Is socialistic corporate system relevant in today’s Indian economy?

Air india sales – twenty year effort for a turn around is sufficiently a long rope! Had you waited a little longer, there would not have been an Air India to sell! It would have had a natural death like the Italian ‘Alitalia’! Killing an organisation needs no effort but to make it survive is a Herculean task!

Would it have survived if, instead of TATAs, the government itself had continued after hiving off its debts? Like for example, Steel plants that have been acquired after ‘haircuts’ of over 40% through Insolvency Resolution Process, Bhushan Steel, Essar Steel, Electrosteel Steels, Monnet Ispat & Energy Ltd and Bhushan Power & Steel, have all made a dramatic turnaround! No, Air India would not have survived the cut throat air line business..

It is time and again proved that the government should not be in business, be it loss making or otherwise! In the Nehruvian era it was inevitable as there was not so much of private appetite to run businesses making it necessary for the government to kick start many manufacturing and service sector institutions – but not any more.

But it is a philosophical mind set that needs a change: government generally wears ‘welfare glasses’ in all its spectrum of activities but a well run business survives on reasonable ‘profit’! Apart from good business ethics, sustainability necessitates a careful balance of both. But government run businesses suffer as they are bent more towards appeasing the employees; also from ‘unaccountable’ executives; interventions from not so well-meaning invisible political bosses make it very difficult for these enterprises to sustain. The CEOs of PSUs are from IAS cadre and are transferred so frequently that they are in no-way motivated to run the institution efficiently. After all the Indian administrative cadre is not designed to run businesses. Only professionally trained can survive in the ‘perform or perish’ corporate sector!

It is time that not only the keys of loss making government companies but also the profit making ones are handed over to private players. Don’t listen to the shrill cries of ‘don’t sell family silver’ from the self serving socialists!

Strategic sectors and activities that have long gestation periods must inevitably be handled by the government. But be transparent and ensure more than two players for a fair playing field. Be a good watch dog! No need to keep even minority stock holding as it would only amount to peeping through the window after the wedding is over. Leave the couple in peace to live happily thereafter.

On pollutions and celebrations

Could there be celebrations without noise? Or Without crowding? But, isn’t Silence akin to mourning, the very opposite of celebration? Celebrations have been found to periodically relieve societal tensions and are thus kept always in the altars of civilised human culture from time immemorial. Festivals also have a cascading effect not only on the mental health but also on the economic fabric of the society providing livelihood for many sections of the society, through the short spurt of extravagant spending spree. Would a day or two of celebrations pollute the environment more than the otherwise clumsy day to day city traffic?

Mind you… Throttled up stress could be more devastating to the psychological well being than a polluting day of thunderous and illuminating Diwali. Festivals and rituals have always nourished the complex multi-religious country such as india and kept the society in calm inspite of vast social disparity.

Could even earmarking of the ‘Red light area’ in olden cities, for bartering societal peace with morality, be considered on the same page, though a festival is not such a vice like prostitution!

There could always be a justifiable balance between traditional noisy celebration and the much trumpeted and impressive modern day green and silent (mourning) festivities! So, Don’t throttle the traditional celebrations that have always withstood the test of times!

If you think these reflections could be a culmination of the noise pollution from the now infamous SRK’s CEAT advertisement, you may not be entirely at fault!

மாலைமாற்று அல்லது இருவழியொக்கும் தமிழ்க் கவித்தொகுப்பு (Palindrome)

சங்ககால தமிழில் இருவழியொக்கும் அதாவது Palindrome கவித்தொகுப்பு அரிது. இது பின்புறமிருந்து படித்தாலும் முன்புறம் படித்ததைப்போலவே அமைக்கப்பட்ட சொல் அல்லது சொற்றொடர் ஆகும். திருஞானசம்பந்தர் அருளிய மூன்றாம் திருமுறையில் சீர்காழி திருப்பதியில் உறைந்திருக்கும் ஈசனைத்துதித்து பாடிய பதிகங்கள் அனைத்தும் அவ்வகையில் அமைந்துள்ளதை அறியும்போது ஏற்படும் உவகை அளவில்லாது இயல்பன்றோ?

யாமாமாநீ யாமாமா யாழீகாமா காணாகா காணாகாமா காழீயா மாமாயாநீ மாமாயா

ஆன்மாக்களாகிய நாங்கள் கடவுளென்றால் அது பொருந்துமா? நீயே ஒப்பில்லாத கடவுளென்றால் அது முற்றிலும் தகும். பேரியாழ் என்னும் வீணையை வாசிப்பவனே! யாவரும் விரும்பத்தக்க கட்டழகனே! பகைப்பொருள்களும் சிவனைச் சாரின் பகை தீர்ந்து நட்பாகும் என்ற உண்மையினை யாவரும் காணுமாறு பாம்புகளை உடையவனே. கை, கால் முதலிய அவயவங்கள் காணாவண்ணம் காமனை அருவமாகச் செய்தவனே. சீகாழி என்னும் திருத்தலத்தில் வீற்றிருந்தருளுபவனே. இலக்குமியின் கணவனான திருமாலாகவும் வருபவனே! மாயை முதலிய மலங்களிலிருந்து எம்மை விடுவிப்பாயாக.

