FRONTLINE PRINTERS PRIVATE LTD

For subscriptions contact:

91766 99819

Complete Printing Facilities under One Roof

3

Rare surgery gives Nellai lad new lease of life

6

RUN MACHINE KOHLI leads from the front

7

Messiah’s message (Kabali review)

Chennai’s No 1 English evening daily since 1982

www.newstodaynet.com

NATIONAL DAILY VOL. XXXIV NO. 227

M-7, Thiru-Vi-Ka Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032. 2250 0111, 4202 1111

FOUNDER EDITOR: T.R.R

H CHENNAI H

FRIDAY 22.7.2016 (EVENING) H OTHER STATIONS SATURDAY 23.7.2016 (MORNING) H 8 PAGES Rs. 4.00 H Regd. No., TN/CC(S) DN/223/15-17, RNI No: 33810 / 82

Kabali FDFS: Traffic snarls from 3 a.m. NT Bureau Chennai, July 22: Chennai, which is no stranger to traffic snarls, witnessed pile up of vehicles on roads as early as 3.20 am today, courtesy the release of Rajinikanth-starrer Kabali. As some of the theatres started special shows at 4 am, fans began reaching cinema halls from 3 am and started their usual celebrations — milk abishekam to Rajini banners and cut-outs, bursting of fire crackers, dancing to drum beats and more. While they were busy celebrating the release of their thalaivar film, GST Road at Chrompet (Vetri theatre), 100 Feet Road at Jafferkhanpet (Kasi theatre) and other

‘MAGIZHCHI’ MOMENTS

without disturbing others. Meanwhile, it was a sleepless night for most fans as they waited with bated breath to watch the matinee idol on screen this morning in ‘FDFS’ (first day first show) of Kabali. ‘We spent the whole night outside. As early as 11 pm, we gathered at the theater to raise banners and huge cutouts

Celebrations were on a high at cinema halls screening Kabali this morning. Scenes from Kasi and Albert theatres.

FLIGHT OF FANCY Fans on an AirAsia flight who were travelling to catch the first show of Kabali today were disappointed as the airline changed the screening venue at the last minute. AirAsia, which is Kabali’s official airline partner, had announced a ‘Fly like a Superstar’ offer to promote the movie. However, the last moment decision to change the venue from Sathyam theatre to Prasad Studio in Vadapalani, Chennai backfired. Some passengers fumed and protested with slogans ‘Air Asia down down.’

few other arterial roads witnessed traffic jams. However, the city police had made elaborate ban-

dobust arrangements and they cleared the vehicles by asking fans to have their celebrations

Photos: B ANAND and R THIYAGARAJAN

of Thalaivar,’ Madhan Kumar, who watched the first show at a cinema hall at Jafferkhanpet, said. ‘It is not everyday you get to watch Thalaivar’s film. Hence, the excitement to watch the first day, first show of the film. These last few days have been crazy, with hardly any sleep,’ said a fan at Ambattur. (Kabali review on Page 7)

I

Kabali to Kohli

t was D-day for the legion of Rajinikanth fans across the country and various parts of the world as his much-awaited Kabali hit the screens today after unprecedented hype. In Chennai, theatres had special early morning screenings which people thronging in large numbers, resulting in traffic snarls at some places. As is the routine, fans celebrated by performing aarthi and milk abhishekam to huge cut-outs of the Superstar. In cricket, Virat Kohli (143 batting) continued his sublime form to cruise to his 12th hundred and lead India to 302 for four on day one of the first cricket Test against the West Indies at Antigua. Kohli led from the front to lay a solid platform for his team with the other major contribution coming from opener Shikhar Dhawan (84). Meanwhile, Tamilnadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today thanked her Uttarakhand counterpart Harish Rawat for taking steps to install the statue of Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar in his State, calling it a ‘positive action.’ ‘I am grateful that you have responded speedily and positively to the outpouring of sentiments of the people of Tamilnadu on this sensitive issue,’ she said in a letter to Rawat.

Metro Rail expansion to start tomorrow

q Jaya to lay foundation stone for extension till Thiruvottiyur q Rs 3,770 crore project to have 8 stations NT Bureau Chennai, July 22: Fulfilling a long-pending demand, or dream, of the people of north Chennai, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa will tomorrow kickstart work on Metro Rail extension work up to Thiruvottiyur. At a function to be held at Sri Babu Jagjivan Ram Sports Complex at Tondiarpet in the city, she will lay the foundation stone for Chennai Metro Rail Project Phase - I Extension from Washermanpet to Thiruvottiyur/Wimco Nagar. She will also commence groundbreaking and deliver the keynote address. Union Minister for Urban Development, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation and Information & Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu will release the

souvenir and deliver the special address. The total cost of the project is Rs 3,770 crore and length is 9.051 km. The project will have eight Metro Rail stations and a depot. Union Ministry of Urban Development Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Chief Secretary to Tamilnadu government P Rama

Mohana Rao, Chennai Metro Rail Limited Managing Director Pankaj Kumar Bansal, Principal Secretary to State government’s Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Department S Krishnan and other top officials will be present at the event. During the presentation of the revised budget in the Assembly on Thursday, it was said, ‘In addition to the 10.15 km elevated stretch from Koyambedu to Alandur, which has already been inaugurated, passenger services in the remaining elevated stretches from Little Mount to Airport and from Alandur to St. Thomas Mount will commence shortly. The passenger services in the first underground stretch will also commence by the end of this year.’

Finance Minister O Panneerselvam further said: ‘The untiring efforts of the Chief Minister have resulted in obtaining government of India’s approval for the extension of Corridor-I of Chennai Metro Rail from Washermenpet to Thiruvottriyur/Wimco Nagar at an estimate of Rs.3,770 crore. I am pleased to inform this august House that this extension project of Metro Rail has already been included in the rolling plan for JICA assistance. This government will expedite the proposal for Phase-II of the Metro Rail covering two more corridors for a stretch of 104.50 km. I hope that these efforts will strengthen the Metro Rail network in Chennai, thereby providing a world class public transport system.’

