J Prasannakumar, a delivery executive at a telemarketing company, grew up in the neighbourhood of the Government Rajaji Hospital. During his many visits to the hospital, he noticed that there were people who were in need of dire help. Touched, he began helping them out in what ways he could. Initially, he would help them locate their wards but as he became more involved, his activities widened.
Today, the 28-year-old graduate in business economics and his two friends arrange blood for the needy, buy them food, counsel them and admit helpless elderly people to homes, among other things. His friends N N Ajmal Hussain, a BCA graduate and C Vinoth, an MCA degree holder, joined him seven years after he began helping out at the hospital. For the past three years, the three have been spending at least five hours in the hospital everyday. Ajmal, who is a website designer, Vinoth, who is preparing for bank exams and Prasannakumar find time between work to help out patients.
Recently, when the summer vacations were going on for colleges, the hospital faced a shortage of blood donors as most of the contributions to blood banks usually came from students. The three youngsters arranged blood for the patients, and their efforts were much appreciated.
“We arrange blood for those who need it urgently. Anybody we know who needs help inside the hospital premises will get our support. Many patients need food and money to buy medicines from outside. If we have money, we help them. Otherwise, we connect the needy and the donors. We usually ask the donors to help directly and avoid mediation. However, some prefer to do it through us as they do not have time to spare,” Ajmal said.
“We are not an NGO. We have not kept a name for the group. We are friends and do it purely for the satisfaction of helping someone in need,” he added.
The hospital deals with about 10, 000 outpatients and 3000 inpatients every day.
“They are favourites among people in the hospital. From arranging blood to helping the patients and their attenders, they do a lot on the premises,” said a senior doctor from the hospital.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / by Devanathan Veerappan, TNN / June 13th, 2015
When Susheela Raman sings ‘Paalum Thelithenum’ (milk and pure honey), an Avvaiyar prayer to Vinayaka recited everyday by millions of Tamil children, with a twang in her velvety voice, the invitation is surely compelling. What is to be lisped with childish innocence, however, assumes a husky edge in Susheela’s beginning line. When she repeats the word ‘thunga’ (elephant trunk) unnecessarily and distorts and elongates ‘thoo’ in the word ‘thoomaniye” (pure and precious treasure), ‘maniye’ is completely lost on us. Tamil listeners may now feel far removed from the prayer they learned in childhood.
We have already forgiven her for mispronouncing the word ‘theli’ in ‘thelithenum’ with a lighter ‘l’ which is a common mistake television newsreaders in Tamil Nadu commit. But Tamils would wonder why the line offering four eatables to Vinayaka invites a swaying of the hips from Susheela. And even before we come out of our wonder Susheela makes the gesture of spinning a top and lifts her hand like a cricket umpire while praying to Vinayaka for proficiency in Tamil. She doesn’t stop there. Ecstatic gyrations, eyes-shut trances, and wild hair whippings follow, accompanied by electric guitar riffs.
For the traditional Tamil, Susheela Raman’s sound, gestures and gyrations may be controversial. But, in taking the genre of Tamil bhakti to a global audience, UK-born Susheela, a major star of world music, in her own way communicates the essence of the genre — invoking ecstasy. She declares on her website: “I don’t want to respect artificial barriers between music, I want to channel everything into the experience. Music is like a goddess that is always changing its mind, never straightforward. To earn her blessings and stay close to her, musicians have to try new things.”
For Susheela, the ecstasy that Tamil bhakti music seeks to provide is not to be achieved through slow ascendance. She simply plunges into it in the very first opening line as she does in the album ‘Vel’. K B Sunderambal, Madurai Somasundram, and Bangalore Ramani Amma would have also begun their first line of their Murugan bhakti song in a high pitch and gone for a higher pitch as the song progressed. Susheela has no such compulsions and her European audience would not have cared less had she opted for a more sober opening. However, Susheela’s first leap into ecstasy facilitates her fusion, like in her rendering of Madurai Somu’s ‘Marudamalai maamaniye murugaiyya’.
