Sunday, March 9, 2014
Karti P Chidambaram being felicitated at a function organised for the distribution of Karuda membership cards.
Friday, March 7, 2014
Don Bosco's golden feat: Close to the heart of Karti & Sibiraj
Karti Chidambaram and Sibiraj were few of the distinguished alumini present at the golden jubilee function. It was a special day for Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School on Saturday, as it celebrated its golden jubilee along with its inter-school cultural. There were events like, Battle of the Bands- a competition of western and light music, street theatre, dance and Spotlight - a variety of entertainments events consisting of mimicry, mono acting, standard comics, light music, singing, gymnastics, fashion parade, mime, magic, and puppetry.
The highlight of the event was the presence of Karti Chidambaram and actor Sibiraj, both alumni of Don Bosco. Karti Chidambaram spoke about his memories from school and also expressed pride over the launch of Chandrayaan. "Chandrayaan is an initiative that makes me proud as an Indian. However, while we are still fighting issues like poverty, lack of cleanliness and bad roads when it rains, the still get submerged and make travel extremely hard. As young students you must take a stand and responsibility to work for a better world and not just be merge spectators," he said. Actor Sibiraj, who had passed out of the school in the year 2000, on the other hand thanked the school for all that it had given him. "I got my first acting platforms in this school. The actor in me was spotted when I did a little play here. I still remember all my teachers very clearly, though some of them have retired now," he said.
The events were followed by a well- choreographed fashion show by the Don Bosco team. The young models keep it natural and smart. St Bedes emerged as the overall winners of the event, followed by Loyola Matriculation and sacred Heart in the second and third places respectively.
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Karti P Chidambaram, Vice President (AITA), at the opening ceremony of the ATP Chennai Open
Karti P Chidambaram, Vice President of All India Tennis Association (AITA), at the opening ceremony of the ATP Chennai Open 2009 held from 5th - 11th Jan. Also present are the office bearers of Tamil Nadu Tennis Association, and tennis players.
21st December 2009 - Deccan Chronicle with Chairman of organizing committee.
Last year's finalist Somdev
Devvarman has been given a wild card for the 2010 Aircel Chennai Open. Open
regular and former champion Carlos Moya and Rohan Bopanna have also been handed
wild cards in the singles. At 126, Somdev is the highest ranked Indian. Bopanna
is ranked 398.
Spaniard Moya, a former world
number one and a winner of 11 ATP Tour singles titles, is returning from injury
and has received a wild card for the doubles main draw as well. Rising Indian
star Yuki Bhambri will partner the former French Open champion in doubles. The
other wild card in doubles will go to Somdev and Sanam Singh.
Confirming his participation,
Moya said: "I'm thankful to the organisers for giving me a wild card to
one of the most special tournaments on the ATP calendar. Chennai spectators
have always supported me and brought out the best from me."
Karti P. Chidambaram, chairman of the organising committee said:
"The decision was unanimously taken by IMG, the organizing committee and
Aita.
It is with great pleasure we
welcome Moya for his farewell visit to our tournament. The other two wild cards
have been given to Somdev and Rohan taking into account their Herculean
performances in taking India to the Davis Cup World group after a gap of 12
years."
M.A. Alagappan, President of
TNTA, said: "The popularity of the tournament is vindicated by the fact
that a grand slam champion like Carlos Moya is very keen to come back year
after year to Chennai. I sincerely hope that all the Indian players who have
secured the wild cards will benefit through good performances in the Aircel
Chennai Open."
Somdev, Bopanna, get wild cards for Chennai Open
21st December 2009 - Indian Express (Press Release) with Shri Karti P. Chidambaram
Ending weeks of speculation
India's rising star and last year runner-up Somdev Devvarman (ATP ranking 126)
has been allotted a wild card for the Aircel- Chennai Open 2010. Somdev also
gets a wild card for the doubles and will partner Sanam Singh another Indian to
get a wild card.
Two-time champion and darling of
the Chennai crowd Carlos Moya too has been given a wild card for both singles
and doubles. He will partner with the upcoming Yuki Bhambri. Rohan Bopanna who
cried foul last time when he was denied a wild card and made to qualify has
been awarded a wild card this time. "The wild cards have been given
keeping in mind to give maximum opportunities to Indian players who had taken India
to Davis Cup World Group. The last time India qualified was in 1998,"said Karti P Chidambaram, chairman
of the organizing committee.
Former World No 1 Moya who has
won eleven ATP Tour singles titles is returning from injury and will be
appearing for the seventh time on one of his favourite surfaces. "My
previous experience with the tournament is that I will be competing against a
strong player field. The impressive line-up signals that the matches will be
full of challenges. "Spectators at the venue have been very supportive of
me over the years, while motivating me to perform to the best of my capabilities.
