The Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) witnessed a rare surgery treating the dilation of the blood vessel from the heart. Mani, a 55-year-old farmer who was admitted to the GH a month ago with complaints of difficulties in swallowing, was later diagnosed with thoraco abdominal aortic aneurysm (abnormal dilation of blood vessel).
“This is the first time we have saved a person with the blood vessel bursting, especially when the aorta, which is the major blood vessel, ruptures,” said Dr Kanagasabai, dean, MMC. “Only 50 or 60 patients a year get admitted with complaints of blood vessel enlargement, but this was the most risky surgery so far.”
“It was a matter of seconds to save the life, when the blood starts to pump out at a high pressure after the blood vessel breaks off,” he added. The patient was immediately moved to the operation theatre, after he vomited blood.
A graft, which was 8 inches long, was stitched along the ruptured blood vessel. A team of surgeons from the cardio thoracic surgical and vascular surgical team performed the surgery, which lasted more than six hours.
In a corporate hospital, the medical bill would be around Rs 3 lakh. “ More than 10 units of blood were transfused to the patient,” Dr Raja Venkatesh, HoD, cardio thoracic department, said noting that the patient’s life could not have been saved if he had not been admitted.
BP and cholesterol could also be a risk factor for such a complication, the doctor warned, adding, “but such a disorder could even occur without any risk factors involved and surgery is the only way to save the life.”
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / May 16th, 2013
An ongoing survey at the sprawling Bryant Park in Kodaikanal has revealed that it is home to exotic tree species such as camphor, silver maple and blue gum.
Led by horticulture deputy director S. Raja Mohamed, a team of officials has undertaken a survey of locating, identifying and naming exotic tree varieties in the 20.5 acre-botanical garden planned and built by English forest officer H.D. Bryant in 1900 and named after him.
Mr Mohamed said the survey has brought to light the existence of camphor, silver maple, creeping juniper, alnus tress and blue gum trees in the park for more than 50 years. Some of the exotic varieties had been planted by Bryant himself while creating the park.
Two camphor trees imported from China have been identified and they have been in the park for the last 75 years. “A large evergreen tree with 20-30 m in height was identified by the distinctive odour of a crushed leaf,” he says.
The park has one Acre saccharinum, commonly known as silver maple, imported from Japan, and it is 60 years old. Often planted as an ornamental tree because of its rapid growth and ease of propagation and transplanting, its seeds are food source for squirrels, chipmunks and birds and its trunk tends to produce cavities which can shelter squirrels, owls and woodpeckers.
Also found is a Juniperus horizontalis, whose common name is creeping juniper or creeping cedar, a low-growing shrubby juniper, native to North America. Believed to have been imported from Japan, the tree is being maintained in the park for the past 35 years, the horticulture officer informed.
An Alnus nepalensis, a multipurpose alder tree found in the subtropical highlands of the Himalayas, has been growing in the park for over 60 years now while one southern blue gum or blue gum, an evergreen tree, one of the most widely cultivated trees native to Australia, has its presence in the park for 50 years.
Mr Mohamed says, “All these exotic varieties have been in the park for several decades now but have gone unnoticed over the years. With the flower show at Bryant Park scheduled for two days from May 19 as part of 10-day summer festival in Kodaikanal, we initiated the survey. The naming of these species is on and no doubt they would be an added attraction to the visitors.”
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / May 14th, 2013
Are you a city resident constantly worrying that the food you eat is contaminated with chemical substances? Are you still nostalgic about the good old days when you ate fresh vegetables and fruits grown in the backyard of the house or on a patch owned by the family?
Urbanisation not just ate up green patches but also turned us into just consumers. With it many of us have lost the skills of cultivating vegetables or even growing plants. A day long training programme held for women by the department of agriculture at the Corporation Girl’s School at Puliakulam sought to convey that message that if there is will, and, of course, space, any one of us can produce vegetables and even medicinal plants. These house gardens can even be set up on terrace tops or around homes. Participants were taught the finer lessons on how to farm in minimum area, including on house terraces.
“As part of the state government’s plan to spread agriculture, we have been holding ‘farmers meets’ for a month. While coming to the city, the natural idea plan is to encourage farming within the houses,” said M Shaffe Ahmad, assistant director of agriculture, Periyanaickenpalayam Block. Experts on various topics spoke on how to make use of the best farming practices, with the minimum investment and effort.
PV Premkumar, assistant director, horticulture, spoke on various farming practices and said even in a space of just about a 100 square terrace, some of the common vegetables can be grown. Tomatoes, greens, brinjal and even tulsi can be grown on the terrace. These healthy and organic produce would be enough to meet a family’s needs, he said. It will also help trim the home budget.
