Jeremy Corbyn ! is he a revelation or a disaster ?

Well !

Politics ! what an interesting drama stage ? scenes change day to day and the impossibilities become possible and the possibilities changes to be impossible.

Is this why Harold Wilson said " two weeks is a long time in Politics ".

Whether anyone like it or not it is a fact Jeremy Corbyn is the Labour leader now . And he has been selected as a leader with a thumping majority .

Political pundits were predicting so many different scenarios . One of which was that the Labour MP`s have already started to plot how to get rid of Jeremy as leader of the party.

Well how can they when he has been backed by almost 60 % of the party members. Would they not go against the grain of the party ?

Then the reality is to stomach the fact that Jeremy Corbyn is the leader at least for the next couple of  years and see how any damage limitation can be done ?

Then again who are we to say that what Jeremy says will damage the labour party. If that was true then how on earth he was elected as the leader.

Ah ! now we come to the point it is not the supporters who does not like what Jermy says but his parliamentary colleagues who thinks that Labour will not be in a position to be elected as government for the foreseeable future.

It is true that what the majority of the Labour party supporters want may be out of line with the general electorate of the country hence it is possible that Labour party may be assigned to the opposition benches for the foreseeable future.

Is that such a bad thing ?

Let us see what the main policy noises that Jeremy Corbyn makes .

• Unilateral disarmament of nuclear deterrent

Well it is damaging in my point of view given the current world trend, Then again who am I to have an opinion ? I am just a Jo blog who only has one vote !

• Nationalisation of National Rail and essential utilities

 I as an ordinary Jo Blog has nothing against this policy. I can understand the concerns of the share holders but if the government is proposing to buy back the shares at a reasonable rate then why not ? In most developed countries I am sure that the Utilities and the rail service are still in the hands of the state.

• Opposing the austerity measures and benefit cuts

I have great concerns about it. The basic sensible way to live is to live within your means. Then there must be some form of control on the expenditure and the savings need to be identified and adopted. In the benefit front while the majority of the claimants are genuine there are misuses within the system which needed to be ironed out but to what extend > well i am not an expert.
But one thing is sure there should not be a blanket opposition to austerity there may be some individual cuts need to be looked at and readjusted

• Rent control and the right to buy extended to private rented accommodation

Some form of rent control is fine. But it has to be reasonable for both the tenant and the landlord. I am totally against the extension of the right to buy schems to the private properties. It will only act against the available accommodation to rent.

Well apart from this there is a general opinion out there that Jeremy Corbyn is supporter of extreme groups that fight in their countries. It is not necessary that he should have same principle even after taking the office of the opposition leader. It is quiet possible that he could reform his opinions and in my view need to be given a chance to explain himself.

I am a first generation immigrant who came to this country some 40 years ago. Naturally there is an expectation for me to support Labour party and specially a person like Jeremy with his left orientation.

I have no shame in admitting that I was a very strong Labour supporter until few years ago. But I am of the opinion that Labour party does not want to support the people who work hard and elevate themselves to a position of comfort and classify them as some one who needs to be curtailed.

The fault of Jeremy and the group may be putting all in the same basket without realising that the examples of aspiration should be encouraged.

So where are we in my opinion with the current Labour party difficulties ?

The one thing that I keep on hearing all side of the political arguments is that Jeremy Cprbyn as a person is a very decent gentleman. It was also evident in the PM question time last Wednesday.

I too sympathise with the centre left MP`s who think that the Jermy Corbyn led Labour party will be a bad news for Labours chances of victory.

While it is nice to hear all the hard left speeches we have to understand that the times have changed.

The present generation is whether right or left material orientated and used to have a comfortable life. While it is nice for Jeremy to ride on Bicycle and be very simple I  wonder how many of his so called supporters drive Mercs ?

What I am trying to say ?

For the people who think that the Jeremy way is not right the only weapon they have is "patience". It is only fair that Jeremy Corbyn should be given a chance to either prove or disprove that he is right.

