the difficulties of various children in pursuing the education. That was in his back of his mind and waiting for an opportunity to burst. After an year of his joining the job, in 1988, one student by name Mohan whose mother was a house maid found difficulty in paying the examination fee of Rs.30/-. (Since PEC is a Govt. College, the fee structure used to be very nominal and even meritorious poor students used to join the college). Sensing this problem, he immediately paid Rs.30/- from his pocket and made him to sit for the examination. That was his turning point in his life. He proudly says, “Now Mohan is a Senior Officer in Government of India establishment and he also helps the other poor children in various form”.
After this incident, he wanted to help the poor students financially. Though these students were hailing from poor background, they were highly intelligent and used to be toppers in the classes. Prof. ES used to approach outsiders and his colleagues for collection of funds. “Many of them used to support; some of them used to ridicule and even irritate by rude behaviour. Many times, I have paid out of my own salary”, recalls Prof. ES. All such disappoints did not dampen Prof. ES. He was very firm on his mission.
Instead of depending on the outsiders, he thought of motivating his own students to help their needy juniors. “Student community in the Colleges is a fertile ground. At this stage, if we seed good thoughts, the students pick up fast and convert them into a banyan tree”, beamingly shares Prof. ES. His experiment started yielding results.
His students, after they get employment started getting in touch with him, because of his genuine intentions and shared the joy of helping the needy poor students of their Alma Mater. Now around 500 of his old students are in his network, supporting the poor students in one way or other. Now, they have also extended their wings to outside the college. They help the needy children, outside the purview of PEC.
Lakshmanan, hailing from a very poor family was supported by Prof.ES in 1997 to pursue his M.Tech at IIT, Chennai. Presently, he is employed in TCS and takes active role in his mission. Another Alumni Ananda Raj (1996 pass out), presently employed in an MNC in USA supports his mission with US $200 every month. “This contribution helps me to even commit some future projects”, says Prof. ES.
Hariharan(2004 batch PEC graduate) and Nunna Prasad (1996 PEC graduate) contribute regularly for the activities. In addition, a host of PEC alumni make significant contributions over longer intervals towards helping the needy students towards pursuing their educational aspirations. Many of them have even requested Prof. ES not to disclose their names.
2003 batch of Alumni have formed a group titled “Helping Hands” and they take active role in supporting the projects. 2006 batch students started ‘Friendz for Life’ (FFL), mentioned by me earlier.
“Now that many of my students have taken up the responsibility of managing the projects, I want to spend more time in identifying the projects and in motivating more students from our College. Normally 10 percent of the students are highly charged with social mind. With a small touch, they can be brought into our fold. Another 10 percent are fence sitters. If they are motivated, they will also join the brigade. I am proud that these students do not stop with sharing the money. They vibrate good energy in the places they work. This vibration is contagious. They motivate others too to help the society in their own style. My journey continues”, concludes Prof. ES in a humble tone.
India Vision 2020 Group and Action 2020 Team salute Prof. ES and the students for developing an unique model of service to the Nation.
Prof.ES Can be reached at esrinivasan2004@yahoo.co.in
Friday, May 29, 2009
S S Rajsekar conferred 'Hon. Lt. Governor' of Alabama State in USA
In the year 2000, when he turned 90, Mr CS founded 'National Agro Foundation' to initiate the Second Green Revolution. CS wanted to focus on "soil to market" in the Second Green Revolution. The first Green Revolution focussed on "seed to grain".
After the demise of CS, Mr S S Rajsekar, his son, continued the initiative with the support of many eminent people. Many eminent Institutions and Scientists are associated with this initiative. Presently, Mr N Ravi, Editor, The Hindu, one of the leading English National dailies of India is the Chairman of the Trust. Dr A P J Abdul Kalam was the Chairman of the Governing Council, till he became the President of India. Presently, Mr R K Pauchauri, an Internationally renowned Economist is the Chairman of the Governing Council of National Agro Foundation.
Mr S S Rajsekar presently holds the charge of 'Managing Trustee'. In appreciation of the efforts done by National Agro Foundation, Mr Rajsekar was presented with a certificate appointing him as Honorary Lt Governor of the Alabama State by the Lt Governor of Alabama Jim Folsom in Montgomery last week (picture below) . During September 2009, Mr Rajsekar will be making presentation to the Commissioners of Agriculture of all the 50 States of USA.

