Alasal is a vague term in Tamil as far as I am concerned. It may be Analysis in some way. Never Mind. the purpose Is to introduce a woman journalist, Jeeva Sathasivam, who is perhaps the first woman to write a column covering the politics, particularly, the politics of Malayaham (hill-county) in a Tamil newspaper. Although other women have written reports and interviews of politicians, so far nobody has written a regular column.
This is a 312-page book in Tamil on contemporary political situations ( 2017/ 2018} compiled in Jeeva Sathasivam ‘s columns that were published in the Virakesari, a leading national Tamil newspaper. She was a journalist attached to that paper. Since of late, she is working as a freelancer and editing a literary tabloid of the Tamil newspaper, Tamilan.
She hails from Malayaham (hill-country) and is married. An energetic and enterprising young woman, Jeeva was in charge of a weekly literary page called Sangamam (Meeting Point) in the Virakesari.
This book is published by Kumaran Book House (both in Colombo and Chennai) which Is selective in academic-oriented quality books. S.Ganeshalingan, a Marxist bent pioneer political- historical novelist, who passed away recently, was the owner of this Brookhouse and his son Kumaran handled all the publishing work in Colombo.
One needs a separate article to write about the father and the son.
The book is priced at Rs.695
Coming back to the main topic, we find the author has 64 topics to introduce and analyse in her own ways the political happenings in our counter during the. past decades of 2017 and 2018.
It is better if I translate into English the headings of her columns, which speak for what she is interested in commenting than my commenting on her viewpoints. Nevertheless, I shall comment on the writer’s proficiency in writing such a subject.
Before that, May I list in English her titles?
01. Anusha’s ( hill country woman) political entry
02. Aging and maturity in politics
03. Political Bearers and Bearers Politics.
04. Politics and Business
05. Will ‘Good Governance’ will govern the rot?
06. Meaningless May Day
07. A Letter to Modi
08. Mody at Norwood - Recalling Past history.
09. Why Tamil Nādu Teachers to Malayaham?
10. Should we continue allowing disasters to happen?
11. Hatred Speech
12. When Facebook is connected...
13. ‘Good Governance’ stings with Garbage.
14. For whom is the Right to Information Law?
15. Opposition to Uma Oya Scheme Maithri supports. Is it politics or social benefit?
16. The Opposition that wrangles the power of good governance
17. The Politics of the Animals
18. The Local Government Elections: Mixed Voting / confusing voting?
19. The Hill country that is not absorbed in Local Government elections
20. Women in Politics:: Even if Law Permits, Would Society permit?
21. For whom is the Implementation of Tamil Language?
22. The downfall of Tea Plantation and the arrival of ‘Mullu Thengai’
23. Resigning Ministers - Politics
24 Office for those made as disappeared; Is it for counting ? or an eyewash?
25 Local Government Elections: Backdrop for Delay.
26 Politics of Women and Corruption
27 Malayaham and Medicinal Care
28 Parliament and the Minorities
29 Children and Cutout Marks
30 The affairs of prisoners and political approaches
31 Malayaham and Land Deeds
32 Parliament and ‘Bomb’ attack
33 Petrol and Politics
34 Budget: Deficit and Gap
35 Corruption and Inquiries
36 Good Governance shaken by Local Governments
37 Media: Reliable or Assumptive?
38 Elections and Crossovers
39 Thank God Tea Industry.
40 Politics and Acting
41 Good Governance: Then one, Today two, and tomorrow what?
42 Authority: Does it depends on the period of holding the position?
43 Entering non-partisan and slowly becoming partisan
44 Who could be the next President?
45 Symbols and Thoughts
46 Politics of’ ‘Numbers’
47 Politics of different Groups
48 Politics in South Indian Tamil Cinema
49 Politics of women: Is there a change or is it a disappointment
50 Faith and non-Faith Motions
51 Malayaham people and Legal Documents
52 Women in Politics and Violence against them
53 Karunanidhi’s Life turns History
54 No-Confidence Motion: Who was defeated
55 New Year and New Parliament
56 Freedom in the Media: Lanka’s Position
57 What will happen in 2020?
58 Gota’s suggestive signal
59 Is it a Life and Death struggle for Daily Wages?
60 The Village is developing but where is the society?
61 Continuous failure but contracts continue
62 Dynastic Politics
63 Joint Contracts- is it one or two?
64 Parties crossover and changing scenes.
Her interpretations are hers, I may or may not agree with some of her views. But she is a perceptive and knowledgeable journalist as she is educated.
This volume is a valuable documentation for future writers as he discusses men, matter, and facts.
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