Tamil American Vivek Ramaswamy to lead new US Department with Elon Musk

by admin
Nov 13, 2024

Vivek Ramaswamy, an American entrepreneur and Republican politician of Tamil Brahmin heritage, has been appointed by US President-elect Donald Trump to co-head a newly formed Department of Government Efficiency.

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Vivek Ramaswamy, an American entrepreneur and Republican politician of Tamil heritage, has been appointed by US President-elect Donald Trump to co-head a newly formed Department of Government Efficiency.

The department, created to streamline US government operations and reduce bureaucratic overhead, will be jointly led by Ramaswamy and tech magnate Elon Musk.

Ramaswamy’s nomination marks a step forward in Trump’s ambition to “slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies,” according to a statement from the president-elect.

At the age of 39, Ramaswamy is recognized as one of the youngest prominent figures in American conservative politics. He was born to Tamil Brahmin immigrants in Cincinnati, Ohio. His parents, V G Ramaswamy and Geetha Ramaswamy, moved from Kerala to the US.

A reportedly fluent Tamil speaker, Ramaswamy attended Harvard University, where he graduated with a degree in biology, before earning his JD from Yale Law School.

Ramaswamy rose to prominence as the founder and CEO of Roivant Sciences, a biotech firm aimed at transforming drug development. Following his success in business, Ramaswamy expanded his presence in the public sphere, focusing on critiques of corporate culture and “woke” ideology.

His political journey gained momentum during the 2024 Republican primaries, where he ran for the nomination to become president of the US. Ramaswamy positioned himself as a non-traditional conservative voice though later aligned with Donald Trump.

"This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people!" said Musk, as Trump made the announcement.

“I look forward to Elon and Vivek making changes to the Federal Bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency and, at the same time, making life better for all Americans,” declared Trump.

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This demonstration, which culminated in a rally and speeches in Punchbowl, highlighted the plight of refugees denied permanent visas for over 12 years. Speakers at the event shed light on the profound impact of the current system, including barriers to higher education, employment, and access to essential services.

The protest has now entered its 100th day, with Tamil asylum seekers and their supporters continuing their relentless demand for permanent protection. For 38 days, they camped outside Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke’s office in Sydney, calling on the government to end the visa limbo that has left many without basic rights and stability. Tamil asylum seekers have been in Australia for over a decade, living on short-term visas that must be renewed regularly. Without permanent residency, they are excluded from Medicare—Australia’s universal health insurance scheme—and are denied the right to work, study, travel, or access essential services. Many are also required to report to visa offices weekly.

The crisis is compounded by the controversial 'Fast Track' system introduced in 2014 by the Abbott government. According to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, this system has resulted in the rejection of around 8,500 asylum seekers' cases. It specifically targets individuals who sought asylum by sea and arrived in Australia between August 13, 2012, and December 31, 2013. Tamil asylum seekers, stuck in visa limbo for years, have launched protests nationwide, with 24-hour encampments in Melbourne, Perth, and Brisbane.

Amaran - Problematic propaganda

amaran

The genre of war epic makes its grand re-entry to Tamil cinema with director Rajkumar Periasamy’s sophomore feature film, ‘Amaran.’ As is often the case with this genre, one cannot help but feel the events of the ‘true story’ onscreen have been heavily modified for easy consumption.

 

 

 

The patriotic military films of Tamil cinema had taken a back seat for a while. The subject matter is now seldom a prominent theme of a film, instead lurking in the shadows peeking through such as via the heroes in the works of Nelson Dilipkumar. The genre of war epic makes its grand re-entry to Tamil cinema with director Rajkumar Periasamy’s sophomore feature film, ‘Amaran.’ As is often the case with this genre, one cannot help but feel the events of the ‘true story’ onscreen have been heavily modified for easy consumption.

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Krishna's rating: 2.5 stars

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Official trailer for film below.

UN Special Committee finds Israel warfare methods in Gaza consistent with Genocide

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“It is the collective responsibility of every State to stop supporting the assault on Gaza and the apartheid system in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem,” the Committee said.

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(c) Halt all offensive arms transfers, including weapons, explosives, guns and/or ammunition, to Israel;

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Read more here

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