And the only way to convince the 60% of the supporters is to prove to them that their choice for the leader is not working. To do that they need to be given time.

It is ironic that the person who nominated Jermy Corbyn , Sadiq Khan has contradicted the leaders policy in a paper that is vehemently disliked by Jeremy.

It shows the deep division that is manifesting within the Labour party. I am sure that the forthcoming Europe referendum will further split open the Labour party not only that if Cameron decides to ask for permission for air strikes in Syria that will definitely high light the bitter division within labour,

in the mean time there are lessons for the conservative party to learn as well. They need to look into ways to accommodate the need to improve the rail service and to manage the expectation of the middle class families about the cost of the energy.

Let us wait and see the acid test is as follows,

1) Air strikes in Syria
2) European referendum

The political stage is poised for further dramatic scene changes !

Sakthi Sakthithasan

Questions !

 

 

Questions !

Who are they ?

Why are they travelling ?

Where do they want to go ?

Yes !

The questions

about the refugees

kept on being asked

from every corner

It is true . . .

A comprehensive solution

needed to be found

by whole of Europe !

But

In the mean time . . . .

Who is going to

answer the

silent questions

that were buried

inside that little

child's frightened mind

who asleep from which

he will never wake up ?

Sakthi Sakthithasan

Benefit cut or Welfare reform ?

Yes !

It is that time.

All the pundits  , all the opinion polls were all proved to be wrong  . . .

What am I talking about ? you may wonder. I am only talking about the unpredicted victory of Cameron and co in the General Election.

Eagerly waited or is it dreaded ? The budget will be announced next month by our Honourable chancellor of the exchequer Mr.George Osborne.

Again how much they need to find ? 12 Billion I am being constantly reminded.

Now ! where are they hoping to find this 12 Billion ?

"Benefit cut" the Labour Party and other parties opposed to the government would like to call , but as for the government and the Prime minster it is " welfare reform ".

Why is the big fuss how it is packaged as ? Oh is that what politics is all about ?

Imagine a household with couple of teenagers. Only the dad is working Mum is a house wife. Times are hard because dad had to find a new job with reduced income after being made redundant from a job that paid him handsomely.

But the children kept on buying the designer stuff that they used to buy result ? Credit card bills are getting out of hand . Expense exceeds the income.

Simple maths says that they cannot go like this. Dad calls a family meeting and tells his kids that he has asked their respective credit card companies to cut their credit limit.

One of the kids resist this and call it "a benefit cut " the other kid buys the argument of his parents that they are only trying to balance their books.

Well this simple storey explains the simple economics then why is it hard for us to accept the

government when it put its case in a similar context ?

Well that is human nature . If it happens in our own family we will take drastic action but if it is in the national level then it is the duty of the government to do the necessary actions without affecting our personal life in anyway.

So who is the government are we not in any part responsible of electing the government ?

Is society is some thing different to our own family or a collection of families make the society ?

If all agrees that there need to be some expenditure control then where is the difference of opinion ?

Oh is it that the perception that the Tories are making this cuts to further their political objectives ? Is that what bothering many of us ?

" Benefit" or "welfare" what ever name that we may wish to call was created for the benefit of underprivileged at a time that is different to today.

Travelling was done on horse carts those days but did we not move over to cars , planes and trains now.

If times have changed if the way people live is changed should the systems adopted for the past not be changed ?

The rule of law of life is that you cannot have what you cannot afford unless it is essential things like food, shelter etc.

While the majority of the people who claim benefit are genuinely in need of that there is still a amount of people who abuses the system.

if there are controls put in place to make abuse of the system difficult the genuine people need not to fear because their needs will be identified.

There will not be any use of not changing anything because of fear of changing.

It is easy for us to think let us borrow and enjoy while we live and after our time who bothers ?

If our ancestors did think like that we will not be where we are today.

Let us not bicker how we call it "benefit cut" or "welfare reform" let us seriously look at changing the things for the better. After all we are a democratic country where everything is debated in the open.

