Monthly Archives: September 2015

Giving the dead a decent farewell

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features
M.V. Ramani has so far arranged for the burial of 1,000 unclaimed bodies. Photo: Special Arrangement
M.V. Ramani has so far arranged for the burial of 1,000 unclaimed bodies. Photo: Special Arrangement

It is a quiet afternoon at Arya Gowda Road, West Mambalam. The quiet is disturbed when someone notices a man lying outside Ayodhya Mandapam.

Soon, a crowd gathers around the man. Some try to wake him up. Some try to read his pulse. The man is dead. Some search his pockets, looking for an identity card. Meanwhile, someone has called M.V. Ramani, managing trustee, Jeevathma Kainkarya Trust, West Mamabalam. The Trust helps bury unknown/unclaimed bodies with the help of the police department.

Ramani promptly inform the police before rushing to the scene. Ramani and the police face several problems in taking the body to a government hospital. A call is made to a private ambulance. The policemen pay for the trip.

Ramani started this service, as per his grandfather’s advice, immediately after he graduated from the Government Arts College, Tiruvarur.

To give unclaimed bodies a decent burial, he would collect paddy and other produce from the fields, sell them and use the profit for the purpose. As it was a village, there were very few formalities and he used to get funds from temples.

After coming to the city in 1978, he could not continue the service as the formalities were too many and they were complicated. In 2004, he started Jeevathma Kainkarya Trust to restart it all.

A follower of Paramacharya, Ramani says: In the third volume of ‘Deivathin Kural’, Paramacharya appeals to the people that unclaimed bodies should be cremated/buried at the earliest.

Ramani has so far buried 1,000 unclaimed bodies across the city. “It costs around Rs.1,000 to dispose of a body and we depend on donations. Tec Bio Science Pvt. Ltd. has offered help by way of donating a van.”

A police personnel said: Many unclaimed bodies are kept in various government hospitals and are not disposed of due to non-availability of funds and other facilities. These bodies are not only the responsibility of the government, but the public’s too.

Recently, Ramani filed an RTI with several government hospitals in the city asking for the number of unclaimed bodies lying in the mortuaries. He has also sought permission from the Chief Justice for filing a PIL to streamline the disposal of unclaimed bodies through the Police Department. Additionally, he has sent a letter to the Additional Commissioner of Police requesting him to call for a meeting with NGOs that provide a decent burial for destitutes, to discuss the issue.

Ramani says, “As per an existing G.O., the hospitals/mortuaries should not keep the unclaimed bodies for more than ten days. But it is not happening.”

With regard to the future plans, he says the State can form a district and State-level committee that is headed by the Secretary Health and Family Welfare Department and other related departments, and consists of NGOs to find a solution to this problem. Ramani can be contacted at 9841012779.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Down Town / by Vaishali R. Venkat / Chennai – September 05th, 2015

Rice farmer grows crop with 60% less water, awarded

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technologies

Coimbatore  :

The Indian Rice Research Institute, Hyderabad, has awarded a farmer from Dharapuram for adopting drip irrigation system in rice cultivation, thereby reducing water consumption by 60%.

Parthasarathy M, 69, received the Innovative Rice Farmer Award on August 29. In all, 30 farmers from sixteen states were nominated for this award.

Parthasarathy bagged the award for largescale adoption of drip irrigation for rice cultivation in Amaravathy sub-basin in Tamil Nadu. The award was presented to his son during the Innovative Rice Farmers meet 2015 on August 29 at Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, by the Union minister for labour and employment, Bandara Dattatreya.

Parthsarathy has been cultivating rice for 50 years. “In 2013, I was in Coimbatore for an agri fair in Codissia Complex. There I was introduced to the drip irrigation technology. I immediately went to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and was given a demo. I first adopted it for vegetables and then for growing maize. And, in 2014, I used the technology for rice,” he said.