"I am thankful to the organizers for giving me a wild card to one of the
most special tournaments on the ATP calendar," said Moya confirming his
participation.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Moya gets wild card for Chennai Open
22nd December 2009 - The Hindu
CHENNAI: Top-ranked Indian tennis players Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna, and Spanish veteran Carlos Moya have been given wild cards for the singles main draw of the 2010 Aircel Chennai Open tennis tournament.
Moya, a former World No. 1, who has won 11 ATP Tour singles titles, is returning from injury and has received a wild card for the singles and doubles main draw. Moya will be partnering Yuki Bhambri in doubles.
Somdev and Sanam Singh have been given wild cards for the doubles main draw.
Confirming his participation, Moya said: "my previous experience with the tournament is that I will be competing against a strong-player field. The impressive line-up signals that the matches at the Aircel Chennai Open 2010 will be full of challenges. Spectators at the venue have been very supportive of me over the years, while motivating me to perform to the best of my capabilities. I am thankful to the organisers for giving me a wild card to one of the most special tournaments on the ATP calendar."
Ravi Krishnan, Managing Director, IMG South Asia and Senior Vice President, IMG, said: "we are delighted to grant him (Moya) a wild card on what will be his seventh appearance at the event. Indian tennis stars and youth icons Somdev, Rohan Bopanna, Sanam Singh and Yuki serve as role models to the aspiring Indian youth and it's important that they appear in the only ATP event in India."
Karti P. Chidambaram, Chairman of Aircel Chennai Open Organising Committee, said: "we welcome Carlos Moya for his farewell visit to our tournament. The other two wild cards have been given to Somdev and Rohan taking into account their Herculean performances in taking India to the Davis Cup World group after a gap of 12 years. Yuki, who has a very bright future and has an important role to play in future, should learn a lot by playing with Moya."
M.A. Alagappan, President, Tamilnadu Tennis Association, said: "it will be our endeavour to offer wild cards to promising Tamil Nadu players for the qualifying event."
Fernando Soler, Tournament Director, said: "selecting the young Indian talent is crucial in the backdrop of contributions made by these players when representing India in Davis Cup."
Open flip-flop: Moya gets wildcard
23rd December 2009 -
Times of India
Chennai Open Will See Spanish Star Playing In the City For
The Final Time; Somdev, Bopanna Make Cut As Well.
Chennai: It's
just a fortnight to go for the Chennai Open and the organisers have thrown a
surprise. After going on record a week back that there won't be any Carlos Moya
for the Open, they have roped the Spaniard in for the January 4-10 event.
The Tamil Nadu Tennis Association (TNTA) and the IMG
realised the 'box-office' of Moya in Chennai and they persuaded the former
World No. 1 to take a wildcard and come for the event one last time.
The two other singles wildcards went to Somdev Devvarman and
Rohan Bopanna.
Karti Chidambaram, the chairman of the organising committee,
mentioned that this will be Moya's final Chennai Open, which should bring his
fans to the Nungambakkam Stadium.
The TNTA had said last week that Moya's absence "won't
make a difference", but it's obvious that they knew it would.
The impact of Moya was emphasize by Ravi Krishnan, managing
director of IMG, who said: "Carlos Moya had been instrumental in putting
this tournament on the global tennis map".
While Moya may not be the player that he once was, he still
possesses enough firepower to challenge the younger players.
With the exception of Robin Soderling and to a certain
extent Marin Cilic, the line-up for the Chennai Open does lack the star value.
But Moya's last minute inclusion is bound to give a boost to the field, which
was highlighted by tournament director Fernando Soler. "His selection
strengthens the tournament's line-up for this year," Soler said.
It is interesting to note that Moya will also be playing the
doubles with Indian teen sensation Yuki Bhambri, who has got a doubles
wildcard. The 18-year-old, who is trying to find his feet in the ATP circuit,
is bound to get a boost from this partnership.
"Yuki has a very bright future and has an important
role to play for Indian tennis and he should learn a lot by playing with
Moya," said Chidambaram. "The second doubles wildcard has been given
to Somdev and Sanam after taking into account the potential shown by Sanam in
recent tournaments in the USA," Chidambaram added.
That Somdev would also get a singles wildcard was a foregone
conclusion, but it was a surprise to find the big serving Rohan Bopanna get it
as well.
The Coorg player had to go through the qualifiers last
season only to crash out in the first round of the main draw.
"The wildcards have gone to Somdev and Rohan taking
into account their Herculean performances in taking India to the Davis Cup
World group after a gap of 12 years," said Chidambaram.
"Somdev was runner up of the tournament last year and
we look forward to another scintillating performance from him,"
Chidambaram added.
