Latest news with #Tamil-origin
Mint
03-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Indian-origin entrepreneur Balaji Srinivasan buys private island to build new nation for techies
Indian-origin tech entrepreneur Balaji Srinivasan has purchased a private island near Singapore to build what he calls a 'Network State'- a decentralised, digital-first society for techies, creators, and founders. Srinivasan, a former CTO of Coinbase and co-founder of multiple Silicon Valley ventures, envisions a future where online communities with shared values evolve into globally recognised nations. His project, which once sounded like a futuristic thought experiment, is now unfolding on a real island with real people, and it's creating quite the buzz, TechCrunch reported. The island is home to 'The Network School', a three-month residential programme that merges entrepreneurship, emerging tech, and personal transformation. Participants, handpicked for their ambition and unconventional thinking, wake up to gym sessions and spend the day attending workshops on artificial intelligence, blockchain, and startup innovation. 'We got an island. That's right. Through the power of Bitcoin, we now have a beautiful island near Singapore where we're building the Network School,' Srinivasan posted on X. Srinivasan's long-term goal? To build a borderless, crowd-funded nation for digital nomads and tech-savvy changemakers — a concept he outlined in his 2022 book The Network State. According to him, the idea is to create self-improving communities that first exist online, then claim physical territory, and eventually negotiate global recognition. One participant, content creator Nick Peterson, shared a virtual tour of the island and described it as 'an oasis for gym rats and startup founders.' He added, 'I've been living in this real-life experiment called the Network School, where we are kind of testing what creating a new nation would feel like.' Srinivasan says the school is designed to foster 'win-and-help-win' societies focused on truth, health, and wealth. The island curriculum is deeply rooted in his broader mission to rethink governance in the digital age. Born to Tamil-origin physician parents in New York, Balaji Srinivasan holds multiple degrees in Electrical and Chemical Engineering from Stanford University. Over the past two decades, he has co-founded and backed several high-profile tech ventures — including Counsyl, and Teleport — and invested early in Bitcoin, Ethereum, OpenSea, and Alchemy. The 44-year-old is one of Silicon Valley's more provocative thinkers, often stirring debate with his critiques of traditional institutions and his push for decentralised systems. Critics have likened his 'network nation' idea to modern-day techno-utopianism, or even digital-age colonialism — but Srinivasan remains undeterred. In 2024, he launched the first Network School on this Southeast Asian island, with future campuses planned for Dubai, Tokyo, and Miami. 'We're looking for remote workers, digital creators, personal trainers, developers — people who want to earn crypto, build things, burn calories, and have fun,' he said in a recruitment post.
India Gazette
14-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
DMK's Elangovan criticises demolition of Madrasi Camp in Delhi, demands affected to be rehabilitated
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 14 (ANI): DMK Spokesperson TKS Elangovan on Friday criticised the demolition of the Madrasi Camp in Delhi and demanded that the affected residents, most of them Tamilians, be properly rehabilitated. Speaking to ANI, DMK Spokesperson TKS Elangovan said, 'Our interest is to protect the affected people, particularly the Tamil people who have been affected. The residents should be given an alternative.' Earlier on Friday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, expressing deep concern over the humanitarian crisis following the demolition of Madrasi Camp in South East Delhi's Jangpura on June 1. The demolition displaced 370 Tamil-origin families who had been living in the area for decades. In his letter, Stalin urged immediate steps to alleviate the distress faced by these families, many of whom have contributed significantly to Delhi's economy and society. In his letter, Stalin urged immediate steps to mitigate the distress faced by these families, many of whom have lived and worked in Delhi for decades. 'I wish to draw your urgent attention to the humanitarian crisis precipitated by the demolition of Jangpura's Madrasi Camp on 1st June 2025. This has rendered 370 Tamil-origin families, who for decades have contributed significantly to Delhi's economy, homeless and destitute. As per the Hon'ble Delhi High Court's orders, a joint survey certified 189 families as eligible for EWS flats. The Hon'ble High Court had also directed the Government agencies (DDA and DUSIB) to complete all essential services like water, electricity, sanitation, internal roads, drainage and street lighting in Pockets G-7 and G-8, Narela, where the alternative accommodation has been provided. The Court further mandated the Delhi Government to ensure immediate admissions for displaced children in nearby Government and MCD schools, establish Primary Healthcare Centres and Fair-Price Shops, and arrange requisite DTC and Metro transport links in accordance with the 2016 policy,' Stalin wrote. Stalin further expressed concern over the plight of 189 EWS families allotted flats in Narela, which remain uninhabitable due to incomplete essential services. Stalin noted that 181 other families remain homeless without alternative accommodation. 'Regrettably, although 189 families have been formally allotted EWS flats in Narela, the units remain unfit for occupation owing to incomplete provision of essential services. These sites lie nearly 20 kilometres from many beneficiaries' places of work, yet no dedicated transport services have been provided. Moreover, educational arrangements for over 150 Tamil-medium children have not been implemented in accordance with the Court's directives. In the absence of these amenities, household earners-particularly women-remain unemployed and students face imminent disruption to their studies, compounding the dislocation distress of this vulnerable community. The remaining 181 families have not been provided any alternative accommodation and have been left homeless,' he wrote. The Tamil Nadu CM further demanded government attention over the situation, saying, 'I strongly urge your Government to act immediately to relieve the hardship of the displaced families by completing and handing over the 189 EWS flats in full shape to the entitled families, fast-tracking community infrastructure, and providing dedicated transport services.' The demolition at Madrasi Camp was carried out on June 1 as authorities acted on court orders to clear encroachments along the Barapulla drain. The operation was carried out to resolve the flooding issues caused by the narrowed drain, which obstructs water flow during heavy rains. Out of the 370 encroachments demolished, 189 residents were deemed eligible for resettlement and allocated flats in Narela, while 181 were ineligible. (ANI)