In the song, Somu ascends into emotional heights only after a few syllables. Kunnakudi Vaidhyanathan’s violin accentuates Somu’s climb and the ecstatic bursts come nearly at the end. What Susheela does is to begin in the second half of the original Tamil song, and replace the native morsing, ghatam, and violin interlude with the singing of Mian Miri Qawwals from Lahore. Followed by the tabla, Susheela launches her ‘Marudamalai maamaniye’ from a still higher pitch with a faster rhythm.
The effect is terrific because of the newness of the Qawwali singing merging perfectly with the high singing of Tamil bhakti music. The faster rhythm does not allow Susheela to distort words as she does in other songs. When she hands over the mantle back to the Quwwali chorus the similarity of rhythms smoothens the transition. Susheela’s frenzied whipping of the hair does add its visual quality to the orgasmic outbursts. In a way Susheela discovers and demonstrates the inner flow and the connectivity that exists between Qawwali singing and Tamil bhakti music.
When she sings ‘Velundu mayilundu’ with the interceptions from Quwwali musicians singing ‘Nuri Nuri’, the mixture already feels like a natural flow. It also becomes clear that the meanings of the words no longer matter to anyone except the singers themselves. For the audience, it’s all pure rhythmic sounds and bodily gestures.
Tamil bhakti music is at the centre of her three albums: Salt Rain, Music For Crocodiles, and 331/3. In Tamil Nadu, bhakti music is a vehicle for devotees to achieve communion with their gods guided through the meaning of words. The ecstatic experience is supposed to be the result of such a communion. In the Susheela Raman variety of world music, the ecstasy and emotional heights are already there as rhythms, sounds, gestures, and ambience. Devoid of meanings delivered by words, we experience words mingling with other sounds to create pure music. Perhaps only through such channels and loss of ‘word meaning’, native Tamil bhakti music could reach out and achieve a universal appeal.
For Tamil bhakti music is both ancient and contemporary and is deeply ingrained in the consciousness of Tamils living worldwide. For instance, while the poem ‘Paalum thelithenum’ is a Sangam-age composition attributed to Avvaiyar, the grand old lady of Tamil poetry, ‘Marudamalai maamaniye murugaiyya’ is a film song written by Kannadasan. Along with the Saivite and Vaishnavite bhakti movements, Murugan worship had seeped through Tamil history from ancient times, and it achieved canonical status in the 15th century as evidenced by the corpus of songs by Arunagirinathar. Trance behavior and Tamil Murugan bhakti are intimately intertwined, and it takes a Susheela Raman to identify its potential to sync with the ecstasy of Sufi Quwaali music of Pakistan.
(The author is a writer and folklorist who heads the National Folklore Support Centre, Chennai)
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by M D Muthukumaraswamy, TNN / June 13th, 2015
Australian MP, Williams Matti and the Adelaide Tamil Association have heaped praise on Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for her strenuous and unceasing efforts to spread the glory of the Tamil language across the globe.
The Australian MP, while speaking in the Australian Parliament on June 4, hailed the International Tamil Conference and Seminar, organised recently by the Tamil Development Department of the Tamil Nadu government. He said it was the first of its kind to be hosted in Australia for the Tamil people living there.
“It was great that the Tamil Nadu government and the World Tamil Association chose Torrensville Primary School in my electorate to facilitate the event. The two-day seminar and workshop covered teaching, education and development of Tamil language and culture for communities outside India.
Lawrence Annadurai, president of Adelaide Tamil Association, in his letter to Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, congratulated her on taking over the reigns of the State government for the fifth time and expressed confidence that Tamils across the globe were praising her measures for the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu and those living abroad.
He said the international Tamil conference, held recently was highly praised by many personalities in Australia. Zoe Bettison, Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Grace Portolesi, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Chair of South Australian Multicultural Ethnic Affairs Commission, Angela Keneally, Mayor, City of Charles Sturt and many other invitees from Australian Government who attended the conference lauded the conference.
When traditional Tamil music was played, they danced to the tunes happily, he added.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service / June 11th, 2015
Vintage Treasures: the car collection at Gedee Car Museum Photo: S. Siva Saravanan / The Hindu
G.D. Naidu’s love for automobiles is well documented at the Gedee Car Museum in the city.