Karti P Chidambaram at the opening ceremony of the ATP Chennai Open 2009
Karti P Chidambaram, Vice President of All India Tennis Association (AITA), at the opening ceremony of the ATP Chennai Open 2009 held from 5th - 11th Jan. Also present are the office bearers of Tamil Nadu Tennis Association, and tennis players.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Karti P Chidambaram, the Chief Guest at the the Indo-American Association
Karti P Chidambaram, the Chief Guest sharing the stage with (from left to right) C N Ramdas, IAS, Retd. Secretary to Govt of India, Frank P Talluto, Treasurer of the Indo-American Association, Kauslya Padmanabhan, President of the Indo-American Association, and Andrew T. Simkin, US Consul General in Chennai, at the the Indo-American Association meet held on Dec 23rd 2008, in Chennai at Taj Coromendal.
Interview with Shri Karti P. Chidambaram regarding 66 Davis Cup
| 29th December 2009 - Indian Express |
2010 Chennai Open will bring '66 Davis Cup alive
Indian tennis legend Ramanathan Krishnan is pleased that the AITA, TNTA and organising committee of the Chennai Open will be felicitating the 1966 Indian Davis Cup team during the Chennai Open in January 2010. The team comprising Krishnan, S P Misra, Jaidip Mukerjea and the late Premjit Lall took India to the Davis Cup final (known as Challenge Round at that time) for the first time. Krishnan has fond memories of that day when he defeated Thomas Koch of Brazil in the decider at South Club in Kolkata to take India to the final He rates 1966 team as the best the country has seen. "It's special when you take your country to the final round for the first time. All of us played as a team. Each one wished the other did well. The camaraderie, the sprit with which we played and the quality of game each possessed is unmatched by any of the Davis Cup teams the country has produced. The 1966 team was the best and I am proud to be part of it,'' said Krishnan. Today many top ranked players skip Davis Cup matches, but in those days every player in the world made it a point to play. "At that time we had all the big players playing Davis Cup. Only the best teams came to the last four stage. In the inter-zonal (two grou ps at that time) semifinals I managed to beat Willhelm Bung ert (a Wimbledon finalist later that year) of West Germany," recollected Krishnan.In the inter-zonal final against Brazil, Krishnan played one of his finest matches for India. "It was marathon match and perhaps my best performance for India in the Davis Cup. After being 1-2 and 2-5 down in the fourth set against Thomas Koch I managed to pull it off. Koch won the first set. I won the second. In the fourth set when it was 2-5 in favour of Koch, I was angry with myself for being in that position. I also prayed that I should make a comeback. When I am angry I play well, I attacked better and thus managed to win that match,'' said Krishnan. In the final against Australia, Krishnan and Jaidip Mukerjea won the doubles match against John Newcombe and Tony Roche, but Krishnan lost both his singles matches (against Fred Stolle and Roy Emerson) as India lost 1-4. "Although my head-to head record against Stolle and Emerson was good, Stolle and Emerson played better than me in the final. I was 29 years old then and after so many years in the circuit I had a slight back problem. My wrists were also not as supple as before when I was younger,'' recalled Krishnan. "Newcombe and Roche were the best doubles pair in the world at that time. Their defeat to us was the first that year for them. I think Newcombe and Roche were overconfident and underestimated me and Jaidip,'' added Krishnan, stating that he was eager to catch up with his team during the Chennai Open. |
Leander plans academy in Pondy: Shri Karti P. Chidambaram
| 29th December 2009 - Times of India |
Puducherry: Leander Paes is one of the few Olympic medal winners India can boast of in an individual sport. And now, as he looks at a life beyond tennis, he is planning to nurture future Olympic champions. The doubles ace plans to set up a sports academy in Puducherry, working in tandem with a foundation through which he wants to bring international training methods to India.
As a player going into the last four years of my career , I definitely want to give something back to Indian sports and culture, Paes said after calling on Puducherry chief minister V Vaithilingam and his cabinet colleagues on Monday.
Although raised in Kolkata , Paes spent his formative years training at the Britannia-Amritraj Tennis Trust in Chennai. He said he chose Puducherry as the location for his academy because it is a really beautiful place, away from big metros , where athletes can actually train without any distractions . I feel that a good, healthy lifestyle actually harnesses Olympic champions and I feel Puducherry is one of the locations in India that has very good and healthy living conditions.
Paes said he had detailed his proposal to the CM. Hopefully with my brand, we can put Puducherry on the global map for sports science training and medicine , he said. The administration has sought a detailed report, including the extent of land needed and the source of funding for the project.
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Power 'struggle' in TN Congress: Shri Karti P.Chidambaram
| 11th April 2010 - Indian Express (Press Release) |
The Congress is striving for a revival in Tamil Nadu, but on the flip side the battle for control of its local unit is hotting up even as the mantle has passed to the younger leaders.
The latest piece of evidence comes from Delhi, where young Union Minister for Shipping G K Vasan has of late been wanting to quit his plum portfolio and return to take charge of state party affairs.
