Monthly Archives: October 2014

“Preserve Madurai’s history”

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Nature, Records, All
C. Santhalingam, retired archaelogist, speaking at the '' Rock Festival" organised by Green Walk at Samanar hillock near Keelakuyilkudi in Madurai on Sunday.Photo: R. Ashok
C. Santhalingam, retired archaelogist, speaking at the ” Rock Festival” organised by Green Walk at Samanar hillock near Keelakuyilkudi in Madurai on Sunday.Photo: R. Ashok

Nearly 500 nature lovers and history enthusiasts converged at Samanar hillock on the way to Keelakuyilkudi on Sunday despite the rain for ‘Rock Fest,’ organised by the Green Walk team to mark their 40th exercise.

Retired archaeologist C. Santhalingam explained the historical significance of Jain remnants at Chettipudavu. He said it was important to spread the historical and traditional accounts of Madurai to every person. “It will not be possible to excavate places within the city to trace remnants of forts and other prominent sites. Therefore, we should conserve the sites around the city,” he said.

According to him, places such as Kazhugu Malai, an 8th century hillock, and Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple that eulogise the history of the ancient city, should be protected.

Writer N. Murugesa Pandian said it was necessary to protect Tamil traditions, culture and language. “Such gatherings and explorations are important to study the richness of our past,” he said.

Environmental thinker Theodore Baskaran explained how Jain inscriptions had engravings on the lives of the common men. “Until World War II, a lot of interest was shown in studying inscriptions that contained details of former kings in order to trace history. When people wanted to know about the common man, Jain inscriptions and ‘Nadukal’ were studied,” he said.

Mr. Baskaran said such gatherings gave people an insight into happenings in the outside world. “These activities create sensitivity in people, particularly among students,” he added.

A. Muthukrishnan, founder of Madurai Green, noted that people in villages showed more concern in protecting natural resources and historical sites.

Geologist Christopher Jeyakaran released ‘History of Madura-Voyage into Jaina Antiquity,” an English translation of a book titled ‘Madura Varalaaru.’

The third edition of ‘Madura Varalaaru’ was also released. Various activities were organised for children.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Madurai / by Staff Reporter / Madurai – September 29th, 2014

‘Locks’ Fall as Dalits Get Access to Salon

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features
A barber giving a Dalit man a haircut, at Veerasingampettai village in Thanjavur district on Wednesday | express
A barber giving a Dalit man a haircut, at Veerasingampettai village in Thanjavur district on Wednesday | express

Thanjavur :

Dalits of Veerasingampettai village in the district on Wednesday got their first haircut in three years at the local salon. The service had been denied to them due to the diktat of some dominant caste members of the village.

G Thangappan, a Dalit farm worker got his haircut in the presence of leaders of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front, S Vigneswaran, revenue inspector of Kandiyur, and Anandathandavam, inspector of police.

“For the last three years, I used to get my haircut at Kandiyur, about 2 km from here,” said Thangappan.

U Punniyamurthy, a Dalit and local unit secretary of CPM,  said, “Till three years ago, Dalits used to be serviced by two salons in the village. However, when a PMK man got elected as village leader of the dominant community, Dalits were denied service at the salons.”

The two salons located on the land of a Mariamman temple at Veerasingampettai, used to service not only Dalits of the village but also those from the neighbouring hamlets of Thiruvedikudi, Thiruchchotruthurai and Kalyanapuram. However, for the last three years the Dalits from these villages were also denied service.

A Muthamizhselvan of Thiruvedikudi said two months ago a Dalit youth from Thiruchchotruthurai was roughed up by members of the dominant caste for questioning the denial of service at the salons.

Offering of service to Dalits at the salons in  Veerasingampettai was the result of a campaign undertaken by the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication front (TNUEF), which had announced action on the issue on September 30. However, a peace meeting was conducted by Tiruvaiyaru Tahsildar on September 29 and it was agreed by all parties present that the services would be offered at the salons from Wednesday. However, TNUEF members became agitated when one of the two salons, owned by a person called Gunasekaran, remained closed.

TNUEF members and Dalits pointed out that the shop, which used to open around 7 am, remained closed till 10.30 am. “Only after the intervention of revenue officials and some members of the dominant caste, the salon was opened,” said Sathish, a Dalit youth. He also pointed out that Sureshkumar, son of Dhanapal, who used to offer hairdressing services at one of the salons, was conspicuous by his absence at the meeting.

Chinnai Pandiyan, district secretary of TNUEF, told

Express that such untouchability prevailed in Varahoor village in Tiruvaiyaru union also. He said in Varahoor, the Dalits were also denied laundry services.

G Neelamegam, district secretary of CPM, V Jeevakumar, C Packirisamy, district secretariat members of CPM, and Sami Natarajan, farmers wing district secretary, were present in Veerasingampettai when the Dalits were offered hairdressing service in the salon.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by N Ramesh / October 02nd, 2014

Madurai lad who wowed the nation

Sports
It is not easy for a cricketer from a district like Madurai to make it to the national side but M Venkataramana belongs to a rare breed. He played for the country, albeit for a short while, within nine years of taking to the game at 14. 
“I used to play for my school but had no club … it was one of those days when I went to watch a league match with friends. Before the start of the match, Jolly Rovers (Madurai) skipper, late Soundararajan, asked me to get ready for the game as his main spinner did not turn up. That’s how it began …,” says Venkat, as he is fondly called.His father, who played for his employers Rallis India but couldn’t make it to the state or national team, was a big influence in his life. After making it to the first division league in Madurai, Venkat was spotted by former Indian skipper Kris Srikkanth, who advised him to relocate to Chennai.”… I came to Chennai in 1991 and started playing for YMS. After two seasons Chika asked me to join Alwarpet CC,” says the man who played one Test and one ODI. Venkat, who earlier failed to make it to U-14 & U-16 levels, directly got selected for Tamil Nadu U-19 team and impressed with some brilliant performances.

“… after I got selected for U-19 state team, things started falling in place quickly and I made it to the state Ranji side within three years. I was a regular in the state side and my performance (794 & 1-106) in the 1987-88 Ranji Trophy final against Railways caught everybody’s attention. It was a very proud moment for me,” adds Venkat, who played 75 First Class and 30 List `A’ matches.

The lankly offie, who got into the ODI side against New Zealand in 1988 and made his Test debut against West Indies the next year, feels lack of guidance was one of the reasons why he could not play for India for a long time.

“I was not in a position to hire a personal coach and received no help from others when I was going through bad patches. When we went to New Zealand my bowling was not up to the mark despite having a very good domestic season. I could not find my rhythm and there was no one who could help me get back my tempo …,” says Venkat.

From 2007 to 2012, Venkat coached the Singapore cricket team and returned to Chennai after BCCI appointed him coach of the Zonal Academy in Chennai.

(A weekly column on famous sport spersons whose first playing field was Chennai and its neighbourhood)

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by Krishna Kanta Chakraborty, TNN / September 27th, 2014