2 FRIDAY 22 JULY 2016

Home Theatre

CHENNAI

All news in one show Naatkurippu gives viewers all information which happens around the nation to international. The show begins with the musical form of Thirukkural with descriptive text in it. And also focuses on the events happening in the fields of politics, art, literature, entertainment. trains, flights arrival and departure details. The show also throws light on vegetables, fruits, flowers and meat rate in market. It also give details of share market, gold, silver rates. Naatkurippu is aired Monday to Friday at 7.30 am in News 7 and it is hosted by Manoj.

Fun & films Vendhar TV presents Dummy Awards, a funny show about film awards. They make fun of South Indian film industry. Action, dance, love scenes are handpicked and those which make the audience laugh would be shown. Bollywood actors will be presented as a audience of the show. The show is directed and presented by Sebastain.. It will be aired every Sunday at 9.30 am and will be re-telecasted on every Saturday at 1 pm.

Talk out

Sing a song

Nerpada Pesu in Pudhiya Thalaimurai (Monday to Friday at 9 pm to 10 pm and retelecast at 11 pm to midnight on the same day), features interviews with personalities from politics, business, environment, women issues and they debate about various issues. It serves as a platform to enlighten and grow the viewer’s understanding of a broad range of issues. The show is hosted by Karthigai Selvan and Thiyaga Chemmal.

Gana is symbol of Chennai culture. Gana Pettai in Peppers TV is about how the gana songs are getting its shape and how the singers enable them towards it and how the name gana fit into this genre. As the singers pursue the songs they start applauding and dance accordingly. This is an infotaining show on gana. Mylai Saravanan group is participating this week. Catch the programme this Sunday at 9.30 pm.

Smile please Sathiyam TV presents Varnajalam, a visual treat provides a strong message. It is aired on all Tuesdays at 5.30 pm. A press release said, ‘life is plain, make it shine. The show aims to ensure everyone is happy and smile heartily’.

04:00PM Achcham Thavir 05:00PM Kalakka Povathu Yaaru 06:00PM Seethaiyin Raman 06:30PM Pagal Nilavu 07:00PM Achcham Thavir 08:00PM Deivam Thandha Veedu 08:30PM Saravanan Meenatchi 09:00PM Kalyanam Mudhal Kaadhal Varai 09:30PM Achcham Thavir 10:30PM Kalakka Povathu Yaaru

IN HOME STAR SPORTS 1 03:54PM 06:07PM 08:22PM 10:59PM

SONY PIX

06:05PM

Now You See Me Pompeii Jurassic Park Goosebumps

06:10PM 08:10PM

RAJ TV JAYA TV 04:30PM Kollywood Gallery 05:00PM Melodies 05:30PM Thirai Payanam 06:00PM Suvaiyo Suvai 06:30PM Poonkatru 07:00PM Jai Veer Hanuman 07:30PM News 08:00PM Hits 08:30PM Kairasi Kudumbam 09:00PM Sonthangal 09:30PM Periya Idathu Pennn 10:00PM Kavithaiyea Theriyuma 10:30PM News 11:00PM Thenkinnam

ZEE TAMIL 03:30PM Genes 04:00PM Athirshta Lakshmi 05:00PM CID 06:00PM Naagarani 06:30PM Mahamaayi 07:00PM Anakodiyum Aindhu Pengalum 07:30PM Iniya Irumalargal 08:00PM Solvathellam Unnmai 09:00PM Thalainai Pookal 09:30PM Lakshmi Vandachu 10:00PM Mella Thirandhadu Kadhavu 10:30PM Top

KALAIGNAR TV 04:30PM Pudhu Paadal 05:00PM Vinnai Thodu 05:30PM Kalai Koil 06:00PM Sirippu Varudhu 06:30PM Uchakattam 07:00PM News 07:30PM Kalaignarin Ramanujar 08:00PM Pokkisham 08:30PM Ellamae Siripputhan 09:00PM Odi Vilayadu Pappa 09:30PM Naan Aval Illai 10:00PM News Headlines 10:02PM Kaliyugam 10:30PM Sirippu Varudhu 11:00PM Teleshopping

VIJAY TV 03:00PM Saravanan Meenatchi 03:30PM Deivam Thandha Veedu

05:00PM S K Shoppe 05:30PM Velli Thirai 06:00PM Raj News 06:30PM Thirai Vaanil 07:00PM Ganga Yamuna 07:30PM Mann Vasanai 08:00PM Poovizhi Vasalile 08:30PM Kanchana 09:00PM Movie Cafe 09:30PM Indira 10:00PM Koppium 10:30PM Periya Thambi

HBO 03:46PM 06:47PM 09:00PM 11:03PM

STAR MOVIES 04:23PM 06:23PM

POLIMER TV 03:00PM Movie 06:00PM Uravey Uyire 06:30PM Ullam Kollai Pogudhada 07:00PM Mouna Ragam 07:28PM En Vaalkai En Payanam 08:00PM Enkanmani 08:30PM Uravey Uyire 09:00PM Inai Kodugal 09:30PM Moondru Mudichu 10:00PM Mouna Ragam 10:30PM Polimer News 11:00PM Comedy Express

S U D O K U

3457

Troy Mad Max: Fury Road Focus Gamer

09:00PM 11:42PM

The Croods A Million Ways to Die in the West Snow White and the Huntsman Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem

MOVIES NOW 04:30PM 07:20PM 09:00PM 11:15PM

9

4

Van Helsing Shark Night 3D Fist of Fury Waterworld

1 3 1

5 9

9 4

8

3 9

1

KABALI

2

5

The object is to insert the numbers in the boxes to satisfy only one condition: each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the digits 1 through 9 exactly once: Easy nah?