The farmer, who draws water from the Amaravathi Dam, had installed drip irrigation to water trees in his farm in the 1980s. “But, I came to know about the use of this technology in rice only in 2014,” he said.
Parthasarathy said that he not only saved 60% water, but he also saw an increase in yield. “On an average, the yield was five tonnes per acre after I adopted drip irrigation, which was a 20% increase from the yield in 2013,” said Parthasarathy.

What’s unique about Parthasarathy’s achievement is that he used drip irrigation and crop rotation together. He cultivated onion, maize and rice in rotation. “This has helped improve his yield and save water consumption,” said director of water technology department, B J Pandian.

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University started research on the possibility of using drip irrigation for the cultivation of rice in 2010. “In 2012, we succeeded in cultivating rice through this technology. The state government also provides subsidy to farmers using drip irrigation,” he added.

Parthsarathy said that he spent 40,000/acre after receiving subsidy from the government. He received 73,000 per hectare as subsidy for installing drip irrigation.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Coimbatore / by Adarsh Jain, TNN / September 02nd, 2015

When Netaji took Madras by storm

Leaders, Records, All

September 3 is regarded as an important day in the history of the city. It was on this day in the year 1939 that legendary freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose visited the Madras Presidency for the first time.

On invitation from Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar, the then leader of the All India Forward Bloc, to amass support for the party, Bose went to Madurai. He came to Madras en route. He reportedly stayed for three days at ‘Gandhi Peak’ on Bharathi Salai, Triplicane.

A view of ‘Gandhi Peak’ on Bharathi Salai at Triplicane in Chennai.—Photo: K.V. Srinivasan
A view of ‘Gandhi Peak’ on Bharathi Salai at Triplicane in Chennai.—Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

“Bose arrived by train at Madras Central. He was received by his supporters, and lawyer and freedom fighter S. Srinivasa Iyengar and Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar. He was taken in an open jeep to the ‘Peak,’ the palatial house of civil engineer S.P. Aiyaswami Mudaliar, followed by a mammoth crowd of supporters,” S.P. Dhananjaya, the grandson of Mudaliar, said.

Earlier, S. Satyamurti, eminent freedom fighter, had issued a directive to Congressmen to boycott Bose, as he had a difference of opinion with Mahatma Gandhi. Mudaliar agreed to accommodate Bose at his home at the request of zamindar of Puliyur, Janakiram Pillai. He stayed in a room on the third floor.

In those days, the house was called as ‘Maniadikura Veedu’ (the house where the bell rings). The front portion of the house had a gong, which used to strike hourly for the benefit of residents around the ‘Peak.’ Once the hourly striking of the gong disturbed Bose’s meditation. He objected to this practice. Mudaliar refused to oblige Bose, saying the routine practices of the house could not be changed.

On the evening of September 3, Bose addressed a public meeting on the Marina. The meeting drew a crowd of more than a thousand people. The news of the Second World War had reached Madras. Bose announced the invasion of Poland by Germany and subsequent declarations of war on Germany by U.K..

On September 5, 1939, he left for Madurai. During his three-day stay, people thronged in large numbers to get a glimpse of the charismatic leader, and were jostling for space in front of the ‘Peak.’ Banners welcoming the ‘Lion of Bengal’ were put up on each floor of the home.

The spacious home was illuminated like a palace, he noted. An autographed photograph of Bose dated September 5, 1939, a prized possession, remains with the family.

BoseAutographCF05sept2015

The ‘Gandhi Peak’ saw yet another visit by Bose on January 10 and 11, 1940.

The proof for this is recorded in an account notebook maintained by his grandmother Dhanammal, wife of Mudaliar.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Atul Swaminathan / Chennai – September 05th, 2015

S Sarada centenary celebrated in city

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Chennai :

Alumni, teachers and students of Kalakshetra Foundation marked the 100th birth anniversary of renowned scholar S Sarada at a programme on Tuesday. In a musical evening, artists recreated dance moves associated with S Sarada’s body of work. Friends too also shared their memories on stage.