“A major problem for people who seek to grow plants on their terrace and such little spaces is that the soil is heavy. Decomposed coir pits can be bought from the market and used to grow saplings with relative ease,” Premkumar said. This will hold water and manure better than soil for more than a year. Organic manure is enough to maintain plants in these. Around 100kg to 150kg of vegetables can be harvested in a single season. These are easier to maintain and fertilisers can be used relatively in less amounts, he said.
Shaffe says that there are several people including regular professionals who practice house farming in the city. “This is gradually catching up among many professionals in the city. Perhaps, an interest to have healthy and organic food is the major reason behind the trend,” he said.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / by Arun T. Mathew, TNN / May 14th, 2013
The odds of poverty in life did not dampen the spirit of S. Jayasuriya, who bagged the first rank in higher secondary examinations this year and shared it with another student S. Abinesh, both hailing from private schools in Namakkal. The first rankers secured 1189 marks out of 1200.
“I am overjoyed, so is my family. I did not expect the first rank, though expected some state rank. Now, I will pursue my dream to do MBBS and specialise in Orthopaedics,” said Jayasuriya of Vidya Vikas Matriculation Higher Secondary School at Tiruchengode in Namak-kal.
Jayasuriya’s mother Anandhi is a tailor and father Senthilkumar has been bed ridden, after an accident a decade back. Despite coming from poor background, he scored 197 in Tamil, 194 in English, 198 in Physics and 200 marks in Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics.
“I always kept my family’s financial situation in mind, which helped me focus on studies. I thoroughly studied the subjects from the beginning, set a target before me and achieved it,” said the first ranker. “It is a proud moment for us all. My son had understood our poverty and focused on his studies,” said his mother Anandhi, shedding tears of joy.
Equally elated was S. Abinesh, a student of Green Park Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Namakkal, who shared the first rank. “I will become a cardiologist, which is my passion,” he said adding that one need to develop an interest for studies to be success-
ful.”
“We need to concentrate on the subject of study, understand it clearly and study well,” said Abinesh, son of P. Sekar and Latha, who scored 196 in Tamil, 193 in English and 200 in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics.
Abinaya wants to do CA
Tamil was H. Abinaya’s second language till class ten. But in order to get more marks, she shifted to Sanskrit and achieved her target by securing state second rank in the overall category. Abinaya, a student of SDAV Higher Secondary School in Chengalpattu scored 1191 marks out of the total 1200.
She got centum in Commerce, Accountancy, Economics and Business Maths. “My English mark was only 193. Had I scored even one mark more, I would have got state first rank,” said Abinaya, who got 198 in Sanskrit.
Her father Harihara Subramanian is working in a private company, while mother Sornam is a teacher. While her parents expected her to follow the footsteps of their elder daughter and study for engineering, Abinaya changed tracks by choosing commerce group in class eleven. “I wanted to follow the foot steps of my uncles, who are practising CA,” said Abinaya.
Sainithya secures joint state third
R. Sainithya (17) has started her journey towards chartered accountancy in a jubilant mood. Even though she is just another person in her family to aspire for CA, as her father and two sisters are already in the financial profession, still she has garnered more glory at a young age by achieving joint third rank in Plus-2 exams this year.
A student of GRT Mahalakshmi Vidyalaya in Ashok Nagar, Sainithya was aspiring to emulate her eldest sister Sri Lakshmi, who was a school topper in Plus-2. But then, Sainithya achieved more than she expected. She scored centum in Commerce, Accountancy and Business Maths. Her total score was 1190 marks, which includes 198 in Sanskrit.
Nivedhitha scores 198 in Tamil
For A.S. Nivedhitha, achieving a state rank was a dream that she narrowly missed two years ago in class 10. But this time in Plus-2, she made it in style, scoring centum in three subjects. The Zion Matriculation Higher Secondary School student scored full marks in Computer Science, Maths and Chemistry. She got 198 in Tamil, 192 in English and 197 in Physics.
She was ranked third among students who chose Tamil as second language in the state. She scored 1187 out of the total 1200. Nivedhitha’s parents M. Swaminathan (civil engineer) and S. Sailakshmi (bank employee) were elated to see their daughter achieve state rank.
“I want to become a computer engineer,” said a beaming Nivedhitha, who did not take any special coaching. School correspondent N. Vijayan said his school always discouraged students from taking private classes. “We always give coaching with individual attention. So we inform our students not to take special tuition outside,” he added.
TN toppers aim for cardiology
Namakkal: A.K. Kanmani and U. Manothini of Green Park Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Namakkal have secured 1187 marks.
