Monthly Archives: September 2014

The sweet addition

THEY MEAN BUSINESS M. Murali with his daughters / Photo: R. Ravindran / The Hindu
THEY MEAN BUSINESS M. Murali with his daughters / Photo: R. Ravindran / The Hindu

From Coimbatore to Chennai, from father to daughters… the Sri Krishna Sweets story continues as M. Murali’s children give a new twist to the business

If the Sri Krishna Sweets store on Venkatanarayana Road in T. Nagar is abuzz with activity, the tiny office at the back is quiet except for managing director M. Murali’s voice giving orders. The room is painted white, making it seem smaller than it already is and in it sits Murali clad in a white shirt. The garlanded pictures of gods that adorn the walls lend a little colour to the room.

The soft-spoken Murali recalls the opening of his first shop in Chennai in 1996: “There was a steady crowd from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in front of the shop; it gave me a lot of energy, confidence and faith that made me realise that I can turn my dreams into reality.” And they have indeed, with 42 outlets in the city that include restaurants specialising in South Indian cuisine.

“You walk into a fast food outlet and you just pick up a pizza or a packet of French fries or a burger, you hardly give food like kozhukattai or the boli a thought. What we’ve done is give these a twist. For example, the Bolizza is our take on the pizza and has both sweet and spicy versions,” he explains. “Simply put,” Murali says, “we’ve taken their concept and incorporated our culture.” They also plan to offer bondas and kara appams as alternatives to French fries, and mor kali instead of pastries. According to Murali, their idea is to show that Indian foods can also be suited to fast living and that the notion of fast food merely indicates the time it takes to prepare and not the origin of the food itself.

Speaking about appealing to youngsters, Murali’s face lights up when he talks of his two daughters joining the family business. “I’ve been in the business since I was 11 or 12; it’s similar for them since they were brought up in the same atmosphere.”

Twenty-one-year-old Sneha Murali describes herself as “not bookish. My father always encouraged me to focus more on work than on education; but both were equally important while growing up.” The younger of the two girls, she says that working with your father has its pros and cons, “Most of the time work becomes dinner-table conversation,” she laughs and adds that it’s tough on days when you’re mad at both your father and the boss. But all that doesn’t come in between what she’s learnt from her father. “He taught me that it’s alright for two people to disagree on something. And he still listens and respects any idea irrespective of the size of it or the person who offers it,” she says.

Sneha remembers when she’d gone to Berkeley for a summer programme and came back brimming with new concepts, especially a store-in-store, “it’s like a food court where you can buy podis, sweets, kaarams and more. It’s a work in progress at Sri Krishna Sweets,” she says.

Shruthi, the older daughter who looks after the Food Products Division, has a quiet aura about her, much like her father. She talks about how joining her father in business was a natural course of action. Shruthi reveals that she is passionate about making traditional sweets appealing to her generation.

“We go out often to eat and I realise that youngsters prefer something that’s light on the stomach, healthy but tasty and that’s what we’re trying to do. We’ve launched something called Cashew Bites that’s like soan papdi and we’re planning to bring out a halwa made using ragi,” she says. For someone who has been working for two years with her father, Shruthi, a graduate of the Cass Business School in London, says that she still has so much to learn from him and the biggest lesson he has taught her was to “criticise a person’s performance rather than the person himself.”

Murali couldn’t be happier that his daughters have joined him, “It’s the hospitality business and I believe that women bring strengths to the table such as good values and a knack for personalisation.” And it’s not just the daughters who are learning from the father. Murali says it’s sometimes difficult to keep up with them: “They bring systemisation and in five-six years there will be more opportunities for them.”

Sri Krishna Sweets was started by his father N.K. Mahadeva Iyer in 1948 to overcome the absence of a standalone sweet shop that offered pure ghee sweets in Coimbatore.