யாகாயாழீ காயாகா தாயாராரா தாயாயா யாயாதாரா ராயாதா காயாகாழீ யாகாயா

வேள்வி வடிவினனே. யாழ் வாசிப்பவனே. அடியார்கட்கு அருள் வரும்பொழுது உருவத்திருமேனி கொள்பவனே. சங்கார கருத்தாவே. அனைத்துயிர்க்கும் தாயானவனே. ஆத்திப்பூ மாலை அணிந்துள்ளவனே. தாருகாவனத்து முனிபத்தினிகளாகிய மகளிர் கூட்டத்தை வேட்கையுறும்படி செய்தவனே. சீகாழி என்னும் திருத்தலத்தில் வீற்றிருந்தருளுபவனே. துன்பங்கள் எவற்றினின்றும் எம்மைக் காப்பாயாக.

தாவாமூவா தாசாகா ழீநாதாநீ யாமாமா மாமாயாநீ தாநாழீ காசாதாவா மூவாதா

அழியாத மூப்பிலாத தசகாரியத்தால் அடையும் பொருளாக உள்ளவனே. சீகாழி என்னும் திருத்தலத்து முதல்வனே. எல்லோரும் அஞ்சி நீங்குகின்ற சுடுகாட்டில் நள்ளிரவில் நடனமாடும் நாதனே. மாண்புமிக்கவனே. ஐராவணம் என்னும் யானையின் மேல் ஏறி வருபவனே. கொடையில் கடல் போன்றவனே. சாவினின்றும் எங்களைக் காத்தருள்வாயாக. ஒளியுடைய மாணிக்கம் போன்றவனே. வேண்டும் வரங்களைத் தந்தருள்வாயாக. எங்கள்முன் எழுந்தருள் வாயாக. முன்னைப் பழம்பொருளே. காற்று முதலான ஐம்பூதங்களின் வடிவானவனே!

நீவாவாயா காயாழீ காவாவானோ வாராமே மேராவானோ வாவாகா ழீயாகாயா வாவாநீ

என்றும் மாறுதலில்லாத மெய்ப்பொருளானவனே. தாங்கிய வீணையை உடையவனே. கொடிய பிறவித் துன்பம் எங்களை அடையாவண்ணம் வந்து காத்தருள்வாயாக. விண்ணிலுள்ள தேவர்கள் துன்பம் அடையாதவாறு மேருமலையை வில்லாக ஏந்தி முப்புரங்களை அழித்தவனே. சீகாழி என்னும் திருத்தலத்தில் வீற்றிருந்தருள்பவனே, ஆகாய சொரூபியே! நீ விரைந்து வருவாயாக! அருள் புரிவாயாக.

யாகாலாமே யாகாழீ யாமேதாவீ தாயாவீ வீயாதாவீ தாமேயா ழீகாயாமே லாகாயா

யாவற்றுக்கும் கால கர்த்தாவாக விளங்குபவனே. எப்பொருளிலும் எள்ளில் எண்ணெய் போன்று உள்ளும், புறம்பும் ஒத்து நிறைந்திருப்பவனே! சீகாழி என்னும் திருத்தலத்தில் வீற்றிருந்தருள்பவனே! அறிவில் மேம்பாடு உடையவனே! அனைத்துயிர்கட்கும் தாயாகவும், உயிராகவும் உள்ளவனே! என்றும் அழிவில்லாதவனே! இன்குரல் எழுப்பும் கின்னரம் முதலிய பறவைகள் தன்னருகின் வந்து விழும்படி வீணைவாசிப்பவனே. யாங்கள் மேற்கொண்டு ஆவனவற்றிற்கு ஆராயாதவாறு எங்களைக் காத்தருள் வாயாக!.

மேலேபோகா மேதேழீ காலாலேகா லானாயே யேனாலாகா லேலாகா ழீதேமேகா போலேமே

மார்க்கண்டேயரின் உயிரைக் கவர வந்த காலனைக் கடுங்குரலால் கண்டித்தவரே. உம் திருவடியால் அவனை உதைத்து அக்காலனுக்குக் காலன் ஆகியவரே. பொருந்திய சனகர் முதலிய நால்வர்க்கும் சிவகுருவாகிக் கல்லால மரத்தின் கீழ் உபதேசித்து மெய்யுணர்வு பெறச் செய்தவரே. சீகாழி என்னும் திருத்தலத்தில் வீற்றிருந்தருளும் பரம்பொருளே. மேகத்தை வாகனமாகக் கொண்டருளியவரே. அடியேங்கள் உம் திருக் கூட்டத்தில் ஒருவர் போல் ஆவோம்.

