Nuclear power is our gateway to a prosperous future - A.P.J Abdul Kalam & Srijan Pal Singh

Courtesy: The Hindu.

Online link: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article2601471.ece

Published in print edition of The Hindu Open page as a special Essay on 06/11/2011

'Economic growth will need massive energy. Will we allow an accident in Japan, in a 40-year-old reactor at Fukushima, arising out of extreme natural stresses, to derail our dreams to be an economically developed nation?'

Every single atom in the universe carries an unimaginably powerful battery within its heart, called the nucleus. This form of energy, often called Type-1 fuel, is hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of times more powerful than the conventional Type-0 fuels, which are basically dead plants and animals existing in the form of coal, petroleum, natural gas and other forms of fossil fuel. To put things in perspective, imagine a kilometre-long train, with about 50 freight bogies, all fully laden with the most typical fossil fuel — about 10,000 tonnes of coal. The same amount of energy can be generated by 500 kgⁱ of Type-1 fuel, naturally occurring Uranium, enough to barely fill the boot of a small car. When the technology is fully realised, one can do even better with naturally occurring Thorium, in which case the material required would be much less, about 62.5 kg, or even less according to some estimatesⁱⁱ, and thus enough to fit in a small bagⁱⁱⁱ. (Note: 500 kg of naturally occurring Uranium would contain about 3.5 kg of Uranium-235 fuel.)

Energy and economy

Energy is the most fundamental requirement of every society or nation as it progresses through the ladder of development. Of course, once it reaches a relative degree of development, the energy demand becomes more stable. There is a distinct and categorical correlation between the energy consumption and income of a nation — each reinforcing the other. Look around you: every step into progress comes with an addition of demand for energy — cars, ships and aircraft to move, hospitals to give quality healthcare, education, as it follows the model of e-connectivity, production of more and better goods, irrigation for better farming. In fact, every element of our lives is increasingly going to become energy-intensive — that is a necessary prerequisite for development. This is clearly reflected in the average energy consumption per person across nations — for instance, an average American consumes more than 15 times the energy consumed by an average Indian (see Figure 1)^iv

Today, India finds itself going through a phase of rapid ascent in economic empowerment. Industries are evolving at a significantly higher rate since liberalisation. Our focus for this decade will be on the development of key infrastructure and the uplifting of the 600,000 villages where 750 million people live, as vibrant engines of the economy. In 2008, we crossed the trillion-dollar mark, and it took more than six decades for us to reach that milestone. However, it is predicted that the Indian economy will double again, to reach the $2-trillion mark by 2016, and then again redouble, to reach the $4 trillion milestone by 2025^v. All this economic growth will need massive energy. It is predicted that the total electricity demand will grow from the current 150,000 MW to at least over 950,000 MW by the year 2030^vi — which will still be less than one-fourth of the current U.S. per capita energy need. In fact, by 2050, in all likelihood the demand could go even higher, and the per capita energy demand would be equal to the current French or Russian figure of about 6000 W per capita.

Analysing the international scenario on nuclear energy

So, will we allow an accident in Japan, in a 40-year-old reactor at Fukushima, arising out of extreme natural stresses, to derail our dreams to be an economically developed nation? When a few European countries, particularly Germany, decide to phase out nuclear power, that should not become a blanket argument to take a view against our nuclear programme.

A few things need to be put in context here. The decision of Germany suits its current scenario which goes beyond mere concerns of risk posed by nuclear power. Germany is a developed nation, a power-surplus nation — so it can afford to lose a few plants. More important, Germany has completely exhausted its nuclear resources. Against a total demand of 3,332 tonnes (2006-08)^vii it was able to produce only 68 tonnes (Note: This was the production in 2006) of Uranium, and for the deficit it was relying on imports^viii. Thus, nuclear energy never fits into its goal of energy independence. India, on the other hand, is the leader of the new resource of nuclear fuel called Thorium, which is considered to be the nuclear fuel of the future.

The Indian population is misled when it is said that some Western nations have ended their nuclear programme, or that Japan is reconsidering nuclear power plant expansion. Study the accompanying Table, 

which shows what share of energy these advanced nations are generating by means of nuclear power. 

 

The study indicates that most of the prosperous nations are extracting about 30-40 per cent of power from nuclear power and it constitutes a significant part of their clean energy portfolio, reducing the burden of combating climate change and the health hazards associated with pollution. Meanwhile in India, we are not generating even 5000 MW of nuclear power from the total of about 150 GW of electricity generation, most of it coming from coal.

We should be careful not to be carried away by the barrage of anti-nuclear news often being generated by many of the same nations that are enjoying the maximum benefits from it. The economically developed world has a well-trained habit of presenting their success in a distorted context to misguide emerging nations like India, which are a potential challenge to their neo-age proxy-imperial economic subjugation. What is needed for our India, we Indians have to decide.

Hence, we and we alone will decide what is the best needed action for our economic prosperity, based on our context and resource profile. India is blessed with the rare, and very important, nuclear fuel of the future – Thorium. We cannot afford to lose the opportunity to emerge as the energy capital of the world, which coupled with the largest youth power, will be our answer to emerge as the leading economy of the world. India has the potential to be the first nation to realise the dream of a fossil fuel-free nation, which will also relieve the nation of about $100 billion annually which we spend in importing petroleum and coal. Besides the billions spent on importing coal or oil, we are also importing millions of tonnes of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases, which are a hazard to the environment and human health. It is noteworthy that in 2010-11, India imported about 82 billion tonnes of coal^xii, a large fraction of which was for the thermal power plants. Experts believe that this number will continue to rise exponentially in the times ahead, as shown in Figure 3^xiii.

The greenest sources of power are definitely solar and wind. With abundant sunshine and places of high wind velocity, the nation definitely has potential for these forms of energy. But solar and wind power, despite all their advantages, are not stable and are dependent excessively on weather and sunshine conditions. Nuclear power, on the other hand, provides a relatively clean, high-density source of reliable energy with an international presence. Today, there are 29 countries operating 441 nuclear power plants, with a total capacity of about 375 GW(e). The industry now has more than 14,000 reactor-years of experience. Sixty more units, with a total target capacity of 58.6 GW, were under construction. (Note: This is according to data from 2010.)

Much of the destructive power of nuclear accidents is compared against the benchmarks of the atomic bombing of Japan by the U.S. forces during the Second World War. Pictures of mushroom clouds looming over cities, charred buildings, and massive death scenes are awakened to form our opinion of nuclear dangers and disasters. But that is far from the reality. It is poor judgment and a deliberate act of spreading fear to compare a nuclear bomb with a nuclear plant. The bomb is designed to deliver a large amount of energy over a very short period of time, leading to explosions, firestorms and massive heat energy generated to obliterate every object in its path. That is what a bomb is supposed to do!

Civilian nuclear applications in the form of a power plant, on the other hand, are designed to deliver small amounts of energy in a sustainable manner over a far larger time frame. It is designed with systems to control and cool the nuclear reaction. There are safety procedures and back-ups, and even in the event of failures, as in the 2011 disaster, the destructive might will never be even a fraction of what happens in the case of a nuclear bomb.

Nuclear risks

We need to put the Fukushima-Daiichi events in the historic frame of nuclear accidents and analyse them. While there was huge loss to property and disruption of normal life, there was no direct loss of life due to the accident or during the operation in its aftermath to contain it. As a silver lining, the way the accident was handled — compared to the Chernobyl disaster of 1986 — showed how much progress we have achieved in nuclear emergency management over a period of two and half decades. The Fukushima-Daiichi plant was almost five times as big in terms of power generation and, more significantly, contained about nine times the nuclear fuel at the time of the accident. Yet, with better emergency management learnt over the years, the maximum radiation was less than 0.4 per cent of that released during the Chernobyl disaster. So, while the Fukushima-Daiichi accident was unfortunate and needs review, one must also acknowledge the advancement of national and international capabilities to manage nuclear emergencies now.

Another argument which surrounds the nuclear debate is that nuclear accidents and the radiation fallout as the aftermath would not only harm the exposed generation but also continue to impact generations to come. If available facts and scientific inquiry was given more weightage than mere conjectures and comic-bookish imagination, this argument will in all probability be proved a myth. The strongest case of human exposure and destruction due to radiation is, without argument, the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombings of 1945. These are the only two occasions when nuclear force was intentionally developed and deployed to kill human life. Post the bombing, the U.S. government established the Atomic Bombing Casualty Commission (ABCC) in 1946 to assess the late-effects of radiation among the atomic bomb survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It operated for 30 years until, in 1974, it was reconstituted as a joint venture between the U.S. and Japan under the name of Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF). It is operational even today. The ABCC and the RERF have extensively studied the long-term impact of radiation and nuclear disaster across generations for over six decades now, and the findings throw light on the possible effects of radiation. Its report says that chronic (sustained) exposure of about 100 millisieverts (mSv, which is the international unit to measure radiation), increases cancer risk by 0.5 per cent to 0.7 per cent. Notably, the areas in close proximity of Fukushima had a peak exposure of 800 mSv^xiv. 

The Kudankulam atomic power project during construction

Of course, there is some correlation between radiation exposure and cancer risk, which must be acknowledged. But the notable aspect is that, contrary to popular belief, the findings clearly state that the effect of such exposure is limited only to the exposed generation. To quote the report, “Our studies have not found thus far any inherited genetic effects from parental radiation exposure among the children of A-bomb survivors.”^xv (Note: A-bomb stands for the atom bomb. Two atomic bombs were dropped by the U.S. on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, as part of the Second World War.) Thus, while radiation due to a nuclear disaster is dangerous, it would amount to wrong propaganda to state that nuclear disasters will affect generations to come. Of course, the technology has been advancing over the decades and the human capability to contain nuclear disasters has definitely advanced.

There is no doubt that nuclear power is superior along three dimensions, namely, energy density, effect on improved quality of living, and the economic benefits. Now let us look at the key challenges which pertain to the sector, especially in the wake of the recent natural disaster impacting the Daiichi plant in Fukushima. Two concerns are prominent here. The first is that of safety against the plant's disaster, and the second relates to the environmental impact and the nuclear waste which the plant generates.

Let us consider the second issue first.

Opportunity cost of nuclear energy

a) Abstinence from nuclear power is an incomplete response without the logical alternative. If we look at the complete picture of alternative measures, we will have to endorse the fact that our current and future energy demands have to be met. In economics, there is a concept called “opportunity cost,” which refers to the cost incurred when one chooses the next alternative. So what happens if we pronounce a total ban on nuclear energy generation? Some part of the future need, although only a small fraction, would come from solar and wind sources, with great unpredictability as pointed out earlier. A part would be offset by hydro-power too. But in all probability we will continue to increase our reliance on fossil-based fuel power generation methods, at least in the near and mid-term future. And that is where the problem lies.

Every year, human activities are adding about 30 billion tonnes of CO₂ ^xvi into the atmosphere. The IPCC estimates that 26 per cent of this emission (about 7.6 billion tonnes) is a direct consequence of electricity generation requirements. This is not really air pollution but it adds to the risk of climate change, which is exhibited in changing rainfall patterns, sea levels and temperatures, leading to food shortages, malnutrition, and disease alterations. The WHO estimates that about 1.3 million people^xvii lose their lives as a result of urban outdoor air pollution alone, and about 140,000 are causalities to adaptation challenges of climate change^xviii. (Note: Additionally, about two million lives are lost due to indoor pollution, the primary victims being women, and children under the age of five.) Thus, the pollution caused by power generation activities, and the climate change associated with them, are directly or indirectly responsible for about 481,000 deaths every year. Comparatively, in the case of the worst civilian nuclear disaster ever at Chernobyl, the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic radiation (UNSCEAR) predicted up to 4,000 cancer^xix cases (often curable) due to the accident, besides 57 direct causalities. Unclean fossil energy is definitely not sustainable in the future. Moreover, fossil-based fuels are fast depleting, and their scarcity is inspiring geopolitical instabilities around the world.

