So it was no surprise that the Kalaignar Insurance Scheme and the Kalaignar Housing Scheme got the axe too. Both would be replaced by new schemes. Says a government employee, “What we expect from the new government is change in policies that makes our life better, not change in names.”
More loyal than the king
If Madras University vice-chancellor, Dr G Thiruvasagam, had been prudent he would not have to place an order for the new CM’s picture so that he can have calendars printed again mid-year. Thiruvasagam had abandoned the past practice of putting pictures of different edifices of learning — Chennai alone has many — that came under his university and instead put pictures of Karunanidhi, Stalin, governor Surjit Singh Barnala, and then higher education minister K Ponmudy. Now he reportedly is spending several lakhs to reprint calendars.
Thiruvsagam reportedly first issued orders that all calendars with former government “icons” should come down. Then he apparently got sergeants to do an inspection of all departments to see whether his orders were followed. Tiruvsagam has reason to be nervous and no one will be surprised if the new government gives him his marching orders. Thiruvasagam had publicly projected himself as a protégé of Karunanidhi and his son, Union minister M K Alagiri. In fact, Thiruvasagam had gone to Madurai during Azhagiri’s birthday on January 30.
More loyal than the king, Thiruvasagam, soon after taking over as the VC in October 2009, introduced an MA in " Kalaignar’s thoughts". As a cover to sneak in his loyalty to the then CM, he also introduced MA courses in " Periyar and Anna thoughts". Just before coming to Madras university, Thiruvasagam was the VC of Bharatiyar University in Coimbatore where he initiated translations of Karunanidhi’s literary works into English. He even attempted translation into Chinese through a partner university!
While we are on the subject, another person who needs to worry is Tamil Nadu Open University Vice-Chancellor Kalyani Anbuchelvan who happens to be the daughter-in-law of former finance minister K Anbazhagan. With such a close connection to the powers that were, Kalyani had praised the DMK leadership at various public including university fora. Another educationist took it a step further — he criticized Jayalalitha in a book he wrote last year on the DMK’s history. The educationist was Prof A Ramasamy, vice-chairman of the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education (TANSCHE), who has been associated with the DMK since he was a student. But in 2001, when Jayalalitha came to power, she let him finish his term as VC at Alagappa University, but since he wrote a book criticizing her thereafter, maybe he should pack his bags. While the rule book says that the state government cannot remove VCs before they complete their tenure, it does not say anything about all the hurdles a government can bring in to make the incumbent disappear.