The non-progress on the Sethusamudram project is touted as a factor, but Vasan's actions seem to have as much to do with the jockeying for control in the state unit. Vasan is one of the big stakeholders in local party affairs and is fighting for domination in the assembly/parliamentary-level Youth Congress elections there. And at Sunday's Youth Congress state officers-bearers elections.
One reason for Vasan's desire to leave Delhi is said to be the emergence of stiff competition on his home ground. With K V Thangkabalu staying only as a last remnant of the old guard, one of those mounting a challenge to Vasan's hold on the party unit is Karti P Chidambaram, the Union home minister's son. The feud between the two camps has been making headlines recently, with accusations of "subterfuge" and "negative PR campaigns" flying around. The Karti camp says Vasan is nervous at the presence of a young leader fluent in English, who might overshadow him in the eyes of Rahul Gandhi, and accuses him of unleashing a media blitz to confuse the issue.
The emergence of Karti is something even a section of the party in Delhi is not especially comfortable with, and it is closing ranks with the Vasan camp. But the immediate stakes are laid out not in the national capital but Tamil Nadu.
The party's revival plans come at a time when state politics finds itself at a crossroads. The ruling DMK, with 99 seats in a 235-strong House, depends on the Congress's 36 MLAs for a simple majority. Moreover, the DMK is in the throes of a difficult, conflict ridden generational change, and the Congress sees political space opening up in the post-Karunanidhi era.
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Monday, February 24, 2014
'IPL inherited BCCI's opaqueness':
| 26th April 2010 - Deccan Chronicle (Press Release) |
Sports administration in the country has come under tremendous scrutiny after a slew of allegations rocked the Indian Premier League, a sports body the runs the hugely popular Twenty20 cricket tournament. Karti P Chidambaram (son of Union home minister P Chidambaram), who is vice-president of the All India Tennis Association and president of Ten Pin Bowling Federation of India, says there is a need to bring in accountability and probity into sports bodies . Excerpts of an interview:
Why is there a lack of professionalism in sports bodies?
Sports bodies in India are by and large closed shops. Most sports bodies do not have direct sources of income, barring cricket. All of them depend on government grants and sponsorships to function. And, people who man sports bodies are not professionals. They are there because of a vague interest in the sport or they treat it as a position of prestige. Most sports bodies run on a principle of patronage rather than professionalism. Most sports administrators, including the officials of cash-rich BCCI, work pro bono. That is perhaps the reason why there is no accountability among sports administrators.
How could the IPL controversy have been avoided?
The itionally been an opaque organisation without any oversight or disclosure. And the IPL, being a subset of the BCCI, inherited all these traits. Clear conflict of interest issues could have been easily avoided, had basic principles of transparency been adhered to. While BCCI can claim it is a private body, it is pertinent to note that it performs a considerable public function . Therefore, principles and standards that are applicable to public bodies should be applicable to BCCI as well.
How can public accountability be brought about now in IPL?
I personally believe that a 3-member committee of retired Supreme Court judges must be appointed as overseers of the must untangle all issues of conflicts of interest , bringing about greater transparency in its function. It is not suggested that this 3-member panel should take operational and commercial decisions, but all operational and commercial decisions must be vetted by them by applying higher standards of ethics and transparency.
Should foreign funds be allowed in sports in India?
Indian sport requires tremendous infusion of funds to improve infrastructure. Funds from all sources is welcome as long as all sources are clearly declared.
Why does sports in India always get politicised?
We are a highly emotive society. Any organisation or collection of people are bound to be politicised and sports is no exception.
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Top honours for Balaji, Vijay: Vice President Karti P. Chidambaram
| 26th April 2010 - Deccan Chronicle (Press Release) |
Vijay Sundar Prashanth and Sriram Balaji recieved the T.K. Ramanathan Award for the players of the year at the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association annual day function held at the SDAT-Nungambakkam Stadium on Saturday.
The Nagamani Mahadevan Award for the woman player of the year was bagged by Sai Samhita. Sai Avantika, V. Jeevan, J. Oges and Kavya Balasubramanian were awarded the most promising youngsters.
D.Sarangi, principal secretary Youth Welfare and Sports, addressed the gathering that included TNTA president M.A. Alagappan, vice-president Karti P. Chidambaram and former tennis player Ramesh Krishnan. Sanmar-TNTA league winners for 2009-10 were also awarded.