Thursday, April 23, 2009
UnSung Heroes - Bhumi Chennai, a group of young students and professionals

PodUniversal Edition 74

Bhumi Chennai, an organisation started by young students in 2006 is now undertaking few education and environment projects benefiting around 500 people. In an exclusive interview for PodUniversal, Prakash (President), Ayyappan (Treaurer) and Vaishnavi (Secretary General) explain their activities. They can be contacted through their website http://www.bhumichennai.org/
Please listen to their interview by clicking 'play' button in the flash player. (The audio streaming will be smooth in broad band connections. If the streaming is not smooth, please right click this link and save the mp3 format to your desktop and listen.
The audio may also be listened in the following link
http://www.podbazaar.com/permalink/144115188075857399
Wednesday, March 25, 2009

India will be electing her 15th Lok Sabha shortly and the Election Commission has already initiated the election process. India is the world's largest democracy and this election will be the biggest election on the earth with the participation of 714 eligible voters.
India Vision 2020 Group, the popular online group of patriots has started the "Celebrate Democracy - Vote India" campaign. As part of the campaign, we got the exclusive audio message from former Indian President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam. In his message, he says
"a great opportunity provided to us to elect the members who will be guiding the destiny of the nation for the next five years. The right to vote is a sacred right and an onerous responsibility that we owe to the motherland. The dawn of beautiful India is in our mind and then in our deeds. The deed for the day of the election for us is to cast our vote and be a proud contributor to the success of the spirit of democracy of the largest and dynamic democracy of all democracies. Dear friends, let us all go ahead and exercise our fundamental right to vote and elect the righteous candidate."
He has also set 5 Point Mission to the MPs who will be elected to the 15th Lok Sabha. Dr Kalam feels that we should give the MPs the task and then we need to evaluate their performance. He also wants a 'movement' should start for this.
Visual Podcast
Please listen to his interview by clicking 'play' button. (The streaming of audio and visuals will be smooth in broad band connections. If the streaming is not smooth, please download the file in wmv format and play through your windows media player) - 7 m 50 s
Audio Podcast
You may listen to the audio of Dr Abdul Kalam by clicking the 'play' button of the flash player. (If the streaming is not smooth, you may download the file in mp3 format and play in your mp3 player)
The podcasts may also be listened at
http://blip.tv/file/1916767/
http://podbazaar.com/permalink/144115188075857379
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Prof. M Ramadass - the only MP releasing his performance report annually to voters for appraisal

Normally, we have heard of teachers sending the progress reports of their students to the parents and also employees in Corporates submitting their performance appraisal to their employers. In politics, never we have heard that any politician submitting his performance report to his electors for appraisal. Prof. M Ramadass, (PMK party), Member of Parliament representing Pondicherry constituency in the 14th Lok Sabha has been submitting his performance report to his voters for the past five years annually.
Prof. Ramadass, an Economic Professor turned Member of Parliament for the first time has raised and asked 504 issues/questions in the 14th Lok Sabha. He has attended 96% of the Parliament sittings. He has used more than 100 percent of the MPLAD funds, drawing the excess from the unutilised funds left by his predecessor. He is rated as 5th for utilising MPLAD funds in the Lok Sabha. He is an ardent user of Parliament library, even during holidays.
In an exclusive interview for PodUniversal, he has shared his success story. and his views on how the members can utilise the opportunity to serve the people. Please listen to his interview by clicking 'play' button in the flash player below. (12 m 30 s)
(The streaming will be smooth in broadband connections. If the streaming of audio is not smooth, please download the audio in mp3 format and play in your mp3 player)
This podcast may also be listened from
http://www.podbazaar.com/permalink/144115188075857373
To download - Right click this link and save to your desktop (11 mb)
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Shailendra Kumar (Uttar Pradesh) - A top performer in 14th Lok Sabha

we are now featuring Mr Shailendra Kumar, a Samajwadi Party MP from Uttar Pradesh. Mr Shailendra Kumar has been rated as No 1 for participating more number of times in debates and legislative business. He has participated in 340 times. (The average for the Lok Sabha is 24 times per member and 57 members did not participate) He has served Uttar Pradesh Legislative assembly for two terms Lok Sabha for two terms, including the 14th Lok Sabha. He hails from a popular and well known political family of UP. I congratulated and interviewed him over mobile, while he was touring in his constituency. Please listen to his interview by clicking 'play' button. (8 m 35s)
The streaming of the audio will be smooth in broadband connections. If you the streaming is not smooth, you may download the audio in mp3 format and play in your player.
The Podcast may also be listened from
http://www.podbazaar.com/permalink/144115188075857372
To download in mp3 format - Right click this link and save to your desktop ( 7 mb)
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
A V Adsul (Maharashtra) - A top performer in 14th Lok Sabha