ANSWER TO SUDOKU 3456 (21.07.2016)

7

STAR SPORTS 2 06:00PM 06:30PM 07:00PM 07:30PM 07:50PM 09:00PM 10:30PM 10:58PM

Rings of Glory Pro Kabaddi League S4 2016 H/ls Pro Kabaddi League S4 2016 H/ls Pro Kabaddi League S4 2016 : Pre Show Pro Kabaddi League S4 2016 : Jaipur vs. Patna Pro Kabaddi League S4 2016 : Mumbai vs. Kolkata Pro Kabaddi League S4 2016 H/ls Natwest T20 Blast 2016 : Glamorgan vs. Somerset

TEN 1 06:00PM 07:05PM 09:00PM 09:30PM 10:00PM 11:00PM

WWE Main Event Tour De France 2016 : Day 19 Gillette World Sport Formula E: Sound of the Future WWE Main Event Moto GP 2016 H/ls : Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland

5

Mayajaal, Devi Cineplex, Kamala Theatre, PVR Cinemas, Sangam, AGS, Abirami Theatres, Uthayam Theater, Sri Ganga Cinema, Raj Theatre, INOX National Hall, Rakki Multiplex, Maharani Theatre

3 6

4

6 2

08:25PM 08:30PM 10:30PM 11:00PM 11:30PM

IN THEATRES

2 8

9

08:15PM 08:20PM

Cricket All Rounder : England vs. Pakistan Chris Woakes 11 Wkts Haul Pakistan Tour of England 2016 : 2nd Test Day 1 Cricket All Rounder : England vs. Pakistan Misbah 114 Cricket All Rounder : Mike Hussey Cricket All Rounder : England vs. Pakistan Chris Woakes 11 Wkts Haul Cricket All Rounder : Mitchell Johnson Pakistan Tour of England 2016 : 2nd Test Day 1 This Weeks Special Knight Club (CPL) 2016 Rings of Glory

8

1 9 7 3 4 6 2 5 8 5 8 4 2 9 7 3 6 1 2 3 6 1 8 5 4 7 9 9 6 2 8 7 4 1 3 5 4 7 5 6 3 1 9 8 2 8 1 3 5 2 9 6 4 7 3 4 1 7 5 2 8 9 6 6 5 9 4 1 8 7 2 3 7 2 8 9 6 3 5 1 4

(ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE) Devi Cineplex, Kamala Theatre, Udhayam Theatre, PVR Cinemas, AGS Cinemas, Abirami Mega Mall, Woodlands Multiplex, Sangam Multiplex Mayajaal

DHILLUKU DHUDDU Devi Cineplex, Kamala Theatre, PVR Cinemas, Sangam, AGS, Abirami Theatres, Uthayam Theater, Sri Ganga Cinema, Raj Theatre, INOX National Hall

Around Town

CHENNAI

FRIDAY 22 JULY 2016

3

SHOULD ARTISTS, WRITERS BE GRADED? Grading artists and writers is the latest idea mooted by the Culture Ministry of the Central government. The grading system is already in vogue in Doordarshan and AIR. The performing artistes actually wear it like a badge of honour and flaunt it, saying. ‘I am an A Grade violinist with AIR’, and so on. Will this translate the same way in the case of artists and writers?

We can’t be boxed: Artists AMREETHA GOWRISHANKAR Chennai, July 22: Though it is too early to say what the grading system of artists would be like, artists in Chennai wonder what the grading will be based on. ‘How are they going to have a grading system?’ is the first question G Sivaraman that renowned sculptor G Sivaraman asks. Posing a similar question, a famous artist from the city, Asma Menon, said, ‘Grading inside and outside the country is a voluminous task and I don’t know the parameters with which they are going to conduct this. How are they going to identify artists from villages, small townships, artists from academic backgrounds, etc.? There are so many parameters by which artists can be classified.’ ‘Unless it’s spelled out how the grading is going to be done, we can’t jump to conclusions and say if it’s a good or a bad thing. On what basis are you going to grade art?’ she continues. Talking about variety in art, Sivaraman, the man who fashioned actor Sivaji Ganesan’s statue in Chennai,

says, ‘There are different artists for different subjects. The committee will have to grade artists for each genre. For example, take sculpture: there is wood carving, metal work and so many other subjects which will need to be graded separately.’ Artist Asma, who is into painting, print-making, sculpting, etc., worries over the same point. ‘Art is of a wide range and there Asma Menon are so many classifications one can think of.’ The Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, an autonomous institution under the Culture Ministry, is already engaged in creating a database of artists under various areas, including architecture, sculpture, painting, handicrafts, music, dance, theatre, puppetry and literary arts. Multi-talented Asma welcomes the idea of classification, saying, ‘A lot of art activities goes on towards the north; hopefully, this way, the south will get more exposure. Pan-India database will be established and I would be thrilled if there is such an outcome.’ ‘If, indeed, grading happens, senior artists should be a part of the com-

Celebrating ‘Saint Ramanuja’  Lifco CharitableTrust plans year-long fete for ‘Sahasrabdi’ NT Bureau Chennai, July 22: As a tribute to Saint Ramanujacharya, Lifco Charitiable Trust is organising a year-long fete to mark ‘Ramanuja Sahasrabdi’ (the 1000th year of the saint). A press note said the ‘mahotsavam’ will feature Rathyatra, grand spiritual exhibition, global conference on Ramanuja and free medical camp for poor and downtrodden. Organisers of ‘Ramanuja Sahasrabdi Mahotsavam’ - T N C Vijaysarathy, president and chairman, Lifco and Radha Vijaysarathy, vice-president and managing director, Lifco, said, ‘Anantah Prathamam Roopam Lakshmanascha Tathah Parah’ means it is the same who was Adisesha (Anantha) first, Lakshmana after and Balarama in the third who is born as Sri Ramanuja in the kali yuga. Ramanuja made his appearance on this planet in Pingala Varusham, Chithrai

