Chennai: Thol Thirumavalavan to get doctorate soon

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | A ARUL PALANI

PublishedSep 15, 2018, 1:11 am IST

UpdatedSep 15, 2018, 1:11 am IST

Nearly 150 Dalit family members were converted to Islam.

Thol Thirumavalavan

Chennai: Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol Thirumavalavan is a happy man. Recently, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli conferred on him a provisional doctorate degree for his study on ‘Religious Conversion of Meenakshipuram Dalits.’ Soon we would be seeing him in an academic robe receiving the doctorate at the university convocation.

Narrating reasons for taking up the issue, he said, “during my college days, I was moved by en masse conversion of Dalits into Islam at Meenakshipuram in 1981. Nearly 150 Dalit family members were converted to Islam. With such incident having attracted nationwide attention, the then BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee had visited the village, while the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had deputed a Central minister to the village.

Prolonged caste oppression and police atrocities were the main factors for mass conversion, the Dalit leader said. He said he was wondering why people following Dr Ambedkar had not embraced Buddhism, as done by their leader. “The question was lingering in my mind. Hence I decided to study about the conversions. Initially, I proposed to do research ‘on police atrocities’ that led to the mass conversion.

However, his guide, Dr K Chokalingam, former VC of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, suggested that he look at the issues from the minds of the people who were converted to Islam. Based on his suggestion, the research work was done, not only as a theoretical sociological study, but also an empirical one.

Amidst his busy schedule, the leader visited Meenakshipuram on three different occasions and met the people personally. He also met local leaders and others in the village.

Before venturing into the study, he consulted large volumes of literature, including legislative assembly proceedings, official, police and media reports. He met all the family members and handed over questionnaires and their response and reports helped him to complete the work, the VCK leader noted.

In September last, Thirumavalavan made two presentations on ‘Religion and conversion’ and ‘Victimological perspective of Meenakshipuram conversion’ before faculty members and academicians in Madurai Kamaraj University.

After attending the public vivo-voce at the University on August 24, the MSU has issued the PhD provisional certificate to him for the degree of doctorate of philosophy in Criminology subject.

Thirumavalavan also pointed out that he was awarded the doctoral degree by the University for his methodical research on the religious conversions at Meenakshipuram. In his study, he concludes, “conversions in Meenakshipuram changed the livelihood of the people, both economically and socially.”

“After 37 years, their life has been changed for better. They are economically better and majority of them have concrete houses. I also found the second generation of the converted families to be treated as born Muslims,” the leader said.

Denying the role of Arab money in the conversions, he said “the families have come out of the social stigma and stratification imposed on them by the caste system”. “The converted men are called as ‘bhai’ by others, which gives a sense of equality and dignity for them,” Thirumavalavan added.

Rajiv Gandhi assassination convicts' release issue not referred to Centre: Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan
The Governor Banwarilal Purohit said a decision on the issue would be taken in a just and fair manner in accordance with the Constitution.

Published: 15th September 2018 12:52 PM

Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convict A G Perarivalan (File Photo)

By PTI

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit denied Saturday reports in a section of media that he had forwarded to the Centre the state government's recommendation to release all the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The Governor said a decision on the issue would be taken in a "just and fair manner" in accordance with the Constitution.

"A section of media has been reporting that in the matter of the release of the convicted prisoners undergoing life imprisonment for involvement in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, a reference has been made to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India," a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan said.

Also, some television channels have been holding debates on this "assumption", it said.

"It is clarified that no reference has been made to the Ministry of Home Affairs in the matter. The case is a complex one and involves the examination of legal, administrative and constitutional issues," the statement by Joint Director-Public Relations of the Raj Bhavan said.

Noting that voluminous records on the matter were being received from the state government, the Raj Bhavan said court judgments on connected matters were handed over to it only on September 14.

"All efforts will be taken to process the papers scrupulously. Necessary consultation may be carried out, when required, in due course. The decision will be taken in a just and fair manner and in accordance with the Constitution," the Raj Bhavan said.

On September 9, the Tamil Nadu Cabinet had recommended the release of all the seven Rajiv case convicts, including Nalini and her husband Sriharan alias Murugan.

All the seven prisoners are in jail since 1991.

Rajiv Gandhi was killed in a blast at an election rally in Sriperumbudur near here on May 21, 1991.

Fourteen others, including Dhanu, the assassin, were also killed.

Tamil outfits Friday claimed that Purohit had sent the recommendation to the Centre for its advice and Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi announced a protest demonstration on September 26 in this regard.

UGC invites institutions for Unnat Bharat Abhiyan
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has invited applications from higher education institutions for participation under the second phase of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan.

Published: 15th September 2018 05:44 AM

UGC head office at New Delhi.(Photo | PTI)

By Express News Service

COIMBATORE: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has invited applications from higher education institutions for participation under the second phase of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan.