Awards for 2009-2010
T.K. Ramanathan award: Sriram Balaji and Vijay Sundar Prashanth. Nagamani Mahadevan award: Sai Samhita. President award for the most promising player: Sai Avantika, V. Jeevan, J. Oges and Kavya Balasubramanian. Outstanding players award: Roma Chandran, Vignesh Prabu, M. Fahad and R. Binu. Justice P.S. Kailasam memorial award for performance in junior nationals: Sai Samhitha, Sansita Nandakumar, R. Ramkumar, and Mohit Mayur. Award for representing India in junior Davis Cup / Federation Cup: Mohit, Rushmi Chakravarthi and Sai Samhitha. Best university player: Md. Niyaz. Award for performance in senior nationals: Mithun Murali and Vijay. Veterans: Karthik Kailash, Madhukar, Sundaravadivelu, K.K. Aravind, Swaminathan, Chinni Natarajan and C.H. Naidu. Wheel-chair tennis: D. Mariappan and M. Balachander. Markers: Naveen (Madras Club) and Rajendran (Anna Nagar Club). Umpire: Krishnan. Sanmar-TNTA league
F zone: Winner: Presidency Club. Runner-up: Cosmo 'C'. E zone: Winner: Nungambakkam Club. Runner-up: Mylapore Club 'B'. D zone: Winner: YMCA Kilpauk 'B'. Runner-up: MCC 'M'. C zone: Winner: Nungambakkam Tennis Club. Runner-up: Madras Gymkhana Club. B zone: Winner: MCC 'B'. Runner-up: Madras Club 'A'. A zone: Besant Nagar Club. Runner-up: Madras Cricket Club 'A'. Veterans' league: Above 45: Winner: MCC 'A'. Runner-up: Besant Nagar Club. Above 60: Winner: Anna Nagar Club. Runner-up: Besant Nagar Club.
UCAL-TNTA inter-club women's league: Women: Winner: Madras Club. Runner-up: Besant Nagar 'A'. Mixed: Winner: Madras Club 'B'. Runner-up: Madras Club 'A'.
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Karti seeks respect, more seats for Cong in TN
| 5th May 2010 - Indian Express (Press Release) |
Adopting an aggressive stance over coalition equation in the state, AICC member Karti P Chidambaram said the Congress should be allotted at least 78 seats in the coming Assembly polls - two per each of the 39 Lok Sabha seats and way above the 48 Assembly seats it had won the last time.
"The Congress no longer requires an alliance that does not give respect," he said.
Maintaining that he personally wished the alliance with the DMK to continue, the son of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said the Congress was only supporting the state government and not participating in it and that as an independent political outfit it would criticise the ruling party's mistakes and support its good initiatives.
Karti was speaking at a meeting organised to felicitate the winners of the election to various posts of Youth Congress at Dindigul on Monday evening.
According to him, while the state government was successful in publicising the DMK's name using schemes like free colour TV and health insurance, not many in the public knew it was the Congress that played a major role in initiatives like employment guarantee scheme and education loans. "That it is the Congress who is taking measures to put such schemes in place should be highlighted among the public. Youth Congress members should tour villages to publicise it, only then will the party earn the respect of the public."
Sources said Karti's tough stance has a lot to do with the struggles within the TNCC, having just concluded election to the youth outfit.
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Saturday, February 22, 2014
Karti P Chidambaram at the inaugural ceremony of National Tenpin Championship 2008
Karti P Chidambaram presents, TBF with the Chief Guest, R Sekar, Police Commissioner - Chennai and other members at the inaugural ceremony of National Tenpin Championship 2008 held at Mayajaal, chennai in October 2008
Karti P Chidambaram at the Sonia Gandhi Awards function
Karti P Chidambaram felicitates actress Manorama at the Sonia Gandhi Awards function
held at Chennai, on 19th June, 2007.
Karti P Chidambaram, the Chief Guest (GRIT)
Karti P Chidambaram, the Chief Guest, at a function hosted by Gulf Resident Indian Tamils
(GRIT) Organization in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Karti P Chidambaram, the Chief Guest: Saudi Arabia.
Karti P Chidambaram, the Chief Guest, at a function hosted by Gulf Resident Indian Tamils
(GRIT) Organization in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Race on for top job in TNCC: Karti P Chidambaram
| 10th May 2010 - Indian Express |
With election to the post of president in the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) drawing closer, the battle of nerves has begun as rival groups try to grab the top job and the main fight appears to be between the supporters of Union Minister GK Vasan and youth leader Karti P Chidambaram.
The poll to the president's post will be held in July and will be preceded by elections to various positions including that of district and block level functionaries. Although the main fight appears to be between Vasan and Karti, there are several other stalwarts who are ready to throw their hat in the poll ring, including former Union Minister EVKS Elangovan and incumbent president KV Thangkabalu, making it yet another close fight.
Taking the results of the Youth Congress elections (in which the Vasan group emerged as the dominant force followed by Karti's) as a pointer, Mani Shankar Aiyar says the same pattern may be repeated in the 'senior' Congress polls. "It is premature to speculate now."
Ranging from EVKS Elangovan's diplomatic "I have an open mind" and Thangkabalu's "I will carry out the wish of the party high command," the leaders are keeping their cards close to their chest.