For U. Manothini, though becoming an IAS officer was the childhood dream, a heart surgery performed on his father had made her to change her goal when she was at Class VIII. “I know the pain my father suffered with heart ailments. Hence, I decided I should study cardiology and become a doctor,” said Manothini, a native of Thanjavur.She also said that since her village was not developed, she would serve there as a cardiologist.
Kalaivani, daughter of a private bus conductor Elangovan and mother Sivagami, too wants to serve people as cardiologist. Though hailing from a poor family, she was offered education free of cost at her school, Kurinji Matriculation School.
Her marks are Tamil – 198, English – 190, Physics – 199 and 200 in Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology. The marks of A.K. Kanmani, native of Perambalur, daughter of Kaliyamoorthy, were: Tamil – 198, English – 192, Physics – 197 and 200 in Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics – 200.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / May 10th, 2013
Going Out, a painting by Raja Ravi Varma, depicts Allamai (Aloo) Khareghat, of a well known Bombay-based Parsi family / The Hindu
Last week brought the heartening news that the National Art Gallery at the Egmore Museum complex is to be restored at a cost of Rs. 11 crore.
For years, heritage activists have feared that the weak dome would soon collapse.
The Empress Victoria Memorial Hall as it was originally named, had its foundation stone laid on January 26, 1906 by the Prince of Wales, later King George V. Designed by Henry Irwin, it is inspired by Akbar’s Bulund Darwaza in Fatehpur Sikri, though much smaller in size. Completed in February 1909, it became home to the Victoria Technical Institute. In 1951, it became the National Art Gallery, displaying some of the country’s best paintings.
A personal favourite among these, and which I hope will be displayed at a prominent place when the building is restored, is Allamai (Aloo) Khareghat, of a well known Bombay-based Parsi family. It is a rather unusual work of the painter who was better known for his portraits of gods, goddesses, kings, queens and stunningly beautiful women. This is a portrait of a shy Parsi girl, clutching a parasol and setting out for a walk. The story behind the painting is given in Rupika Chawla’s Raja Ravi Varma, Painter of Colonial India(Mapin Publishing, 2010).
The subject is Allamai (Aloo) Khareghat, of a well known Bombay-based Parsi family. Ravi Varma and his brother Raja Varma were frequent visitors to Bombay and while there, became very close to the Khareghats. The artist, according to his sibling, greatly enjoyed conversing with Allamai, who was, “a very intelligent lady having a thorough English education.” One day, Ravi Varma was particularly fascinated by a pose that Allamai struck as she stepped out for a stroll and captured it on canvas.
In 1902, Allamai moved to Madras where her brother Meherwanjee Rustomji Khareghat worked for the PWD. She married Rustom T. Patel, a businessman of Ooty and made her home there. In 1926, the couple’s daughter Mary married Nogi P. Clubwallah, who came from a front-ranking Parsi family of Madras.
Widowed early, Mary dedicated her life to social uplift, joining the Guild of Service, becoming an honorary presidency magistrate and remaining for life a magistrate of the Juvenile Court. Her contributions to the war effort earned her the sobriquet ‘darling’ of the Army from Gen. Cariappa.
In 1952, she founded the Madras School of Social Work, which is now recognised by the government as an institution of higher education. The MSSW pioneered several things we take for granted today — meals on wheels, health centres, bakery units and schools for the deaf. Mary Clubwallah-Jadhav (she married again) was nominated to the Madras Legislative Council in 1946, serving three terms. All this is only a part listing of her contributions and achievements.
In 1952, the Khareghats donated the Ravi Varma painting to the Government Museum. Allamai Khareghat-Patel was present in person as was her daughter. A photographer captured the old lady, standing beside her depiction in the first flush of youth.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Sriram V. / Chennai – May 14th, 2013
300 acres of water body to be restored at Rs. 24.93 crore in 2nd phase of project.
Over one lakh mangroves will be planted in the Adyar creek as part of the second phase of the eco-restoration of the water body.
The State government has approved the commencement of work on this project that will cover 300 acres of Adyar Creek adjoining the Adyar Poonga at a cost of Rs.24.93 crore.
The first phase, constituting 58 acres involved the planting of 1.36 lakh saplings of various species.
Experts said that the second phase would mainly involve water body restoration. “So, one lakh saplings belonging to 24 mangrove species such as Avicennia marina, Acanthus ilicifolius, Rizhophora mucronata and other mangrove associates such as barringtonia and pongamia will be planted,” said an official of Adyar Poonga.
The eco-restoration of the second phase includes habitat restoration, monitoring pathways, sanitation, solid waste management and measures to enhance tidal influx in Adyar estuary and creek.