The way to be happy is to think about the millions who are below us not thinking about few thousands who are above us because how much higher we go there will always someone who is higher than us.

Sakthi Sakthithasan

Because . . . It is FATHERS DAY

Oh father

when you were alive

I did not think that

I would need your advice

as much as I need today !

I took you for granted

thinking that you will

be there for me forever

but Dad,

The almighty god thought

otherways , he found that

you were needed to be around him

more than around me.

I am a dad now

all the advices that you gave

which I thought were annoying nags

are now dished to my son

Dad !

I understand everyword that you

uttered to me now, because

I am uttering the same words

to my son . . . .

Yes it is fathers Day

I do understand the

true meaning of the word

in every sense . . .

Because . . .

It is FATHERS DAY

Sakthi Sakthithasan

The election that saw the demise of three leaders or is it two ?

Here it comes ! Here it comes !

And it is all over . . . . Along with it the career of three political leaders !

Yes I am talking about none other than the elections of 2015.

The opinion polls , the political pundits and above all the political parties they were all in their predictions of the election results yes ! including the victorious (may it be a a small scale) Conservative party.

Who will make a political alliance with whom ? and what is the significance of the SNP victory ? there were a lot of discussions which were all ended up as waste of time.

There is still lot of soul searching to be done within the political parties. Specially Labour and LibDems need to see where they went. Not only the political parties even the opinion pollsters need to check where they went wrong.

At a point of view of a first generation immigrant who has been living in this country for some forty years I am trying to analyse first the difficulties of the Labour party.

Yes this was my 8th election and this is the first time I  comfortably not voted for Labour party. Why I ask myself ? For a person who never thought I bring myself to vote anyone other than Labour party what has prompted this change with in myself.

Well I should say that this change occurred step by step. As life goes on for an aspiring person you tend to elevate yourself to a better position. After all why on earth would you want to work hard ?

But since the labour party went under the leadership of Gordon Brown and then Ed Milliband the party projected itself that trying to be a successful person you are liable to be punished and also working hard and making yourself better is something to be ashamed of.

I sincerely think that this attitude alone lost the election for Labour party in England. It lost it`s connection with the middle England.

Well the continuous slogan of SNP bragging about keeping David Cameron out of power did not help Labour at all. SNP who last year wanted to spilt Scotland from UK suddenly claimed that they will be a better choice for all of UK.

Well it is suspicious is it not ? 

The fear of SNP will align itself with Labour to prop up a minority Labour government played in the minds of voters and Conservative party played this very tactfully

They have narrated their strategy very cleverly and stuck to that thorough out the campaign.

The state of the economy also helped the Tories. It does not matter where your political leanings were everyone need to react to the current situation.

I cannot see anything wrong in someone calling themselves as compassionate conservative. What is wrong in that ?

This where the current political trend does not appeal to people. Times will change what was good for someone 30 years ago does not necessarily good for them at present.

Everyone has the right to change their choice. The lack of understanding of these changes are the
downfall of the political parties.

The only thing we need to make sure is that we do not loose our basic human instincts on the quest of making ourselves better in life.

For LibDems I can only feel sorry for them. I sincerely believe that they were confident that the voters understood the compromise they made in the national interest but sadly miscalculated the public mood.

But they need not to be ashamed of what they did. I think they were the only party who understood the changing times and reacted to that and was paid very dearly for that. Rough justice ! ah !

Well let us hope that the LibDem leader does not drag the party to a far left position as a knee jerk reaction.

At no point they hope to form a government on their own hence should always be prepared to compromise .
SNP`s present in West minister is a new situation to all and yet to be seen what purpose they hold and what good they will bring to the country as a whole.

UKIP can call the results a success but their claim is spoilt by Nigel Farage`s non resignation and non resignation. The infighting that commenced following that does not bode well for UKIP.


Well this 2015 election has caused their jobs for three party leaders. But it is yet to be seen if the changes on the leadership will bring the desired effects.