He was earlier the member of 11th and 13th Lok Sabha. He was elected to 14th Lok Sabha in 2004 for third term. He was also the Minister of State for Finance and Company affairs during the NDA Government, when Mr Vajpayee was the Prime Minister.
In an exclusive interview with PodUniversal, (recorded over mobile around mid-night, while he was touring in his constituency), he shares his achievements and also explains as to how the Members of Parliament can make use of the opportunity available for helping the society.
Please listen to his interview by clicking 'play' button. 13 minutes (The streaming of audio will be smooth in broadband connections. If the audio is not smooth, you may download the audio in mp3 format, and play in your mp3 player)
The Podcast Interview may also be listened from the following link
http://www.podbazaar.com/permalink/144115188075857371
To download - Right click this link and save to your desktop (11 MB)
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
V K Thummar - A top performer in 14th Lok Sabha - Interview

After the announcement of Geneal Elections 2009, we have started featuring the top perfomers in the Lok Sabha. In this edition, we are featuring Mr V K Thummar, another Member of Parliament from Gujarat.
Mr Virjibhai Thummar, Congress Member of Parliament from Amreli Constituency has stood second in the 14th Lok Sabha, for raising issues under Rule 377. He has also raised more than 500 questions in the Lok Sabha using the Question hours.
He was the member of Gujarat Legislative Assembly for two terms before entering into Lok Sabha. He was elected to Lok Sabha during 2004 for the first time. During his first term itself, he proved his performance.
Hailing from a farmer's family, he had always took up the farmers' issue in the Lok Sabha. On behalf of PodUniversal, we interviewed him over phone. If he is re-elected to the 15th Lok Sabha, he would like to achieve Number 1 position in the Lok Sabha under various categories of performance. PodUniversal congratulates him on his achievement and wishes him all the best in future.
Please listen to his podcast by clicking 'play' button (12 m 50 s) (The streaming will be smooth in broadband connections. If you find the streaming is not smooth, please download the audio in mp3 format and play through your mp3 player)
The podcast can also be listened from the following link
http://www.podbazaar.com/permalink/144115188075857368
To download - Right click this link and save to your desktop
Saturday, March 7, 2009
S K Kharventhan - One of the top 5 performers in 14th Lok Sabha

In the closing session of 14th Lok Sabha, Hon'ble Speaker Mr Somnath Chatterjee expressed his serious concern over the poor performance of the members. He also shared that nearly 24% of Lok Sabha time was wasted in shouting. We also published a poodcast from Mr Era Chezhian last week in this issue, expressing our serious concern.
Now, the media has started analysing the performance of the Members of Parliament in 14th Lok Sabha. While, we blame the members for non performance, we thought, we should also appreciate good performers, who took their job seriously. We have decided to feature some of the top performers, who are the motivators for other Members.
14th Lok Sabha had 14 sessions during the tenure.
Mr S K Kharventhan, Member of Parliament (Congress) from Palani (Tamilnadu) Constituency has emerged as one of the top 5 performers in the 14th Lok Sabha (all 14 sessions combined) in the following areas:
1. Issues raised under Rule 377 : Members can raise important public issues under Rule 377 to draw the attention of the Government and the Public. Mr Kharventhan stood as No 1 in raising such issues. He has raised 377 issues. (Average is 6 issues per member - 176 members did not raise any issue)
2. Question hour is an important time for raising questions on public interest. The average questions raised by the members in the 14th Lok Sabha is 167 per member and 78 Members did not raise any questions. Mr Kharventhan has rasied 1200 questions and remains in the top 5 performers under this category.
3. Participation in debates: There is a general feeling that Members did not participate in the debates in connection with legislative business, bills, budgets, etc. The average for 14th Lok Sabha was 24 times per Member. 57 Members did not participate. Mr Kharventhan has participated in 187 times and remains 6th or 7th amongst the top performers.
4. Usage of library: He was using the Parliament Library extensively to prepare his notes on various debates.
5. MP funds: He has utilised 100% of the MP funds for welfare projects in his constituency and 99% of the projects have already been implemented.
He will be contesting the elections this time also, if his party permits. If he is re-elected, he wants to score No 1 position in all the above areas in the 15th Lok Sabha.
PodUniversal congratulates him for his top performance and wishes him all the best. Please listen to his interview recorded over phone on 6th March 2009. Please click to play. ( 9 Minutes) The streaming of the audio will be smooth in broad band connections. If your streaming is not smooth, you may download the mp3 format and play through your mp3 player.
This podcast can also be listened from the following link
http://www.podbazaar.com/permalink/144115188075857366
Right click this link to download the audio in mp3 and save to desktop.