Legend has it that Pandya kings had major ‘Akkasalai’ (coin minting units) in Tirunelveli, where many artisans and goldsmiths worked. When the units were wound up, they migrated to Madurai. The king then provided them land at a place in the city which is now called as Akkasalai Pillayar Koil Theru.
Akkasalai Pillayar (Lord Ganesh) is worshipped by these artisans and goldsmiths. Akkasalai Pillayar temples also exist in Korkai and Sivaganga, where goldsmiths live.
Most of the residents in Akkasalai Pillyar Koil Theru and the adjacent Ezhuthanikara Theru are goldsmiths. Chinnakadai Theru, another street next to Akkasalai Pillyar Koil Theru, once had numerous shops selling tools for goldsmiths. Retired archaeologist C Santhalingam said Akkasalai means coin minting units and goldsmiths were involved in minting coins for Tamil kings ? Chola, Chera and Pandiya – in those days. Archaeologists have unearthed a bronze statue in Nagapattinam known as Akkasalai Nayagar, he said.
Nonagenarian M V Mani Chinnakadai Theru, adjacent to Akkasalai Pillayar Koil Theru, also confirms that Akkasalai means coin minting unit.
Akkasalai Pillyar Koil Theru is a narrow lane, predominantly a residential area, sandwiched between Vaikolkara Theru and Ezhuthanikara Theru in South Gate area. Along with houses, there are also a number of gold ornaments making workshops and a Lord Ganesh temple, situated at the entrance of the street.
The temple was renovated some two decades ago, says Venkata Subramanian, 49, who resides nearby the temple. Before the renovation of the temple, there was an ancient temple built of stones, he said.
“Renowned film personality M K Thiagaraja Bagavathar worshipped in this temple and also sang bhajans at times,” he recalled. Subramanian says the street has not seen much change for many decades and remained intact. “Most of residents are from goldsmiths of Viswakarma community and demographics of the street did not change much like other places in the city,” he said.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / by J. Ariockiaraj, TNN / September 09th, 2014
Dr. Suniti Solomon has made great strides in the fields of HIV epidemiology, preven-tion, care, support and research. Photo: R. Ragu / The Hindu
In 1986, when the world was just waking up to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, Suniti Solomon, then a professor of microbiology at Madras Medical College, identified, for the first time in the country, six HIV-positive cases from 100 samples.
Since then, there has been no looking back for the doctor who has made great strides in the fields of HIV epidemiology, prevention, care, support, community education and research.
As she put it herself, “I’m a fighter.” Dr. Solomon was the recipient of the Dr. K.V. Thiruvengadam Award for healthcare, presented by the Rotary Club of Madras East and Kauvery Hospital at a function on Wednesday.
Speaking about the intense stigma people with HIV/AIDS continue to face, she said, “Today, it is easier to handle people with HIV/AIDS than those with diabetes. But it is the stigma that is killing people.”
Justice S. Mohan, former Supreme Court judge, who presented the award, said for the country to reach new heights, it needed fighters like Dr. Solomon.
Dr. K.V. Thiruvengadam expressed his concern with the mushrooming of medical colleges in the State.
President of the club, V.G.P. Ravidas, and executive director of Kauvery Hospital, Aravindan Selvaraj, were also present.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Staff Reporter / Chennai – October 16th, 2014
Distinguished scientist Sivathanu Pillai, chief controller, Defence Research and Development Organisation, received the lifetime award from Rotary Club of Madras.
At a function held recently, S.N. Srikanth, president of the club, presented him with the award.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Pillai said the indigenous missile development programme was among the great scientific accomplishments of the country.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Special Correspondent / Chennai – October 17th, 2014
Successfully tackling the currency crisis has earned Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajanthe Euromoney magazine’s Central Bank Governor of the Year Award for 2014.
“Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan’s tough monetary medicine combatted the storm ravaging the deficit-ridden economy in the recent emerging market crisis. Now, he is battling vested interests to arouse a sleepy financial system for over one billion people,” Euromoney said while announcing the award.
Rajan took charge of the country’s central bank in early September last year, just a few days after the rupee plunged to its historic low, hitting 68.83 against the dollar on August 28, 2013.
“As he confronted capital outflows, the rupee at record lows, and over-blown but palpable, fears India was marching towards an Asia-crisis style abyss, Rajan duly administered tough monetary medicine to ailing bond and currency markets,” said Euromoney.