Adyar Poonga will seek CRZ clearance by the end of this month.
Initially, cleaning of the 300-acre-area earmarked for the second phase will begin in addition to work on additional stormwater drains by Chennai Corporation in residential localities around the creek. Metrowater has also been asked to immediately take measures to plug illegal sewer connections in the drains to prevent mixing of sewage in the creek. Estimates for construction of additional sewage treatment plant will be prepared by Metrowater before June.
The Corporation has already commissioned filtering mechanisms around Adyar Poonga for letting additional storm water drain into the existing 58-acre greenery.
Additional stormwater draining into the creek will recharge water in the 358-acre eco Park. The area covered under the second phase is said to fall under CRZ III category. The State spent over Rs. 23 crore for the first phase of eco-restoration.
Meanwhile, in a bid to curb dumping of debris and garbage in the Adyar Creek, the Corporation is likely to install additional bins and solid waste management infrastructure in neighbourhoods near the Adyar river.
Earlier this week, the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust had asked the civic body to install such facilities in the light of the dumping of debris and garbage into the creek. Adyar Poonga’s request to the Corporation to construct additional toilets is already pending.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Staff Reporter / Chennai – May 09th, 2013
The shop was started in 1927 and nearly nine decades later, nothing has changed, including the taste of the rosemilk. (Above) Owner K Mani | R Satish babu
The narrow bylanes of Mylapore can be a hard place to be. Vehicles try to run over you at every given opportunity, little children run about underfoot and cows wander aimlessly in the middle of the street. Combine this chaos with the mid-afternoon heat and you’re toast.
That is, unless you carry your trusty water bottle with you wherever you go. Or forgetting that, walk a few paces past the Kapaleeshwarar Temple and delight in the flavours of a simple, pink concoction given to you freshly chilled with ice on top at the Kalathy Paper Mart. At `12 per glass, the chilled rosemilk packs a punch. And if you have been wandering Mylapore thirsty, a glass (or three) hits the spot just right.
The Kalathy Shop has been selling rosemilk for close to nine decades now and the formula hasn’t changed a bit, say long-time regulars at the shop. It is the same frothy drink, prepared with the same secret rose essence recipe made by the family, served in an eight ounce glass. Only the price has changed. “I’m 62 years old now and the shop has always sold rosemilk, as far as I can remember,” says K Mani who runs the shop now.
“We used to sell it for 25p during the 30s and 40s for a 10-ounce glass of rosemilk,” he says. Though known for its trademark drink, the shop also sold everything from betel nuts to cigarettes and match boxes. “It started out as a bunk shop but it slowly expanded into selling newspapers, magazines and periodicals also. We used to do distribution as well, but now we do only counter sales,” says Mani.
Today, the shop also sells soft drinks, butter biscuits, emergency stationery items along with the newspapers and the occasional panneer soda. But the biggest draw is the rosemilk. “I sell about 200 to 300 glasses per day. During summer, it just doubles,” says Mani, a retired bank employee.
The shop also sells its homemade rosemilk essence in bottles, along with the pista, almond and chocolate essence. “We wanted to go commercial with the rose essence and got a licence as well. But sadly, it didn’t take off. We couldn’t compete with the actual commercial sellers,” says Mani with a hint of regret in his tone. “My siblings are all well-settled, so are my kids. We never had the time or the manpower to expand the shop. At this point, I want it to stay like this,” he adds.
The fact that the shop is still in its decades old self seems to add to its USP. For residents and passersby who have frequented this shop for decades, the legend of The Kalathy Paper Mart and the refreshing drink is a tradition unto itself. The place used to be a regular hang out for former schoolmates Kumar Lawrence (54) and Venkatachalapathy (55) when they were young. It still is. “I used to live around here when I was young and we always used to come here on weekends and ‘hang out’ while downing several glasses of rosemilk,” reminisces Kumar. “Now whenever we pass by this place, we have a drink or two for old times’ sake,” he says.
Others like Koushik (24) who once lived here and then moved away, the sweet taste of rosemilk still lingers. “I live in Coimbatore, so whenever I come to Chennai, I make sure to drink a glass or two. It reminds me of my childhood,” he fondly adds. (The shop is at #27, East Mada Street, Mylapore)
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Janane Venkatraman / ENS – Chennai /May 09th, 2013
Buoyed by the overwhelming response to the annual Rose Show, officials of the horticulture department are now actively working to make the 117th annual flower show a big success.
The key attraction of this year’s show will be a model of Secretariat in Chennai, say officials. The process has gained pace with 15,000 bloomed pot flowers being shifted from the lawn to the galleries.