“Our goal is to be a part of the customer’s family and so our concept is ‘engellam sandosham irukko,angellam Sri Krishna Sweets irukkanum’ (where there is happiness, there will be Sri Krishna Sweets),” he says.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus > Society / by Apoorva  Sripathi /Chennai – September 11th, 2014

Chennai’s British engineers immortalised in signages

Madeley Road at Mambalam was named after British engineer J.W. Madeley who arrived in Chennai at the age of 19 at the turn of the 20th century and revolutionised the concept of an organised drinking water system in the city before he returned home in 1932, earning the name ‘Father of Madras Drinking Water Distribution System’ through the pioneering works he carried out in the interim. (Photo: DC/File)
Madeley Road at Mambalam was named after British engineer J.W. Madeley who arrived in Chennai at the age of 19 at the turn of the 20th century and revolutionised the concept of an organised drinking water system in the city before he returned home in 1932, earning the name ‘Father of Madras Drinking Water Distribution System’ through the pioneering works he carried out in the interim. (Photo: DC/File)

Chennai:

 What do Jones Road, Madeley Road, Ellis Road, Nowroji Road, Fraser Street and Captain Baker Street have in common?

All six roads are in different corners of the city, but they are united by one factor. All expect Nowroji Road were named in honour of British engineers and civil servants who envisioned the civic infrastructure of Madrasapattinam.

Madeley Road at Mambalam was named after British engineer J.W. Madeley who arrived in Chennai at the age of 19 at the turn of the 20th century and revolutionised the concept of an organised drinking water system in the city before he returned home in 1932, earning the name ‘Father of Madras Drinking Water Distribution System’ through the pioneering works he carried out in the interim.

‘Baptising’ of Ellis Road, connecting Anna Salai and Triplicane, dates back to 1818. A stone inscription on the ledge of the well at Periya Palaiathamman temple at Royapettah tells how the then Collector of Madras Francis Ellis dug 27 wells to overcome acute drought way back in 1818.

Retired engineer Meenakshi Sundaram, who served 37 years since 1976 in the city’s drinking water networks, says, visionary British engineer Captain Baker dug 10 wells in Bethanayakhanpet (opposite Vallalar Nagar Street) and water was lifted, using piccota buckets and delivered through iron pipes, to British inhabitants in George Town in 1772, and hence, it is called Captain Baker Street which is in front of the Madras high court.

The Seven Wells near Mint actually had 10 wells. “Three of the 10 wells did not serve the purpose and hence the name, Seven Wells,” Sundaram added, quoting from the book, Madrasapattinam, by Narasaiah.
Likewise, Jones Road at Saidapet is a tribute to the first sanitary engineer of Madras, Mr Jones, who introduced Madras to laying drinking water pipes.

Harmusji Nowroji, an assistant sanitary engineer of Parsi origin, formulated a pipeline system conducive to the condition of the native soil. Independent India immortalised his contribution by naming a street after him in Chetpet.

A street in Perambur was named in memory of Engineer Frazer who constructed the Tamaraipakkam dam across Kosasthalaiyar and conveyed water from Red Hills through an open conduit to Kilpauk Masonry Shaft, which is still conserved as a monument in Kilpauk pumping station.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC / K. Karthikeyan / September 21st, 2014

Over 2,000 books in Srirangam temple library getting digitised

Students of Srimad Andavan Arts and Science College scanning the pages of old religious books at the Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple Library in Tiruchi as part of an initiative to digitise old religious texts. Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam
Students of Srimad Andavan Arts and Science College scanning the pages of old religious books at the Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple Library in Tiruchi as part of an initiative to digitise old religious texts. Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam

Old religious books at the Srirangam Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple library are gradually digitised to preserve them for posterity, thanks to an initiative of Srimad Andavan Arts and Science College at Tiruvanaikoil here.

The college has digitised around 750 books so far since the digitisation project was launched in February. The digitisation works were being carried out using two hi-end face-up page scanners procured by the college for this purpose.

Situated inside the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple premises, the library has a collection of around 2,000 books on religion and culture written in Tamil, Grantham, Sanskrit, Telugu and English by well-versed scholars.

Three Master of Computer Application students of the college have been roped in to scan the books and convert them into Portable Document Format (PDF).

The students are paid a monthly stipend for being involved in the digitisation project which they carry out after college hours every day barring holidays.

The college management has granted Rs. 7 lakh to carry out the digitisation work as a service to society, says S. Lakshmi, college librarian.

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The old books in the library are a treasure and hence it was felt that they should be preserved through a digital make over, says K. Sridharan, Director, Computer Science Department of the college.