Sakthi Sakthithasan

Bharathithasan !

questions

Who is Bharathithasan ?

And why am I  writing about him ?

good questions . . . . .  m m m .......

A society is a component of different compositions.

Yes we live in a world today which has shrink because of multimedia . But are we using the tools at our disposable to integrate or segregate ?

Well it is a good question. But as an immigrant who came in some 40 years ago it is in my interest to share the cultural enrichment of my background which in my mind will help to aid the integration of cultures.

So what is great about Bharathithasan ?

Well for one he was a person who spoke out against the cast division in India at a time it was very difficult to oppose it.

Let us look at his background !

Bharathidasan was born to Kanagasabai Mudaliar and Lakshmi Ammal in a well-to-do merchant family of Pondicherry. His original name was Subburathinam. He underwent formal education in Tamil literature, Tamil grammar and Saiva Siddhanta Vedanta under reputed scholars. He studied at the Collège Calvé in Pondicherry. In 1909, he was introduced to Subramaniya Bharathiyar, and his interactions with the Mahakavi had a major impact on him. He initially worked as a Tamil teacher in the French territory of Karaikal.

He actively participated in the Indian Independence Movement and through his writings,he openly opposed the British and the French Government. He was sentenced and imprisoned by the French Government for voicing views against the French Government that was ruling Pondicherry then.^{[citation needed]}
Throughout his writing career he was encouraged by political leaders such as Annadurai, M. Karunanidhi,Tanjore Poet Ramanathan and M. G. Ramachandran. In 1955 he was elected to the Puducherry Legislative Assembly. In 1960 he failed in the election. He remained a prolific writer until he died in 1964 in a hospital in Madras (now Chennai).

 Bharathidasan penned his works under different pseudonyms such as Paavendar,Puduvai Kalaimakal, Desopakari, Desabhaktan, Anantapotini, Swadesamitiran, Tamilarasu, Tupleks, Kirukkan, Kindalkaran and the name by which he example of his known today - Bharathidasan. As he was a staunch follower of Anti-Brahmanism, many of his works were anti-Brahmin in nature. Often he talked of "Tamil Race" and "Aryan Race" as polar opposites

He was so followed then a famous poet and an ardent supporter of Indian Independence movement "Bharathi" he4 became known as "Bharthithasan" which meant that he was the son of Bharathi.

Just a couple of examples of his love for tamil and socialism

தமிழை என்னுயிர் என்பேன்

கனியிடை ஏறிய சுளையும் – முற்றல்

கழையிடை ஏறிய சாறும்

பனிமலர் ஏறிய தேனும் – காய்ச்சுப்

பாகிடை ஏறிய சுவையும்
நனிபசு பொழியும் பாலும் – தென்னை
நல்கிய குளிரிள நீரும்
இனிய என்பேன் எனினும் – தமிழை
என்னுயிர் என்பேன் கண்டீர்.

 Tamil is my Life

As the part of a fruit - Riped

Fruits sweetness

The honey that got into

the comb in the hills

tastiness of the milk that

was boiled

even though they are great

they will not equal 

to the sweetness of my mother tongue

Tamil

மெழுகுவர்தி அழுந்தழுந்து கண்ணீர் விடுவதால்

ஜோதி எழும்பியது,

• நான் எத்தனை முறை அழுந்தழுந்து  புலம்பி
• கண்ணீர் சிந்தினாலும்
• நீ வர போவதே இல்லை
• என அறிவேன்......இ௫ந்தும் ஏனோ
• இத்தனை மனப்போராட்டத்தின் வ௫த்தம்

நீ மரணப் படுக்கையின் ஒ௫ வெள்ளி தீவில்

குளிர்காய்ந்தாழும், என்றும் எம்மனத்திரையில்

நட்பால்................, உறவால் ........................