So, this is how it feels to sit in Hitler’s favourite car. The bug-shaped vehicle has four seats. It is a so small that I have to duck my head while stepping out of the car. Yet, it is cosy and warm and just right for a family to enjoy a drive. At the GeDee Car Museum, the Volkswagen Beetle occupies pride of place. It is said the Fuhrer loved this car and urged his people to buy it as an investment. Called “the car at the price of a motorcycle”, it cost around Rs.850, those days. At the newly opened museum set up by G.D. Naidu Charities, I am tempted to hop into all the cars (there are 55 of them) – Chevrolet, Rolls Royce, Mercedes Benz, Porsche from the collection of the renowned industrialist G.D. Naidu. Some of them are Hollywood stars! For instance, the Love Bug has featured in almost six movies! The collection also includes rugged-looking vans of Fordson and Thames which were used as ice cream vehicles and carrier vans.
Vintage Treasures: the car collection at Gedee Car Museum Photo: S. Siva Saravanan / The Hindu
Automobile history unfolds before you as you walk down the curving hallway. There are interesting bits of information and stories wherever you turn like how Tutankhamun used the wheel in ancient Egypt. There are also pictures of steam engines and electric cars that were in vogue in Victorian England. “We are planning to extend the space. There are also workshops for restoration inside this campus,” explains Prem Saravanakumar, the museum guide.
Vintage Treasures: the car collection at Gedee Car Museum Photo: S. Siva Saravanan / The Hindu
Each car has a story to tell and is linked to world history. For instance the Bubble Car of the 50s and 60s was designed for the common man to commute during World War II in Europe. It can seat only the driver and a passenger. There are no doors on the side and the windshield of the car doubles up as the exit. These micro cars were manufactured for cheap transport for the locals.
Vintage Treasures: the car collection at Gedee Car Museum Photo: S. Siva Saravanan / The Hindu
The Rolls Royces tell a love story. The bonnet ornament has a lady leaning forward with her arms outstretched behind her. The emblem is called the “Spirit of Ecstasy”. The billowing robes of the lady stream past her like wings. According to legend, the bonnet ornament commemorated a secret love affair of John Montague, a pioneer of the automobile movement and Eleanor, the model for the emblem.
Vintage Treasures: the car collection at Gedee Car Museum Photo: S. Siva Saravanan / The Hindu
There is also a tribute to the good old ambassador. Cartoon strips show how the car has become indispensable to the Indian way of life. Caricatures show the car being used to bear the bride and groom at their wedding, hang out laundry and so on. Of course, it is also the status symbol for politicians and gangsters. Don’t miss the luxurious black limousine. “You can even host birthday parties here,” says Saravanakumar in all earnestness. I realise he is not exaggerating when I peep inside.
Vintage Treasures: the car collection at Gedee Car Museum Photo: S. Siva Saravanan / The Hindu
Inside there is a fridge, shining glassware, a television set and a phone for the passenger to talk to the chauffeur! At the end of the hall, a young man on a bike surveys you from a black and white photograph. G.D. Naidu looks happy riding a Rudge Multi, a vintage bike made in 1912. Saravanakumar tells me why he looks so happy in the photo.
Vintage Treasures: the Rudge Multi used by G.D. Naidu Photo: S. Siva Saravanan / The Hindu
While working in his father’s farm, G.D saw a British officer zipping past him in what he thought as a ‘strange looking vehicle having two wheels creating a funny noise’. It was love at first sight. He tracked down the officer, helped him clean the vehicle and service it. He vowed to save up enough money to buy a similar bike for himself some day. He did not have to wait long as the officer was so taken with his passion that he sold it to him for Rs. 300. There are other black and white photographs of G.D. Naidu taking classes, holding workshops and shaking hands with other automobile tycoons. The museum is indeed a tribute to this man of humble beginnings, who emerged to become one of the biggest automobile entrepreneurs in the world.
(The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays. The fee is Rs.50. For details, call 0422-2222548.)
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Parshathy J. Nath / June 11th, 2015
A 26-year old woman, who had her scalp torn off by a machine in a gold jewellery making firm, had a surgery done at Coimbatore Medical College and returned home with her face intact.