Matham, Thiruvathurai nakshthram (1017 AD), to deliver the transcendental message of Sriman Narayana to the world. As part of the celebrations, a specially designed postal cover with image of Ramanuja would be released by the Department of Posts. A digital app carrying features of Ramanuja’s divine message to common man with other interesting info would be launched. A 3D animation DVD which will elaborately depict the life history of Acharya, His teachings, works and message is also being developed. A grand and colourful opening with a Rath Yatra for 108 days, starting from Triplicane in Chennai, would be one of the highlights. It would cover the four southern States. Also, a sSpiritual exhibition would be held from 26 April to 5 May 2017. The release said a global conference at Madras University Senate Hall would be held. Contributions can be sent in the name of LIFCO Charities Trust, Bhagavath Ramanuja Sahasrabdi, account no: 802920110000550, Bank of India, West Mamabalam branch. Ifsc code: BKID00008029.

mittee to grade the younger artists. Having a committee or a union is a positive change but I’m not for grading. Each artist will have their own unique talent and will dabble in different arts,’ says Sivaraman philosophically. Artistically energetic Asma says, ‘It’s very difficult to grade art and it won’t happen overnight. The committee that grades the artistes needs to comprise artists who represent all four corners of India, who should be neutral in providing information. It’ll be good to know who are the artists living and working in India.’ Every artist practises many genres of art, so it won’t be easy to define or grade them. ‘How would you put an artist in a box and say they belong there? They may have multiple talent like sculpting, painting, etc. If it’s a ‘yellow pages directory’ for artists, it’s a very good effort, but grading will be difficult and take a long time,’ says Asma who is a product of the Government College of Arts and Crafts in Chennai. ‘We are creative people, we don’t have any constraints. It would be a good idea if the directory contains the artist and all the different genres they specialise in, instead of putting them in a niche as a painter or a sculptor,’ adds Asma.

Database fine, grading unnecessary, say writers KISHORE S Chennai, July 22: News about the grading system of artists and writers, mooted by the Culture Ministry recently, is yet to percolate to Tamil writers. Some of the prominent writers that News Today spoke to expressed surprise at the move and said they would not be able to comment on the issue. But others that this correspondent spoke to were of the view that a panIndia database of writers was fine, ‘but grading them appears unfair’. ‘Every artist has his own uniqueness and contributes in his own way, and bringing them under a grading system doesn’t seem fair,’ says the president of Tamilnadu Progressive Writers’ Association, Su Tamil Selvan. He further questions the possibility of such a grading, ‘In a multidimensional country like India, which has so many diverse languages, such a system of grading by one high-powered committee seems unfair. This is because people have different tastes.’ Tamil Selvan further laments that such grading might only trigger negativity among writers. ‘Creating a database is a much needed thing, but grading them in unnecessary,’ he says emphatically. This was

the opinion of the artists also, who said it would be wonderful to have a database of artists in India but not grade them as you cannot compartmentalise them. B h a s k a r Sakthi, a renowned Tamil writer, says, ‘Art and literature should not be monitored Bhaskar Sakthi or graded by a committee. It must be left independent.’ How can a writer produce good work when he is constantly under pressure wondering at the grading he would get, he asks. He further questions the fairness of such a grading as the committee members’ decisions could be affected by their own individual ideologies. Well-known writers like S Ramakrishnan and Indira Parthasarathy said they were unaware of the announcement of such a grading system by the Central government. As Indira Parthasarathy says, ‘It may be too early to come to a conclusion on such a grading system as I am unaware of the particulars. But it all depends on what basis the grading would be done on.’ An agency report quotes a Culture

First gen students rush where others fear to tread  Anna varsity admission process leaves 1,01,318 seats vacant

NIVEDHIKA KRISHNAN Chennai, July 22: While the number of students opting for engineering courses as a whole is dipping, this year, statistics prove that first generation students taking up the

At end of the day Total number of seats allotted - 84,352 Male candidates - 53,067 Female candidates - 31,285 First generation graduates - 43,004 Number of vacant seats - 1,01,318 TOP 3 COURSES THIS YEAR: Mechanical Engineering - 19,409 Electronics and Communication Engineering - 15,532 Computer Science and Engineering - 14,510

professional course account for more than half the number of filled-up seats. Of the total 84,352 seats allotted, 43,004 seats have been lapped up by first generation graduates. More than a lakh of engineering seats have gone waste this year following the downward trend for the course but the first generation graduates seem to buck the trend. Speaking to News Today, educationist Prince Gajendra Babu says, ‘It is the sheer aspiration that draws thousands of people towards the

professional course while it is losing its lustre among the students fraternity. They are not informed about the happenings around the world. Also, they are not exposed to various branches of study like anthropology, cyber security or forensics. Universities have a great role to play in orienting students about the various courses of study and should also help school students identify their interests.’ Mentioning about the repercussions, he says, ‘The first generation candidates will be hard working and perform well during the course. But,

the courses are designed to produce semi-skilled workers for MNCs. Therefore, the nature of course has to be blamed if a large number of students remain unemployed in the future.’ On the final day of general counselling, 1,01,318 seats fell vacant, according to the list released by Anna University Thursday night. This is a drop of 12 per cent, compared to the previous year, where 89,662 seats remained vacant after general counselling. Also, it is noted that the dip is the lowest in over a decade as over 1 lakh seats were

Rare surgery gives Nellai lad new lease of life  Docs at Kauvery Hospital perform David’s Aortic Valve procedure NT Bureau Chennai, July 22: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, a rare David’s Aortic Valve surgery has been performed on a 10-year-old at Kauvery Hospital here recently. ‘This is the first time such a complex surgery has been performed on a 10-year-old ‘ said pediatric cardiac surgeon Dr Prashanth Shah. He pointed out that David’s Arotic Valve surgery is a reconstructive method, rarely used but a very effective way to correct the defect. Jayasurya, a 10-year-old from Tirunelveli was admitted at the Kauvery Hospital for chest pain and breathlessness. Following a series of tests, doctors found that he had aortic root aneurysms (blood-filled balloon like bulge in the wall of a blood vessel) with Bicuspid Aortic Valve and Aortic Regugitation. The boy’s life