Unnat Bharat Abhiyan is a flagship programme of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to involve higher education institutions in the indigenous development of self-sufficient and sustainable village clusters for inclusive India.

With the intention of enriching rural India, selected institutions are expected to customise the available technology and develop new technology, as per the local needs, and improve the implementation of existing government programmes.

It was aimed at getting most of the country’s higher education institutions in the inclusive development of villages, in collaboration with district authorities, through social, managerial and technological interventions through their faculty and students.

In the recent national conference of vice-chancellors and directors, it was resolved that all higher education institutions would associate themselves actively in implementing UBA, UGC said in a letter to V-Cs of universities.

Institutions can apply online at unnat.iitd.ac.in before September 20. Selection of institutions will be done on challenge mode and results will be announced on October 2. Any recognised higher education institution already involved in development activities, have at least 500 students (excluding first and final year students), and have at least two faculty members involved in development activities in rural areas, are eligible to participate in the UBA scheme. MHRD will assist in training and gap-funding for technical solutions.

In the first phase, 426 technical institutions and 262 non-technical institutions were selected for the programme.

Noble aim

Unnat Bharat Abhiyan is a flagship programme of MHRD to involve higher education institutions inindigenous development of self-sufficient and sustainable village clusters for inclusive India

Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit assures a ‘just and fair’ decision
The decision will be taken in a just and fair manner in accordance with the Constitution,” the Raj Bhavan added.

Published: 16th September 2018 04:46 AM 

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit (File | PTI)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A week after the Tamil Nadu Cabinet recommended release of seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, the office of Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Saturday promised ‘a just and fair decision’ in this issue in accordance with the Constitution.

A Raj Bhavan communication in this regard also denied reports that a reference was made to the Union Home Ministry on the release of convicts. “The records which are voluminous, are being received from the State government, with the connected judgments having been handed over to Raj Bhavan on Friday (Sep 14) only.

The case is a complex one and involves the examination of legal, administrative and constitutional issues. All efforts will be taken to process the papers scrupulously. Necessary consultation may be carried out... in due course. The decision will be taken in a just and fair manner in accordance with the Constitution,” the Raj Bhavan added.

MPhil admissions in Tamil Nadu to drop further as universities adopt 2016 UGC norms

The regulations restrict the maximum number of students a faculty can guide --- however, the quality of research and researchers will improve significantly, say, educationalists.

Published: 15th September 2018 06:07 AM 

UGC head office at New Delhi.(Photo | PTI)

By Sushmitha Ramakrishnan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Enrolment of total number of MPhil students in the State dropped significantly in 2017-18 and is expected to come down even further in 2018-19, as more universities have recently started adopting University Grants Commission Regulations 2016.

The regulations restrict the maximum number of students a faculty can guide. However, the quality of research and researchers will improve significantly, say, educationalists.

There was a reduction of nearly 3,500 MPhil candidates from 2016-17 to 2017-18 in State. With more universities adopting the regulations, the figure may even halve in 2018-19, said P Duraisamy, V-C of University of Madras. “So far, every MPhil guide, was in charge of about eight students,” he said.

According to the 2016 regulations, a research supervisor or co-supervisor who is a Professor, at any given point of time, cannot guide more than three M.Phil and 8 Ph.D scholars. An associate professor as research supervisor can guide up to a maximum of two M.Phil and six Ph.D scholars and an assistant professor as research supervisor can guide up to a maximum of one M.Phil and 4 Ph.D scholars.

The number of M. Phil students in Tamil Nadu rose from 12,832 in 2011-12 to 20,661 in 2016-17 and dropped to 17,179 in 2017-18, after the regulations was passed.

The low enrolment of M.Phil students in Tamil Nadu is likely to reduce the total figure at the national level. This is because the State contributes to nearly half of the enrolments.

Though Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers Association, opposed the regulations stating that it would affect the welfare of first generation graduates, many universities adopted the regulations in the recent past.

“The status of M.Phil courses have become pathetic in the recent past. After NET and SET became mandatory for teaching, MPhil became less attractive for students to pursue. When finding the right faculty becomes difficult, even lesser students will opt for it,” said R Dhamodharan, TNGCTA general secretary. He, however, said he recognised the benefit of the regulations in the long-run, he said.

The norms were designed to improve the amount of time, a guide spent on a student’s research and to prevent guides taking undue credit for students’ work. “Sought after professors often end up guiding a large number of students. But, the regulations will prevent this from happening, said M Anandakrishnan, a former V-C of Anna University.

He said that the impact of regulations may take time before it reflects on the strength of Ph.D students as the tenure is longer. According to the regulations, any regular professor with at least five research publications in refereed journals and any regular associate assistant professor with a Ph.D degree and at least two research publications in reputed journals may be recognised as research supervisor. “These stringent regulations may cause shortage of guides briefly, but will soon improve the quality of research,” he said.