Ashwini, wife of Senthilkumar from Selvapuram, walked out of the hospital two days after surgery. She spoke to the media freely thanking the doctors who stitched her scalp back on her head.
“The incident happened on May 8 at 6 pm when I was working in the factory and there was no one else. During my work an ornament fell from my hand and I just bent down to get it. All of a sudden my long hair was caught in the machine and got wrapped round the drill,” said Ashwini.
Ashwini
She said she still remembered everything and she shivered each time she recalled what had happened.
“I was pulled out of the machine. I tried to run but I saw my scalp with hair lying next to me. I screamed and someone came running to the spot. They stopped the machine and took me to hospital,” added Ashwini.
She is all smiles now and she thanks God and the doctors in CMCH. She reached the hospital soon after the accident and the surgery brought her “back to life”.
“With high BP and heavy blood loss the patient was in a critical state and her pulse rate was low. So we immediately resuscitated her with three units of blood and intravenous fluid transfusion. Once her condition was stabilized we took her to the operation theatre for an emergency plastic surgery,” said B Asokan, professor and head of Plastic Surgery Department, who led the surgery with doctors Siva Kumar and Senthil Kumar.
The operation lasted three hours. The doctors said similar cases were increasing. “Necessary safety measures must be taken at the work place to prevent accidents and immediate care must be provided in case of accidents,” added Asokan.
What the doctors called ‘fortunate’ was even though the scalp was torn off there were not much damage to the tissue or vessels and it was easy for the doctors to do the surgery without transplanting tissues from other parts of her body.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service / June 11th, 2015
Dr. R. Kalaikovan with Dr. M. Nalini and Dr. R. Akila at the Sri Ranganatha Swamy temple in Srirangam. Photo: M. Srinath
This trio of scholars has been steadily working to chronicle the temple heritage of southern India
“The history that has survived for so long surely knows how to take care of itself,” says Dr. R. Kalaikovan, an ophthalmologist who balances his medical practice with his ardent love for researching the state’s past, particularly through its temples.
Assisted by his former students and now experts in their own right, professors M. Nalini and A. Akila, Dr. Kalaikovan has been the brain behind the Tiruchi-based Dr. M. Rajamanikkanar Centre for Historical Research Centre, named after his father, the outstanding scholar and Reader of Tamil at the Madras University.
A distinction student at school-level history, the young Kalaikovan opted to study Medicine at the Madras Medical College, and followed it up with a Diploma in Ophthalmology. He shifted to Tiruchi after marriage in the 1970s. “From 1975-80, I was strictly an ophthalmologist. I had no knowledge of history but for what I had learned in my school days,” he recalls.
In 1980, the priest of Woraiyur’s Panchavarna Swamy temple invited Dr. Kalaikovan for a prayer of thanksgiving after the successful cataract operation that he had done on him.
“After the prayer, while taking a look around, I came across the carving of a bicycle on a pillar behind the Amman temple,” says Dr. Kalaikovan. “It was so funny and intriguing to see the picture of a cycle in an ancient temple. But neither the officials nor the scholar who wrote its history, were able to explain how it came there. I started researching this fact.”
Through multiple forays into the history of the bicycle (which was invented in Germany in 1800s), and the Chola-era Woraiyur temple, he theorised that the vehicle was possibly a novelty in Tiruchi of the 1920s, when the temple had been renovated. “Perhaps the sculptor had seen someone on a cycle, was impressed by it and had recorded it forever on stone,” says Dr. Kalaikovan. “After this I got so interested in temple history, that I could no longer leave it.
“The builder of the temple, Kochengannan Chozhan, was the first to develop the typical temple complex in the 5th century. He premiered the concept of building temples on a maada (raised platform), followed by the Vimana (tower above the sanctum-sanctorum), to protect the structure from the flooding of the Cauvery.”
The centre has since found 34 such temples in the State.
Detailed projects
Among the many achievements of this trio of scholars is a district-wise directory of all the 105 cave temples of the State, a seven-volume magnum opus that took ten years to complete. “There is a line of thought among English-language historians that cave temple architecture doesn’t belong to Tamil Nadu, and was an idea copied from Maharashtra or the Kalinga empire. We have only 20 large cave temples, but the sculptures are excellent. And there is a difference in style and presentation, which we want to prove conclusively in our next publication,” says Dr. Kalaikovan.