Furthermore, it is believed that the changing climate patterns will carry a costly adaptation price tag in the future — an enormous $300 billion every year, which will be a huge drain on the global GDP^xx. All these issues can be addressed only when we graduate from Type-0 fuels to the next-generation fuels — the most prominent amongst them being nuclear fuels, which will also power our deep space missions of the future. A standard approximate comparison between a 1000-MW coal plant and a similar nuclear plant is given in Table 6.

Safety issues of nuclear power

b) Now, let us delve more into the other issue — that of plant safety. Throughout the history of nuclear power generation there have been four major incidents of plant failure — the Kyshtym accident in fuel reprocessing in 1957, the relatively smaller Three Mile Island meltdown (United States), the much bigger Chernobyl accident (USSR, 1986) and the recent Japanese incident at Fukushima. The first accident was purely due to underdeveloped technology, and much of the blame for the next two disasters is attributed to human error. Even in the case of the Fukushima disaster of 2011, there were extraordinary natural forces in action — the rare occurrence of the tremendous stress load of an earthquake coupled with the unprecedented shear load of a tsunami. Of course, there is a need for better technology and more stable plant design across the world, but the occurrence of four failures in six decades cannot be made out as a case for completely disbanding the technology — which is one of our foremost keys to graduating beyond the fossil fuel-based low-end energy. The best of technological progress, while being the biggest ally of mankind, does come at an incremental risk. The key is to learn and evolve to mitigate the risk, rather than use the first incident as an excuse to disband science.

Let us take a few examples. In 1903, the Wright brothers translated into reality the remarkable dream of controlled human flight. Not more than half a decade later, in 1908, the first flight disaster occurred, which severely injured Orville Wright and killed his co-passenger. Many accidents followed, and even today air accidents kill more than 1,500 people every year. Imagine whether we would be flying between distant cities, across oceans and continents, if the incident of 1908, or the ones later, were used as a reason to disband human flight? When the mighty ship Titanic set sail in 1912, it was heralded as the pioneering mission in the field of large and comfortable ocean liners. But on its first voyage it struck an iceberg and sank, killing more than 1,500 people, more than two-thirds of those on board. But that never stopped our quest for bigger and faster means of ocean travel. The very first attempt to send man to the moon, Apollo-1, met with an accident and killed three prominent astronauts. It took another 10 missions, with mixed results, before Apollo-11 finally made it to the moon in 1969, with Neil Armstrong setting foot on the lunar surface and declaring to the world those never-to-be-forgotten words: “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Indeed, that small step was preceded by many a stumble.

The Indian space programme, which is now ranked among the best in the world, started with a failure in 1979 when our first rocket, instead of putting the satellite into a near-earth orbit, went into the Bay of Bengal. I was the Mission Director of the launch, and we were accused of putting a few crores of rupees into the sea. We did not wind up our dreams with that one accident and the criticism. The mission continued and the next year we were successful. Today, that programme, which started with a failure, is the first and only one to discover the presence of water on the moon with its Chandrayan mission, and is now a pride of the nation. The argument is, of course, that all failures and accidents propel us to think and develop better and safer technologies towards better service. And in the case of nuclear power, we do acknowledge that the effects of radiation can reach a wider impact zone. But then, improvement, and not escapism, should be our step forward.

Nuclear fuel of the future: Thorium

Let us introduce a lesser-known member among radioactive materials — Thorium. It is perhaps the best solution possible in the future and would be technologically and commercially the best option in another two decades. Thorium, the 90th element in the Periodic Table, is slightly lighter than Uranium. Thorium is far more abundant, by about four times^xxvi, than the traditional nuclear fuel, Uranium, and occurs in a far purer form, too. It is believed that the amount of energy contained in the Thorium reserves on earth is more than the combined total energy that is left in petroleum, coal, other fossil fuels and Uranium, all put together. And information revealed in an IAEA Report (2005) on Thorium fuels indicates that India might have the largest reserves of Thorium in the world, with over 650,000 tonnes. (Note: The IAEA, the International Atomic Energy Agency, is the world's centre of cooperation in the nuclear field. It was set up in 1957 as the world's ‘Atoms for Peace' organisation within the U.N. family.) This is more than one-fourth of the total deposits of Thorium; in comparison, we have barely 1 per cent of the world's Uranium deposits, which is currently being put to effective use, our having opted for the closed fuel cycle technology. Thorium has many other advantages. It is estimated that Thorium may be able to generate (through Uranium-233 that could be produced from it) eight times the amount of energy per unit mass compared to (natural) Uranium^xxvii. In the much debated issue of waste generation also, Thorium has a relative advantage. It produces waste that is relatively less toxic due to the absence of minor actinides (that are associated with Uranium).

At the same time, it is acknowledged that the long-lived high-level waste from Uranium, especially in light of the Indian strategy of adopting the closed fuel cycle involving reprocessing for the recovery of Plutonium and Uranium, can be effectively managed using technologies available today. Indian nuclear experts tell us that the relatively small volumes of such waste (long-term storage space of less than a quarter of the size of a football field is adequate for the estimated waste from a 1000 MWe plant) can be safely stored after vitrification for hundreds of years without causing any risk to the environment or the people.

One question that crops up is, why then has Uranium rather than Thorium become the popular choice for nuclear energy programmes across the world? There are two reasons: one is technological and the other is historical.

The technological reason stems from the simple fact that at first one needs to produce Uranium-233 from Thorium, and for this, reactors based on the naturally available nuclear fuel material, Uranium-235, are required. In addition, the recovery of Uranium-233 by large-scale reprocessing of irradiated thorium, as well as the likely presence of hard gamma emitting Uranium-232, pose certain practical hurdles. But according to experts, all these can be overcome technologically.

The second and the historical reason why Thorium has lagged behind in the ladder of development, comes from its advantage of being able to provide Thorium-based fuel, as seen from the context of the relatively unstable geopolitical conditions — which is that Thorium cannot be weaponised. Unlike Uranium, which is always on a tight-rope walk between being a power source and finding destructive applications, Thorium bombs just cannot be made. Here history steps in. It must be remembered that much of the current civil nuclear applications are direct offshoots of the military nuclear technologies of the Cold War period. So, the first significant outcome of nuclear technology was the Manhattan Project during the Second World War, which ultimately culminated in the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing of 1945 by the U.S.

A nuclear weapon is different from a nuclear plant, as in the former there is no need to control or slow down the reactions that lead to a catastrophic energy release in a short time interval — which is the essence of a bomb. However, a nuclear plant needs moderation of the reaction to sustain a steady but controlled release of energy. It was only by the end of 1951 that some noteworthy work was done in controlled nuclear power generation at the EBR-1 experiment in Idaho to produce 100 KW of nuclear power. This “weapon first” approach to nuclear technology led to the fact that there was little focus on developing methods to energise from Thorium, which is non-weaponisable, and a larger focus on Uranium, which can be weaponised.

But now, being the largest owner of Thorium, and also being amongst the nations which will see the highest surge in power demand with its growth, the opportunity is for India to pursue its existing nuclear programme with a special focus on research and development on the Thorium route as the long term sustainable option, which we are already undertaking. For this purpose, it is imperative to continue to implement the current Indian plan of making use of the uranium and plutonium-based fuel cycle technologies as well as irradiate larger amounts of Thorium in fast reactors to breed Uranium-233 fuel as it graduates to the Thorium-based plants. It is noteworthy that the Indian plan for an advanced heavy water reactor (AHWR) is an important step to launch early commencement of Thorium utilisation in India, while considerable further efforts to use Thorium in both thermal and fast reactors would be essential to harness sustainable energy from Thorium-generated Uranium-233.

Various technologies for Thorium-based plants are already being developed and deployed on a test basis across the world including in India, which have a promising future. These include first breeding it to fissile Uranium-233 isotope in the conventional reactors or through the revived interest in technologies like the Molten Salt Reactors (MSR) which use salts to trap the fissile material and do not react with air or burn in air or water. In this technology, the operational pressure is near the ordinary atmospheric pressure, and hence the cost of construction is low and there is no risk of a pressure explosion^xxviii.

A significantly large quantity of highly active nuclear material exists, and will continue to exist in the form of nuclear armaments — which was the mother programme of the nuclear energy programme. In 2010, there were about 22,000 nuclear warheads spanning at least nine countries of the world, and 8,000^xxix of them are in active state, carrying a risk far greater than controlled nuclear power reactors. If the argument of risk is to be used to eliminate the peaceful energy generation programme, then the nuclear opposition factions must first direct their efforts at Washington and Moscow, the owners of 90 per cent of the world's nuclear warheads, to disband their nuclear arsenal — which is, by design, intended to be hostile. Would that happen? Unlikely, at least in the foreseeable future. Our aim should be to minimise the risks associated with nuclear power.

The power of the nucleus is mighty and the future of humanity lies in harnessing it in a safe and efficient manner. In the years to come, it will fuel not only our earth-based needs but also our space missions and perhaps even our civilisation's reach to other planets for habitation. Our current nuclear projects will expand into better and safer materials, like Thorium, and later on, into better reactions like fusion, which once completely developed, will be able to generate hundreds of times more of power than current fission methods. Affordable, clean and abundant energy provided by nuclear sources is our gateway to a future that is healthy, learned and connected — a future that will span deep into space and crosses the boundaries of current human imagination. 

Plant insulated from danger of ‘hydrogen explosion' that occurred at Fukushima

Coalfields and burning earth

The Jharia coalfields in Jharkhand constitute the richest coal-bearing area in the country: they contain large quantities of high-grade coking coal. But the presence of this natural resource has been a curse for the local tribal villagers. The Jharia area also has a large number of ongoing mine fires, which have a history of more than a century and have been causing great loss to life and property.

I am reminded of an incident that happened when I was President of India. I was travelling from Sindri to Dhanbad. Hundreds of villagers rushed to my car. We immediately stopped and listened to them. They narrated the heating and spot-fire which regularly take place near their houses. A major challenge to the mining community is that of tackling fires, which have engulfed large and densely populated coal-bearing areas. I and my team visited their houses, where we discovered intense, unbearable heat, emanating not from the skies but the ground below. Occasionally, jets of flames would spurt out from the ground, scorching the earth.

The entire area has been destroyed by the mining activity and rendered uninhabitable for humans or any other life form. Sadly, it can never be restored, at least not for the next million years. Much of the coal mined today is used for electricity generation across the world, and there are many more Jharias being created across the rural and forest lands of earth. These will continue to swell in numbers and size — unless we find sustainable alternative fuel sources to replace fossil fuels.

Pollution, outdoor and indoor

Urban Outdoor Pollution (UOP): It refers to the air pollution experienced by people living in and around urban areas, generally in open space, for example, roads.

Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) refers to pollutants found indoors, generally due to inefficient fuel consumption, chemical pollution to building material, and so on. UOP contributes to IAP. Nearly two million lives are lost due to Indoor Air Pollution, the most common victims being women, and children under the age 5.

Endnotes

i http://www.world-nuclear.org/education/whyu.htm

ii Thorium as a Secure Nuclear Fuel Alternative, A Canon Bryan, 23-April-2009, Journal of Energy Security (available at http://www.ensec.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id= 187:thorium-as-a-secure-nuclear-fuel-alternative&catid= 94:0409content&Itemid=342)

iii Steve Kirsch, The Most Important Investment that We Aren’t Making to Mitigate the Climate Crisis, 26.12.2009 Huff Post Green, (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-kirsch/the-most-important-invest_b_402685.html)

iv Data from World Resources Institute (for 2003)

v India and China, Raghav Behal

vi India envisages about 950,000 MW power requirement by 2030, http://bit.ly/vTv5Qx

vii “World Nuclear Power Reactors 2006-08 and Uranium Requirements.” World Nuclear Association. 2008-01-14.

viii “World Uranium Production U3O8/ million lbs.” Ux Consulting Company, LLC

ix World Nuclear Power Reactors & Uranium Requirements, World Nuclear Association (21 October 2011) (available at http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/reactors.html) Data is for 2010

x Nuclear Power Plant Information, IAEA PRIS (2010), available at http://www.iaea.org/cgi-bin/db.page.pl/pris.nucshare.htm

xi International Monetary Fund, 2010

xii India 2011/12 coal import needs may jump to 114 mln T, Reuters, September 27, 2011

xiii Rise of the Coal Bill, RN Bhaskar, Forbes India Magazine (April 2010)

xiv Matters elucidated thus far by RERF studies, http://www.rerf.or.jp/rerfrad_e.pdf

xv Matters elucidated thus far by RERF studies, http://www.rerf.or.jp/rerfrad_e.pdf

xvi IPCC Reports on climate change

xvii Air quality and health, Fact Sheet, WHO (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en /index.html)

xviii Climate Change and Health, WHO 2010, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs266/en/

xix “UNSCEAR assessment of the Chernobyl accident.” Unscear.org.

xx Climate change fight to cost $300 billion a year, Alister Doyle (12-August-2009), OneWorld (available at http://southasia.oneworld.net/globalheadlines/climate-change-fight-to-cost-300-billion-a-year)

xxi How Coal Works, Union of Concerned Scientists (available at http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/coalvswind/brief_coal.html)

xxii Each kg of coal generates about 2.93 kg of CO2

xxiii Considering the following calculations. About 30,000 million tons of CO2 is responsible for the casualties of about 1.3 million lives per year. (1 billion ton = 1000 million ton). Thus, 1 MT corresponds to about 43.33 causalities per year. And 8.37 million tons would be responsible (by interpolation) for about 362 lives being lost.

xxiv Similar to the above derivation

xxv Based on the eight fold mass to energy advantage we have earlier cited from the article: Thorium as a Secure Nuclear Fuel Alternative, A Canon Bryan, 23-April-2009, Journal of Energy Security

xxvi IAEA, 2005

xxvii Extracted from http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf62.html

xxviii Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactors http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/feature/2010/4/liquid-fluoride-thorium-reactors Thorium Fuel for Nuclear Energy, http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/feature/thorium-fuel-for-nuclear-energy/3

xxix “Federation of American Scientists: Status of World Nuclear Forces.” Fas.org.

For pdf of Part 1 of the essay, click here

For pdf of Part 2 of the essay, click here

 

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was the 11th President of India, from 2002 to 2007, and pioneered the Vision for an Economically Developed India by 2020. He is at apj@abdulkalam.com| http://twitter.com/#!/official_kalam

Srijan Pal Singh is an expert in the area of sustainable development and is an Electrical Engineer with an MBA from the IIMA. He is at 7srijanpal@iimahd.ernet.in | http://twitter.com/#!/srijanpalsingh

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AMAZING FACTS OF SHRI KRISHNA's DWARAKA

When I talked about this in Orkut Iyers community in 2007/8, some “brainbox" there thought I was just blabbering but it is an archaeological fact Krishna's city existed and Mahabharatha happened! There are several factors to justify that and there are archaeological and astronomical evidences. Many artefacts excavated from submerged dwaraka dates back to the period as said in Mahabharata in carbon dating! I quit that crap community shortly after that as I can't go with people who think they knew everything. 

Well this below post is an verbatim reproduction from various sources. Some years ago maybe a decade or two ago saw a UGC programme on this.  Well UGC or University Grants Commission is a Government of India department for aids to Universities in India.  I acknowledge the original authors. 

Shri Krishna's Dwarka submerged in 1443 BC:

 

THE QUEST: An underwater archaeologist of the ASI examines an ancient structure off the shore of Dwaraka; a circular structure on the shore at Dwaraka; fragment of an ancient structure found underwater; remains of an ancient structure in the forecourt of the Dwarakadhish temple.

For thousands of years, we Indians have believed in the divinity of Shri Krishna. For us he was a Karmayogi par excellence who gave us action oriented philosophy of life in the form of Bhagavad Gita. But questions have constantly haunted us as to whether Shri Krishna was a historical character or is a mythical character and whether war of Mahabharata was actually fought or was it great poet Vyasa’s imagination.

Till recent past we did not have the wherewithal to search for and establish the truth. But modern scientific tools and techniques like computers with planetarium softwares, advancements in archaeological and marine archaeological techniques, earth-sensing satellite photography and thermo luminescence dating methods, all have made it possible to establish the authenticity and dating of many events narrated in ancient texts like Mahabharata. Recent archaeo-astronomical studies, results of marine-archaeological explorations and overwhelming archaeological evidence have established the historicity and dating of many events narrated in the epic Mahabharata. These have led to the conclusion that Mahabharata War was actually fought in 1478 BC and Shri Krishna’s Dwarka City got submerged under the sea in 1443 BC.

Astronomical Evidence - In the Mahabharata references to sequential solar and lunar eclipses as also references to some celestial observations have been made. Dr. R.N.Iyengar, the great scientist of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore examined relevant references and searched for the compatible dates by making use of planetarium software (PVIS and EZC). He concluded that most of these references were internally consistent and that the eclipses and celestial observations of Mahabharata belong to the period 1493 BC - 1443 BC of Indian History. (refer Indian Journal of History of Science/38.2/2003/77-115).

In the Mahabharata there are references to three sequential solar eclipses and to some other planetary positions. Reference to the first solar eclipse comes in the Sabha Parva (79.29), graphically described by Vidur when Pandavas start their journey to the forest on being banished for 12 years of life in exile and one year of life incognito after they had lost everything in the game of dice. After 13 years of exile and incognito life, Pandavas came back to Hastinapur and they demanded their kingdom back but Duryodhana refused. Several efforts to prevent war failed and war became imminent. There is a reference to the second solar eclipse in the Bhisma Parva (3.29), following a lunar eclipse occurring within the same fortnight a few days before the actual war of Mahabharata. These eclipses occurred after 14-15 years of the first solar eclipse the epic also refers to some unfavourable planetary positions between the second solar eclipse and the beginning of the war on Kartika Purnima (Bhisma Parva 3.14 to 3.19). On Kartika Krishna Ashtami, Saturn was near Rohini and Mars was between Jayestha and Anuradha. Twenty two days later, on Kartika Purnima, Saturn was near Rohini, Mars was near Jayestha, a rough planet (probably uranus) was between Citra and Swati. Another white planet (possibly Jupiter) had moved from Purva-bhadra to Uttar-bhadra. Reference to the third solar eclipse comes in the Mausala Parva (2.19 to 2.20) occurring in the 36th year of the Mahabharata War. This was visible from the city of Dwarka which is stated to have been subsequently submerged under the sea. For these observations to be internally consistent there should have been three solar eclipses within a period of 50 years. The first one and the second one after a gap of 14-15 years should have been visible from Kurukshetra whereas the third solar eclipse should have been visible from Dwarka after 35 years of the second one.

From references to these eclipses and celestial observations Dr. Iyengar prepared the list of compatible dates and concluded that these eclipses alongwith the stated planetary positions were observable during the period 1493 BC - 1443 BC because the planetarium software shows that:

(i) On 19.3.1493 BC there was solar eclipse visible from Kurukshetra.

(ii) After about 15 years, on 1st June, 1478 BC, there was a solar eclipse visible from Kurukshetra which was preceded by a lunar eclipse during the same fortnight on 16th May 1478 BC.

(iii) About 3 months later, there was Kartika Krishna Ashtami on 20.9.1478 BC when Saturn was near Rohini (in Bhar-Kritika) and Mars was between Jayestha and Anuradha.

(iv) Three weeks later, on 12.10.1478 BC, there was Kartika Purnima when the war actually started. On that day, Saturn was still near Rohini (as it actually moved from Bhar Kritt to Rohini between 1.6.1478 BC to 10.11.1478 BC). Mars was near Jayestha. Uranus, which probably is referred to as rough planet, was between Citra and Swati. Jupiter had moved from Purva-bhadra to Uttar-bhadra on 12.10.1478 BC.

(v) In the 36th year after Mahabharata war in October 1478 BC, a solar eclipse could be seen from Dwarka on 7.1.1443 BC.

Thus as per archaeo-astronomical calculations, Mahabharata War was fought in 1478 BC and Dwarka City got submerged in 1443 BC. These conclusions arrived at are corroborated by marine archeologists, archeologists as well as by the historians who have analysed the genealogy charts of rulers given in Puranas.

Marine Archaeological explorations around Dwarka - The on-shore and off-shore explorations carried out in and around Dwarka during last 50 years have revealed that Dwarka was a prosperous city in ancient times which was destroyed and reconstructed several times. The work of great excavators like Shri Z.D.Ansari and Shri M.S.Mate and chance discovery of temples of 9th century AD and 1st century AD buried near the present Dwarkadhish Temple prompted setting of a Marine Archaeology Centre jointly by National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). A project for marine archaeological explorations in Dwarka was initiated under the dynamic leadership of great marine archaeologist Dr. S.R.Rao who has the distinction of being awarded “The World Ship Trust Award” for outstanding research done in this field.

Dr. S.R.Rao’s team consisted of expert under-water explorers, trained diver-photographers and experienced archaeologists. The technique of geophysical survey was combined with the use of echo-sounders, mud-penetrators, sub-bottom profilers and under-water metal detectors. This team carried out twelve marine archaeological expeditions between the year 1983 to 1992 AD and articles/antiquities recovered were sent to Physical Research Laboratory for dating. By using thermoluminescence, carbon dating and other modern scientific techniques, artifacts were found to be belonging to the period 15th century BC to 18th century BC. In his great work “The Lost City of Dwarka”, Dr. S.R.Rao has given graphic and scientific details of these discoveries and artifacts. He has concluded that:

(i) The land for building the city of Dwarka had been reclaimed from the sea between 16th to 15th century BC and a fortified city was built on boulder packing with outer gateway to the sea and inner gateway to Gomti river. This corroborates the references in the Epic Mahabharata as per which Dwarka city was built by Shri Krishna after reclaiming the land from the sea and it was built only a few years before the Game of Dice in 1493 BC.



(ii) The thermoluminescence dating of lustrous Redware Pottery items found during explorations revealed that these were 3520 years old i.e. around 16th-15th century BC.