Though Karti Chidambaram refrains from making any open comment, his supporters and the youth cadre are ready to bet on the young leader. "Energy, commitment and leadership skills are needed to propel the party and Karti is the only sure fire," said K Chiranjeevi, AICC and OBC panel member. He contends that only a leader like Karti can steer the party to success in the elections.
Elangovan loyalists point to the support extended by them for the victory of YC leader Yuvaraj and assert that their leader is a "man of exceptional guts" who has taken on the ruling party many a times. "His only priority is party interest and is ready to work with all leaders. Who else can lead the party to victory, they ask.
Claiming that the "entire party organisation" is with them, Vasan supporters say their leader has the "political acumen" to take the party to new heights especially in the era of coalition politics.
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Communism is a failure model: Shri Karti P Chidambaram
| 9th September 2010 - Indian Express |
Express News Service Madurai, September 9,
STUDENTS should stay away from the principles of Marx or communism because it's a failure and outdated, said Karti P Chidambaram, Congress functionary.
He was addressing the Theatre Fest organized by the English Department of Arul Anandar College in Karumathur on Wednesday.
Inaugurating the fest, Karti P Chidambaram advised the students to closely follow and study politics and economics to attain wholistic growth. He pointed out that the principles of Marx, Lenin and Mao were no more valuable as Marx's principles were never accepted in his native Germany, neither Lenin was remembered in Russia any more. The principles of communism were outdated and applicable in predevelopment area. Students should be aware of the people who do politics in the name of communism, he opined.
He said that the model of government and private sector participation would thrive growth and development of the country. Government and private collaboration is the means of poverty alleviation, he advocated. Karti P Chidambaram pointed out that the mobile phones which had to be procured after laborious procedures, were made available to everyone by private sector participation. The government cannot go house-to-house providing mobile phones like providing free colour televisions or one rupee a kg rice, he commented in a lighter note. It was not practical for the government to fulfill every need of people like in the model of communism, he said.
The concept of liberalization was generally misunderstood as causing poverty in rural areas. In fact, it was liberalization which produced lot of opportunities to youth. Students tend to keep away from politics considering it as dirty which is true in the present conditions, however the development of the nation will not be possible without a political change.
The change can only occur when the youth get into politics and cleaning the dirt of politics which will pave for the development of the country, he stated. Hence, students should closely monitor the political trends and the educational institutions should encourage the healthy debate of politics in the campus, he suggested. Study politics and economics to be successful in life because most of the time only the science students were considered success in academic circle which is not true, he said. He called the educational department to reconsider the options of examinations and marks system which tend to ruin the students because marks alone cannot produce successful people, he said.
He also admonished the system of tuition and home work which engages students only in studies not sparing them time to play and develop a healthy physique. Engage in sports and extra curricular activities along with academics to succeed in life, he told student community
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Berdych, Cilic for Chennai Open: Organising Committee Chairman Karti P. Chidambaram
| 30th September 2010 - Hindu |
Sports Reporter Chennai: Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych and defending Chennai Open champion Marin Cilic will participate in the 2011 Aircel Chennai Open ATP tennis event at the SDAT Nungambakkam Stadium from January 3 to 9. Croatia's Cilic, ranked 14th in the world, will look to complete a hat-trick of titles in Chennai, while World No. 7 Berdych of the Czech Republic will be making his maiden appearance.
Organising Committee Chairman Karti P. Chidambaram said, "Berdych has captured the hearts of all Indian fans by his memorable win over Roger Federer in Wimbledon. "It will be Berdych's maiden appearance in the Aircel Chennai Open and the Chennai crowd is in for a feast of high quality tennis from this exceptionally talented player."
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Thursday, February 20, 2014
Youth are the Master of the Game: Shri Karti P Chidambaram
| 1st January 2011 - Eves Times |
Youth are the Master of the Game
STOP PLAYING THE ROLE OF A VICTIM
On the occasion of Republic Day, Eve's Times posed Karti Chidambaram a few questions about the state of affairs in our country today. The queries elicited a torrent of responses from him.
Are we truly free?
We are as free as free can be. 'Free' is a relative term. I am a believer of individual liberty. But individual liberty is always contextual. What is free which is accepted in a certain context is not necessarily accepted in another context. Freedom for the sake of freedom at the cost of discipline or order is not necessarily freedom. I don't think we can have an absolute definition of freedom. Freedom is always relative; relative in the context of the environment in which we are operating.
Can we say that if we are watching a cricket match then all the spectators have the freedom to rush into the cricket ground because we are a free country and stand around the pitch? Or we are watching a tennis match and we keep yelling when the point is being played? Because we are a free country and we have freedom of speech can you speak in your mobile phone when a movie is being shown or when you are in a concert hall watching a play or theatre? There will always be curbs to individual freedom.
But what those curbs are and how much the curbs will be exercised depends on the context. Of course we are a free country; let us not have a debate about that. How much freedom we have, where we have and what we have always depends on the situation.