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin writes to Rekha Gupta over Madrasi camp demolition crisis in Jangpura
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, calling the demolition of Madrasi Camp in Jangpura a 'humanitarian crisis.' He urged immediate action to rehabilitate 370 displaced Tamil-origin families and flagged the lack of basic services at resettlement flats in Narela. Show more Show less
New Indian Express
14-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Stalin seeks rehabilitation for Madrasi Camp families
NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin has written to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, raising concern over the 'humanitarian crisis' caused by the demolition of the Madrasi Camp in Jangpura on June 1. The move displaced around 370 Tamil-origin families, many of whom had lived there for decades. DMK MP TR Baalu personally handed over the letter to Gupta on Friday. In the letter, Stalin said that while 189 families were allotted EWS flats in Narela as per the Delhi High Court's order, the homes remain unfit for occupation due to lack of basic amenities like water, sanitation, and power. No transport facilities have been provided, leaving workers—especially women—unemployed and over 150 Tamil-medium children without school access. He also pointed out that 181 families remain entirely homeless. Stalin urged the Delhi government to complete and hand over the flats, provide necessary infrastructure, and relax norms under the Slum & JJ Rehabilitation Policy to support the rest. He requested the immediate setting up of Tamil-medium education facilities and transport. Stalin expressed hope the Delhi administration would respond with compassion and reaffirmed TN's willingness to assist in the dignified rehabilitation of displaced families.
The Hindu
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Stalin requests Delhi Chief Minister to support Tamil families displaced from ‘Madrasi Camp'
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written to his Delhi counterpart Rekha Gupta, requesting her to extend support for Tamil people in 'Madrasi Camp' in New Delhi, whose unauthorised habitations in Jangpura were being demolished by the Delhi Development Authority. The economically weaker section (EWS) flats in Narela, which were allotted to the displaced, were 20 km away from their places of work and were 'unfit' for occupation owing to incomplete provision of essential services, he contended. A delegation comprising Sriperumbudur MP T.R. Baalu, Tamil Nadu's Special Representative in New Delhi A.K.S. Vijayan, and Resident Commissioner of Tamil Nadu House in Delhi Ashish Kumar handed over the letter to Ms. Gupta in the national capital on Friday. The demolition of Jangpura's Madrasi Camp since June 1 has rendered 370 Tamil-origin families, who for decades have contributed significantly to Delhi's economy, homeless and destitute, Mr. Stalin pointed out in his letter. He further made four specific requests. He urged the Delhi Chief Minister to complete and hand over the 189 EWS flats to the entitled families, fast track construction of community infrastructure, and provide dedicated transport services. Mr. Stalin requested the extension of the EWS housing eligibility, under the Slum and JJ Rehabilitation Policy, to the remaining 181 displaced families by granting a special-case relaxation of income ceilings, domicile requirements, and deposit obligations. He sought the establishment of a provisional Tamil-medium schooling by sanctioning a temporary DTEA (Delhi Tamil Education Association) school at Pocket G-7 with immediate enrolment and dedicated transport, or by authorising Tamil instruction at a nearby MCD school with reserved seats and interim transport until permanent facilities were ready. Mr. Stalin requested for mobilising livelihood support through vocational training and micro-enterprise grants, especially for the displaced women. As per the Delhi High Court's orders, a joint survey certified 189 families as eligible for EWS flats, he said. The High Court had also directed the Government agencies (DDA and DUSIB) to complete all essential services like water, electricity, sanitation, internal roads, drainage and street lighting in Pockets G-7 and G-8, Narela where the alternative accommodation has been provided. The HC further mandated the Delhi Government to ensure immediate admissions for displaced children in nearby Government and MCD schools, establish Primary Healthcare Centres and Fair-Price Shops, and arrange requisite DTC and Metro transport links in accordance with the 2016 policy. 'Regrettably, although 189 families have been formally allotted EWS flats in Narela, the units remain unfit for occupation owing to incomplete provision of essential services. These sites lie nearly 20 kilometres from many beneficiaries' places of work, yet no dedicated transport services have been provided,' Mr. Stalin said. Educational arrangements for over 150 Tamil-medium children have not been implemented in accordance with the Court's directives. 'In the absence of these amenities, household earners—particularly women—remain unemployed and students face imminent disruption to their studies, compounding the dislocation distress of this vulnerable community. The remaining 181 families have not been provided any alternative accommodation and have been left homeless,' he added.