(iii) the most famous rectangular seal with engraved motifs of bull, unicorn and goat found in trench UW6 in the sea bed was dated as belonging to 16th century BC. The seal corroborates the references made in the ancient manuscripts that every citizen of Dwarka was required to carry a mudra (seal) as a mark of identification.


3 animal headed mudra, votive jar and copper bell
(IV) a copper bell and a copper lota, brass-items including U-shaped objects with holes at both ends and a bronze bell, all were dated as belonging to 15th century BC. Stone anchors with double holes and triangular prismatic stone anchors recovered from under the sea were similar to the ones found in Lothal excavations belonging to 23rd century BC.

(v) A votive jar with seven characters inscribed was found. Reading based on Semitic-Indus-Phonetic value revealed that script is old Indo-Aryan and similar to the other Indus seal inscriptions. The date assigned to this votive jar and inscriptions are 15th-14th century BC.

(vi) Three iron nails and a stake, four potsherds and one small bottle of iron were dated 16th-15th century BC indicating limited use of iron.

Thus, conclusions arrived at after carrying out these under-water archaeological explorations support and validate the dates arrived at through astronomical calculations. These also prove that the reconstructed city of Dwarka was a prosperous port town and that it was in existence for about 60-70 years in the 15th century BC before being submerged under the sea in the year 1443 BC.



artist's view based on marine archaeological reports and sumerged wall

Other Archaeological excavations - Most of the cities referred to in Mahabharata e.g.Mathura, Hastinapur, Indraprastha, Kurukshetra and Dwarka were situated in the territories which are at present known as Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, UP, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Extensive excavations carried out in these areas have shown that Indus Civilisation flourished in these areas between 3400-1500 BC. The excavations carried out in Lothal in Gujarat have proved the existence of very advanced civilisation between 2300 BC to 1600 BC. The town was divided into the dock, the arcopolis and the industrial, commercial, residential sectors. Artifacts recovered include gold jewellery and copper utensils. Archaeological surveys at Kalibhangan in Rajasthan have identified the existence of a planned fortified city between 2500-1700 BC. Artifacts excavated include baked bricks, semi precious stones, copper and bronze articles. Photographs taken by American earth-sensing satellite known as Landsat have confirmed that the river Saraswati described in the Rigveda as flowing from the “mountain to the sea” was indeed a great river before 2000 BC. Archaeological explorations on the ancient beds of the Saraswati e.g. at Kunal near Kurukshetra and at Banawali in Punjab have confirmed the existence of highly advanced civilisation during 3400-1500 BC. Artifacts excavated include silver jewellery and articles made of copper and bronze. Taken as a whole archaeological excavations establish the continuous evolution of Sindhu-Saraswati civilisation between 3400-1500 BC culminating in the Mahabharata period. The inhabitants of all the excavated places had similar ethnic features, spoke similar languages, followed similar religious rites which were vedic in nature, knew about horse and rice, had advanced knowledge of mathematics, made extensive use of copper and had discovered the use of iron. These discoveries match with the details in the Epic as also with the belief of the historians that the use of iron was discovered in India in 16th century BC. The War of Mahabharata acted as a watershed, putting an end to the ‘copper age’ and ushering in the ‘iron age’ in 15th century BC. Archaeological excavations thus support the conclusion that Mahabharata War was fought in 1478 BC.

Attempts have also been made to determine the year of Mahabharata War from the details available in scriptures and ancient texts which include Puranas. When events are unrecorded for quite some time and they are passed on to the succeeding generations through Shruti and Smriti traditions, the inaccuracies and myths get mixed with reality on account of differences in the perceptions of different individuals. However, it is for the objective rational individual mind to find out and differentiate facts from fictions. Important informations, including the genealogy charts of rulers after Yudhishtira, are available in Srimad Bhagvatam, Matsya Puran and Vayu Purana. On the basis of such evidence, famous historian Lord Cunningham assigned the year 1424 BC to the War of Mahabharata. Another historian Shri S.B.Roy in his work ‘Date of Mahabharata Battle’ also arrived at the same conclusion by combining the literary and the astronomical route.

All these are very important pieces of evidence which prove that epic Mahabharata is not merely a myth but is history and its central character Shri Krishna was a man with extra-ordinary abilities, around whom legends were built over the years. The common man started having faith in the divinity of this Supreme Hero, who for them is God incarnate.

After knowing all this, there can be no doubt in the mind of any rational person that what has been taught to us in our school history books is not all correct. As per our history books, Aryans came to India from Central Asia in their war Chariots in 15th century BC. They defeated and destroyed the natives who were “aboriginal savages”. According to this theory both the Vedas and the Sanskrit language were brought into India by these Aryan invaders. The most influential proponents of this theory were Max Muller and William Jones who were linguists and they arrived at this conclusion on being struck by the affinities between Sanskrit and European languages. This theory is not supported by any archaeological, physical or scientific evidence. When subsequently archaeological excavations at more than 1100 sites scattered all over major parts of India proved beyond doubt the existence of flourishing Indus civilisation during 3400 BC to 1500 BC then the proponents of Aryan invasion theory reacted by suggesting that the invading Aryans had defeated the ‘Dravidian inhabitants’ of the Indus valley, least realising that such theoretical assumption would change the character of invading Aryans from bringers of civilisation to destroyers of great civilisation and culture developed by the native Indians.

The four sets of evidences referred to earlier point more to the probability that nobody had come to India from Central Asia or from any other place. In fact, Indo-Aryan, kings and warriors had come to Kurukshetra in their war Chariots from all over India to participate in the Mahabharata War and that a whole lot of people got killed in that war. The killers as well as the killed, the victors as well as the vanquished, the charioteers as well as the foot soldiers, all were Indians who had already experienced thousands of years of prosperous and advanced civilisation. Archaeology also records a continuous indigenous evolution of vedic civilisation going back to 5000 BC at sites like Mehrgarh and Koldi. It is sad that, so far we have not known even a fraction about our ancient civilisation and cultural achievements. Detailed factual data in our ancient texts and sanskrit manuscripts is beckoning us to carry out further researches. By making use of most modern scientific instruments and techniques we must discover the true facts about our most ancient past. If we do that, we may be able to gather supportive evidences to reassert that ours was the oldest civilisation in the world that flourished in India and that our ancestors i.e. vedic Aryans had travelled from India to various parts of Asia and Europe to spread our knowledge, civilisation and culture. When this is recorded we would be able to hold our heads higher and will be able to take on the future with greater confidence.






 A video of the find and its related submerge can be seen here: 

Bibliography
1) “The lost city of Dawarka’ by Shri S.R. Rao (Emeritus scientist and adviser, Marine Archeology), head of Team for Exploration in Dwarka by Marine Archeology Centre. Aditya Prakashan , New Delhi.

2) R.N. Iyengar’s “Internal consistency of eclipses and planetary positions in Mahabharata” (Indian Journal of History of science, 38.2(2003) 77-115

3) ‘Mahabharata’ Translated into English from original Sanskrit Text by M.M. Dutt (Parimal Publications, Delhi) – 7 Parvas (volumes)

4) “Lothal – A Harappan Port Town” By S.R. Rao – Vol. I & II, Archaeological Survey of India.
5) “The Saraswati flows on” by B.B. Lal, Aryan Book International, New Delhi.
6) “Date of Mahabharata War” by Shri S.B. Roy, The Academic Press Gurgoan.
7) “The Astronomical Code of the Rig Veda” by Subhash Kar, Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd, Delhi.
8) “Reference Encyclopedia (India – 2001)” By Hanna Myer, joint imprint created by Mermaid center, Bangalore & Indmark Publishing New Delhi.
9) “Vedic Aryans and the Origins of Civilisation” by Navaratna S. Rajaram and David Frawlley – Voice of India, New Delhi
10) Ansari, Z.D. And Mate M.S. ( 1966) Excavations of Dwarka, Deccan College, Puna.
11) Rao, S.R. (1988) ‘ Marine Archaeology in India’ in “ 40 years of Research – A CSIR Overview”, Delhi.
12) Rao, S.R. (1991) “Dawn and Devolution of the Indus Civilisation” Aditya Prakashan, New Delhi. 
13) http://hindu.com/2007/02/23/stories/2007022301242200.htm 
14) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarka

பைத்தியமாக்கப்பட்ட ஒரு அப்பாவி இந்தியன்

நன்றி: http://gomathichetty.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/mad-innocent-indian-commi/

தமிழினத்தையே அழிக்க கூடிய கூடம் குளம் அணு உலையை தடுக்க கோரி மன்மோகனிடம் மனு கொடுக்க சென்றேன்.   அதிஷ்டவசமாக எனக்கு அனுமதியும் கிடைத்தது. ஏற்கனவே தோழர்கள் புத்தகம் அதிகம் படித்ததன் காரணமாக பேசுவது ஒன்றும் பெரிதான விசயம் அல்ல. என்னுடைய பேச்சை கேட்டு ஆச்சரியம் அடைந்த மன்மோகன் சிங், அணு உலையில் இவ்வளவு பிரச்சனைகள் உள்ளதா என்று ஆச்சரியப்பட்டு, உடனடியாக அந்த திட்டத்தை நிறுத்துவதாகவும் அதற்கு முன் வேறு முறையில் எரிசக்தி உருவாக்கும் முயற்சியை பற்றிய ஒரு ஆய்வை மேற் கொள்ளுமாறு என்னிடம் கேட்டு கொண்டார். இதற்காக ஒரு 500 கோடி நிதியையும் வழங்கினார். அணு சக்தி போன்ற ஆபத்து இல்லாத மின் சக்தி உற்பத்தி செய்யும் விசயங்களை பட்டியலிட்டேன்.

முதலில் நான் தேர்ந்தெடுத்தது நீர் மின்சக்தி. சரி நீர் மின் சக்தி வேண்டும் என்றால் அணை கட்ட வேண்டும். அதனால் நதியில் அணை கட்டலாம் என்று போனேன். அணை கட்டினால் மக்கள் வாழ்வாதாரம் பாதிக்க படும், அவர்களால் காலம் காலமாக வாழ்ந்த பகுதியை மத்திய ஏகாதிபத்திய அரசு ஆக்கிரமிக்கறது. அதனால் அணையை கட்ட விடமாட்டோம் என்று மேத்தா பட்கர் தலைமையில் தோழர்கள் போராட்டம் நடத்தினார்கள். அதனால் அந்த திட்டத்தை கைவிட்டேன்.

அடுத்து அனல் மின் சக்தியை பயன் படுத்தாலம் என்று அதற்கான திட்ட வரைவை உருவாக்கலாம் என்று போனேன். அங்கு சென்றால் நீர் மின் சக்தியை விட அங்கு பிரச்சனை அதிகம். முதலில் எழைகள் நிலங்களை அரசாங்கம் பிடுங்க பார்க்கிறது என்று என்னை தோழர்கள் தடுத்தார்கள். நிலக்கரி போன்ற பொருட்களை எடுக்க போனால்  பழங்குடியினர் வாழ்வாதாரம் பாதிக்கபடும் என்று செங்கொடி ஏந்திய மக்கள் அருந்ததி ராய் தலைமையில் போராடினார்கள். அதனால் அந்த திட்டத்தையும் கை விட்டேன்.