‘The surgery was done under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme and the Kauvery Hospitals’ own initiative SHINE’ was in real risk and if not corrected it would have resulted in death. The team lead by Prashant Shah decided to go ahead with the David’s valve sparing aortic root replacement method. It is a technique used for replacing aortic valve with

Ministry source as saying that artists would be graded under three heads - Outstanding (O), Promising (P) and Waiting (W). The nodal agency is said to have already profiled around 70 lakh artists and writers. ‘The president of Booksellers and PubGandhi Kannadasan lishers Association of South India (BAPASI), Gandhi Kannadasan, laments, ‘There wont be any fairness in such a committee as its members would not be from all languages. This spoils the whole point of grading.’ ‘I suspect they want to create a division, as there will be favouritsim in grading which will starve the other language writers,’ he says. Further, he forcefully states that it must be the people who should judge the works by a writer and not a committee. ‘When censor board is regionalised, even such a committee must be regionalised as a writer from Bengali might not know or understand the nuances and state of reality in the south,’ points out Gandhi Kannadasan.

Kauvery Hospital’s executive director Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, pediatric cardiac surgeon Dr Prashant Shah, pediatric cardiac anasthetist Shapna Varma, pediatric cardiologists Dr Prem Sekar and Dr Karthik Surya and pediatric intensivist Dr Lakshmi Prashanth with the patient Jayasurya in Chennai on Thursday. the aortic graft. ‘This is the first time in India we have performed it successfully on a child. The surgery

was done on 14 July and the boy is now completely cured. This is a very complex surgery but with bet-

ter benefits. This surgery doesn’t need any constant medication as the other heart surgeries, The total cost of the surgery will be around Rs four lakh,’ said Prashant Shah at a press meet yesterday. The hospital’s executive director Aravindan Selvaraj said, ‘This surgery was done under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme and the Kauvery Hospitals’ own initiative SHINE.’ ‘We were so afraid on hearing what doctors said. But they gave me hope,’ said Jayasurya’s parents. ‘We are from a poor background and we thank the doctors and the team,’ they added. The team consisted of pediatric cardiac surgeon Prashant Shah, pediatric cardiac anasthesist Shapna Varma, pediatric cardiologists Dr Prem Sekar and Dr Karthik Surya and Pediatric Intensivist Dr Lakshmi Prashanth.

unfilled through the single window counselling. Further, this year, 8,000 seats were reduced from the existing number of seats and stood at 1.85 lakh seats. Through Tamilnadu Engineering Admissions 2016, 1,29,814 candidates were called for counselling and recorded an absentee of 45,005 (34.67 per cent). According to experts, the high percentage of student absenteeism for counselling indicates that they have moved towards arts and science, registering the downward trend of the professional course. As was in the beginning, Mechanical Engineering course continued to remain the favourite among aspirants with a total of 19,409 candidates opting for it. This year, the tilt was also towards Electronics and Communication Engineering (15,532 candidates opted for it). This is followed by Computer Science and Engineering course that was chosen by 14,510 candidates. Only 5,409 seats were filled in the Information Technology department this year.

Of history, Ramayana & Mahabharata NT Bureau Chennai, July 22: Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Chennai 2000 Plus Trust and Triplicane Cultural Academy will present ‘Ithihaasa Paathirangal’, a series on historical characters of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, will be held at Vivekanandar Illam here tomorrow. A press note said the event would be inaugurated by writer Dr K S Subramanian. Swami Vimurtananda, manager, Sri Ramakrishna Math, will preside. A talk by Sri Thiruppur Krishnan, editor, Amudhasurabhi would be held. There would be felicitations by R Srinivasan, vice-president, Triplicane Cultural Academy and M Krishnamurthy, honorary secretary, Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha. The programme would held at Vivekanandar Illam, Vivekananda Cultural Centre near Marina, at 6 p.m. For details, call 9841010821

Blend

4 FRIDAY 22 JULY 2016 WHAT NEWS TODAY PRINTS IS NEWS THAT COUNTS

PICTURE PERFECT

CHENNAI C

L ICK

PIC

Improper utterance

T

here is no place for crudity in public life. However, given the socio-economic background of most politicians, it is common for them to use the earthy idiom, colourful words and phrases. But even after making due allowance for the everyday habit of politicians to shun political correctness in favour of a more robust language, what BJP MP, Dayashankar Singh, said about BSP leader Mayawati was indefensible. Dayashankar, who has since been expelled by the party for six years, likened her to a sex worker, who sold her party’s tickets to the highest bidder. Addressing a rally of party workers in Mau in UP the other day, he accused the BSP boss of selling party tickets, the reason why a number of senior leaders had left the party. The charge against Mayawati is not new. It was made by one of her senior lieutenants while leaving the party earlier this month. A few others left the party in disgust, citing the same charge. But Dayashankar was wrong in his comparison to emphasise her venality. Naturally, she picked on the comparison and painted the BJP anti-Dalit. Of course, there was hardly any kind of rebuttal charge about selling party tickets. That part became irrelevant thanks to the use of a politically incorrect comparison. An embarrassed Dayashankar expelled Singh for six years. Clearly, it did not want to hand over an emotive issue for Mayawati to flog in the run-up to the coming Assembly poll in UP. Mayawati claimed the reason why she did not marry was because she wanted to devote her life to the service of Dalits. But cynical critics allege that she is married to material comforts. She is alleged amassed a huge fortune, playing the Dalit czarina. Had Dayashankar made the same point without descending to the low-grade language, even she would have found it hard to question him. Meanwhile, Mayawati and her flock are abusing him and the women in his family in the worst possible words. Also, an FIR has been lodged against Singh under the SC/ ST Act and an arrest warrant issued. Of course, no action is contemplated against Mayawati and her followers who have publicly called Dayashankar and his sister and mother much worse names. Vote-bank politics clearly makes you see something and un-see others. But BJP did well to show the exit door to the foul-mouthed party member.