The other major work of archival value that the team has undertaken is a detailed exploration of the nine monoliths of Mamallapuram.
With a sense of a teacher’s pride in his brilliant students, Dr. Kalaikovan credits Nalini and Akila for their dedication in highlighting temples as centres of history. “Around 1000 inscriptions have been found by these two scholars,” he says. “There are a lot of people, but few with dedication in historical research. Of the 60 students I have coached, 50 are women, but they have disappeared after graduation, due to domestic constraints. I request more women to come forward to work in archaeology, history and temple study, because they have a sense of devotion and attention to detail that is missing in men.”
Epigraphic snapshots
Dr. Nalini, associate professor of history at the Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College, describes the cave temple directory as her best work to date. She was drawn towards epigraphy as a specialisation in her Ph.D, when she compared temple inscriptions between a fertile and barren area of Perambalur. “We were able to discover many details about the life and agricultural output of the villages through these inscriptions,” she says.
“When we discover an inscription, we inform the print media first and then the government authorities, so that they can copy it when they are on a tour here. Even though the Tamil alphabet has evolved, most of the meanings are to be interpreted through palaeographic study and through the historical references of the period,” she adds.
“Inscription study gives real history,” says Dr. Kalaikovan. “An inscription is like a register of events, showing the connections of the temple to society and political authorities. For example in Thirumayam, there is a Perumal temple and Sivan temple in the same campus. At the end of the 13th century, it was separated for worship. The details of this partition were decided by a committee of villagers, scholars and outside observers. The treaty discusses how the two temples would be separated, and also how the common areas would be used. It really surprised us to see the amount of balance and objectivity despite the quarrel behind the issue,” says Dr. Kalaikovan.
Guiding youngsters
Dr. Akila, who is an assistant professor of history at Arignar Anna Government Arts and Science College, Musiri, joined the centre as a student in 1989. Unable to secure a place in M.Phil after her Masters degree, she was advised by Dr. Kalaikovan to apply directly for her Ph.D at Bharathidasan University instead. Her highly-commended thesis on the Pazhuvur temple was the first to be written in Tamil.
Her work on the Mamallapuram monoliths, which included identifying the builder and recording the epigraphy, is perhaps the most detailed project of its kind on the historical relic.
“Since I’m now in the field, and want to improve, I try to guide the students in temple study, in its architecture and inscriptions,” says Dr. Akila. “Recently, a third-year student told us about a slab with an inscription at the Thirukameswar Temple, Vellore, which Nalini was able to identify and decipher. We usually give the credit to the students who spot the inscriptions, to help them with their projects.”
Save the legacy
Some facts may never emerge from the veil of times past, concedes Dr. Kalaikovan. “There is no doubt at all that our temple builders had real scientific knowledge. But unfortunately they have not recorded it in either literary or epigraphic form,” he says. “The temple builders never cared for their names, they only wanted to leave the structures behind as their legacy.”
Which makes it all the more important for the succeeding generations to take care of them, says Dr. Kalaikovan. “Temples should be treated as sacred history spaces, and maintained by the community. We must teach the people how to enjoy the temple and keep it clean for worship.”
***
Fact file
Dr. M. Rajamanikkanar Centre for Historical Research was established in 1982 by his son Dr. R. Kalaikovan, an ophthalmologist. Dr. M. Nalini and Dr. R. Akila are its honorary assistant-directors.
The centre publishes an annual magazine called Varalaaru. Its monthly web-zine titled varalaaru.com is run by five software professionals with an interest in history, and has 109 issues online so far.
Besides a vast database of research material generated by its own scholars, the centre also periodically guides students and holds awareness programmes on temple preservation.
Dr. Kalaikovan may be emailed at kalaikkovanr@yahoo.com
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Nahla Nainar / June 12th, 2015
Amma canteens may have been a recent phenomenon because of its low-cost food, but for many residents and passengers arriving at the Anna Bus Terminal in the city it has always been R Pooranathammal and her husband who have been running a non-profit canteen for over five decades. On Wednesday, a pall of gloom descended in the locality after Pooranathammal, 73, died of age-related ailment. The love and affection the couple commanded was visible when many youths and other thronged their residence to mourn her death. Her husband, S Ramu, 79, was inconsolable at the passing away of his wife.