பூத்து குலுங்கிய ரோஜவன பொக்கிஷம்

தீக்குச்சியில்  கொழுத்திய தீ அல்ல

நம் நற்பு...................... அது

அற்புதமான ஓர் தீப்பந்தத்தால் ஏற்றப்பட்ட

தீபமல்லவா............................இத்தனை

அழகிய ஜோதியை நான் எப்படி அணைப்பேன்

The above poetry is about the friendship

Because a candle cries

we get bright light

How many times I cry

You will never come back

even tough I know that

I am still aching for it 

You are in the midst of

Death bed as if you are

in a middle of an Island

that no one can approach

All ways in our hearts

a garden of roses

Which was constructed

by friendship

It is a light that was

created by the flame

of true friendship

How am I going to 

put that out ?

My dear friends ! why am I today introducing you to this great person ? because it is the day that he left us. Yes it is his remembrance day.

Let us all remember him in a positive light !

Sakthi Sakthithasan

 

 

Oh Dad !

Oh Dad !
Where are you ?
They say that you are
With the gods
So does that mean that
Gods are luckier than me ?

What ever you did
however you behaved
Dad you are my Dad . .
The only Dad
Who always were worried
In your own way
How I am managing  ?
How is my health?
Dad !
I know how you cared
In your own way
That is your special way.

Life was harsh for you
at times
I do know how patient
you were . . .
It amazes me that you
Pulled through all these
times with what you had

Today they say that
You are dead . . .
Are you ?
No not in my heart
you are still beating with every
beat that my heart has

You are in my
Thoughts, words and deeds
It is not an end dad
It is a begining that
you start all your dreams
come true through my deeds

Sakthi Sakthithasan

The Budget ! Is it for me ?

Hello ,

Am I being selfish in asking is the Budget for me ?

Well I suppose in a way it is ? but then how are you to analyze the budget as a normal citizen to whom it is designed to support.

Well to that question there arise another question , where in the social structure you fit in , lower, middle or upper ?

You may be asking should there be a question of this sort should arise in this stone age where the class structure is supposed to have been abolished.

But , honestly has it been ?

It is an argument for another day. But at this instance we are looking at the budget that is supposed to be the sixth and the last budget of this "famous" coalition government.

As I have started this column  a question of the budget`s effect on me the reasonable question to ask is where am I in the social structure ?

Middle class . . . .  or Lower - Middle class

I am a first generation of immigrant on my own right. Yes I have been living and contributing to this country for some forty years.

my  needs were different as a student forty years ago but now the life`s needs have changed considerably.

Through the years my life evolved from a student to a retired Telecoms engineer. Of course my needs will reflect my current situation.

When I started to vote my support was for Labour party as they were the natural home for a immigrant student.

Well through the years I supported Labour party for years but then the needs of mine and my family posed  a question of allegiance.

There may be a question arising in your minds " aren`t you being selfish ?" well I am but then who will not be ?

We all are working to achieve a comfortable life . You work hard and attain a comfortable position in your life by sacrificing lot of comforts along the way where some other people enjoy them without any concern for the future.

Surprise !

when you achieve that comfortable position you are being considered as someone who "have" and is expected pay tax on all your hard earnings to pay "some have not`s" who lavishly spent all they have on the things that you decided to sacrifice.

Well who should I support now ? Tell me

Unfortunately I am forced to support the party which helps ,me to preserve the position I acquired through my family`s sensible hard working attitude.

Let me make something clearly. i am all for supporting the people who are suffering at the bottom rung on the life ladder through pure misfortune and am prepared to pay my fare share towards that.

But what is fare share ?

In that point "this budget" is for me.

Then again it is up to Labour party to show me that they value the hard working people who achieved their comfortable position through shear hard work.

I am waiting still nearly fifty days before the election. Let`s see

Sakthi Sakthithasan

O ! My mother

O ! My mother

they say it is

Mothering Sunday

mother

If you are in my heart and thoughts

then

Every Sunday to that effect

every day is Mother`s Day

Mother ,

This is a special day b`cause

this is a special world that

We live in today

yes, because we are all

Busy in expanding our material assets

hence , of course we need a day

to remember you !

