Latest news with #Muraleedharan
India Gazette
26-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Indian MPs brief Qatar on anti-terror push, Muraleedharan flags disinformation challenge
Doha [Qatar], May 26 (ANI): As India steps up its global campaign against terrorism, BJP leader and former Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan underscored the importance of clarifying India's stance amid ongoing disinformation. Responding to Indian MPs' outreach in foreign capitals, Muraleedharan said, 'It has been realised that people do support India's action (against Pakistan), but at the same time, a disinformation campaign is being run by those who are conducting cross-border terrorism. This was an opportunity to clarify our stance against terrorism under the leadership of PM Modi...' Muraleedharan highlighted the party's upcoming initiative to raise awareness about the Emergency era. 'The most shameful period was Emergency when all the democratic rights were revoked and opposition leaders were sent to jail. This is important to spread awareness about it for the future generations. Henceforth, BJP will start this initiative from June 25, 26, with the aim to keep the constitutional ethics strong and to save the constitution...' Muraleedhara is party of the multi-party Indian delegation led by Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) MP Supriya Sule who met with Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi, in Doha today. The delegation conveyed India's perspective on the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack, details of Operation Sindoor, and the country's unified policy of zero-tolerance against terrorism. In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Doha wrote, 'Today morning the multi-party delegation met HE Dr. Mohamed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, MoS for Foreign Affairs and conveyed India's perspectives on Pahalgam terrorist attack, Operation Sindoor and India's national consensus for zero-tolerance against terrorism.' The Embassy added that Al Khulaifi 'conveyed Qatar's solidarity with India and policy of zero tolerance against terrorism for regional stability and prosperity.' Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a decisive response to the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed. Indian armed forces targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the deaths of over 100 terrorists linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. The diplomatic mission continues to stress global unity in the fight against terrorism. (ANI)
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala University Syndicate members slam Vice-Chancellor over branding students ‘anti-nationals'
Kerala University's Left-backed Syndicate members on Wednesday condemned Vice-Chancellor (in-charge) Mohanan Kunnummal for allegedly branding its students 'anti-nationals' over a WhatsApp post related to a cancelled seminar. Syndicate Standing Committee on Finance convener G. Muraleedharan described the purported remarks as deeply irresponsible and unbecoming of the office of a Vice-Chancellor. In a statement, Mr. Muraleedharan explained that the issue arose after a student from the university's Department of Tamil shared an article published in a Tamil magazine on a departmental WhatsApp group. 'The article, which dealt with the politics of war, was wrongly interpreted and circulated as linked to a non-existent seminar. Upon assessing the matter, the Head of the Department instructed the student to delete the post. No such event was conducted,' he stated. Despite there being no formal complaint, the Vice-Chancellor allegedly acted on misinformation from vested interests and made public remarks, accusing students of engaging in anti-national activities. These statements, the Syndicate members asserted, have tarnished the university's reputation. 'The Vice-Chancellor hastily drew conclusions and made serious accusations, turning a students forum into a political flashpoint. All Syndicate members, except two affiliated to the BJP, jointly expressed their protest against the Vice-Chancellor's actions [on Tuesday]. The Syndicate strongly criticised him for becoming a tool for those seeking to spread misinformation and disturb campus harmony at a time when the nation is collectively combating extremism,' Mr. Muraleedharan lamented. He added that any departmental seminar or conference requires prior approval and adhere to established protocols.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Former Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan inaugurates The Hindu Civil Service Gateway Summit 2025 in Thiruvananthapuram
Former Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan said here on Friday that the business of a bureaucrat is to 'speak within the system, not outside it.' Ms. Muraleedharan was speaking on the role of bureaucrats in governance in her keynote address after inaugurating the two-day The Hindu Civil Service Gateway Summit 2025 at hotel Hycinth here. 'Within the system you have got to be bold; you have got to bring out the multiple manifestations and implications of various decisions that can be taken; you have got to point out the potholes and the law and you need to be able to stand by what is right,' Ms. Muraleedharan, who retired from service on April 30, said. Ms. Muraleedharan's remarks about speaking 'within the system' were made in an apparent reference to the suspension of IAS officers in Kerala and the controversies that erupted over it. The ability of bureaucrats to play transformative roles is what can set them apart in the Civil Services, she said. 'The bureaucrat is a cog in the wheel, but whether that bureaucrat is a transformative cog in the wheel is up to the bureaucrat. It is not up to the system. The system would actually like you to be transformative. The system would like you to make things happen faster, make things better,' she said. Perseverance, hard work The 1990 batch IAS officer, who described herself as a 'mistake in the service' as her dream was to become a teacher of English Literature, underscored the importance of perseverance and hard work in getting admitted into the Civil Services. 'You want to make it, you cannot afford to give up,' she said. She termed the ability to persevere as the common element that binds officers who make it into the services from diverse backgrounds. Ms. Muraleedharan interacted with young Civil Services aspirants on the first day of the summit. The two-day summit features 11 sessions handled by a line-up of serving civil servants, UPSC toppers, subject experts and premier coaching institutes. K. Sasikumar, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu, presided. Soma Basu, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu; K.K. Joshy, Assistant Vice-President and Kerala Head (Advertisement), The Hindu; and Munidarsan V.G., Director, Fortune IAS Academy, also spoke. The summit is open to pre-registered aspirants who reserved sessions. Fortune IAS Academy is the presenting sponsor of the event. The event is powered by the State Bank of India (SBI) and Pathway IAS is the associate sponsor.