Joint Director of Horticulture K Mohan inaugurated the shifting of pot flowers to the galleries on Monday. The shifting work would be completed before May 16 afternoon as the Flower Show is scheduled to begin the next day. Tourists will be allowed to see the flower galleries only during three days of the show from May 17 to 19.
This year, watering lawns and plants to ensure bloom proved to be a tough task for the Botanical Garden management as it had to source water from private agencies for the first time. All the ten ponds inside the garden had dried up. However, the officials made great efforts to apply black soil mixed with natural/bio fertilizer and bio pesticides to the main lawn of the garden.
The lawn, which was in a bad shape due to failure of rains, now looks fully green, thanks to the hard work of the horticulture department officials. The garden, which is spread over 55 acres, has a sprawling main lawn in 15 acres and similar small space spread on another 5 acres.
Mohan said, “Totally, 15,000 pot flowers have been prepared for the flower show. The flower seeds were imported from England, Germany, Japan and USA besides Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, Punjab and Pune. This year’s crowd puller will be a model of the Secretariat made of flowers. Arrangements are under way to design the model which will feature all minute details. The full model with fixing of flowers will be ready by May 16 evening.”
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service – Udhagamandalam / May 14th, 2013
Workers in action during the task of relocating the house on Mettupalayam Road in Coimbatore | EPS
In a mammoth task, a 400-tonne house with a ground plus one structure, is being lifted and relocated from its original location at Saibaba Koil in Coimbatore. So far, engineers have been able to shift it to a location 35 feet away from the site where the house stood. The structure will be moved further away by five feet.
The house owner A Thangavelu, who wanted to construct a commercial complex at the site where the building was located, faced a dilemma on whether to demolish his ancestral home or to retain it. “We were planning to construct a commercial building on the plot, which is located in one of the prime areas on Mettupalayam Road. However, it required demolishing the house spread over 2400 sq.ft, which was constructed in 1950,” he said.
That’s when a Haryana-based engineering company came to his help, which successfully ‘lifted’ the house in a bid to reinstall it 40 feet away. He has not only saved the money on building a new house, but managed to retain the house where he grew up.
“This would have required a huge investment as the house had to be first demolished and another structure built after getting the approval.
When we heard about the innovative concept of shifting the house by lifting it, we were optimistic of keeping the ancestral house intact by investing about Rs 20 lakh. Building a similar house would have cost nearly Rs 80 lakh,” Thangavelu added.
TDBD Engineering Works Pvt Ltd, involved in lifting and shifting building structures, claims it to be the heaviest building they have shifted anywhere in India.
TDBD Engineering Works Pvt Ltd, involved in lifting and shifting building structures, claims it to be the heaviest building they have shifted anywhere in India. | EPS
“The company has shifted many buildings, where the maximum weight of the building was approximately 150 tonnes. This is first time we moved a house weighing around 400 tonnes. For this purpose, we utilised 300 rollers and 300 jacks,” Gurdeep Singh, chief engineer of the company said at a press conference here.
“A team of 12-15 workers over the past 60 days lifted the house by one-and-a-half feet and moved the house by 35 feet as on Monday,” Singh explained.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service – Coimbatore / May 14th, 2013
The work to establish cable cars for the renowned hill temple of Sri Dhandayuthapani Swamy, Palani, the famous Sri Lakshminarasimha Swamy temple, Sholinghur, and Sri Rathnagireeshwarar temple, Ayyarmalai in Karur, is underway. These projects will be executed by internationally reputed firms soon.
According to sources, cable car projects will facilitate an aerial view of the scenic pilgrim spots besides drawing large number of tourists to the temples. “A cable car was first introduced at the Sri Dhandayuthapani Swamy temple for the benefit of devotees in 2004 by chief minister J. Jayalalithaa. Following appreciation from devotees, it has been decided to provide one more international standard cable car for Palani,” said Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Minister M.S.M. Anandan.
The Palani temple attracts a large number of tourists from across India and the cable car is a major attraction. Though the volume of devotees heading for Sri Lakshminarasimha Swamy temple and Sri Rathnagireeshwarar temple is increasing by the year, the lack of a cable car has been dampening the spirit of the pilgrims. The local residents have been insisting on a cable car to facilitate quicker access to the shrine.
Referring to the issue in the Assembly, recently, Anandan said the government was actively considering the projects and an expert committee has been formed to ensure the project materialises.
According to HR & CE commissioner P. Dhanapal, the government has sought expression of interest from global firms for executing the projects.
“The government will not compromise on the safety of the pilgrims and hence international standards would be followed while executing the cable cars,” he said.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / by J.V. Siva Prasanna Kumar, DC / May 13th, 2013