Rajan took several steps to attract capital flows which helped the rupee strengthen. It is now trading in the narrow range of 60-62 per dollar.
“Remarkably, the internationally-renowned economist, who earned acclaim for his warnings in 2005 of an upcoming global crisis of sorts, has, for the past year, been true to his word.”
After tackling the currency crisis, Rajan’s next task was to tame inflation, which stayed close to the double-digit mark for more than three years. He resolved to bring down inflation – evident from three rate hikes between September 2013 and January 2014, accompanied with a hawkish stance that has helped CPI-based inflation register its slowest growth in September, since the series was launched in January 2012.
source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Finance> News / BS Reporter / Mumbai – October 16th, 2014
A team of scientists in the city, along with experts in Andhra Pradesh and Japan, has found that a citric acid-based disinfectant can destroy the chikungunya virus. The chemically synthesised citric acid developed in Japan, has earlier proved effective in killing the human influenza virus.
The team from the department of virology at Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati; Nichi-In Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Chennai and scientists in Japan have tested the disinfectant in the form of granules on chikungunya virus. The team first collected more than 1,000 samples of chikungunya virus and developed and maintained in both human and mosquito cell line. The disinfectant was then tested on these viruses when it showed it can destroy the virus.
Scientists said the application could be on skin or fumigation to bring down the probability of infection even if bitten by a carrier mosquito. D V R Saigopal, professor of virology, SV University, said that the disinfectant, which is an ingredient in several food additives, was developed in Japan 10 years ago. “The disinfectants we get in India are detergent, phenol, foam or alcohol-based and have high toxicity and side effect. This disinfectant is solvent based and our tests showed it has low level of toxicity. It is not only safer but also cheaper,” the professor explained.
Scientists said that the disinfectant is at present approved as a mouth gargle and rinse in Japan and also used by the Japanese railways department as spray in their train coaches during flu seasons. It is also sold with a brand name ‘Clinister’ by a Japanese multinational company.
Encouraged by the positive result, the scientists have decided to approach the Union government with their research work looking for avenues to try it on other viruses. “It can kill the virus in the environment and in the mosquito as well as on the surface of the human skin where there is mosquito bite. It can be used in detergents, fumigant, mosquito repellent and hand wash,” the professor said.
Scientists have also decided to use the same methodology to test it on other viruses like foot and mouth disease virus and dengue virus.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by U. Tejonmayam, TNN / October 14th, 2014
Yogarasu Kumaran, along with two other young men, also recovering from mental illnesses, runs a vegetable shop at Villivakkam market, facilitated by Better Chances, an NGO working in the field of mental wellness — Photo: K. Pichumani / The Hindu
City NGO helps those with mental illnesses lead better lives, make a living
Until three months ago, K. Yogarasu Kumaran would sleep, wake up, eat, then go to sleep again, all day long, every day.
Diagnosed with schizophrenia, the 25-year-old had shuttled between private mental health facilities for years, but none, he said, had really helped.
Today, Mr. Kumaran, along with two other young men, also recovering from mental illnesses, runs a vegetable shop at Villivakkam market, facilitated by Better Chances, an NGO working in the field of mental wellness.
For a lot of people who are recovering or have recovered from mental illnesses, finding a job is a huge challenge. “This is what we wanted to address. Additionally, we also wanted to make them a part of community and ensure their illness is not stigmatised,” said Porkodi Palaniappan, director of Better Chances.
When Mr. Kumaran decided that enough was enough and that he wanted to change the way he lived, he joined Better Chances. “At first, I had anger issues every day. But over time, I began taking my medication again, and recently, I stood first in the screen-printing class at the centre,” he said.
With vegetables sourced from Koyambedu market and space given to them by the owner of the premises S. Krishnan, the shop, called Roots, is bustling on Saturday morning.
Tomatoes, onions and greens line the front section, and Amul Raj, who was earlier treated for schizophrenia, calls out to customers.
Mr. Raj, said Ms. Palaniappan, thought at one point he would never get out of an institution. Now, he dreams of entering politics some day.
The tables at the shop have been made by a carpenter who has also recovered from a mental illness, said Ms. Palaniappan, and the two women who help out at the shop are mothers of children with Down Syndrome.
“The idea is to empower people — both those with illness and caregivers — with opportunities to work,” she said, adding she hopes to facilitate more such initiatives soon.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Zubeda Hamid / Chennai – October 12th, 2014
Could India develop a hyperplane? Yes, says India’s noted scientist Sivathanu Pillai, who is working on the hyperplane project, which will use hydrogen-based fuel and is 25 times faster than sound.