நீயாமாநீ யேயாமா தாவேழீகா நீதானே நேதாநீகா ழீவேதா மாயாயேநீ மாயாநீ

உன்னைவிட்டு நீங்குதலில்லாத உமாதேவியை உடையவனே! ஒப்பற்ற தாயானவனே! ஏழிசை வடிவானவனே! நீயே வலிய எழுந்தருளி எங்களைக் காத்தருள்வாயாக! பேரன்பு வாய்ந்த நெஞ்சத்தை இடமாக உடையவனே. சீகாழி என்னும் திருத்தலத்தில் வீற்றிருந்தருளும், வேதங்களை அருளிச்செய்து வேதங்களின் உட்பொருளாக விளங்குபவனே. எங்களைக் கொல்லவரும் துன்பங்களை நீ கொன்று அருள்செய்யாயோ?

நேணவராவிழ யாசைழியே வேகதளேரிய ளாயுழிகா காழியுளாயரி ளேதகவே யேழிசையாழவி ராவணனே

இறைவரின் திருவடிகளில் பேரன்பு செலுத்தும் அடியவராம் பசுக்கள் தன்வயமற்றுக் கிடக்க, கட்டிய ஆசை என்று சொல்லப்படும் பெருங்கயிற்றைத் தண்ணளியால் அவிழ்த்தருள்பவரே. மிக வேகமாக ஓடும் மானின் தோலை அணிந்துள்ள பேரழகு வாய்ந்தவரே. பொறுக்கலாகாத் தீவினைத் துன்பங்கள் தாக்க வரும்போது காத்தருள்வீராக! மன்னித்தற்கரிய குற்றங்கள் எங்களின் சிறுமைத் தன்மையால் செய்தனவாகலின் அவற்றைப் பெரியவாகக் கொள்ளாது சிறியவாகக் கொண்டு பொறுத்தருள்வீராக! ஏழிசைவல்ல இராவணன் செருக்கினால் செய்த பெரும்பிழையைத் தேவரீர் மன்னித்து அருளினீர் அல்லவா? (அடியேம் சிறுமையா ல் செய்த பிழையையும் மன்னித்தருளும் என்பது குறிப்பு).

காலேமேலே காணீகா ழீகாலேமா லேமேபூ பூமேலேமா லேகாழீ காணீகாலே மேலேகா

காற்றாகி எங்கும் கலந்தருள்பவனே. மறைப்பாற்றலின் வழி எவ்வுயிர்க்கும் மயக்கம் செய்து பின் அருள்புரிபவனே. பூக்களில் சிறந்த தாமரைப்பூவில் வீற்றிருக்கும் பிரமனும், திருமாலும், முறையே திருமுடியையும், திருவடியையும் காணுதலை ஒழித்த வைரத் தன்மையுடையவனே! சீகாழி என்னும் திருத்தலத்தில் வீற்றிருந்தருளுபவனே. எங்களை கடைக் கணித்தருள்வாயாக. உன் திருவடியைத் தந்தருளுவாயாக!.

வேரியுமேணவ காழியொயே யேனைநிணேமட ளோகரதே தேரகளோடம ணேநினையே யேயொழிகாவண மயுரிவே

நறுமணமும், தெய்விக மணமும், பெருமையும், புதுமையும் கலந்து விளங்கும் சீகாழி என்னும் திருத்தலத்தில் வீற்றிருந்தருளுபவனே! துன்பங்களை நீக்கி அருள்பவனே. பேரருள் உடையவனே. அதனை அள்ளிக்கொள்ளல் அகத்தவத்தாராகிய சிவயோகிகளின் செய்கையே. புத்தர், சமணர்களின் மொழிகளை எண்ணுதலையும், நண்ணுதலையும் ஒழித்தருள்வாயாக! இப்புறச் சமயத்தார் பன்னெறிகளில் புகாமல் காத்தருளும் திறம் நின் திருவடிக்கே உரியதாகும்.

நேரகழாமித யாசழிதா யேனனியேனனி ளாயுழிகா காழியுளானின யேனினயே தாழிசயாதமி ழாகரனே

நேர்மையை அகழ்ந்து எறிவதாகிய, நெஞ்சத்தில் நிலைத்து எவரையும் துன்புறுத்தும் காமம், வெகுளி, மயக்கம் என்னும் முக்குற்றங்களையும் அழித்தருள வல்லவனே. உலகுக்கெல்லாம் தாயாம் தன்மையை ஏற்றருளத் தக்கவன், ஒப்பில்லாத நீ ஒருவனே. நன்மை புரிந்தருளுவதில் உயர்ந்தவனே! நாங்கள் தளர்ந்த இடத்து எங்களைக் காத்தருள்வாயாக! என்று நற்றமிழுக்கு உறைவிடமாகவுள்ளதிருஞானசம்பந்தப் பெருமான் சிவபெருமானைப் போற்றி அருளிய, பாடுவோர்களையும், கேட்போர்களையும் உள்ளம் குழையச் செய்யும் இத்திருப்பதிகத்தை ஓதவல்லவர்கட்கு எந்தக் குறைவும் உண்டாகாது.

இந்த தேவாரப்பதிகத்தை ஓதுவதை (1) காணொலியிலும் அனுபவிக்கலாம்.

இதே போன்ற palindrome தொகுப்புகள் Sanskrit காவியங்களில் ப்ரசித்தம். அதில் ஒன்றை என்னுடைய வேறு பதிவில் (2) காணலாம்.