Kailash Satyarthi @k_satyarthi Hon.MPs, would you pass a law that allows your own 6yr child to work in your slaughter house,glass furnace or brick kiln? Please oppose now!

What’s it like to write as a girl for a guy?Tougher than any entrance exam, job, or story I’ve ever written.More fun than anything else too

Chetan Bhagat @chetan_bhagat

Voicemail, call back added in WhatsApp Beta Android version

T

he process of updating WhatsApp has been revealing a number of new features regularly. This Facebook-owned messenger service with more than one billion users across the world has added these new features including call back and voice mailing facility. These features will appear on the screen when a call is declined along with the other option to ‘Cancel’. Well, this doesn’t require your counter device to be updated to this WhatsApp for Android Beta version. Those users of WhatsApp for Android who updates their version with the v2.16.189 testing program must have already noticed these features being popped up on the mobile screen when a call is denied. These two features were already spotted in April in the translation requests along with the other features of Beta version. However, it is unclear as when the Facebook is going to make these Beta features stable for Android and iOS Operating Systems. As part of testing these new features, all that you need to do is to update your app by applying Google Play Beta test program for What-

sApp on your mobile and download the latest build. Or, simply download the signed APK from the APK mirror. After you are done installing the latest WhatsApp for Android beta v2.16.189 on your phone, try making a call to one of your contacts. To test the functionality, there is no need that the call recipient should be updating to the latest version. If the call is not picked up, a screen appears on your phone showing a message ‘Call Declined’ regardless of the whether the call has been declined or missed or ignored. Along with the message ‘Call declined’ there are three other options saying ‘Call Back’, ‘Cancel’, ‘Record Voice Message’. This window appears on the screens of both the call maker and the recipient. The option ‘Cancel’ clicked closes the window. By using the call back option, you can easily make a call back to the person and the last option of recording the voice message is similar to the voice mail option that we already are familiar of. To do so, you have to long press to record, record your message a n d leave the when you are done and the voice message will be sent to the other person. This voice mail will be visible in the chat conversation between you and the recipient. Before adding in this feature, the WhatsApp for Android Beta introduced a new font. All that the users have to do is to type in the grave accent symbol (‘) three times before and after the text and the result will be a mono spaced, plain text font which is ideal for sending snippets of code.

A man wears a costume as he participates in a group walk with fellow ‘Pokemon Go’ players , in San Francisco. In the other photograph, Another man strikes a pose in front of a giant torta, or sandwich, during a press conference to promote the 13th annual Torta Festival, in Mexico City.

PML-N sweeps PoK Assembly polls LAHORE: Pakistan’s ruling party PML-N has swept the PoK’s legislative assembly elections, bagging 30 of 41 directly elected seats, with a two-thirds majority to form the new government. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) emerged victorious in the assembly elections held yesterday in which a total of 26 political parties and 423 candidates took part. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), which won the last polls, could only manage to win two seats while cricketer-turned- politician Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf (PTI) also got as many and Muslim Conference bagged three. It was expected that there would be a stiff competition between the three mainstream parties – Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), PPP and PTI but the PML-N routed them, stunning the political pundits. A total of 2.674 million Kashmires exercised their right to franchise yesterday to elect members for the PoK Legislative Assembly, which will be the ninth since the parliamentary form of government was introduced in the region in 1975.

Fox News chief resigns after sexual harassment claims NEW YORK: Roger Ailes on Thursday resigned as chairman and chief executive of Fox News Channel following allegations of sexual harassment, an abrupt end to his 20-year rein over America`s most lucrative and powerful cable news channel for conservatives. Rupert Murdoch, 85, the executive chairman of Twenty-First Century Fox Inc, the parent of Fox News, will assume the role of CEO Fox News and Fox Business Network on an interim basis, the company said on Thursday. Ailes, who will serve as an informal adviser to Rupert Murdoch and no longer have an official role at the company, will receive a severance package of about $40 million, according to a source familiar with the situation, who asked to remain anonymous. In his resignation letter to Murdoch, Ailes did not indicate he had done anything wrong. ‘I take particular pride in the role that I have played advancing the careers of the many women I have promoted to executive and on-air positions,’ Ailes wrote in the letter, which his lawyer Susan Estrich provided to Reuters.

Ex-Portugal PM heads race to be UN chief  Ban Ki-moon steps down at the end of 2016, after two five-year terms UNITED NATIONS: Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is the front runner to be the next United Nations secretarygeneral, followed by former Slovenian President Danilo Turk, after the first UN Security Council secret ballot on Thursday. According to results seen by Reuters, Irina Bokova of Bulgaria, director-general of UN cultural organisation UNESCO came in third, edging out former Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic and former Macedonian Foreign Minister Srgjan Kerim, who tied for fourth. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, who heads the UN Development Programme, was fifth, followed by Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak, Argentinian Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra, and former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres of Costa Rica. Moldova’s former foreign minister, Natalia Gherman, was in 10th place, followed by Montenegro Foreign Minister Igor Luksic and former Croatian Foreign Minister

Vesna Pusic. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon steps down at the end of 2016 after two five-year terms. The 193-member UN General Assembly this year has sought to lift a veil of secrecy that has surrounded the election of the UN chief for the past 70 years by requiring public nominations and holding campaignstyle town hall events with each candidate. However, it is the 15-member Security Council that will choose a candidate to recommend to the General Assembly for election later this year. The council will continue

Kickass Torrents’ file sharing site shut down Kickass Torrents -- the world’s top website for illegally sharing movies, TV shows and music -- has been taken down by the US government. The website’s alleged owner, Artem Vaulin, a 30-year-old Ukrainian man, was arrested in Poland on Wednesday. The international bust is a massive blow to the online torrent community, where millions of people share copyrighted material without paying for it. It also shows how American law enforcement is ramping up its efforts to combat copyright infringement. Governments have been pressured in recent years by entertainment giants -- including Sony Pictures, the Walt Disney Company (DIS), Warner Bros. Entertainment, and Universal Music Group -- to crack down on digital piracy. In a statement, federal prosecutor Zachary T. Fardon said: ‘Copyright infringement exacts a large toll, a very human one, on the artists and businesses whose livelihood hinges

on their creative inventions.’ Online piracy -- essentially copying a digital file and sharing it -- sucks revenue out of media publishing companies, which pay fees to the artists who create the work. The US government will ask the Polish government to extradite Vaulin to the United States, where he will be prosecuted. He’s accused of operating a website that allowed people to share movies, video games, television shows and music worth more than $1 billion. The primary method of file sharing right now is through something called ‘torrents’.