Speaking on the sidelines of being conferred with Lifetime Achievement Award by Rotary Club of Madras, Pillai said the success of hyperplane lies in mastering the scramjet technology, a type of very fast jet engine. Although the US and China have successfully developed the scramjet engine, they are yet to design materials that can withstand the heat generated by an object travelling at such high speed.
Usually in a high speed aircraft, air friction causes extreme heating of the leading edge where the temperature could be very high (Mach 5 generates 1,000 degree Celsius).
Currently, there is no technology that can withstand the heat, said Pillai, adding that the Indian Space Research Organisation, DRDO and other organisations are working to develop hyperplane.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service / October 15th, 2014
Renovation work at the Srirangam temple seems to have become an excavation of treasures. While clearing sand from the Venugopalaswamy temple, workers have found elaborate stone sculptures. And HR&CE department has decided that the Srirangam temple premises will be excavated thoroughly and sand will be removed.
Three days ago, the temple authorities found that the Venugopalaswamy temple had been buried in the sand. They are now proceeding with great caution as several sculptures have been found. A few days back, the 100-pillared mandapam was freed of sand deposits and workers found that more than half of the hall had been buried in the sand. HR&CE officials now believe there must be more such mandapams within the temple premises and have decided to excavate them all.
The Venugopalaswamy temple is located in front of the Andal temple situated at the entrance of the Ranganathaswamy temple premises. Several sculptures of deities in various positions have been found during the excavation.
Inspecting the renovation works, the Hindu Charitable and Endowments Commissioner P Dhanapal said that the excavation that is being carried out as part of the renovation has led to several findings. He added that the cleaning works will be carried out in a thorough and phased manner. The painting work of the gopurams has also begun for which artists from various parts of the state have been brought in. The painters will first clean and wash the idols before painting the idols.
“The priests in the temple are helping in carrying out the renovation activities and the public are also coordinating well. The renovation works are expected to be finished by the middle of next year and Kumbhishekam will be held as planned,” said P Dhanapal.
Totally, 243 works are being carried out across the temple premises. Much of the work is on 14 gopurams of the temple. Cleaning and washing has begun on the gopurams and will continue for another six to eight months.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Trichy / Harish Murali, TNN / September 26th, 2014
V Chandrasekar, Secova co-founder, R Narayanan, chairperson, program committee, TiECON, Anup Bagchi, CEO and MD of ICICI securities and Ashwin Narashimhan, MD, Bank of America, at a press conference | r satish babu
Chennai :
Four of Tamil Nadu’s companies have been judged as potential ‘Billion Dollar’ concerns by The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Chennai. Not one of these four potential ‘big billion’ firms though, are from the state’s manufacturing sector.
Seeking to showcase Tamil Nadu’s success stories and their potential to become truly big players in the global industry, TiE Chennai’s ‘Billion Dollar Baby’ program announced four winners on Monday – Cross platform, global digital magazine store Magzter, Financial services major Financial Software Systems, water processing giant VA Tech Wabag and technology services company Congruent Solutions.
With the four companies showcasing the strength of the Services sector, manufacturing was conspicuously absent on the list. When asked, CEO and MD of ICICI Securities Anup Bagchi, one of the two jurors who selected the companies, said the spectrum of entrepreneurship was very broad in the state and that the absence of a manufacturing firm in the top four was only a coincidence. “I was quite happy with the spectrum of entrepreneurship in the city. But we did not see it through any particular lens when judging the companies. It is only a coincidence that there aren’t any manufacturing firms,” he said.
Chairman of the program committee of TiECon Chennai 2014 R Narayanan did admit that of the 12 companies that were shortlisted from the 50 nominations they received, only four were from the manufacturing
sector. “The conditions of the last few years have made it hard for manufacturing concerns to grow at the pace that the services sector has grown. This could be where the economy is headed,” he admitted. The four companies will be showcased at the TiECon Chennai 2014 conference which will begin from November 1.
source: http://ww.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service / October 14th, 2014
COLLECTORS’ DELIGHT Books at Ananth Lakshmanan’s store. Photo: S.R. Raghunathan / The HIndu
Brittle pages, long-forgotten titles, musty rooms covered from floor to ceiling with books from around the world. Retailers of second-hand books talk about their passion
In the presence of thousands of rare and second-hand books, stacked from floor to ceiling, in teetering piles and bursting cardboard boxes, there’s space enough for just one standing person, and one emotion: amazement. Amazement at that little, hard-bound Manual of Movement (War), 1933, which was once in the pocket of an army officer in the battlefields of the Second World War. Amazement at that 1905 souvenir album of the Prince and Princess of Wales with its hundred-year-old photograph of a firework display from the warships docked at Madras Harbour. Amazement that so much history and so many stories exist to be discovered in these ancient tomes. For collectors and sellers of second-hand books in Chennai, every day brings fresh journeys and new discoveries for this amazement.