1.https://youtu.be/wEt3BJdWfIo

2. https://nattuspage.home.blog/2019/02/06/vilomakavyam-a-complex-palindrome-in-sanskrit-literature/

Why would one love their roots?

What motivates the migrants to keep their roots alive?

Reasons could be many. One could be religious persecution – that led to the very birth of Israel! Centuries of anti-Semitism, convinced Jews to yearn for their homeland where they wouldn’t be scrutinized, their identity would not be inspected day in and day out and so is n… Jewish biochemist and Zionist named Dr. Chaim Weizmann, who contributed in the production of acetone, a key raw material for explosives, that significantly tilted the scale in favour of England, in the first world war, shunned a knighthood instead demanded a piece of land and a free nation. This led to sowing the seed for the birth of a nation, the Balfour Declaration, on 2 November 1917.

But it took another world war and ghosts of ‘Holocaust’ to remind the English of the promised statehood for Jews, that was born only in 1948. Judaism unites the Jews and wherever they are, their heart and soul are always with the tiny nation. No doubt Jews have an obsession for their soil!

Affection could also be due to the kiths and kins living in the native place – the emotional necessity for any human being. With many villages disappearing due to migration, with subsequent generations settling elsewhere, this link is slowly disappearing. Whatever is remaining could be mostly because of the rigorous rituals that are traditionally being done in their native soil, a custom that is in vogue in many religions and communities. How long would this last?

Such rituals are sustained in some towns such as the one in Chettinad– it is a region located in the Sivaganga district in Tamil Nadu, India. The native community, basically involved in trading, went to Burma and Malaysia for business. They prospered and kept their culture alive both in their new abode and in their native village. One can see even today the wonderful huge palace homes of the ‘Nattukottai chettiars’ (but hardly anybody residing) with teak wood from Burma!

The relatives and friends never miss their traditional celebrations to be performed in their native town. Though in modern times, it would be difficult to keep the same spirit long!

But there are other extremes as well – Madhapar in Kutch: historically Kutch in Gujarat was always considered a backward region due to its location and submerged geography. The situation seemed to have worsened after the disastrous earthquake in 2001. But, Madhapar, is the wealthiest town in the whole of Southern Asia. It is a village with a population of just more than ninety two thousand people, some 3 km from the main town of Bhuj. It has around 7600 households, but a whopping 5000 crore Indian rupee worth bank deposits! Many residents of Madhapar work abroad in the UK, USA, and Canada. The migrant population, mainly the Patel Kanbi community living outside India have huge love for their village.

Love of native state – Kerala is a shining example… one can find a ‘Malayalee’ wherever you go but would he would never have forgotten his native village! He would also go extra mile to lend a helping hand to his natives! You would soon be friendly with him if you can converse in his ‘mother tongue’!

Still there are many other communities who are “crabs in a bucket” too!

Murky Saga of Covid Vaccines

Covid-19 virus had provided immense opportunity to exploit the ‘do or die’ situation the world faced. Richer nations cornered the supplies! Vax manufacturers used the situation ‘make hay while the sun shines’ to the hilt.

Covid vaccines may be life saving, but their business is extremely murky! Their contracts are secret that enable unethical business practices apart from profiteering! Here are a few from that list.

1. Lobbying for patent protection rights: Governments Helped Create Vaccines But Companies Keep the Patents. Big Pharma companies launch campaign against Biden over Covid vaccine patent waiver mooted by India and South Africa.

2. Double Yammy – Federal funding and monopoly in selling: They get government funding but without any preferential pricing. For example, US vaccine manufacturer, Moderna not only used government-developed technology as the foundation of its vaccine, it also received about $1 billion in government grants to develop the drug. In August, the government placed an initial order for the vaccine for $1.5 billion.

3. No disclosure of pricing: By insisting that their pricing remains confidential, the drug makers have the upper hand over government negotiators who do not know what other countries are paying. The European Commission paid $2.19 for every dose of the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, while South Africa paid more than twice as much, $5.25. United States taxpayers were paying $19.50 per dose for the Pfizer vaccine, while Europeans paid $14.70. It is rumoured that the deposed Israel president, Netanyahu, paid nearly $28 per Pfizer shot to get on priority! Brazil canceled its order to covaxin over bribes in the deal!

4. Monopolistic sale policy: The contracts also prohibit their resale, donation etc., literally blocking their use to the poorer nations!

5. Companies Get Liability Protection: In the United States, drug companies are shielded from nearly all liability if their vaccines don’t work or cause serious side effects. The government covered Covid-19 drug makers under the PREP Act, a 2005 law intended to speed up access to medicine during health emergencies. That means that people cannot sue the companies, even in cases of negligence or recklessness. The only exceptions are cases of proven, “willful misconduct.” Drug companies are seeking similar liability waivers in negotiations with other countries. European negotiators have balked at such requests. Covax also insists that countries accept all liability as part of its contracts. The CureVac-E.U. contract does shield the company from significant liability, but with exceptions. Those exceptions are redacted, meaning censor or obscure (part of a text) for legal or security purposes!