The common man is not able to get what he wants because he is bound by the manacles of a corrupt system. What is your take on that?
It is high time that the common man stopped playing the role of a victim. Self pity must stop. Somehow or the other there is a widespread impression about the honest common man getting completely fettered and abused by the system. The common mans has the power within himself. Common people collectively have a great amount of power. They must harness that power and stop lamenting that they are victims of the system.
What about corruption, which makes it difficult for the common people to attain what they want?
Corruption is a different problem. As there is a taker, there is also a giver. Every problem is a two-way street. While we must condemn people who are abusing their positions, if people collectively refuse to entertain any modes of corruption, it can be contained. I am not saying that this is the only solution but there is also a duty amongst us to do that. But because of the environment we live in and we all want to get things done we are more than happy to cut corners when it suits our needs.
A free country should also ensure that the basic necessities of people are met. The fact that the power lies in the hands of a few people combined with corruption makes life difficult for people who are denied not only the right to live with dignity but also are not able to achieve what they want and can.
You are talking about economic disparity, which cannot be done away with overnight unless we have great economic progress. But I don't think that in India today power is concentrated in a few people. Economic, social and political power is diffused. There are many political parties. Economic disparity is there in every country. The disparity is glaring in our country because in totalitarian regimes such as China, the disparity is hidden where as in our country it is not hidden. Disparities are there even in the most advanced countries including the United States.
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Economic Independence is the Liberating Factor for Women: Shri Karti P Chidambaram
| 1st March 2011 - Eves Times |
Karti Chidambaram is not a maverick, but indeed he is contemporary, with his feet firmly planted in the roots of emerging India and his sights directed toward a radiant future, just as every thinking person believes.
Women have far more opportunities today than ever before. I had an occasion to go to a corporation school and speak to the students recently. I told them, 'I am sure that many motivational speakers who might have visited your school might have told you that you have great role models like Indira Gandhi, Jayalalitha, Mayavati, or Kalpana Chawla for you to emulate. However, these people are not really your role models.' I then asked them how many of their mothers had finished school. About ten hands rose up. I asked them how many children's grandmother had finished school. No hand was raised. At the age of thirteen they have beaten two generations. I told them, 'At thirteen you are all more educated than your mothers and grandmothers. You are your own role models.'
Today, the real revolution is happening in women's education. If more and more women, especially rural women get educated, the society will be transformed remarkably. Things are changing. At the same time new opportunities are coming up. Moreover, traditional practices are also at war with modern developments. Today, women are more vocal. They don't want to be passive partners. They don't want to be subjugated by their fathers, brothers, husband and sons. They are raising their voices more because they are becoming economically independent.
Women's education that provides opportunities for personal income of women is the most liberating factor for them. It has been the practice to tell a woman that she has to constantly depend on her father when she is growing up and before she gets married, on her brother; after marriage on her husband and after the husband is gone, on her son. She is constantly dependant on a man for her existence and survival.
I think if a woman is able to break out of this shackle and maintain herself and her dignity, by being economically independent that will be more liberating. Today, women have the opportunity to get liberated in that kind of way.
It is obviously creating some tension in a traditionally male-dominated society. This tension will help them. I also think this tension will ease up and women will come into their own. Eventually, women's empowerment lies in the fact that they must be economically independent and not depend on men.
There are complaints in certain quarters that relationship problems have arisen because women are more outspoken. I think it is too far-fetched to think that women have not had relationship problems since time immemorial. It is a myth to think that fifteen years ago or even earlier man and woman had an ideal relationship. I think women were not more vocal then. Probably the woman did not complain so much and she put up with her man. Now she is complaining and that is why it is coming out in the open. Let us not suddenly think that in 2008 women and men are not having good relationships. Are you trying to say that hundred years ago men were perfect and they were having perfect relationship with their wives? It is unbelievable. Men was always doing what they wanted to do; women were just too submissive and the society did not allow them to speak; so they kept quiet. Don't tell me that everybody's grandmother had a perfect marriage. I don't think so. Man was doing what he wanted to do. Women were not speaking up. Today women are speaking up. They are economically independent and they are able to raise their voice about what he is doing. Eventually, the woman will come to be accepted for what she is, as a thinking person, with her own dignity, desires, ambitions and as a valuable contributor to the progress of the family, society and the world at large. That will define the true success of women. The day is not too far off for women to achieve this success.
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INTERVIEW WITH KARTI P CHIDAMBARAM, CHAIRMAN, TOURNAMENT ORGANISING COMMITTEE, ATP CHENNAI OPEN AND VICE PRESIDENT, AITA
| 2nd January 2012 - Tennis India Magazine | ||||||||||||||||||||
Q: You being a congress politician, many of the tennis fans, readers of Tennis India Magazine would like to know when your interest and association with tennis started ? What had driven you to tennis? At some point of your career did you ever think that you want to be professional tennis player ?