Pooranathammal and Ramu were running their non-profit canteen especially for the poor and needy for the past 50 years. The elderly couple serve one full meal for just Rs 10. In fact, till a few months back, they served meals at just Rs 6. Many people from Madurai and its surrounding areas like Theni, Dindigul, Virudhunagar and Sivaganga who arrive at the bus terminal used to have food at their canteen. The couple, hailing from T Kallikudi near Tirumangalam in Madurai shifted to the city in search of livelihood and started the canteen.
Their canteen was a favourite for hungry students including those from the Madurai Medical College, which is situated very close by.
Pooranathammal and Ramu’s bonding with the students was such that once they pass out from the portals of the medical college many of them call on the elderly couple and present them with clothes.
“She used to scold me if I insist on taking money. She will always smile and serve even if people do not have the nominal amount to pay. It was because of her support we were able to serve people for so many year. At times, if I do not wake up on time due to tiredness, she would not expect me. She will open the canteen and start preparing the food. That was the commitment she had,” he said breaking out into tears.
“We used to have food at the canteen. It is cheap but the quality used to be good. We recently appreciated their service by handing over mementos at a function,” said R Stalin from Padikattugal, a youth organization into public service.
Breakfast and lunch is being served in the canteen. The daily limited meals include sambar, rasam and butter milk accompanied by one vegetable koottu and it was served for just Rs 10. Even idly and dosa were served at the cost of Rs 10. One can get four idlis or two dosas for just Rs 10.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madura / TNN / June 1th, 2015
There is a theory that Cooum, a polluted river in Chennai is a corruption of Komaleeswaram.
In South India, any spot where a river suddenly turns north is considered particularly holy. A temple usually comes up at this bend. Our polluted Cooum River is no different. After flowing placidly west to east, it takes a turn northwards at Egmore, forms an oxbow around Chintadripet and then flows east to the sea. The little hamlet that nestles in this bend is Komaleeswaranpet.
The village takes its name from its Shiva temple where the Lord is Komaleeswarar and his consort, Komalambika. There is also a theory that Cooum is a corruption of Komaleeswaram. This must have been a sylvan locality around 400 years ago, the river sending wafts of cool breeze. It became an urban settlement in the 1730s when Chintadripet on the opposite bank developed. The main thoroughfare of the village led from the temple and came to be known as Pagoda Street, after the British term for any Hindu place of worship.
This street, backing as it did on to the river, became the place of residence of the well-to-do. Chief among these was Dubash Pachayappa Mudaliar, who in a short lifespan of 40 years (1754 to 1794), earned an enormous fortune, most of which is today used for running educational institutions. Srinivasa Pillai, who wrote Mudaliar’s biography in the 1840s, has it that Pachayappa built his house “at the hermitage like Komaleeswaranpet which takes its name from Lord Shiva.”
Pachayappa’s neighbours on Pagoda Street were Muniappa Pillai, a wealthy businessman and Swami Naick, a Native Dresser in the Army. All three have streets commemorating them in Komaleeswaranpet. Swami Naick is also remembered in a small monument set within a triangular park. Pagoda Street is now Harris (Adithanar) Road, a broad thoroughfare.
Local tradition has it that all the aristocrats of the village worshipped Komaleeswarar. Pachayappa’s will, however, does not mention any donation to it. The temple had a unique festival when flowers would be brought in coracles along the river. Today, this can only be imagined. The flourishing grey market for automobile parts that constitutes Pudupet has cut off the Cooum from Komaleeswarar. Sailing in the Cooum would be impossible anyway.
When you enter Temple Street, you are transported back to the 1800s. Old houses line the sides. The temple has acquired a tower in recent years. A broad courtyard leads to the small sanctum, which has sadly been modernised with polished granite and vitrified tiles. But the pillars and ceiling of the pavilion fronting it retain their antiquity with carved figures on them. A stone slab in the kitchen records a renovation done in 1818 by one Kuppammal, wife of Triplicane-based Baba Sah, a cloth merchant of the Saurashtra community. Donors of this century have not been as aesthetic as her in recording their munificence. Huge black granite slabs set out their deeds in gaudy gold lettering.