 

சரி இது எல்லாம் வேண்டாம் பிரச்சனையே இல்லாத சோலார் தட்டுகளை உருவாக்கலாம் என்று அதிகாரிகளை கேட்டேன். அதற்கும் அதிக அளவு நிலக்கரி தேவை படுகிறது. அதற்கும் தோழர்கள் அனுமதிக்க மாட்டார்கள். அது தவிர நம்மிடம் அதை உருவாக்கும் தொழில் நுட்பம் கிடையாது. இதை வெளி நாட்டில் இருந்த தான் கொண்டு வர முடியும். வெளி நாட்டு கம்பெனிகள் இந்தியாவிற்கும் வருவதை தோழர்கள் விரும்ப மாட்டார்கள். அது மட்டும் இன்றி இதற்கும் மிக பெரிய இடம் தேவை. இதற்கும் கம்யூனிஸ்டுகள் போராட்டம் நடத்துவார்கள். அப்புறம் பிரிந்தா கரத் சிகப்பு சேலையை கட்டி கொண்டு விஜய் மாதிரி ஒரு காட்டு காட்டுவார் பரவாயில்லையா என்றார்கள். அதனால் அந்த திட்டத்தையும் கை விட்டேன்.

 

சரி சானியில் இருந்தாவது மின்சாரத்தை தயாரிக்கலாம் என்று மாட்டு பண்ணை வைத்து  மாடுகளை கொல்லவதை தடுக்கும் சட்டம் கொண்டு வந்தால் இது பார்பணீய சட்டம். ஹிந்து பாசிஸ்டுகளின் இந்த சட்டத்தை அனுமதிக்க மாட்டோம் என்று அலுவலகம் முன்பு மாட்டு கரியோடு உட்கார்ந்து கொண்டார்கள்.

 மேற்கத்திய நாடுகளை போன்று நாமும் பிற நாட்டின் வளத்தை ஆட்டைய போடலாம் என்று இராணூவ அதிகாரி ஒருவரிடம் கேட்டேன். இதை கேட்ட அவர் கேக்க பெக்க என்று சிரிக்க ஆரம்பித்துவிட்டார். காஷ்மீர் மற்றும் வட கிழக்கு மாநிலத்தில் ஆயிரக் கணக்கான மக்களை கொல்லும் பிரிவினை வாதிகளை கைது செய்தாலே மனித உரிமை என்று கொடி பிடிக்கும் கம்யூனிஸ்டு தோழர்கள் அடுத்த நாட்டை தொட்டால் சும்மாவிடுவார்களா? அதுவும் சுற்றி இருப்பது முஸ்லீம் நாடு. ஓட்டு வங்கி பாதிக்கும் என்று உங்களை ஒரு வழி செய்து விடுவார் கம்யூனீஸ்டு தலைவர் ப்ரகாஷ்  கரத்தும் அவருடைய சகலை ப்ரனாய ராயின் தொலைக்காட்சி NDTV யும்  என்று என்னை எச்சரித்தார்.

இது எல்லாம் வேண்டாம்… மக்கள் தொகையை குறைத்து இருக்கிற மின்சாரத்தை யாவது ஒழுங்காக பயம் படுத்தலாம் என்று நினைத்தால் இது சிறுபானமை மக்களுக்குத் எதிரான திட்டம். யார் எத்தனை குழந்தைகள் பெற்று கொள்வது எத்தனை திருமணங்கள் செய்து கொள்வது போன்றவை அவரவர் விருப்பம். இது சிறுபானமை மத சுதந்திரத்தை பாதிக்கும் செயல் என்று கூறி நரேந்திர மோடி போல் உங்களையும் மத வெறியன் என்று சொல்வார்கள். இது தவிர இதனால் ஏற்படும் போராட்டத்தில் வன்முறையில் ஈடுபடும் சிறுபானமை சமூகத்தவர் யாராவது காவல் துறை சுட்டு கொன்றால் உங்களை ஹிட்லராக்கி உங்களுக்கு அமெரிக்க விசா கிடைக்காமல் செய்துவிடுவார்கள்…

சரி காற்று மூலமாவது மின்சாரம் தயாரிக்கலாம் என்றால் அதில் வரும் மின்சாரம் போதாது. அதுவும் தவிர அது தொடர்ச்சியாக மின்சாரம் தறாது. அப்படி மின்சாரம் ஒழுங்காக வராவிட்டால். சாலை மறியல் செய்து உங்கள் உருவ பொம்மையை எரிப்பார்கள் என்றார்கள்.

இப்படி முன்ன போன உதைக்கிராங்க, பின்ன வந்தா கடிக்கராங்க… இப்படி எந்த பக்கம் போனாலும் போராட்டம் நடத்துறாங்களே இதற்கு எதாவது தீர்வு காண யோசித்து யோசித்து பைத்தியம் ஆனேன். தற்பொழுது தான் கொஞ்சம் தெளிந்து உள்ளேன். தயவு செய்து கம்யூனிஸ்டு கழுதைகள் பேச்சை கேட்டு சிந்திக்க தொடங்கி எதாவது செய்ய தொடங்கினால் என்ன போல நீங்களும் பைத்தியம் ஆக நேரிடும் ஜாக்கிரதை…

 

 - இப்படிக்கு

முன்னாள் கழுதை (கம்யூனிஸ்ட் தோழர்)

Nataraja Dance Form Has Its Origin In The Cosmos- By Syed Akbar

courtesies: 3

http://syedakbarindia.blogspot.com/2008/11/nataraja-dance-form-has-its-origin-in.html
http://www.sharadasrinivasan.com/data/shivacosmicdancer.pdf
www.rramakrishnan.com/Articles/Hinduism/Orions-Cosmic.txt

A major celestial event in the night sky about 1000 years ago gave birth to the concept of depicting Lord Siva as Nataraja, the Cosmic Dancer. According to senior archaeometallurgist and dance exponent Dr Sharada Srinivasan, ancient South Indians, who witnessed a supernova explosion in 1054 CE, had depicted Lord Siva as the Cosmic Dancer or Nataraja. They had also conceptualised the observations of the constellation Orion and its star Betelgueuse or Alpha Orionis to present a pictorial representation to the God of Destruction.

Dr Sharada and late astrophysicist Dr Nirupama Raghavan had conducted a series of studies on the origin of Nataraja and his worship in various temples, particularly in Tamil Nadu. They based their findings on archaeometallurgy, a subject that deals with metals of yore, and archaeo-astronomy, the study of stars, constellations and galaxies as observed by our ancestors.

According to her, the notion of "cosmic dance" entered the human mind influenced by the developments in the sky. A close observation of the Orion constellation and its star Alpha Orionis conjures up the picture of a dancing lord, Nataraja. And she dates back the origin of the concept to the eleventh century, the period of the Chola kings, who patronised Nataraja idols in bronze.

"At one level, Chola bronzes represent an intensely visual culture of the activities of gods; of seeing and being seen as they were carried out in procession, followed by concealment in the sanctum. The art of processional bronzes emerged in the Tamil country, in the sixth to twelfth centuries, out of the creative foment of Bhakti worship when the saint-poets composed passionate hymns praising their chosen deities," she points out in an interview with this correspondent.

The interplay between duality, of microcosm and macrocosm, and of the reconciliation of opposites seems to also be brilliantly captured in Chola bronzes. The superbly crafted eleventh century Ardhanariswara in Chennai’s Government Museum epitomises the complementarity of the male and female halves of Siva. Saiva Siddhanta ritual associated with Chola temple worship itself oscillated between the intimate communion with the pillar-like stone lingam representing Siva within the sanctum, and the public processional worship of metal deities such as the dancing Siva outside the sanctum during festivals.

According to Dr Sharada, the repertoire of the contemporary ‘classical’ dance form of Bharata Natyam, reconstituted from the wreckage of the abolished devadasi temple dance tradition of sadir, similarly oscillates between the inner space of abhinaya (expressive dance) and the outer space of an impersonal, geometric rendering of pure dance.

"Arudra/Ardra darisanam is a 10-day annual festival in Chidambaram in December related to the moon being full in the lunar asterism of the naksatra ardra (the reddish star Alpha Orionis), associated with the wrathful aspect of Siva. The constellation of Orion and surrounding stars is bathed in the soft glow of the full moon when it is high in the sky at Chidambaram. A thousand years ago, devoid of the present smog and light flares, the stars must have been even brighter in the tropical night sky," she explains.

Another annual festival at Chidambaram, the Brahmotsavam of Ani Thirumanjanam, which is related to the lunar asterism of Uttara Nakshatra around June-July, seems to have begun in the mid-eleventh century from inscription.

The Indian zodiac of 360 degrees is divided into 27 parts based on the moon’s sidereal period such that a nakshatra denotes the longitudinal position of the moon within 13 degrees 20 minutes. "Thus, by using astronomical software, Dr Nirupama Raghavan could ascertain that in 1054 AD the moon would have been full in Uttara Nakshatra on July 11.

This is uncannily close to the date that Chinese astronomers
recorded the crab supernova explosion of July 4! Although this is a preliminary finding, it could suggest a perceived metaphoric link between an observed cosmic phenomenon and notions of cosmic dance," Dr Sharada said supporting her thesis.
Indeed, a drawing from a Tamil manuscript sourced by Raja Deekshitar of Chidambaram shows how the Nataraja icon itself was probably traditionally visualised within the stars around Orion.

Moreover, the star chart for 1054 CE fitted well the iconometric design of a Nataraja image from Kankoduvanitham archaeometallurgically fingerprinted to the mid-11th century CE. "In the image, the hypothetical position of the crab supernova which exploded in 1054 CE lies near the top left of the head, close to the crescent moon. Chinese records suggest that the crab supernova came into view with a morning
crescent moon near it and was visible for 23 days, being four times as bright as Venus. Even American Indians are believed to have made cave paintings of a supernova with a crescent moon," she said.

I have posted as a separate blog posts the other two write ups on the orion system!

Sun - A third generation star

A Speculation is the sun is a third generation star - what exactly does this mean?


Before we go into the points on that, let us see in brief some points / details of the sun:

Our sun is a star located at the centre of our Solar System. It is a huge, spinning ball of hot gas and nuclear reactions that lights up the Earth and provides us with heat.The sun's absolute magnitude (its intrinsic brightness) is +4.83. Its stellar type is G (a star that absorbs strong metallic lines in its spectrum). The Greeks called the Sun "Helios"; the Romans called it "Sol." Sun contains 99.8 % of all mass in the solar system. It drives the climate and weather in Earth!


Our sun is a medium-sized yellow star that is 93,026,724 miles (149,680,000 km or 1 Astronomical Unit) from the Earth. The Earth is closest to the Sun (this is called perihelion) around January 2 each year (91.4 million miles = 147.1 million km); it is farthest away from the Sun (this is called aphelion) around July 2 each year (94.8 million miles = 152.6 million km). The Sun is made up of about 2 x 1030 kilograms of gas. It is composed of about 75% hydrogen and 25% helium. About 0.1% is metals (made from hydrogen via nuclear fusion). This ratio is changing over time (very slowly), as the nuclear reactions continue, converting smaller atoms into more massive ones.

Since the Sun formed 4.5 billion years ago, it has used up about half of its initial hydrogen supply. Our Sun is a second or third generation star some even speculate fourth. Second / third generation stars do not just burn hydrogen, they also burn heavier elements, like helium and metals (elements heavier than hydrogen and helium), and were formed from supernova explosions (the debris of exploded population II stars). The element helium was named after the Sun (called "Helios" in Greek) because it was first discovered on the Sun. Helium is plentiful on the Sun but rare on Earth. The element helium was discovered by Jules Janssen during the total solar eclipse of 1868 when he detected a new line in the solar absorption spectrum; Norman Lockyer suggested the name helium. The composition of the Sun is studied using spectroscopy in which the visible light (the spectrum) of the Sun is studied.

