Inequality, unemployment and in…ation at an all-time high in India, says Parakala Prabhakar

Dwarakish, Kannada actor, producer, and director, passed away at his Bengaluru residence on Tuesday. He was 81. He su ered a heart attack and passed away in his sleep in the morning at his residence in Electronics City, according to his family.

Dwarakish, who debuted as an actor in his maternal uncle Hunsur Krishnamurthy’s Veera Sankalpa

in 1964, €rst made a mark as a comedian before going on to become a proli€c producer under the banner Dwarakish Chitra.

Collaborating with Rajkumar, and director S. Siddalingaiah, the artist’s €rst independent production, Mayor Muthanna, was a hit. His association with actor Vishnuvardhan is regarded as one of the most successful combinations in the industry. He produced and acted with Vishnuvardhan in hits such as Kalla Kulla (1975), Kittu Puttu

(1977), Singaporenalli Raja Kulla (1978), Guru Shishyaru (1981), Prachanda Kulla

(1986) and Apthamitra.

Inequality, unemployment among youth, inšation of various commodities and household debt are at an all-time high in the country, said political economist Parakala Prabhakar, here on Tuesday.

Speaking at a national colloquium on the present political situation titled “The values at stake”, organised by Chennai Thinkers Forum, Mr. Prabhakar, who is also the author of the book The Crooked Timber of New India, said there is a serious unemployment problem in India, particularly among youngsters in the age group between 20 and 25. Mr. Prabhakar also quoted a report by the World Inequality Lab and said that inequality in India is at a historic high, even when compared to the British rule.

‘Values subverted’ Speaking at the event, N. Ram, Director, The Hindu Group Publishing Private Limited, said the integral values of the Indian Constitution such as diversity, pluralism, secularism, equality before law, freedom of speech and expression, liberty, equality and fraternity have been subverted in the BJP’s “Hindutva autocratic regime”.

N. Murali and N. Ravi, Directors, The Hindu Group Publishing Private Limited; A.S. Panneerselvan, Fellow, Roja Muthiah Research Library in Chennai; Vijaya Thayanban, convener, and Manimegalai Thirunavukkarasu, member of Chennai Thinkers Forum, were among those who participated in the event.

CITIES

SO

Poor

NO

CO

Moderate

PM2.5

PM10

CODE

Good (Readings indicate average AQI)

SO2: Sulphur Dioxide. Short-term exposure can harm the respiratory system, making breathing di£icult. It can a£ect visibility by reacting with other air particles to form haze and stain culturally important objects such as statues and monuments.

NO2: Nitrogen Dioxide. Aggravates respiratory illness, causes haze to form by reacting with other air particles, causes acid rain, pollutes coastal waters.

CO: Carbon monoxide. High concentration in air reduces oxygen supply to critical organs like the heart and brain. At very high levels, it can cause dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness and even death.

PM2.5 & PM10: Particulate matter pollution can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath, reduced lung function, irregular heartbeat, asthma attacks, heart attacks and premature death in people with heart or lung disease

Timely treat

S.R. RAGHUNATHAN Parakala Prabhakar, N. Ram and A.S. Panneerselvan at an event organised by Chennai Thinkers Forum.