Chennai hospital saves 60-year-old using unique stent graft

In 2016, a stent graft was placed to fix a leak.

Published: 16th September 2018 04:54 AM |


For representational purposes (Express Illustrations)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A 60-year-old patient from Vijayawada got a new lease of life thanks to a special team of doctors at Kauvery Hospital here who plugged an aneurysm leak in the patient’s aorta using a unique method.

The surgery which was performed over six to seven hours by a team of 16 specialists from various departments used a specially designed stent graft created in the hospital’s cardiac cath lab to close the 10-cm wide leak in the aorta. “The graft was devised in the shape of a candy wrapper to perfectly fit into the groin vessel. This was then navigated into the neck of the aneurysm leak,” said A B Gopalamurugan, senior cardiologist who performed the surgery on September 7.

The patient, Sathyanarayana Kolla, was declared to be untreatable by many hospitals that he had approached previously in Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai as the risk of death was above 40 per cent, said his family during a press meet conducted by the hospital on Saturday. “When he came to us he was in a very critical condition. His haemoglobin level was five points below the normal. He was suffering from severe renal failure and blood loss due to the leak caused by the abnormal swelling of the aorta’s wall,” said Gopalamurugan.

A team consisting of cardiovascular, vascular, plastic surgeons, cardiac radiologists, urologists and cardiologists closed the leak using the graft through an endovascular surgery after closely assessing the damage through 3D reconstructed scans. “The patient has a history of aortic ruptures since 2011. In 2016, a stent graft was placed to fix a leak. But three months ago, his blood vessels started weakening again and he showed all symptoms of an Aortic aneurysm,” he added.

Additionally, the hospital also launched its 24-hour Aortic Department which will tend to all medical conditions concerning the aorta with the help of a special team of doctors specialised in Aortic interventions.

Health minister inaugurates baby screening programme

Chennai: Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar on Saturday launched Neuberg Ehrlich’s Molecular Diagnostics and Genome lab in the city and inaugurated Neuberg Ehrlich new born screening facility at the Children’s Hospital, Egmore. Over 500 children can be screened at the facility per day. Children from Vellore district will be screened for Congenital Hypothyroidism and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia on a pilot basis. GSK Velu, Chairman Neuberg Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd. said “Tamil Nadu has seen much advancement in healthcare and I’m happy to announce this new cutting edge facility in Chennai”. Minister of State for External Affairs & Overseas Indian Affairs Vijay Kumar Singh also took part in the event.

“Integration of psychiatry and neurology important”

Chennai: Psychiatrists and neurologists must work in tandem to identify effective treatment for complex epileptic problems, said Kousuke Kanemoto of Aichi Medical University, Japan, on Saturday. He was speaking at the 16th MV Arunachalam Endowment Lecture titled ‘Brainstorms and the Mind: Exploring the Borderlands Between Epilepsy and Schizophrenia’, orga-nised by Chennai-based Neurokrish and Trimed Therapy.

“Epilepsy and psychotic disorders like schizophrenia are often associated in many pati-ents. To treat such cases, a holistic treatment should include both mental care and brain care,” he said emphasising that both psychiatrists and neurologists have to come together to cure such cases.

Doctors move court against MCI’s age cap on assistant professor posts
When post graduation is a necessary qualification for posts of senior Resident or Assistant professor, any such restriction will lead to lack of requisite number of faculty, the petitioners said.

Published: 16th September 2018 04:49 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The amendment to Medical Institutions Regulations, prescribing 40-year as upper age limit for appointment as senior resident/assistant professor in government-run medical institutions by Medical Council of India, has been opposed by a section of doctors who have moved the Madras High Court terming it “unconstitutional, ultra vires, discriminatory and illegal”.

The high court has ordered notice to Medical Council of India (MCI) on the public interest litigation seeking interim injunction restraining Clause 6 of Schedule -I of amended Minimum Qualification for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998 and declare restriction imposed by MCI fixing 40-years as upper age limit for appointment to the post of senior resident/assistant professor in government-run medical Institutions as illegal.

A division bench of Justices S Manikumar and Subramanioum Prasad adjourned the hearing to September 19. According to petitioners, MCI amended the Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998 with effect from June 8, 2017 prescribing 40-years as upper age limit for appointment as senior resident in medical institutions.

“Any such prescription of age limit for a government doctor in medical service for appointment to the post of senior resident in teaching medical institutions would be against the object sought to be achieved under the provisions of Indian Medical Association Act and Minimum Qualification for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998, petitioners submitted.

When post graduation is a necessary qualification for posts of senior Resident or Assistant professor, any such restriction will lead to lack of requisite number of faculty, the petitioners said.