to hold closed-door informal secret ballots until a consensus is reached. On Thursday, council members were given a ballot for each candidate with the options of encourage, discourage and no opinion. The nominating states will be told of the results for their candidate, but overall results will not be made public. According to the results, Guterres received 12 encourage, no discourage and three no opinion; Turk got 11 encourage, two discourage and two no opinion. At the opposite end, Pusic received two encourage, 11 discourage and two no opinion. The search for a successor to Ban, a former South Korean foreign minister, has sparked a push by more than a quarter of the 193 UN states for the world body’s first female leader, and half of the current candidates are women. At least four members of the Security Council are part of the Group of Friends for a woman SecretaryGeneral led by Colombia Spain, Venezuela, Japan and Uruguay.

VOICE MAIL

End attacks Sir, It is sad to note that 10 CRPF commandos have been killed in a blast in Bihar. The other day the former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had suggested that every State should establish strong force to tackle the naxal menace. For instance, Andhra Pradesh has done an excellent job by establishing the special police force to deal with the menace. All other States should follow its example. Also, it is high time that serious steps were taken to find the hideouts of the insurgents. P SENTHIL SARAVANA DURAI, Vazhavallan ADDRESS YOUR LETTERS TO : The Editor, News Today, 85, Mount Road, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032. or e-mail to : [email protected]

Trump vows to ‘put America first’ CLEVELAND: Donald Trump vowed to ‘put America first’ and restore ‘law and order’ in a country rocked by shootings and attacks as he appealed to the Americans to elect him to the White House while formally accepting the Republican nomination as the presidential candidate. The 70-year-old real estate tycoon called himself the ‘law and order candidate’ as he vowed to defeat ISIS and reiterated his resolve to build the wall along the Mexico border, stressing that immigration from countries that have compromised on terrorism should be be immediately suspended. Promises to defeat ISIS While accepting the nomination ‘humbly and gratefully’ here, Trump promised to defeat ISIS and Islamic terrorism, but toned down his previous proposal of a complete ban on entry of Muslims in the country. Trump said his plan will put America First. Americanism, not globalism,

along racial lines. ‘The irresponsible rhetoric of our president, who has used the pulpit of the presidency to divide us by race and color, has made America a more dangerous environment for everyone. The ‘crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon, and I mean very soon, come to an end,’ he said. Hillary is incompetent ‘Beginning on 20 January of 2017, safety will be restored.’ Trump paintwill be his credo. ‘As long as we are ed his rival from the Democratic led by politicians who will not put camp Hillary Clinton as incompetent. ‘This is the legacy of America First, then we can Hillary Clinton: death, be assured that other R E K S MAa y destruction, terrorism nations will not treat NEoW d e th f and weakness,’ he America with respect said. that we deserve,’ he said amid thunderous applause. Trump said if elected as the US President in the November elections, he will Obama sowing disunity ‘In this race for the White House, I put in place an immigration system am the law and order candidate,’ he ‘that works, but one that works for the said as he accused US President American people’. ‘Tonight I want every American Barack Obama of sowing disunity

whose demands for immigration security have been denied and every politician who has denied them to listen very closely to the words I am about to say. On 21 January of 2017, the day after I take the oath of office, Americans will finally wake up in a country where the laws of the US are enforced. My greatest compassion will be for our struggling citizens We are going to be considerate and compassionate to everyone. ‘But my greatest compassion will be for our own struggling citizens. My plan is the exact opposite of the radical and dangerous immigration policy of Hillary Clinton. Americans want relief from uncontrolled immigration. Communities want relief,’ he added. ‘Illegal border crossings will go down. Peace will be restored. By enforcing the rules for the millions who overstay their visas, our laws will finally receive the respect they deserve.

Enterprise

CHENNAI

NPC organises seminar on MSMEs NT Bureau Chennai, July 22: To promote the ‘Lean Manufacturing Competitiveness Scheme’ (LMCS) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Sri City, in collaboration with National Productivity Council (NPC), Chennai, organised an awareness seminar on Thursday. A press release said, Sivakumar, Director, NPC and Srinivasulu, Deputy Director, NPC, were the resource persons of the seminar. Delivering the lecture Sivakumar explained salient features of LMCS and said, ‘The scheme, which was launched in July 2009, focuses on increasing the manufacturing competitiveness of the MSMEs through the application of various lean manufacturing techniques resulting in waste reduction, lowering the costs, increased productivity, and introduction of innovative practices as well as imbibing culture of continuous improvement’. Commenting on the occasion Ravindra Sannareddy, founder and

 FM Jaitley suggests recipe to deal with Brexit National Productivity Council (NPC) director Sivakumar delivering a lecture at Sri City Thursday. managing director, Sri City said, ‘It is heartening that NPC as the national body for monitoring and implementing of LMCS, promotes a comprehensive view of productivity in MSMEs by teaming up experts in the area of lean manufacturing and conducting awareness seminars of this kind across the country’, he added. Over 80 delegates from different manufacturing companies in Sri City attended seminar.