5. US plans to donate its unused excess stock of vaccines to third world, lest they would expire! Would get Good Samaritan tag!

6. Pfizer recommends third booster shot to pep up the lowering of antibody counts, even before its studies are published. Would CDC recommend or wait till the results are peer reviewed?

7. Strong arm tactics: The Indian government had earlier announced that vaccines that are already recognised by WHO and similar other authorities of other countries won’t have to undergo local trials. Moderna applied for permission to the Drug Controller General of India which was granted but Pfizer and J&J did not yet apply. The Indian government’s stated position is that it cannot give indemnity to anyone. The government is saying domestic companies can give indemnity on behalf of their foreign partners. Moderana’s Indian partner Cipla had offered to shoulder some legal responsibilities which Moderna rejected.

Credits:

1. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/01/big-pharma-launches-campaign-against-biden-over-covid-vaccine-patent-waiver.html

2. Governments Sign Secret Vaccine Deals – Here’s What They Hide: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/28/world/europe/vaccine-secret-contracts-prices.html?referringSource=articleShare

Soft Suppression – Covid Resilient Pandemic Management

Would the strategy to get ‘zero’ covid infection for a safe living be practical? Or living with the virus like the ‘seasonal flu’ be viable? The authorities in countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Singapore, aspire for zero virus approach, while Israel, UK, US and European countries have ventured into trying an alternate option, called, ‘soft suppression [1]’.

What is soft suppression? Adjust its safe management measures in stages, subject to trends in serious cases. This could mean fewer restrictions on social gatherings, larger dine-in groups and lower requirements and higher capacity for events. Vaccinated individuals will be able to engage in a wider range of social activities and in larger groups, while unvaccinated individuals may only do so with negative pre-event testing results. Practically all social and workplace restrictions can be lifted, although some critical measures, such as mask-wearing and precautions for large events may remain.

If the incidence of severe illness from COVID-19 remains low despite clusters emerging from time to time, one would eventually be able to arrive at a truly endemic state. This would be the roadmap of transitioning to a “Covid-resilient” society in which the virus is part of daily life.

Israel is the first country to embark publicly on this new strategy, ‘soft suppression’ for life in the era of coronavirus, based on the assumption that the pandemic is here to stay but can be managed with minimal damage to the economy. This involves issuing ‘green pass’ to those vaccinated or with negative RT- PCR for any indoor gathering or immigration into the country! Knowing that the virus has an incubation period of at least a week, is it not a risk to allow passive carriers that could potentially initiate super spreader events? Yes.. but it is a calculated risk! How?

Not that it would be zero cases! But the cases would not raise very much and would be within manageable limits. This is based on the fact that the world is no more the same like the one last year at the peak of the pandemic when the cases rose exponentially sharply. Now there would be many around who had developed immunity due to infection and many more with vaccination! Is it not a safer world now? If a large population have antibodies, the chances of spreading the infection is that much less! This can be achieved either by vaccination or by natural infection. Sero survey is a cost effective method to assess the fraction having antibodies. The assessment is done by identifying presence of covid-19 antibodies in the blood samples. Those who are sero positives, even if they are exposed to infection would not be infected. If a large fraction is a community are sero positives, the infection not only would not spread but ultimately would die out. A quantitative number to achieve this state is not yet available for covid, though it is expected to be higher than 75%.

For example, a sero survey conducted in June in Ahmedabad city municipal corporation (AMC) in India, with a population of 7.5 million, showed 81% sero positivity [2]! Even though, when the survey was done it had hardly vaccinated less than half its population even once. The presence of antibodies in such high fraction could only be explained by massive natural infection in the second wave in late March- April.

It has also been reported that these antibodies detected in sero surveys wane over time but the resistance to the infection is sustained with the cell mediated immunity; studies have shown such protection could even last for one’s life time [3]. Studies indicate that the adeno type vaccines, such as Asteazenica, JJ and Sputnik, would provoke stronger cell mediated responses than the novel mRNA type vaccines!

In the case of AMC, it was found around 30% of those who had past infection did not show antibodies in earlier surveys. Thus the fraction with cell mediated immunity could easily add an additional 10 to 15% to those detected to be having antibodies in the present survey, making the total up to even 95%! It does reflect in the daily number of new cases which has fallen steeply from a peak of 5500 in late April to double digit by June itself and to a single digit soon thereafter! There is no lockdown in this city presently. Not even 60% of the population have received the jab even once as of today! The city has been logging in single digit daily cases for over a month indicating ‘herd immunity’!

In contrast, those states that have lower sero positivities are struggling to bring down the case numbers: for example, in another Indian state, Kerala, only around 45 per cent people have developed antibodies against the national average of 67% in a survey conducted in late June [4]! Only around 40% have received at least one jab in this state till now. Even then, test positivities continue to hover over 10% for over a month even now. Kerala pursued aggressive contact tracing policy through which it could bring down the daily case numbers during the peak of infection but the flattening has been found counterproductive as it has dragged the duration of the menace! A state which was patted for effective management of the infection last year, is paradoxically the only Indian state, that is struggling to bring down the cases!