Every star in the universe whirls through a celestial cycle of birth, development, and decline.


When English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson wanted to describe the bright stars of the Pleiades against their misty background, he called them "a swarm of fireflies tangled in a silver braid." His poetic vision, expressed in simple yet beautiful metaphor, was an entirely effective means to give his readers insight into a subject that is so far away, so immense that it almost defies comprehension.


As long as man has lived on earth, he has watched the skies, utterly fascinated, perhaps overwhelmed by the magnificence of the display. The study of the heavens may well be man's oldest science—proof of his relentless quest to understand more and more about the structure of the universe. But he has had to wait for the growth of science and coming of sophisticated tools to win most of the knowledge he now possesses. His understanding of the nature of the universe has been gained largely through the study of stars—their birth, development and eventual death.


Much indeed has been discovered about the life of stars within the past decade, but where and how a star's story begins are still matters of educated speculation. One theory contends that there was originally one primeval atom. Perhaps ten billion years ago that single atom burst, and from the radioactive explosion of the proton-electron-neutron-meson materials came every other star, planet and galaxy in the universe. A more common theory holds that there was no beginning point. The billions of stars in the galaxies were always there, forming and re-forming themselves out of what Tennyson called "silver braid."


Scientists call this substance by the less romantic name of "the field of nebulosity"—interstellar gases floating everywhere in space in cloud-like formations. There appears to be a continual flow of movement in space, and sooner or later some of these gas clouds come together, contract, and become dense enough to form a new star. Newton's Law of Gravitation holds that a massive body will tend to collapse under its own gravitational attraction. Yet the stars, most of them far bigger than the sun (which is more than 300,000 times as massive as the earth) keep their balance.


The secret is in their substance. The gases forming a star are so hot and dense that they exert a counter-pressure to the outside pressure. The sun, for example, is estimated to have a central pressure more than a billion times the air pressure at the surface of the earth. And the sun is but a relatively small star that appears big only because it is, by astronomical standards, so near—just 93,000,000 miles mean distance from earth. The sun's light reaches earth in a little over eight minutes, with light travelling at 186,000 miles a second. The next nearest star after the sun, Proxima Centauri, needs four and one-half years for its light to reach us.

Because of its nearness, the sun is a comparatively easy-to-study and spectacular example of how a star lives. Basically, the sun is a sphere of hot gas a little less than one million miles in diameter, with about three hundred thousand times as much mass (weight) as the earth has. The surface temperature is about 10,000 degrees F., rising steeply in the interior to a peak at the centre which is believed to reach millions of degrees.


In the sun, as in other stars, is a thermonuclear crucible which is constantly synthesising the lighter atoms of the gases into heavier atoms. For example, the sun burns 564 million tonnes of hydrogen into helium each second, liberating as much energy as the explosion of several billion H-bombs.


A series of calculations have been carried out by nuclear physicists for stars more massive than the sun. They show that as the helium content is built up in the star, the central areas shrink, releasing gravitational energy, while the outer areas expand. The star must make a drastic reorganization to the sudden new production of energy in its interior. Nuclear physicists believe that not only helium is formed in the interior of stars, but all other elements as well.


It takes a temperature of one or two hundred million degrees to transform helium into the main isotopes of carbon, oxygen and neon. And it takes temperatures of from two to five billion degrees to make the nuclei of atoms like iron and nickel. The common carbon atom is twelve times heavier than the hydrogen atom; iron is 56 times heavier; uranium is 238 times.

Whatever the atom activity in the centre of the star, eventually the energy will move outward to the surface and be radiated into space. This heat radiation is what is seen as the star's twinkle.


Estimates of the age of stars range from ten to twenty million years for youngsters and from ten to twenty billion years for celestial senior citizens. As they pass "middle age," something may go wrong with the inner thermostatic controls, and the star can no longer shine on steadily and uneventfully, quietly manufacturing heavier and heavier atoms. Ageing stars appear to become what astronomers call blue giants, then red giants, and eventually white dwarfs.


The ageing sequence begins when a star's hydrogen supply runs low. As the star approaches extinction, its old age shows up on the telescope in changes in colour and brightness, and it may appear to pulsate.A white dwarf is a "dead" star, that is, a star that no longer shines because its nuclear fires have died down and it has cooled off. One authority has called the white dwarf "the burned out skeleton of a star," destined to float anonymously through space for eternity. Thus, the last stages of a star's story are spent as a white dwarf.


It is thought that the death of a star comes from violent explosion, whether from unstable internal conditions or from collision with another star. Time after time the skies have yielded what appears to be a brilliant, new star—a nova. It is not really a new star, but for a short time it looks like something new in the sky as the explosion, with its flare-up of light-producing energy, fills the space around with its dying radiance. What appears to be a new star is more likely an old star blowing its mass back into space in the form of interstellar gas and leaving behind its skeleton—a white dwarf.

A truly spectacular phenomenon is the blow-up of a supernova, an explosion so brilliant that some have appeared to be fifty million times more luminous than the sun.


On July 4, 1054, Indian, Chinese and Japanese astronomers studied a dazzling new light in the sky, a light that outshone all others. It was so bright that for a week it could even be seen in the daytime, and its visibility at night lasted until April 17, 1056. Then the "star" faded from the sky, and no more was known of it. Centuries later astronomers noted a small, faint nebulosity, or gas cloud, in the constellation Taurus, the same position the star had occupied. Because of its shape, it was named the Crab Nebula, and it is visible today. Indian Astronomers were calling the Constelaltion of Orion as Dakshinamurthi or Nataraja. this super Nova was fixed as a star on the head of the Nataraja. At the centre are two small stars, probably white dwarfs. Studies through the spectrograph show the nebula expanding at the rate of about 700 miles a second, with its filaments reaching out into space for billions of miles. Calculating back from its steady rate of expansion, astronomers have been able to establish its date of origin. The nebula was indeed the star which had lighted the Oriental skies in 1054. The explosion which caused the light had actually occurred some 4,000 years before the supernova had first been seen.


Since what is now seen happened forty centuries ago, scientists aren't sure what has happened to the supernova of the Crab Nebula. The materials may have been dispersed through space, and parts already gathered elsewhere to make a new star.

Astronomers have made spectroscopic observations indicating that very young stars are richer in metals than the older stars. "Second generation" stars may have formed from the material of the old, exploded stars. There is speculation that the sun may be a third generation star, as it contains all kinds of heavy atoms.


The stars in earth's galaxy number about 100 billion, spread out in a space so great that light takes a hundred thousand years to travel from one side to the other. There are other galaxies, beyond counting, many millions of light-years distant from earth. Like earth's galaxy, they are composed of stars, with interstellar gases. As earth's galaxy is continually moving and evolving, so, scientists speculate, are the other galaxies. But since it is all a matter of deduction from what scientists know today, it may be that a discovery in the next month will give an entirely new perspective.

A White Dwarf is presumed to have a Highly compressed Carbon Core in other words a few miles wide spherical diamond!


A video on the sun by cassiopeiaproject


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Sun is our real visible god, without which no life can thrive on this planet. Same applies to other planets where there might be life ITS MOTHER STAR IS ITS LIFE GIVER! In Sanskrit Sun is called: Dhinakar, Surya, Adithya

आ कृष्णेन् रजसा वर्तमानो निवेशयन्न अमृतं मर्त्यं च ।
हिरण्ययेन सविता रथेना देवो याति भुवनानि पश्यन ॥

Throughout the dusky firmament advancing, laying to rest the immortal and the mortal, Borne in his golden chariot he cometh, Savitar, God who looks on every creature

- Rig Veda, Book 1 Hymn 35:


This article was largely based with inputs from pages 10-12 of the August/September 1963 print edition of Saudi Aramco World with various other inputs from various texts!

உரத்த சிந்தனை : மாயைகள் மறைந்த தேர்தல் :- ஆர்.நடராஜன்

நன்றி : தினமலர்
URL: http://www.dinamalar.com/News_Detail.asp?Id=336632

அரசியல் கட்சிகள், தம் தனிப்பட்ட செல்வாக்கை எடைபோட்டுக் கொள்ள, தமிழகத்தில் நடந்த உள்ளாட்சித் தேர்தல் முடிவுகள், பெரிதும் உதவியது. கட்சிகள் வேண்டுமென்றே தம்மைச் சுய பரிசோதனைக்கு உள்ளாக்கிக் கொண்டன என சொல்வதற்கில்லை; காரணங்கள் வேறு.

சட்டசபைத் தேர்தலில் தேறவில்லை, பிரதான எதிர்க்கட்சியாக முடியவில்லை, முன்னாள் அமைச்சர்கள் மீது வழக்குகள், குடும்ப உறுப்பினர்கள் மீது ஊழல் குற்றச்சாட்டுக்கள் என்ற நிலையில் இனி வென்றாலும், தோற்றாலும் ஒன்றுதான் என்ற மனநிலையில், தி.மு.க., உள்ளாட்சித் தேர்தலில் கூட்டணிக் கட்சிகளைக் கழற்றிவிட்டது.ஏற்கனவே சட்டசபைத் தேர்தலில் அமோக வெற்றி பெற்றாகிவிட்டது. அது கூட்டணியினால் வந்தது என்ற நினைப்பு, தே.மு.தி.க., விஜயகாந்துக்கு இனியும் இருக்கக் கூடாது; சமச்சீர் கல்விப் பிரச்னையில் கம்யூனிஸ்ட்கள் மற்றும் உதிரிக்கட்சிகளின் ஆதரவு இல்லை; இப்படி உள்ளேயிருந்து முணுமுணுத்த அல்லது எதிர்த்த கட்சிகளை உதறிவிட்டால், என்ன பெரிய நஷ்டம் வந்து விடப்போகிறது என்ற மனப்பாங்கில் அ.தி.மு.க., நடந்து கொண்டது.கம்யூனிஸ்ட்கள் தவிர, உதிரிக் கட்சிகள் தங்கள் பலமாக நினைத்துக் கொண்டது, தாங்கள் சார்ந்திருந்த ஜாதிகளின் ஓட்டு வங்கியை. சிறிய வட்டத் தேர்தல்தானே, ஜாதி உணர்வு எடுபடும் என்ற நினைப்பில், பா.ம.க., உட்பட உதிரிக் கட்சிகள் களத்தில் இறங்கின. அவர்கள் நினைத்தபடி, ஜாதி ஓட்டுகள் கை கொடுத்திருந்தால், சில ஊர்களின் தேர்தல் முடிவுகள் மாறிப் போயிருக்கும். ஆனால், ஓட்டளிப்பில் ஜாதி அபிமானம் வெளிப்படவில்லை என்பதே உண்மை.