Mother

You not only safe guarded me

in you womb

When I was pushed into this

complicated world

You put all your needs aside to

bring me up as a decent human being

who respects everyone

Oh Mother !

It is difficult . . . . .

People are putting religion before humanity

Language before humanity

It is a struggle mother

But on this Mother`s day

Special day to remember your

sacrifices , I will give you a pledge

I will uphold your teachings

Yes I will be a HUMAN BEING

before everything else.

Sakthi Sakthithasan

My mothers Day day wish to all the mothers.

Tony Blair ! Is he an asset or liability ?

7th may 2015  

A date to be enshrined in the minds of the leaders of the main political parties. Yes the nation will decide who will govern them for the next five years. That will take our country towards the 2020 era.

When you reach the age that I am in (58) every year is a leap into the unknown let alone the next 5 years.

My expectations of the last 10 years will totally differ from my expectations of the next 10 years as my needs have changed accordingly and my social status has changed along with time.

I came into this country 40 years ago As a 18 year old student . At that time my firm belief was that the Labour party is the party for me and they would be the people who could serve my interests best

.

Politics and the peoples view on the policies of the parties centre around themselves which is the fact of life. Some may even call it is selfishness but that is human nature. And this aspect of the human nature is the main aspect that each political party strives to turn towards their policies to their advantage.

Whether we like it or not Tony Blair was a charismatic leader who lead Labour Party to form three consecutive Labour governments,

When Labour party stood  firmly on the left clinging onto their socialist policies that were their founding policies they slowly lost the credibility to govern the country.

The changing times which has changed the expectations and the attitude of the public required Labour party to change their cause slightly to the right.

The person who took advantage of this new found strategy was Tony Blair who suitably called his party " New Labour ".

It is true that there were hard line socialists within Labour party who hated this new direction but were silenced by Tony Blair citing that that was the only way that Labour would be trusted by the public.

The plus point that tony Blair had was that he was seen as a first line of genuine politicians and his arguments were so convincing to hear.

The turmoil caused within the Tory party by several leadership battles also helped Tony Blair to succeed in his claim to be the leader of UK.

Whatever trust he built up was all destroyed by his decision to back George Bush in the invasion of Iraq.

The hero of the Labour Party suddenly seem to be the cause of their failure. The question whether he was right in invading Iraq or not is totally a different question but that was the main factor of his downfall is a fact.

Now let us come to the current political climate.

all the opinion polls are suggesting that the results may be too close to call. The situation of the UKIP and the SNP even suggest that there is a very good possibility of a coalition government again in UK.

Now Tony Blair has indicated that he would work for the victory of Labour Party and Ed Milliband. What else would you expect from a former Labour prime minister ?

It is true that Tony Blair has secured some high power post through UN as a Middle East Peace Envoy. Whether that was a post he deserved or not is an individual opinion. But he certainly has the ability to negotiate is beyond doubt.

After all he was  Prime Minister of UK for three times.

it is a question for Labour party where do they stand ?

Do they goback to their old Socialist stand with leftist policies and calling themselves as a party of true workers ? or do they accept the fact that the times have changed and people like me who once upon supported labour unconditionally but in the current climate looking for acceptable policies from any party that seems reasonable and adapt themselves in which case would require sound advice from Tony Blair.

There is an old saying in my Tamil language from the the great distiguised poet "Thiruvalluvar" that : It does not matter who says, if it is a valid point we should consider it "

Hence it is also equally dangerous to ignore advice from experienced politicians such as Tony Blair. Yes it is a difficult juncture for Ed Milliband.

IF I was in Ed Millibands position I would be in a pickle ! What would he do will he be prepared to use Tony Blair's good offices to his advantage or would he be concerned that Tony Blair's involvement will give a negative impact ?

Yes it is a serious question Is Tony Blair an asset or Liability ?

Sakthi Sakthithasan