Obviously the lesson, to those countries trying to drive away the virus by draconian lockouts, is to adopt ‘soft suppression’ and get on to live with the virus! Especially when vaccination is aggressively being pursued and are with over 70% sero positives. Singapore would soon embark on this strategy given its high vax compliance [5].

Credits:

1. https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-government-said-to-unroll-soft-suppression-strategy-on-resurgent-pandemic/

2. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-serosurvey-template-for-the-whole-of-india/article35499672.ece

3. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41590-021-00969-3.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3qvHT2wM6JU2bQPWtZAYFS9QOAfiNSmwD9SoUy2YBtJecn1D06CKzc1yQ

4. https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2021/07/23/sero-survey-kerala-45-percent-have-covid-antibodies.html

5. https://www.livemint.com/news/world/singapore-will-progressively-open-international-travel-amid-covid-minister-11627294725024.html

Covid vaccination – Should Personal Liberty Trump Public Good?

The success of immunisation through vaccination over the years has been mind boggling. That the childhood diseases could be largely circumvented, enthused many countries to make childhood vax compulsory.

With some vaccines, the goal of vaccination is to eradicate the disease – disappear it from Earth altogether. The World Health Organisation (WHO) coordinated the effort to eradicate smallpox globally through vaccination, the last naturally occurring case of smallpox was in Somalia in 1977. Endemic measles, mumps and rubella have been eliminated through vaccination in Finland. On 14 October 2010, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation declared that rinderpest had been eradicated. The WHO is currently working to eradicate polio, which was eradicated in Africa in August 2020 and remained only in Pakistan and Afghanistan at the time.

Though many infectious diseases have been by and large conquered by the scientific understanding, knowledge on the viruses and bacteria, there is reluctance. Why? Common objections included the argument that governments should not infringe on an individual’s freedom to make medical decisions for themselves or their children, or claims that proposed vaccinations were dangerous. Many modern vaccination policies allow exemptions for people with compromised immune systems, allergies to vaccination components, or strongly held objections. It has also been argued that for vaccination to effectively prevent disease, there must be not only available vaccines and a population willing to immunize, but also sufficient ability to decline vaccination on grounds of personal belief.

Also, can anyone vouch vaccines are absolutely safe? No.. All claims so far have been that the “benefits far outweigh the risks”. Especially when vaccines for Covid-19 are approved through the unconventional “Emegency Use Authorisation” route, many have become sceptical. And there is no compensation for the possible damages of the vaccinated! You vaccinate at your risk to save the public at large! Strange logic, isn’t it?

On the other hand, should personal freedom override societal good? An infectious disease as lethal as the Covid-19, definitely calls for measures that have not been in vogue so far in the human history. When social distancing and masking were prescribed as the counter measures by the epidemiologists, there was resistance. When the governments clamped locked downs, there was a furore in many countries as it would curtail the livelihood of common public. Now it is vaccination time. Should it be made compulsory as the virus mutates in non-immunised becoming deadlier menace. But yet, no country, including the authoritarian ones, has yet been able to make it mandatory!

Should the Liberty be allowed to trump public good? Even the much debated land acquisition law in India, for example, only when 80% of the title holders voluntarily accept to sell their lands to government, the rest can be coerced to comply. Would there not be a similar argument as the goal is to reach only the herd immunity for which only +70% need to be jabbed, why compel everyone to take? It is not like the Second World War time where some in London have to be forced to switch off their electric lights against their wish in their homes, to avoid bombing by Germans. Liberty is admittedly curtailed for right reasons. But anti-vaccine mentality cannot be compared to that.

Till then, would it become a notorious case as in the anecdote – wherein milk was requested for performing a ritual for a deity from the public, some thought why not just give water as it would get unnoticed with all others adding milk? Don’t be surprised that there would be many justifying their ‘rights’ to add water!

No amount of ‘carrot and stick’ strategy would enable overcoming the vaccine reluctancy. People will see that their friends, their colleagues, and their loved ones have been vaccinated, and have been okay, the levels of hesitancy probably will go down.

Credits

1. https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n1645

2. https://nattuspage.home.blog/2020/11/24

முடியாத முடிவுகளுக்கு எல்லையே இல்லை

அந்த நாளும் ஞாபகம் வந்ததே…

அப்போதெல்லாம் பள்ளியில் citizenship class என ஒரு period இருக்கும். நஈன் சொல்வது சமார் ஐம்பது வருடங்களுக்கு முன். அதில் சொல்லிக்கொடுத்த பாடல், ஒரு நாள் ஏனோ சட்டென்று நினைவுக்கு வந்தது. முதல் வரிமட்டும் தான். மீதி வலைதளத்தில் தான். கூகுளுக்கு ஒரு J.

இதோ அந்த அழகான நாடோடி பாடல். ‘நக்கல்’ ரொம்ப தான். முடியாத முடிவுகளுக்கும் எல்லையே இல்லையோ – இந்த பாடலில் தளும்பும் தமிழனின் நகைச்சுவை உணர்வுக்கும் தான்! இதோ.. அந்த பாடல்…..