Shanghai, July 22 (PTI): India has underlined the need for a judicious mix of fiscal, monetary and structural policies by major economies to deal with the heightened uncertainty on account of Brexit. ‘Governments, Central Banks and regulators have to mitigate the pressure of such vulnerabilities through judicious mix of fiscal, monetary and structural policies’, Jaitley said in his speech at the meeting of the Board of Governors of the New Development Bank (NDB). In his speech, read out by Joint Secretary in the Finance Ministry Raj Kumar, Jaitley said that Britain’s decision to exit from the European Union, commonly termed as Brexit has further heightened uncertainty,

Higher officials at the 109th Foundation Day celebrations of Bank of Baroda in Chennai. asimha Rao, flagged off the walkathon. I R Jayaprakash, Deputy General Manager

Kotak Mahindra Bank PAT at Rs 742 crore NT Bureau Chennai, July 22: Kotak Mahindra Bank on Thursday announced that its PAT for Q1FY17 is at Rs 742 crore. A press release said, consolidated PAT for the quarter is Rs 1,067 crore. The Net Interest Income (NII) is reported to be up 20 per cent to Rs 1,919 crore from Rs 1,598 cr in Q1FY16. ‘Net Interest Margin (NIM) at 4.37 per cent from 4.18 per cent in Q1FY16, while the advances as on 30 June, 2016 were up 17 per cent YOY to Rs 120,765 crore. It was Rs 103,614 crore as on 30 June, 2015.

5

‘Mix monetary & structural policies, with fiscal toppings’

BoB celebrates Foundation Day NT Bureau Chennai, July 22: Bank of Baroda recently celebrated its 109th Foundation Day. According to a press release, staff members of the bank had a walkathon in Marina, starting from Light House, highlighting ‘Financial Inclusion to All’. The theme contains the focus of the nation, banking accounts, insurance facility and pension to all. General Manager of the Bank’s Tamilnadu and Kerala Zone, P Nar-

FRIDAY 22 JULY 2016

of the Zone, B Nandhagopal, Deputy General Manager of Chennai Region and K P Vaira-

van, Deputy General Manager, of the Inspection division of the bank, led the team. Finishing the walkathon, Narsimha Rao said that the bank is transforming into digitisation. The bank also organised blood donation camps in two of its branches at SIET College and Tambaram. Free medical camps were also organised by the bank at their Mylapore, T Nagar and Ambattur branches, for their customers and public.

ASSOCHAM hails TN budget NT Bureau Chennai, July 22: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) on Thursday welcomed the Tamilnadu State Budget. In a press release here, co-chairman ASSOCHAM Tamilnadu Vinod Surana said, the body welcomes the importance given to the development of the industry through the following measures to spur manufacturing and create new jobs: Creation of a Polymer Industries Park in Ponneri, Tiruvallur district to house MSME plastic component manufacturing units, setting

up of a Special Purpose Vehicle, Madurai-Thoothukudi Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Ltd to expedite the land acquisition for this project, approval for development of 250 acres in Vallam Vadagal, Sriperumbudur as an aerospace park, allocation of Rs 150 crore to train two lakh youth for skill development under the Tamilnadu Skill Development Mission is an essential measure though the industry requirements are much higher, promotion of the Tamilnadu Infrastructure Fund as an Alternative Investment Fund Category I with an allocation of Rs 2,000 crore.

Ship on shore  Sector attracts $636 mn under Make in India IN THE OFFING Other major ports namely Kolkata, Paradip, Kamarajar, V. O. Chidambaranar, New Mangalore, Mormugao and Mumbai are in the process of implementing the system, he said. NT Bureau CARE TO Chennai, July 22: SMOOTH Government received CONNECT investments worth SAIL The government $636.17 million ‘An amount of $636.17 million is also working on (about Rs 4,272 removal of bottlehas been received up to May, 2016 crore) in the shipnecks in rail-road in Shipping Sector under Make in ping sector under connectivity to the India initiative since its inception the ‘Make in India’ major ports, introin September 2014’, Shipping initiative. duction of container Minister Nitin Gadkari said in tracking system at Jaa written reply to the Lok waharlal Nehru Port on PORT PRIDE Sabha. pilot basis, Gadkari said. RFID based Gate Automation System has been implemented at major ports of Chennai, Cochin, FACTORS AT FRONT Kandla and 2 terminals namely GTICT They include integration of import and NSICT of Jawaharlal Nehru Port. general manifest (IGM) system

GAMBLE WITH GROUNDWORK Government has taken significant initiatives under the ‘Ease of Doing BusinessTrading Across Borders to simplify cargo clearance process, reduce congestion and dwell time at major ports, he added.

with terminal operating system, extending of direct port delivery facility to all accredited client programme (ACP) clients, installing of container scanner, implementation of e-Delivery orders and Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) based gate automation system, the Minister said.

market volatility and risk-averse behaviour. Kumar represented India at the first annual general body and board of governors meetings of the NDB which took place in Shanghai, as Jaitley could not attend it because of the ongoing Parliament session back home. Outlining the challenges, he said the current global economic

Ashok Leyland net profit at Rs 290.78 crore NT Bureau Chennai, July 22: Ashok Leyland on Thursday reported over two-fold jump in net profit at Rs.290.78 crore for the first quarter ended 30 June, riding on robust volume growth. A press release said, the company had posted a net profit of Rs.144.49 crore in the same period last fiscal, Ashok Leyland said in a BSE filing. Net sales during the quarter under review stood at Rs.4,175.79 crore as against Rs.3,775.29 crore in the year-ago period, up 10.6 per cent. ‘We recorded a domestic volume growth of 18.5 per cent as against the industry growth of 14.5%. Our initiatives on network development, operational efficiency, talent development and new products continue’, Ashok Leyland managing director Vinod K Dasari said. Key export markets were down in June quarter of this fiscal but are expected to bounce back in the second quarter and beyond, he added. The quarter includes a gain on currency and interest rate swap of Rs 49.67 crore, while it had a loss of Rs 18.05 crore in the previous year, it added.

INDUS FINANCE LIMITED CIN No. L65191TN1992PLC022317    !"#$$" %&'((() NOTICE *+-./012+ #+  3+ + 4"+5 + 6(7 8 #9 "   "     3 +  0+   28 #   .9 :9 )(6('((*+   ";9 +;;