லோக்சபா தேர்தலில் ஆறு தொகுதிகளிலிருந்து ஒரு வேட்பாளர் அல்லது வெளியூர் வேட்பாளர்; அவ்வளவாக அறிமுகமாகாதவர், அறிமுகமாகியிருந்தாலும் தொகுதிப் பக்கம் அடிக்கடி வராதவர், நெருங்கிப் பழகாதவர் என்று காரணங்களை அடுக்க முடியும். சட்டசபைத் தேர்தலிலும் வேட்பாளர்களைப் பொறுத்தவரை, இதே காரணங்கள் எடுபடும். ஆனால், உள்ளாட்சித்தேர்தல் அப்படியல்ல. வேட்பாளர் வார்டு மக்களுக்கு நன்றாக அறிமுகமானவரே; நகராட்சித் தலைவர், மேயர் பதவிகளுக்குப் போட்டியிட்டவர்களும், அந்தந்த வட்டார மக்களுக்கு நன்கு பழகியவர்களே.இந்நிலையில், அ.தி.மு.க., - தி.மு.க., என்ற இரண்டு பெரிய கட்சிகளும் வேட்பாளர் தேர்வில் ஜாதிக்கு அதிக இடம் கொடுக்கவில்லை என்றே சொல்லவேண்டும் ஆகவே, வேட்பாளரின் வெற்றிக்கு, கட்சி, 75 சதவீதம் காரணம், தனி செல்வாக்கு, 20 சதவீதம், ஜாதி அபிமானம் என இருந்திருந்தால் அது வெறும், 5 சதவீதம் என, மட்டுமே எடுத்துக் கொள்ளப்பட வேண்டும். வேட்பாளர்களின் பட்டியல், தொகுதிகளின் வாக்காளர் எண்ணிக்கை, வேட்பாளர் ஜாதியினரின் எண்ணிக்கை இவை பற்றி சமூகவியலாளர்கள் உடனே ஆய்வு செய்து, இந்த அனுமானத்தை நிரூபிக்கலாம்; நிரூபிக்க வேண்டும்.பத்து மாநகராட்சிகளும், அ.தி.மு.க., வசம்; பல நகராட்சிகளும், பேரூராட்சிகளும் அதன் வசம், என்பது மகத்தான வெற்றி. அதே நேரம் கவனிக்கப்பட வேண்டியது ஜாதியை, நேரடியாகவும், மறைமுகமாகவும் முன்னிறுத்தி வந்துள்ள - பா.ம.க., விடுதலைச் சிறுத்தைகள் வேறு சில உதிரிக் கட்சிகள் ஒதுக்கப்பட்டுள்ள யதார்த்தம். இதனால், ஜாதிகளே தமிழகத்தில் இல்லை என, அவசரப்பட்டுப் பெருமை பேசிக்கொள்ள வேண்டாம்; ஜாதிகள் இருக்கின்றன. ஆனால், அவை அரசியல் சக்திகள் அல்ல என்ற நிலை உருவாகி வருகிறது. வேட்பாளர்களின் வெற்றி, தோல்வியை ஜாதி நிர்ணயிக்கவில்லை என்பது தேர்தல் முடிவுகளிலிருந்து தெரிய வருகிறது.
பா.ம.க., அவ்வப்போது, ஜாதி உணர்வை நேரடியாகவும், மறைமுகமாகவும் வெளிப்படுத்தும். இத்தேர்தலில் அக்கட்சி, 58 நகராட்சி உறுப்பினர் இடங்களைப் பெற்றிருக்கிறது. இதுதவிர, இரண்டு பேரூராட்சி தலைவர் பதவி, 108 பேரூராட்சி உறுப்பினர்களை மட்டுமே பெற்றிருக்கிறது. மாநிலத்தின் மொத்த உள்ளாட்சி அமைப்புகளின் உறுப்பினர்கள் எண்ணிக்கையோடு ஒப்பிடும் போது, இது வெற்றி அல்ல.

சென்னையில் ஒரு வார்டில் வெற்றி, 18 நகராட்சி உறுப்பினர்கள் வெற்றி என்பதுதான் விடுதலை சிறுத்தைகளின் நிலையும்.பொதுமக்கள் காதில் பூ சுற்றுவதற்காக, இக்கட்சிகள், சமூக நீதி, உயர் ஜாதி ஆதிக்கம் என்று பேசி வந்தாலும், பெரிய கட்சிகளிடம் கூட்டணி பற்றி தனியறையில் பேரம் பேசியபோது, "எங்கள் கட்சிக்கு இந்த ஜாதியின் ஓட்டு வங்கி இவ்வளவு சதவீதம்' என்று சொல்லியிருந்ததெல்லாம் கவைக்குதவாத வாதங்களாக, இப்போது நொறுங்கிப் போய்விட்டன. பெரிய கட்சிகள் இனி விழித்துக் கொள்ளும்.பத்து மேயர்கள், 88 நகராட்சி சேர்மன் பதவிகள் உட்பட மொத்தம், 6,619 இடங்களில் அ.தி.மு.க., வெற்றி பெற்றிருக்கிறது. நகராட்சி தலைவர் பதவிகள், 23 உட்பட, 3,349 இடங்களில், தி.மு.க., வெற்றி பெற்றிருக்கிறது. சுயேச்சைகள், ஐந்து நகராட்சிகள் உட்பட, 2,906 இடங்களை வென்றிருக்கின்றனர். ஆனால், பா.ம.க.,வில் வெற்றி பெற்றவர்கள், 235 பேர் மட்டுமே; விடுதலைச் சிறுத்தைகள் 31, புதிய தமிழகம் 9, பகுஜன் சமாஜ் கட்சி 4.ஜாதிக் கண்ணோட்டத்தில் இன்னமும் நம்பிக்கை வைத்திருப்பவர்கள் ஓட்டளித்த மக்கள் தந்துள்ள இந்த முடிவை அலசிப் பார்க்க வேண்டும்.

வெவ்வேறு காரணங்களினால், அ.தி.மு.க.,வும், தி.மு.க.,வும் கூட்டணிக் கட்சிகளைக் கழற்றி விட்டாலும், இந்த உள்ளாட்சித்தேர்தலில் அவர்கள் தங்கள் பலத்தை நிர்ணயம் செய்துகொள்ள முடிந்தது; உதிரிக் கட்சிகளை எடைபோட முடிந்தது. தி.மு.க.,வும், தான் பலமிழந்து போனது ஏன் என்பதைக் கொஞ்சம் யோசித்துப் பார்க்கலாம்.எப்படியும், மா.சுப்பிரமணியன் சென்னை மேயர் தேர்தலில் வெற்றி பெறுவார் என்ற தி.மு.க.,வின் நம்பிக்கை தகர்ந்து போனதற்குக் காரணம், "2ஜி' பிரச்னையோ, குடும்ப உரசல்களோ அல்ல. அக்கட்சி கவுன்சிலர்கள் நடந்துக் கொண்ட முறையே காரணம். இரண்டு வீடுகளுக்கு ஒரே குழாயில் தண்ணீர் வருவதில் சிரமம் இருக்கிறது என்பதால், தனிக் குழாய் இணைப்பு கேட்க விரும்பி குடிநீர் வடிகால் வாரிய அதிகாரியை அணுகிய போது, அவர், "அய்யா, வாரியத்திற்கு, 15 ஆயிரம்; கவுன்சிலருக்கு, 10 ஆயிரம் ரூபாய் தர வேண்டும். கவுன்சிலர் ஒப்புதல் கொடுத்தால் தான் வேலை நடக்கும்!'

இதுபோல் மின் இணைப்பு, புதுக் கட்டடம், பழைய கட்டடப் புதுப்பிப்பு என்று எல்லாவற்றிற்கும் கவுன்சிலர்களுக்குக் கப்பம் கட்ட வேண்டும் என்ற நிலையில் மக்கள் நொந்துபோயினர். பழைய கவுன்சிலர்கள் போய், புதிய கவுன்சிலர்கள் வந்ததற்குக் காரணம் இதுவே. கட்சித் தலைமை வானத்தில் வேலிகட்டிக் காற்றைக் கூறுபோட்டதில் லட்சக் கணக்கான கோடிகளைச் சுருட்டியதாகக் குற்றச்சாட்டு வந்தபோது, அது சுவாரஸ்யமான செய்தி மட்டுமே என்று எடுத்துக் கொள்ள முடிந்த மக்களால், பூமியைத் தோண்டுவதற்கு, பத்தாயிரம், பதினைந்தாயிரம் என்ற கெடுபிடி வசூல் ஆத்திரத்தை ஏற்படுத்தியது.புதிய கவுன்சிலர்கள் இந்தப் பாடத்தைப் புரிந்துக் கொள்வது நல்லது.கவுன்சிலர்களே இப்படியென்றால், மேயர்களை அணுகியவர்கள் பட்ட பாட்டைத் தெரிந்துக் கொண்டால், படுவேதனைதான்! கேட்டால்தான் தெரியும். புதிதாகத் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்டவர்கள் இதைப் புரிந்துக் கொண்டால், மறு தேர்தலில் ஜெயிக்க முடியும். இல்லையென்றால், தாமும் தோற்று கட்சிக்கும் கெட்ட பெயர் வாங்கி தருவர்.

கட்சி தலைமை லஞ்சத்திற்கு அப்பாற்பட்டதாக இருந்தால் தான், இதை வெற்றி பெற்றவர்களுக்கு உணர்த்த முடியும்.ஆக, கட்சிகள் ஓட்டுகளை இழக்க ஊழல் காரணம்; ஓட்டுகளைப் பெற ஜாதி காரணமல்ல என்பதை இப்போதாவது பெரிய கட்சிகள் புரிந்துக் கொள்ள வேண்டும்.தேர்தலில் வெற்றி பெற ஜாதி அபிமானம் என்ற மாயையைத் தொலைக்க வேண்டும் என்பதை, பெரிய அரசியல் கட்சிகள் புரிந்துக் கொள்ள இன்னொரு தேர்தல் தேவையில்லை. தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்டவர்கள் ஜாதிக்காரர்களாயிருந்தாலும், கறாராக லஞ்சத்தைக் கறந்து விடுகின்றனர். லஞ்சம் அதிகம் வந்தால், ஜாதியை மட்டுமல்ல, கட்சியையும் மக்கள் உதறிவிடுவர் என்பதை மட்டும் புரிந்துக் கொண்டால் போதும்.சட்டசபைத் தேர்தலில் கூட்டணி பேரங்களில் வெளிப்படையாகச் சொல்லப் பட்டது அந்தக் கட்சிக்கு இவ்வளவு ஓட்டு சதவீதம், அந்தக் கட்சிக்கு இவ்வளவு சதவீதம் என்ற கணக்கு. இந்தக் கணக்கைச் சொன்ன சிறிய கட்சிகளும், ஏற்றுக்கொண்ட பெரிய கட்சிகளும், ஓட்டு வங்கிக்குப் பின்னே ஜாதி ஓட்டுகள் இருக்கின்றன; அந்தந்த ஜாதி மக்களை இந்த தலைவர்கள் கைக்குள் போட்டுக் கொண்டிருக்கின்றனர் என்ற மாயையை நம்பினர். அந்த மாயை, ஜாதிக்கட்சிகள் உள்ளாட்சித் தேர்தலில் காணாமல் போனதன் மூலம் உடைந்து போய்விட்டது.இட்டார் இடாதார், அதாவது ஓட்டு இட்டார், ஓட்டு இடாதார் என்ற இரண்டு தவிர, வேறு ஜாதிகள் இல்லை என்பதை நடந்து முடிந்த தமிழக உள்ளாட்சித் தேர்தல் முடிவு உணர்த்துகிறது. சில மாதங்களுக்கு முன் நடந்த சட்டசபைத் தேர்தலில் கூட, "ஜாதி' ஒரு அம்சமாகக் கருதப்பட்டதே, இப்போது திடீரென்று அந்த உணர்வு முடங்கிவிட்டதா அல்லது காணாமல் போய்விட்டதா என்ற கேள்வியும் அர்த்தமில்லாதது. அப்போது புரியாதது இப்போது புரிகிறது; அவ்வளவு தான். நிகழ்கால நிஜங்கள் உடனுக்குடன் புரிவதில்லை என்பதே வரலாற்றின் வினோதப் போக்கு.