“முள்ளு முனையிலே மூணு குளம் வெட்டி வச்சேன்.
ரெண்டு குளம் பாழு;ஒண்ணு தண்ணியே இல்லை.
தண்ணியில்லாக் குளத்துக்கு வந்த குசவர் மூணு பேரு.
ரெண்டு பேர் நொண்டி-ஒத்தன் கையே இல்லை.
கையில்லாத குசவன் வனைந்த சட்டி மூணுசட்டி
ரெண்டு சட்டி பச்சை-ஒண்ணு வேகவேயில்லை.
வேகாத சட்டியிலே போட்ட அரிசி மூணு அரிசி.
ரெண்டரிசி நறுக்கு-ஒண்ணு வேகவேயில்லை.
வேகாத சோற்றுக்கு மோர் கொடுத்தது மூணு எருமை.
ரெண்டெருமை மலடு-ஒண்ணு ஈனவே இல்லை..
ஈனாத எருமைக்கு விட்ட காடு மூணு காடு.
ரெண்டு காடு சொட்டை-ஒண்ணில்,புல்லே இல்லை.
புல்லில்லாக் காட்டுக்குக் கந்தாயம் மூணு பணம்.
ரெண்டு பணம் கள்ள வெள்ளி-ஒண்ணு செல்லவே இல்லை.
செல்லாத பணத்துக்கு நோட்டக்காரர் மூணு பேரு.
ரெண்டு பேரு குருடு-ஒத்தனுக்குக் கண்ணே இல்லை.
கண்ணில்லாக் கணக்கப் பிள்ளைக்கு விட்ட ஊருமூணு ஊரு.
ரெண்டு ஊரு பாழு-ஒண்ணில் குடியே இல்லை.
குடியில்லா ஊரிலே குமரிப் பெண்கள் மூணு பேரு.
ரெண்டு பேரு மொட்டை-ஒத்திக்கு மயிரே இல்லை.
மயிரில்லாப் பொண்ணுக்கு வந்த மாப்பிள்ளை மூணு பேரு.
ரெண்டு பேரு பொக்கை-ஒத்தனுக்குப் பல்லே

இதுலயே இனனுமொரு versionஉம் உண்டு…

“முள்ளு முனையிலே மூணு குளம் வெட்னேன்
ரெண்டு குளம் பாழு;ஒண்ணுல தண்ணியே இல்லை.
தண்ணியில்லாக் குளத்துக்கு மண்ணு வெட்ட மூணு பேரு.
ரெண்டு பேர் நொண்டி-ஒத்தனுக்கு கையே இல்லை. கையில்லாத குசவன் செஞ்ச பானை மூணு. ரெண்டு பானை பச்சை-ஒண்ணு வேகவேயில்லை. வேகாத சோத்துக்கு விருந்தாளி மூணு பேரு, ரெண்டு பேரு பட்ணி ஒத்தன் உண்ணவே இல்ல. உண்ணாதவன் கட்ன கோவில் மூணு கோவில், ரெண்டு கோவில் பாழ், ஒண்ல சாமியே இல்ல. சாமி இல்லா கோவிலுக்கு ஆட வந்தவ மூணு பேரு, ரெண்டு பேரு மொட்டை, ஒத்திக்கு மயிரே இல்ல…”

என்வயதிய ‘இளைஞர்களில்’ எத்தனை பேருக்கு இந்த நாட்டுப்பாடல் நினைவுக்கு வந்ததோ தெரியவில்லை….

ஹும்……. இந்தகால குழந்தைகள் தமிழைப்படிப்பதும் இல்லை. அனுபவிப்பதும் இல்லை. பழைய தமிழ் திரைப்பட பாடல்களைக்கூட ஏதோ ஒரு வகையில் சேர்க்கலாம்.. ஆனால் இந்த காலத்திய….. அவை தமிழிலேயே இல்லை என்றால் இன்றைய கவிஞர்களுக்கு மூக்கின்மேல்(?) கோபம் வரும். Twitterஇல் விரட்டி மிரட்டுவார்கள்.

இந்த கால பெற்றோர்களிலும், தங்கள் குழந்தைகள் தமிழைப்படிப்பதை கௌரவக்குறைவாக நினப்பவர்கள் தான் அதிகம்.

Self styled cyber miners bust the Chinese virus?

A group of 24 people that calls itself DRASTIC, or Decentralized Radical Autonomous Search Team Investigating COVID-19, began looking into clues from Chinese scientific databases shortly after the pandemic began. This “Twitter detectives” also includes “China experts and scientists” who are working anonymously to ensure their “privacy and security”. One of the members is an Indian in his late-20s, residing in the eastern part of the country (possibly in Bhubaneswar) and working under the moniker ‘The Seeker’. The team combed through thousands of documents and Chinese scientific papers to find that researchers had discovered a family of SARS viruses in a mineshaft in Mojiang village in Yunnan province in 2012. By early 2021, DRASTIC had produced so much information that it launched their own website as a repository. The site contains science papers, Twitter threads, translations of Chinese documents and links to articles.