The Hindu
08-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Former Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan to open The Hindu Civil Service Gateway Summit 2025 on Friday
Former Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan will inaugurate The Hindu Civil Service Gateway Summit 2025 at hotel Hycinth Confluence in the State capital at 11 a.m. on Friday. Ms. Muraleedharan will deliver the keynote address at the event, to be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The Hindu Civil Service Gateway Summit brings together a power-packed line-up of serving civil servants, UPSC toppers, subject experts, and premier coaching institutes to deliver a comprehensive and career-defining experience for aspirants preparing for the 2026-27 examination cycle. As many as 11 Civil Services officers and 2025 rank-holders will lead sessions at the summit, designed exclusively for UPSC aspirants. Aspirants can explore course offerings, access preparation materials, and speak to mentors from India's top-rated UPSC academies at the summit. Sessions to be held The sessions in the summit and the Civil Services officers who will lead them include: Mastering the art of time management for UPSC preparation by K. Vasuki; Strategies to crack UPSC with IAS as your goal by Arun S. Nair; Life during UPSC preparation and good habits to cultivate by S. Sreejith; How to build a comprehensive study plan for UPSC by Divya S. Iyer; Cracking the civil services and why the Indian Audit and Accounts Service might be the apt choice for you by Mohammed Danish K.; Dos and Don'ts for Civil Services preparation by Alfred O.V.; How to prepare for UPSC interviews by Abraham Renn; Interactive session with 2025 rank-holders moderated by Soma Basu, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu; Civil Services preparation and the scope of IPS by Shahansha K.S; and Unlocking the UPSC exam code and importance of IFS by Jeeva Maria Joy. Apart from this, rank holders of the 2025 Civil Services examinations, including Nandanaa G.P. (AIR 47), Devika Priyadersini (AIR 95), Sowmya Krishnan (AIR 196), and Visakh C.R. (AIR 656) will participate in the event to share their exam experiences in a Q&A. Ms. Nandanaa will also lead a session on 'How to read newspaper for cracking the Civil Services.' In a landscape where Civil Services preparation is both intense and dynamic, this summit provides aspirants with unmatched access to mentorship, learning resources, and peer interaction. From cracking the prelims to handling the UPSC personality test with confidence, the sessions are designed to address every stage of the journey. Participation, registration The summit is open only to pre-registered aspirants who reserved sessions. Fortune IAS Academy is the presenting sponsor and SBI is powered by sponsor. Pathway IAS is associate sponsor.
New Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Thrissur Pooram pomp: Devotion keeps venchamaram craftsman going for five decades
THRISSUR : Two sets of 15 elephants facing each other with a sea of humanity between them. That's the iconic setting of the Thrissur Pooram. And as the evening sky witnesses the colourful kudamattam, the white adornment of venchamaram offers a stark contrast, a sight that pooram enthusiasts go crazy for. Crafting venchamaran for the Paramekkavu temple is Muraleedharan C, a retired professor from Kuttimuck. In fact, he has been in charge of these white adornments for more than five decades. The passion towards the craft and the devotion to the festival have kept him going, with the tradition passed down by his forefathers. The white hangings used in the venchamaram is the hair of yak, native to the Himalayas. The cleaned and dried hair is tied to a thin rope with minute details. Then, with utmost care, Muraleedharan rolls them tightly to the conical wooden mould, forming the final venchamaram. Along with the caparisons and the glittering umbrellas, aalavattam and venchamaram are essential ingredients of the grandeur of the Thrissur Pooram. 'Venchamaram is an adornment used across the country for temple rituals,' Muraleedharan told TNIE. 'In some ashrams, it is used for blessing people, while in some temples, it is used for the deity as an adornment. However, its use in an elephant parade happens only in Kerala. While we use two ropes of yak hair for normal venchamaram, for the kudamattom, we use six such ropes so that they add beauty to the proceedings and can be seen from far away.' Though sitting for long has its challenges, Muraleedharan gets down to work ahead of the festival season. 'The work on aalavattam, made using peacock feather, begins from January. Since childhood, I have seen my father totally involved in this craft. While I worked as a lecturer, I tried my best to be involved in these works, assisting my father. To be a part of Thrissur Pooram, with such a signature craft piece, is definitely a rare opportunity, and I want to continue it for as long as possible,' Muraleedharan said. It takes at least a week to process and tie the yak hair. The intricate detailing of aalavattam too takes time, he pointed out. In a sign of the younger generation keeping the family tradition alive, Muraleedharan's nephew Akhilesh is also learning the art, so that he too can one day be a part of the centuries-old festival.