Scanning is being done with utmost care as pages of some of the books are brittle, says Mr. Sridharan. The project is expected to be completed by 2016. The digitised format will be handed over to the temple authorities upon completion of the project. It can be posted on the temple website or could be retained in the DVD form for ready access, Mr. Sridharan says.

Some old books in the library’s collections include Sri Aalavandar Sthothra Ratnam published in 1878 with slokas and commentary, Vivadhachinthamani published in 1894 in Sanskrit, and Brihada Ramya Upanishad in Sanskrit published in 1911.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / R. Rajaram / Trichy – September 21st, 2014

Salem mountain that joined India in 1976

Chennai :

Till 1976, 91 tribal villages in Kalvarayan mountain range in Salem were ‘ruled’by three tribal chieftains. The region was finally brought under the administrative control of Union of India during the Emergency.

Information to this effect, obtained under the RTI Act from Villupuram district administration, has now been submitted to the Madras high court, which is hearing a PIL seeking a special development package for the backward region. The Kallakurichi division of Villupuram district forest office, responding to a PIL from advocate K R Tamizhmani, said: “Kalvarayan hill was being ruled by the following three jagirdhars (Poligars) – Sadaya Goundan, Kurumba Goundan and Arya Goundan. The hill was brought under the government control on June 25, 1976 by invoking slavery abolition legislation, 1963.”

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan, before whom the PIL came up for hearing on Friday, ordered notices to the Union tribal welfare department and the state government.

Tamizhmani said he came across the region and the issues dogging it only in 1991 when he visited a place called Karumandhurai. While studying the history of the region, he realized that till June 25, 1976 the area was “not part of India, as there was no presence of governance or any government till then”. The three jagirdhars were mini-rulers of the locality and they were not willing to recognise the government of India and abide by its statutes by handing over 105 villages under them, the PIL said.

As per 1901 census, Sadaya Goundan had 40 villages with a population of 10,009, Kurumba Goundar had 40 villages with a population of 7,490 and Arya Goundan had 11 villages with 2,318 people. “In effect and substance, these three were the rulers and whatever they said had the force of law,” Tamizhmani said. The community had wedding tax, cultivation tax, registration of births and deaths, and everyone had to offer gifts to jagirdhar’s families during Pongal celebrations.

Pointing out that the entire stretch covering more than 2,000sqkm did not have proper school, medical and transport facilities, the PIL said thousands of people, including school children and the elderly, were living in sub-human conditions. Elementary schools were three to five km away, while high schools are located 7-25km away, he said, adding, “educating a child beyond class V is an ordeal. This forces many to skip education.” Their rights to health, education, transport and employment have been completely denied, the PIL said, adding, “this is a clear case of infringement of the most valuable fundamental right – right to a decent living.”

Tamizhmani suggested distribution of livestock to tribals, setting up a sago factory in the region, fruit processing units, roads with bus facilities, and promoting the area as tourist hotspot, to improve the living standard of people in the area.

It wanted the court to direct the authorities to frame and implement a special scheme providing for these basic facilities to residents of Kalrayan, Periya Kalrayan and Chinna Kalrayan regions of Kalvarayan mountain ranges spread across Salem and Villupuram districts.

source: http://www.timesofindia.com / Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by A Subramani, TNN / September 20th, 2014

Denmark keen on conserving memorial to Dutch sailor

Chennai :

Denmark appears to be keen on preserving Schmidt Memorial on the Elliot’s beach in Besant Nagar. The structure was put up in memory of a Danish sailor who gave up his life to save a drowning English girl off the beach.

On Friday, Danish ambassador to India Freddy Svane and S B Prabhakar Rao, honorary vice-consul of Denmark for Southern India, will visit the site along with R Anandakumar, regional joint commissioner (south) of the city corporation.

The civic body had taken up the restoration in November 2014 at an estimated Rs 15 lakh after beachgoers and activists complained that the heritage monument had been converted into a toilet and was also being used as a bar. On December 30, 2012, a few residents placed wreaths at the memorial to commemorate K A J Schmidt’s 82nd anniversary.

The memorial was ordered built in 1930 by Madras Governor Lieutenant-Colonel Sir George Frederick in memory of Schmidt, a Dutch sailor who lost his life while trying to save a girl from drowning in the sea. The epitaph on the memorial stone reads, “To commemorate the gallantry of K A J Schmidt who drowned near this spot on December 30, 1930, while helping to save the lives of others.”