For 40 years, S.A. Govindaraju has followed his “drunken obsession” for second-hand books, from paperwalla to paperwalla across the length and breadth of Chennai, looking for that discarded, unassuming book that could be his next treasure. At 78, age has dimmed his wanderings, but his network of over 60 hawkers brings to his doorstep, almost daily, their day’s acquisitions that they suspect may interest him. From the garage of his apartment in R.A. Puram, Govindaraju runs ‘Rare Books’, an enterprise that has turned his passion into a moderately commercial venture. He inherited his love for old books from his doctor father, began his own collection with the Penguin series (he still has the Number 01 book Ariel (1934) with him), and took to retailing second-hands in 1999 to fund the habit. “I keep in intimate touch with my books,” he says, “I need no computer, no online inventory, to keep track of all I have. Everything in the whole of this jungle is in my bald head!”
Hard times, a few years ago, lead Govindaraju to sell his entire collection of 12,000 books to a man just as obsessed, Winston A. Henry. Winston took to collecting second-hands 25 years ago from an interest in wildlife. His first piece was Wild Beasts of the World a 1909 book of gorgeous animal colour prints. While Govindaraju has since returned to collecting second-hands, Winston’s existing trove of 4,000 books was substantially enriched by Govindaraju’s, and he now runs ‘W & H Book Search’ in Anna Nagar, a venture that specialises in thematic collections of rare books. Old war books, non-fiction on Madras and maps are among his specialisations. From behind old cuckoo clocks, rotary dial telephones and stacks of vintage biscuit tins, he pulls out a bus map of Madras in 1952, replete even with a list of ‘Madras amusements’, of which 50,000 copies were printed for two annas each.
Into this territory of used second-hands, enters Ananth Lakshmanan of Berkshire books with his shipped containers of ‘fresh second-hand books’ from the U.K., which he sells for Rs. 200 per kilo from a basement in T. Nagar. Mountains of young adult fiction, children’s fiction, bestsellers, health and lifestyle books tightly populate this space and his warehouse of three lakh books in Ambattur. His merchandise is replenished every two weeks with fresh shipments from the vast stocks of unsold books of international publishers, old editions of bestsellers and leftovers from charity book auctions abroad. For school teachers, young parents and students, Berkshire has become a favourite haunt for works that are budget friendly and mostly in mint condition. “My clientele includes artists and art director who pore over the art print books and collectors of old encyclopedias and dictionaries, especially, old Readers’ Digest series.”
“I may have started by dealing in second-hand books, but today, it’s about almost anything on paper — from magazines to newspaper cuttings,” adds Govindaraju, who treasures his vast collection of vintage advertisements, posters and photographs of veteran film stars. His challenge today, though, is to restore and preserve the books he finds. Kilograms of books arrive at paperwallas, who customarily rip the covers off the books for efficient pulping. Nothing could be more tragic for Govindaraju, who then spends his time hand-binding back covers to pages bored through by bookworms and crumbling to powder in his palms.
The prices at which these second-hands are sold is largely determined by their conditions. Autographed copies, first editions and limited editions are certainly steeply priced, but as Winston puts it, “I may buy a book for Rs. 20 and sell it for several times more, but for me, it’s important that the buyer understands its value first.”
It is this sentiment too that Mary Alwar, wife of the ailing A.K. Alwar who ran his second-hand book store from the pavement at Luz Corner from 1952, echoes. The rains have destroyed huge chunks of his collection of fiction and non-fiction, business has fallen considerably in the last decade, but just as Mary narrates the times’ woes, a lady comes along, drops four boxes of fiction at the stall, and leaves without asking for a penny. “All we have are books,” says Mary, “and all we will have are books. It’s such people that love books that keep us going.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Esther Elias / October 12th, 2014