Karti P Chidambaram: My primary ambition in life was to be a professional tennis player. Of course I played competitive tennis, I played tennis in the Indian circuit as junior, then played college tennis in America and then in England. So I have been associated with tennis for about 30 years now. I started playing in 1981 and competed till 1995. So I have been associated pretty much in all formats of Tennis. First as a player here in the junior circuit, then as college player in America then I have played the ITF 'Futures and Challengers'. After being associated as a player I came back and I got associated with the federation here in the state level initially and now at the National level and of course now I head the organizing committee of this tournament and also I head the committee for Davis Cup. I am quite involved in the junior tennis by raising money, funding players and lot of the players who have been given wild card here are the players whom I have spotted, nurtured and continued to look after. I will exchange everything in my life to have a career as a tennis player but I couldn't do perhaps as a tennis player and I lived through the dream of other players and being part of the establishment.
Q: As the Chairman of tournament organising committee of ATP Chennai open and Vice President AITA, you played a key role in ensuring that South Asia's only ATP Tour event remains in Chennai for the 17th year in succession this time. What are your comments on ATP Chennai Open popularizing tennis in our country?
Karti P Chidambaram: I don't know whether Chennai Open itself popularizes the sport. You got to understand that tennis is the largest Individual Sport in the world and it is widely played in India as well but it is now played by everybody in all economic status but not in the grassroot as Cricket is. There are still lot of entry barriers but the fact that we are able to showcase world class players at home atmosphere definitely helps popularizing the sport but if you ask me that having one event of this nature is enough to popularize the sport then my answer is 'no' but what really would popularize the sport is to have superstars from India but unfortunately we don't have many tennis superstars. We have good players but not great players. But if there are great players coming from India and winning grandslams and are constantly in the news in the international arena that would spur interest to a greater level.
Q: You have rightly twitted recently that “35% of top 100 ATP Tennis Players come from Spain, France and Germany. We need to work with these countries to up our Tennis". What are AITA's, and various state associations plan to get more and more upcoming players to take up professional tennis in a developing country of ours?
Karti P Chidambaram: You see, one of the primary drawbacks I find in India is that we don't have great coaches. We have coaches who can look after the player upto the age of 16 but we lack coaches to convert a 16-year-old into a professional in 5 years and make the player playing in professional circuit. So that is why we atleast in TNTA having been sending out players constantly to Spain and Germany to train and all the players are being given wild cards in the circuits there. They have been sent to Sanchez-Casal academy in Spain and Waske Schuttler Tennis Academy in Germany. We need to definitely develop a core brand of coaches who can convert a good junior into a professional player and still we haven't seen that and for that to happen they need to travel the world and see what's happening in tennis. Tennis has changed dramatically, the physical mental aspects of tennis have changed a lot.
The other thing we lack is that there are no enough tournaments in India at the ITF 10K and 15K Challenger levels. So you have to go out of India to play these tournaments. If there are many such tournaments in India, then the players will gain the basic ITF points in India and then they can go out and that's been proven in the case of Jeevan Neduncheziyan. We had 4 tournaments and he won 2 tournaments and he got some points and he is already in top 500 in the world. In a country like Spain, you can play a professional tournament every week. We need to have a minimum of 25 to 30 tournaments in India at the ITF 10K, 15K and 50K level and that would definitely help to change the equation. We are trying to but it's not easy to find sponsorships for tennis. I think Cricket takes up a disproportionate share of resources.
If companies and corporates branch away from Cricket and look at Tennis then definitely we can make a dent. On an average it costs about USD 50,000 per year to support a player on the international scene. It's not glamorous to support a 15 or 16 year old but you need to support continuously for 3 to 5 years before we can make any impact. I wish more corporates come forward to fund talented players because most of them come from families who can't afford the yearly cost of the player.
Rapid fire with Karti P Chidambaram
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Shri Karti P Chidambaram: Brief Profile
Mr Karti P Chidambaram (Member - ALL INDIA CONGRESS COMMITTEE)
- Schooling from Don Bosco, Chennai
- Bachelors in Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin, USA
- Bachelors in Law from Cambridge University, UK
Positions Held
Sports
- Vice President - All India Tennis Association
- Chairman - Organising Committee of Aircel Chennai Open (ATP) Tennis Tournament
- President - Tenpin Bowling Federation of India
- Vice President - All India Tennis Association & Tamilnadu Tennis Association
- Chief Patron - All India Karate-Do Federation
Others
- Member of the inaugural class of the India Leadership Initiative (ILI) of the Aspen Institute
- Chairman - Asia 21 India Chapter of The Asia Society.
- Co-Founder - Chennai Chapter of Young Entrepreneurs Organisation
- Co-Founder - www.karuthu.com - An Online Public Opinion Forum
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