With Schmidt’s 84th death anniversary coming up on December 30, beachgoers have urged the city corporation to initiate steps to ensure that the monument is protected from further acts of vandalism.

Residents of Besant Nagar, who had for long fought to the get the monument restored, are happy. Kamakshi Subramaniyam, a resident, said there was a need to conserve the structure. “There should be a comprehensive plan for the protection of this heritage structure. Technical and financial support from Denmark would be an additional benefit. The coordination between the Denmark consulate and corporation will prevent future vandalism.”

The fact that the restoration is nearing completion has thrilled regulars to the beach. Raghav Kumar, a frequent visitor, said: “It’s the only heritage structure on the beach. There is a need to conserve this landmark. The story of the sailor should act as a model for future generations.”

He said strict action should be initiated against those trying to misuse it. “Members of the public should also be made responsible to protect the monument,” he added.

The corporation is considering deploying security guards and constructing a compound wall around the memorial.

source: http://www.timesofindia.com / Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / TNN / September 19th, 2014

Centuries-old moats getting a facelift

Thanjavur :

Efforts are being taken to renovate the moats (agazhi) surrounding the entire Brahadeeshwara temple for a 2.5 km stretch and also the big fort in the city that span for 4 km. The moats that were built during the Chola period used to be completely filled with water and were intended to defend against any attack from the enemies. Once the moats are cleared, the administration is planning to operate boats between the small and big forts to promote tourism.

For long, the moats have been a subject of issue and several organisations voiced concerns over the protection of the structures, which have now been taken up for renovation. The big fort moat that surrounds the city spans for 4 km in which about 3.4 km have been cleared of the thorny bushes and other establishments that were obstructing the flow of water, while work on the small fort protecting the temple for 2.5 km has been taken up by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

According to officials from Intach (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), the mission is to clean the entire premises and to allow operation of boats in the river from the big fort to the small fort, which in turn would boost tourism. Muthukumar Sathyamurthy, honorary secretary, Intach said, “The clearing works began six months ago and has been moving at a tremendous pace and we are expecting the first boat to be operated on September 27.” The entire moat surrounding the city was completely occupied by agricultural land and encroachments, which delayed the project.

He further added that the moats are weak as they were built 1,000 years ago during the Chola period and the water is now freely flowing into the passages nearby. The water is currently flowing from Pudhu Aaru into the passages, which is an advantage for the tourism department to operate the boats. Since the entire project is gigantic, several departments like the public works department, tourism, ASI and the district administration have come together.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Trichy / TNN / September 21st, 2014

Where kings and traders paused to nap

A DATE WITH HISTORY: Each inscription at Sivapuripatti tells a story from the past, about royal families, peasants, damsels and warriors. Photo: G. Moorthy
A DATE WITH HISTORY: Each inscription at Sivapuripatti tells a story from the past, about royal families, peasants, damsels and warriors. Photo: G. Moorthy

Over 60 inscriptions immortalize history on the stone walls of a 1000-year-old Shiva temple in Sivapuripatti

“When Kulothunga Chola-I subjugated the Pandya kings in the 11th Century A.D., Jainism had taken roots in the Pandya country. A staunch saivaite, Kulothunga decided to resurrect the lost religion and constructed Shiva temples and mutts across the region,” narrates art historian Dr. R. Venkatraman. “Most of these places functioned as centres propagating Saivism and were situated along the major trade routes. These were also the places for the monarchs to rest.”

One such Shiva temple was built at Sivapuripatti, a village situated on the legendary trade route connecting two ancient ports — Muziris on the west coast and Thondi on the east. “The Chinese traders landed in Thondi port, while the Romans used Muziris,” says Venkatraman. “The route which was later maintained by Rani Mangammal, exists till date and passes through a number of villages.”

Today, Sivapuripatti in the present Sivaganga district is much like any other village with tiled-roof houses, dry ponds, barren fields and tall trees under which men play Dhayam and Kattam. Probably, this was how the kings and traders also played in leisure when they stopped at the mutts in the village en route to business and wars.

Not a single mutt said to be built by the Cholas is seen today. Only the temple of Suyamprakasham stands intact, bearing a slew of 60 inscriptions on its stone walls.