Recalling Sarada as an ‘erudite scholar of Sanskrit’, Kalakshetra chairman N Gopalaswami, in his welcome address, said the scholar “was a true guru and force behind the choreography of Rukmini Devi Arundale’s dance productions.”

Calling her the ‘teacher of teachers’, G Sundari, who was Sarada’s friend, said: “She had no reservations while sharing her knowledge.” The audience was treated to the performances of veteran dancers Dr C V Chandrasekhar, V P Dhananjayan, C J Janardhanan and Balagopalan.

A song written by Sarada, expressing her admiration for Rukmini Devi, was also performed. Snippets of a documentary, once aired by Doordarshan showing Sarada explain aspects of dance theory, was also screened.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Chennai / TNN / September 02nd, 2015

Innovation, collaboration take centrestage

Business & Economy, Science & Technologies, World Opinion

A new Japanese import is on the cards. The Chennai Corporation is planning to bring in advanced technology from Japan to improve the stormwater drain (SWD) network in the city. So far, management of stormwater drain network has only been partly effective.

Corporation engineers will be sent to Japan for a training programme, which would cover techniques to construct and manage SWDs effectively. The Chennai Corporation Council passed a resolution on Monday permitting engineers K. Chinnasamy and G. Tamilselvan to attend this programme.

Expenses for the training — which is from September 23 to December 5 — will be met by Japan International Co-operation Agency. The knowledge the engineers will acquire from this exercise is expected to be useful in the implementation of new projects in watersheds of waterways such Adyar and Cooum.

With the help of World Bank funding, work on SWDs will begin next month in zones such as Ambattur and Valasaravakkam. Designed with advanced technology, new SWDs are likely to reduce the displacement of people living along the banks of waterways and canals.

The work on construction of drains will prevent flooding of neighbourhoods in many of the added zones.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu /Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Aloysius Xavier Lopez / Chennai – September 06th, 2015

Ooty Varkey, snack from the hills, all set to get GI tag

Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

Chennai  :

Ooty Varkey, the baked delicacy synonymous with the Nilgiris, is all set to get the prestigious Geographical Indications (GI) tag. A society of its manufacturers has recently submitted an application in the city GI registry seeking the tag.

India, as member of the WTO, enacted the GI Act in 1999 which came into effect in September 2003. The GI tag is given to a product to indicate its specific geographical location or point of origin. The tag ensures none other than those authorised are allowed to use the product name.

The popular snack, which traces its history to the Raj, is distinct to the Nilgiri district. It is made from a mixture of flour, sugar, salt and mava (a mix of home-made yeast comprising banana, rava or semolina, maida or flour, and sugar). It gets its distinct taste from the water used to prepare the mix and the climatic conditions of the Nilgiris. The varkey mix is baked in a firewood oven on moderate heat. The entire process, from preparing the dough mix to baking, takes around 12 hours. The product, which has a sweet and spicy variant, has to be consumed within 20 days.

According to the application submitted by the Ooty Varkey Producers Welfare Association, the British, who had been residing in the Nilgiris, made their own snacks which included mostly biscuits, cakes and cookies. A new snack, similar to a cookie, was made in Ooty. The British ate this new cookie with their tea.

After Independence, the product became an important item in the bakeries of Ooty, Coonoor, Kothagiri, Manjoor and Gudalur. The production and sales also increased substantially.

“In spite of attempts made by the bakeries down in plains, the varkey made in those places does not have the same taste,” the application said adding, “over the years its popularity has been growing from domestic and foreign tourists.”

The popular snack, which originated during the Raj, is made from a mixture of flour, sugar, salt and mava. The Ooty Varkey gets its taste from the water used to prepare the mix and the climate in the Nilgiris.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Chennai / by Manish Raj, TNN / August 31st, 2015