ஆர்.நடராஜன் - விமர்சகர், அமெரிக்க தூதரகமுன்னாள் அரசியல் ஆலோசகர்

இக் கட்டுரையளரைக் மின்னஞ்சல் ஊடாக தொடர்பு கொள்ள: hindunatarajan@hotmail.com

ரீதி கௌளை - ஒரு அலசல் | Reethi Gowlai raga - an analysis

து 22ஆவது ‘மேளகர்த்தா’வான ‘கரஹரப்ரியா’வின் ஜன்ய ராகமாகும். (தீட்சிதர் மரபில் ‘நாரீ ரீதிகௌள’என்று பெயர்.)
உபாங்க – வக்ர ராகமான ‘ரீதி கௌள’ அதிகாலையில் பாடப் பொருத்தமானது.



பெண்பால் ராகமான இதன் ஸ்வரங்களாவன :

ஷட்ஜமம், சதுஸ்ருதி ரிஷபம், சாதாரண காந்தாரம், சுத்த மத்யமம்,பஞ்சமம், சதுஸ்ருதி தைவதம் மற்றும் கைஷிகி நிஷாதம்

ஆரோஹணம் : ஸ க ரி க ம நி த நி ஸ்
அவரோஹணம் : ஸ் நிதம கமபம கரிகஸ

(ஆரோஹணத்தில் பஞ்சமம் இல்லை)


6. “கரஹரப்ரியா”

இது 22வது ‘மேளகர்த்தா’ராகமாகும்.இந்த ராகம் முன்னதாக தமிழிசை மரபில்‘செம்பாலைப் பண்’என்று
அறியப்பட்டது.இந்தஸ்தானி இசை மரபில்‘இந்துஸ்தானி காஃபி தாட்’என்றழைக்கப்படும்

இதன் ஸ்வரங்கள்:

ஷட்ஜமம்,சதுஸ்ருதி ரிஷபம் சாதாரண காந்தாரம்,சுத்த மத்யமம்,பஞ்சமம்,சதுஸ்ருதி தைவதம்,கைஷிகி நிஷாதம்.

ஆரோஹணம் : ஸ ரி க ம ப த நி ஸ்
அவரோஹணம் : ஸ் நி த ப ம க ரி ஸ

ரீதி கௌளை ராகத்தை நல்ல கூரல்  வளம் உள்ளவர்கள் மட்டுமே  பாட முடியும் . கூரல்  வளம் இல்லாதவர்கள் தப்பித்தவறி பாடினால் ஆனந்த பைரவி இராகம் வந்தாலும் வரும்  இல்லாவிடல்  ஸ்ரீ இரஞ்சனி வந்தாலும் வந்து விடும்  காரணம் ரீதிகௌளை ஆரோகணத்தில் மத்யமத்திலிருந்து நிஷாதத்திற்கு quantitate  செய்ய வேண்டும் அதாவது ஒரே தாவாக தாவ வேண்டும் hurdles race  மாதிரி இல்லையேல் பிரச்சனை.

இப்பொழுது ரீதி கௌளை இராகத்தில் உள்ள பாடல்களையும் சில கருத்துகளையும் நோக்குவோம் :

ரீதிகௌளை இராகப் பாடல்களைப் நோக்கும் முன்பு கரகரப்பிரியா இராகத்தை சற்று நோக்குவோம்:

புதிய முகம் ( ௨௦௦௯ | 2009) மலையாளம்
பாடியவர்: ஷங்கர் மகாதேவன்
இசை: தீபக் தேவ்



கரகப்ப்ரியா இராகத்திற்கும் ரீதி கௌளை இராகத்திற்கும் ஒரு ஸ்வரம் வித்யாசம். நானே பலமுறை இந்த வித்யாசம் தெரியாமல் கரகரப்ப்ரியவை ரீதி கௌளை என்றும் ரீதி கௌளையை கரகரப்பிரியா என்றும் கூறியுள்ளேன் !

ரீதி கௌளை இராகத்தில் அதிகப் பாடல்கள் எனக்கு தெரிந்தவரை இளையராஜா அவர்கள் படைத்துள்ளார். மேலும், இந்த இராகத்தில் திருவாளர்கள் வித்யாசாகர், ஏ.ஆர். ரகுமான் , ரவீந்திரன் மாஸ்டர், ஜேம்ஸ் வசந்தன்,சரத் மற்றும் கார்த்திக் இராஜா ஆகியோரும் சில பாடல்களை படைத்துள்ளனர்.

அப்பாடல்களை நோக்குவோம்:

ஒரு பொண்ணு ஒரு பையன் - இப்பாடல் ரீதி கௌளை இராகப் சாயலில் (ஸ்கேல்) உள்ள பாடல் திரு. கார்த்திக் இராஜாவின் இசையில்.



இசைப்புயல் ரீதி கௌளையை விட்டு விடுமா? ஏ ஆர் ரகுமான் கர்னாடக இசையைப் பெரும்பாலும் இந்த தலைமுறைக்கு ஏற்றவாறு மாற்றிக் கொடுப்பவர். மேற்கத்திய மற்றும் ஹிந்துஸ்தானி இசைக் கூறுகள் அதிகம் தென்படும் இவர் பாடல்களிலும் அவ்வப்போது சுத்தமான கர்னாடக இசையைக் காணலாம் as a tenuity/slenderness. முதல்வன் படத்தில் ரீதி கௌளையில் ஒரு நல்ல பாடல்

அழகான ராட்சசியே - முதல்வன் ௧௯௯௯ | 1999



என்ற அந்தப் பாடலில் 'குயிலே ஆலங்குயிலே ' என்று இழுக்கும் இடம் தான் ரீதி கௌளையை ரிஃப்ளெக்ட் செய்கிறது / தூக்கி காட்டுகிறது.

ரீதிகௌளை லேசாக ஒலித்தாலும் கண்டுபிடித்து விடலாம். தாழம்பூ வாசம் மாதிரி கூப் என்று இருக்கும். வித்யாசாகர் நல்ல கர்னாடக இசை நுணுக்கம் அறிந்தவர். தூய கர்னாடக இசையைத் தருபவர் இராஜாவை போல் !! 'தம்பி' என்ற படத்தில் ஒரு மெல்லிய ஹிந்துஸ்தானி ஜாடையில் ரீதிகௌளையைப் கொடுத்து இருப்பார். டிப்பிக்கல் வித்யாசாகர் பாணி.'காதலித்துப் பார்' என்ற இடத்தில் இராகமுத்திரை இருக்கிறது.

தீண்ட  தீண்ட - துள்ளுவதோ இளமை திருவாளர்கள் : யுவன் சங்கர் ராஜா மற்றும் விஜி மனுவேல். இப்பாடல் ரீதிகௌளை இராகத்தின் சாயலில் உள்ள பாடல் அதாவது இராகத்தின் ஸ்கேல் !!!

சுடும் நிலவு....சுடாத சூரியன் ! தம்பி மற்றும் ஒரு நல்ல ரீதிகௌளை புதிய இசை அமைப்பாளர் ஜேம்ஸ் வசந்தனிடம் இருந்து : இராகம் என்பது ஒரு சமையல் குறிப்பைப் போன்றது. என்னென்ன பொருட்களைச் சேர்க்கலாம் என்று கூறும். சமையல் குறிப்பைப் பின்பற்றி நூறு பேர் உணவு சமைத்தாலும் ஒவ்வொன்றும் ஒவ்வொரு சுவையாய் இருக்கும். அது போலவே மெட்டுக்களும். ப்ரதொச்மி குருவாயூர் .... - சிந்தூர ரேக்ஹா இசை: சரத் பெரும்பாவூர் ஜி ரவீந்திரநாத் இசையில் ஒண்ணாம் ராகம் பாடி - தூவான தும்பிகள் ௧௯௮௭ | 1987  அபிமன்யு ௧௯௯௦ | 1990 - ரவீந்திரன் மாஸ்டர் இசையில் கண்டு நான்..... இப்பொழுது இசை அரசன் அவர்கள் ரீதிகௌளை இராகத்தில் செதுக்கிய பாடல்களைப் காண்போம் : கவிக்குயில் ௧௯௭௭|1977 - சின்ன கண்ணன் ௧) ௨) ௩  ) ஒரு ஓடை நதியாகிறது 1983 | ௧௯௮௩ - தலையைக் குனியும் தாமரையே ௪ ) கே. விஸ்வநாத் அவர்கள் தெலுங்கில் நல்ல இசையம்சமுள்ள படங்களைத் தந்தவர். ௧௯௮௫ல்|1984 அவர் இயக்கத்தில் வந்த சிப்பிக்குள் முத்து (தெலுங்கில் ஸ்வாதி முத்யம்) படத்தில் ரீதிகௌளையில் இசை ஞானியும் எஸ். பி. பாலசுப்ரமணியமும் பின்னி எடுத்த 'சீதையின் சுயம்வரம் நிச்சயிக்கப் பட்ட நாளிலே, ஜனகனின் மண்டபத்திலே மாலை ஏந்தி வந்த ஜானகியை வெண்ணிலா மண்ணிலா வந்ததென்று மன்னவரெல்லாம் பார்க்க ஸ்ரீ ரா....மச்சந்த்ர முர்த்தி ,கண்ணெடுத்துப் பார்க்க மாட்டாரோ என்று கவலை கொண்டார்களாம் சீதா தேவியின் செல்லத்தோழிகள்.' என்று தொகையறாவாகப் (வசனத்தை இராகத்துடன் பாடுதல்) பாடியிருக்கும் இடத்தில் இராகமும் குரலும் இணைந்து கலக்கும் ஸ்வாதி முத்யம் - இராமா கனவேமிரா / இராமன் கதை கேளுங்கள்  ௫ ) மீட்டத ஒரு வீணை - பூந்தோட்டம் ௨௦௦௭ | 2007 எந்த இசை அமைப்பாளர் ரீதி கௌளைல் பாடலை தந்தாலும் எனது மதிப்பெண் மேஸ்ட்ரோ இளையராஜாவை சாரும் ! அவரைப்போல ஒருவரும் இந்த இராகத்தை செதுக்கியது இல்லை !!! இருவரை ஐந்து ரீதிகௌளை பாடல்களை தந்து உள்ளார் ஒவ்வென்றும் ஒரு சாயல் - ஒரு பரிமாணம். இசை ஞானிக்கு இப்பாடல் சமர்ப்பணம் பிற ரீதி கௌளை பாடல்கள் ( மலையாளம்) Ellupaadam [Neelamizhiyaal ] - Vidhichathum Kothichathum (Kasthoori)1982 - Ravendran Master Pon Kinaavinu - Kinginikkombu - Raveendran - 1983 Hridaya sarovaramunarnnu - Mounaraagam 1983

தீண்டாதே தீண்டாதே - பார்த்தேன் ரசித்தேன் . இசை : பரத்வாஜ்