Each inscription tells a story from the past, about royal families, peasants, damsels and warriors. “These inscriptions in Tamil script belong to different time periods starting from 11th to 17th Century A.D., showing that the village was inhabited continuously and a number of kings passed through this place,” says Dr. V. Vedachalam, Retd. Archaeological Officer.

A DATE WITH HISTORY: Each inscription at Sivapuripatti tells a story from the past, about royal families, peasants, damsels and warriors. Photo: G. Moorthy / The Hindu
A DATE WITH HISTORY: Each inscription at Sivapuripatti tells a story from the past, about royal families, peasants, damsels and warriors. Photo: G. Moorthy / The Hindu

Apart from four inscriptions by Kulothunga-I, few date to the reigns of medieval Pandya kings Srivallaba, Parakrama, Kulsekara, Sundara and Vikrama Pandya. Some also refer to Vijayanagara kings like Achutharaya and NagamaNayaka and the much later Polygars such as Vijaya Ragunatha Setupati of Ramnad and the Marudu Brothers of Sivaganga.

One of the inscriptions records the existence of 10 dancers in the temple and a nattuvangar who choreographed the performances during festivals. Another refers to a peace treaty signed between two clans that ruled the region – Nishada Rajans of Pon Amaravathy and Dwarapati Velans. It elaborates on the practice of giving lands in charity to families of martyrs.

Yet another inscription talks about how King Maravarman Sundara Pandya installed an idol of his predecessor Moothanayagan in the temple premises.

“The Inscriptions state that Sivapuripatti was called Nirubasekara Chaturvedi Mangalam and Chola Marthanda Chaturvedi Mangalam during various eras,” says Vedachalam, who also postulates that the village could have been among the 300 hamlets that constituted the kingdom of Pari.

“The Sangam literature sings the glory of Piranmalai which is close by and Sivapuripatti could have very well been a part of Pari nadu.”

“A Panchaloha Nataraja idol was apparently consecrated here, though we don’t find it now,” says Vedachalam. The village people say that the idol was taken to the Archaeological research centre in Chennai, a few years back.

Another rare idol found in the temple is that of Jyeshta Devi, along with Nandikeshwara and Agni.

“This can only be found in Pandya period temples. Jyeshta Devi was the clan-deity of Pandyas and symbolizes fertility,” says Venkatraman. “The temple reflects both Pandya and Chola architectural elements. The short vimana is a trademark style of the medieval Pandyas.”

Sivapuripatti is two kilometres from Singampunari and can be reached via Kottampatti.

The heritage walk was jointly organized by DHAN Foundation, INTACH and Travel Club.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by A. Shrikumar / Madurai – September 19th, 2014

‘Anna Popularised Tamil Language Once the preserve of Poets, Pandits’

Chancellor G Viswanathan giving away a prize to a winner of a contest held under ‘Tamil Saral 2014’ function at VIT on Tuesday | express
Chancellor G Viswanathan giving away a prize to a winner of a contest held under ‘Tamil Saral 2014’ function at VIT on Tuesday | express

Vellore :

VIT chancellor  G Viswanathan while presiding over a function, to mark the birth anniversary of Anna on VIT campus on Tuesday said that the former CM Annadurai was the first man to make Tamil language accessible to the common man.

The programme was billed as ‘Tamil Saral 2014’ and was conducted under the aegis of the Tamil Literary Association of the university. Viswanathan, in his address, said that Tamil was once only in the realm of poets and pandits and added that Anna was an ideal leader who had a flair for writing and speaking Tamil.

Mannarmannan, son of the great Tamil Poet Bharathidasan, who was a special invitee on the occasion, lamented that people of this State were losing interest in the Tamil language. Quoting his father Bharathidasan, he said, the Tamilians here could do well only if their language was protected and nurtured. He said, while Anna was able to nurture Tamil through his fiery speeches, Bharathidasan did the same through writings.

The grandson of Bharathidasan, Bharathi, was also invited and in his address, wanted people of the State to work hard to realise the dreams of great leaders like Anna and Bharathidasan. Students should develop the habit of reading books written by great leaders. “Aim for the Nobel prize”, he told the young audience.