Komaleeswaranpet brings a whiff of old Madras, and sadly, a lot of the Cooum.
(Sriram is passionate about Chennai history and Carnatic music, and has several books to his credit)
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Sriram V / June 12th, 2015
The silver ring with the emblem of a fish found on the Amaravathi riverbed. Photo: Special Arrangement
A silver ring with an inscription in the ancient Tamil Brahmi script has been found reportedly from the Amaravathi riverbed at Karur in Tamil Nadu. The highly stylised script depicts the punctuated Pandya fish emblem.
Ms Beena Sarasan, an expert in numismatics, who purchased the ring from an antique dealer, suggested that the script reads “peruvazhuthi.”
Peruvazhuti is the name of a Pandya king who, according to the Tamil sangam tradition, has performed several vedic yagas and rituals . The letters are engraved in bold and legible characters.
The full name of this Pandya king was Palyagasalai Mutukutumi Peruvazhuthi who finds mention in several early Tamil sangam songs.
Dr. M.R. Raghava Varier, former Professor of Epigraphy, Calicut University said the letters on the ring can be attributed to an early stage of evolution of the Tamil Brahmi characters on the basis of the palaeographical features of the script.
Dr. Varier observed that the characters representing the peculiar Dravidian sound “Zha” show the earliest form of the letter found in the cave labels of Arittappatti- Mangulam group of inscriptions of the 3rd or 2nd century BCE.
The characteristic rightward stroke of the Tamil Brahmi letters as suggested by earlier scholars are also present in the third letter “Va”. The artefact is a valuable find in the historical and epigraphical studies of ancient Tamilakam, Dr. Raghava Varier added.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Kerala / by E. M. Manoj / Kalpetta (Kerala) – June 01st, 2015
Growing up in Delhi, Mohan Verghese Chunkath used to play ‘kitchen table scrabble’ with his siblings and parents. What started out as a pastime became a passion and today, despite a demanding career, the senior bureaucrat is a force to reckon with in the war of words. Chunkath recently won the Bayer National Scrabble Championship 2015 held in Mumbai from May 29 to 31.
“I have been playing scrabble since my childhood, but it was a family game and never played one on one, there were always three of four of us playing together,” says Chunkath, who began playing competitive scrabble in the 1990s.
“I had gone to the US on study leave, and began going to the local club to play. I got interested in competitive scrabble and went from rookie to expert level while I was there,” says Chunkath, director, Anna Institute of Management, and additional chief secretary and director general of training, Tamil Nadu.
He became the first person to represent India in the world scrabble championship held in Melbourne in 1999. “I also participated in the world championships in 2001 and 2007 but work pressure was building up,” says Chunkath. The demands of his growing career meant that he couldn’t devote as much time for competitive scrabble though he did play on the net or sometimes with friends. “I almost drifted out of competitive scrabble, but after my change of job in December 2014, I came back to the scrabble scene,” he says. In January 2015, he participated in iGate International Scrabble Tournament held in Bangalore.
For the voracious reader, scrabble is chess with words. “There is a lot of strategy involved, and a lot of nuances to the game — you track tiles that are played, work with probability, know what is in your bag, what your opponent is likely to have in his bag, how to maximize your offence and defence. It is an interesting hybrid between skill and luck,” says Chunkath.
The championship he recently won saw him pitted against the best. “Indian scrabble players have become very strong and the games were fought very keenly,” says Chunkath. “Younger players have an advantage as don’t get fatigued easily. We played a fairly gruelling number of games – on the first day we played eight games, nine on the second day and though I was supposed to play eight games on the third day, I was able to wrap up after playing just seven,” says the 59-year-old, who beat Sherwin Rodrigues, a player in his mid-20s.
According to him, the future of scrabble in India is very bright. “With the stellar spelling bee performances by Indians in the last decade, scrabble is just waiting to explode in India,” he says. “There is tremendous potential.”
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by Priya M. Menon, TNN / June 04th, 2015