In May 2020, The Seeker found a 60-page master’s thesis written by a student at Kunming Medical University in 2013 titled “The Analysis of 6 Patients with Severe Pneumonia Caused by Unknown Viruses.” The thesis described in exhaustive detail the conditions and step-by-step treatment of the miners who got sick in 2012. The suspected culprit? SARS-like [coronavirus] from the Chinese horseshoe bat or other bats, noted the thesis. The Seeker then found a second thesis from a PhD student at the Chinese CDC confirming the above information. Four of the miners had tested positive for antibodies from a SARS-like infection, and the WIV, Wuhan Institute of Virus, was involved in testing samples from the patients. Shortly after The Seeker posted these theses, China reportedly changed the access controls on CNKI, the Chinese data base, so no one could do a similar search again.

In a paper published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health in October 2020, Monali Rahalkar and Rahul Bahulikar of the MACS Agharkar Research Institute and BAIF Development Research Foundation, respectively, wrote: “The Master’s thesis (in the Chinese language) found on the cnki.net website concluded that a SARS-like CoV originating from Chinese horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus) was the predicted causative agent in the miners’ illness. It was also found that the gene, RaTG13/CoV4991 was collected from the mineshaft in 2013. RATG13 is supposed to be the closest known relative of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. One of the differences between RATG13 and SARS-CoV-2 genes is the Furin cleavage site.”

‘Furin cleavage site’ mystery is the one that needs to be resolved as this makes the covid-19 virus more infectious. Virologists opine, “It would take many decades for this sort of modification in the gene to naturally evolve”. Was ‘gain of function’ experiments in WIV lab pursued in search of a vaccine responsible for introduction of these changes in this ‘man-made’ virus? Is it true that as early as in Nov 2019, there were a few cases of infection of WIV technicians with Covid-19 symptoms?

Is this strain genetically engineered in WIV, is the moot question! The search for evidence for a lab role is difficult, as is the hunt for a motive if the origin of the pandemic indeed lies in a lab! Would it be unreasonable, after such a mayhem, to demand a detailed review of the activities of the lab and the notorious ‘bat lady’ Shi Zhengli who led this research?

Credits:

1. https://theprint.in/science/wuhan-labs-deleted-data-unreported-pneumonia-cases-challenges-to-natural-origins-of-covid/671984/

2. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/toi-finds-the-seeker-who-made-the-world-rethink-covids-origins/articleshow/83268958.cms

3. http://www.opindia.com/2021/06/the-seeker-covid-19-lab-leak-hypothesis-interview/

4. https://swarajyamag.com/news-brief/explained-how-a-persistent-young-indian-brought-covid-19-lab-leak-theory-to-the-fore-battling-mainstream-media-bias

Why Indemnify Covid Vaccination Business?

Does covid vaccines belong to a super class of drugs? Why should this community be indemnified for possible lapses? Or it is due to this emergency use authorisation, EUA, that genuinely calls for such waiver since the scientific studies could not be completed? Fair enough!

India held its ground that no waiver can be given to SII & BB while giving EUA. But yielding to Pfizer’s demand now is a clear case of discrimination. No doubt India needs to counter its deadly second surge! Pfizer is promising 5 crore vaccine delivery only if Indian government indemnifies the supply. Had enough quantities of other vax been available govt would not have yielded? I Indian government could have included a clause that the indemnification is for a limited period only! Say up to the distress period – till December when supply to improve thereafter? That may sound logical! Compelling Indian suppliers alone is unethical!

There are many cases, where manufacturers of some drugs were held liable for such risks and have paid huge compensation down the line in the lifetime of the drugs. In this case, the vax giant says take it or leave it!

Another point of view is vaccinating 12-18 years old kids. Only Pfizer has the approval and no one else. Would the GoI reserve the Pfizer’s supply to this segment? BB and zydus cadila have just started clinical trials but it might take two to three months for the results! Pfizer might fill in the gap!

Pfizer knows the ways of the world and they buy and takeover everything in sight! They buy politicians, media and now armtwisting the Govt which is already under pressure from opposition, which has already been ” lined” up by pfizer. The opposition wanted states to have freedom to buy and now Pfizer has twisted them to ask the centre to negotiate. In the case of vaccine, judiciary too fired the Govt for going slow on vax prucurement citing procedural delays. The Govt is being cornered. But hmm… Pfizer US giant… life of kids.. social media.. government is terrified.. they want to weather the storm before it even starts…

Everywhere else it is the respective government that has accepted such liability and procured vax in the larger interest of the public. The international Covax program is governed by WHO global insurance. But, GoI does not have an insurance plan to cover any damages of either the Indian or other vaccines. It may not be possible by the manufacturer to cover the risk as it would not be a sound commercial proposition, is a different matter altogether!

It is a bitter pill to swallow..

Indian Nuclear liability act framed in the aftermath of Fukushima accident was such catch-22 situation! The Nuclear power plant (NPP) and suppliers of its accessories refused to supply to india under the act. The Indian NPP program was derailed even after international nuclear trade was permitted with India. Now a comprehensive insurance plan by a consortium of Indian insurance companies is the rescue plan!

I am sure there would be debates in public forums.