Prizes were distributed to winners of competitions conducted on the occasion, in which over 100 students from 50 colleges and universities participated.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service / September 17th, 2014

Four ‘narikurava’ children enter school for first time

Madurai :

Four narikurava children in Devakottai are among the first from the community to enter the stream of formal education, thanks to the efforts put in by teachers and students of a school.

L Chokkalingam, the headmaster of Chairman Manickavasagam Middle School in Devakottai in Sivaganga district, says that he used to find narikurava children loitering around near their school during school hours. “These children were just wasting their time and following their parents around and hence we decided to sensitize the parents on the importance of education,” he said.

The teachers accompanied by many eager students took up the challenge of visiting the narikurava colony which was near to their school at 6am. They had to go at that time so they could talk to the narikurava parents who would leave for work early. The narikurava parents were at first not receptive to the idea of sending their children to school. Undeterred, the students staged plays at the colony to explain the importance of education. The narikurava parents came to watch these plays.

It was Pandimeenal, a narikurava mother, who stepped forward. “We are nomads and migrate often. It was not a problem till we moved around by foot. Now we travel by bus and none of us knows how to read the name of the destination written on the bus. We often end up going to the wrong place, hence we want our children to be educated,” she said.

Pandimeenal had taken it upon herself to ensure that the narikurava children come to school. Today, Simbu, 5, a class 1 student, comes to the school every day along with Packialakshmi , 8, Kartheeswari, 8, and Santosh, 7. Teachers say that the regular students are welcoming of their nomadic peers.

The narikurava children were given new uniforms. As these students were admitted to the classes based on their age, they do have problems with writing skills but all of them excel in sports. “But, they are learning fast,” says Chokkalingam, who has been assured by the leader of the narikuravas that they will not take their children when they move around. Someone would be there at the colony to take care of the children so that they can come to school, says Chokkalingam.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / by Padmini Sivarajah, TNN / September 20th, 2014

On eve of referendum, Ooty recalls its famous Scots

Udhagamandalam  :

As the people of Scotland cast their votes in a referendum on whether theirs should be an independent country, old-timers in Nilgiris recall with irony that it was the union of Scotland and England in 1707 to form Great Britain that opened the gates for Scottish immigration to India.

Scottish settlers played a crucial role in turning the Nilgiris, and Ooty in particular, into a modern hill station. Under the 1707 agreement, Scotland’s landed families gained access to the East India Company and gradually dominated it. Scots came to India as writers, traders, engineers, missionaries, tea and indigo planters, jute traders and teachers. By 1771, almost half of the East India Company’s writers were Scots.

The Scots were missionaries, planters and administrators in the Nilgiris. The first Scot to set foot in the Nilgiri hills was explorer Francis Buchanan who travelled to Aracode on the eastern slopes in 1812 to survey the newly acquired territories of the East India Company after the war of Seringapattanam.

Dharmalingam Venugopal, director, NDC, says the next was probably a gardener Johnston, who looked after the kitchen garden of John Sullivan, known as the father of Nilgiris, in Kotagiri.

Another famous Scot buried in the cemetery of St Thomas Church in Ooty is William Patrick Adam. “Though his tenure was short, Governor Adam was popular in the Nilgiris and citizens remembered him with a statue in his name at Charing Cross,” said Venugopal.

Among the gravestones in St Stephen’s Church is a marker for W G McIvor, who introduced cinchona to fight malaria and laid the foundation for the botanical garden at Ooty. John Ouchterlony and his brother James Ouchterlony, who founded a township around tea plantations which is still flourishing as O’Valley in Gudalur taluk, are also buried here. Nearby is the grave of Judge C Z Casamajor, the founder of modern Ketti. “He paid one anna to each parent who sent a child to Ketti School,” said Venugopal.

The Cockburns, the builders of modern Yercaud and Kotagiri, were a distinguished family of administrators, churchmen and painters, all of whom are buried in the European cemetery at Kotagiri.

Sir Frederick Nicholson, father of fisheries in Madras Presidency and the cooperative movement in the country, is buried unnoticed at All Saints’ Church, Coonoor. “The impact of his contribution is seen across India in many successful co-operative banks and cooperative societies such as Amul and Sewa,” said Venugopal.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / TNN / September 18th, 2014