Monthly Archives: February 2016

Meet Swetha, First Narikurava Engineering Girl from Tamil Nadu

Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All
The first Narikurava engineering girl wants noon meal organiser post to serve her people
The first Narikurava engineering girl wants noon meal organiser post to serve her people

Tiruchy :

The urge to do something for the people of her community pushed the 22 year old first Narikurava engineering graduate of Tamil Nadu to apply for noon meal organiser’s post in the primary school in her colony here with the district collector on Monday.

“Most of our children suffer of anaemic due to malnutrition. We are known for good physical condition once owing to our food habits. But now, those food items are not available to our community and so most of them are suffering a lot” Swetha, the first BE in Computer Science in Narikurava community told Express.

Though Swetha, who studied BE in a local engineering college was selected for a company in Chandigarh through campus interview, she refused the offer and was seriously thinking of her community people who mostly drop out after  primary school education. The main thing in my mind is to make our children from present symptoms with anaemic problems. She opted for the post as the staff retired recently and the post is lying vacant in the school- Thiruvalluvar Gurukula Primary school, an aided school run by Narikurava education and welfare society.

“Previously, the staff use to go away after two hours work. If i am selected, i can stay along with our children and do whatever they are in need. Let me make them healthy first” the determined Swetha stressed.

As usual, she has been ridiculed by her community people and a few of her college mates.  But, Swetha, is firm in her decision and will work for the people by all means.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by S J Michael Collins / February 15th, 2016

First LHB AC coach flagged off

Records, All, Science & Technologies

Chennai:

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu flagged off the first Linke Hoffman Busch (LHB) three-tier AC coach along with a power car, manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), on Friday via video-conferencing from Trivandrum Central.

The 24th EMU rake of MRVC Phase-II, which will be sent to Western Railway, was also flagged off. The LHB AC three-tier coach has been insulated by stainless steel, floor de-coupling elements and cushioned seats, which reduce noise level to 60 decibel. The speed of the coach can be upgraded to 200kmph, a release stated.

The EMU rake has a sliding door mechanism and roof-mounted forced ventilation system to supply 16,000 cubic m/hr fresh air in the coaches. It also has a GPS-based passenger information system.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Chennai / TNN / February 13th, 2016

Associate Prof With Einstein’s Gravitational Pull

Amazing Feats, Education, Records, All, Science & Technologies, World Opinion

DrArunCF13feb2016

K G Arun, an associate professor from Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI),  was part of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory Scientific Collaboration (LIGO LSC), which made headlines across the globe with its most stunning and significant discovery of gravitational waves.

What is your role in this discovery?

I was one of the 61 Indian participants, representing the CMI in the LSC, under the umbrella of the Indian Initiative in Gravitational-Wave Observations (IndIGO).  The CMI’s role was to check the correctness of the detected GW signals and analyse whether the monitored wave form was consistent with Einstein’s relativity theory which was crucial in the final phase.

What was the method of operation?

We started working on this research right from September 2014. We regularly interacted with the scientists in the United States and other countries through teleconferencing about the recent developments in our research work. Since I have worked with some of these experts in earlier researches in St Louis and Paris, that helped me a lot.

What was the most challenging portion?

Though the entire research work is complicated, we, the Indian scientists, found the initial stages of research more challenging. Since there were several methods and algorithms to validate the relativity theory, we had to explore every one of these to arrive at one single method which can answer the question of consistency. Though the theory was proposed 100 years ago, changes less than the scale of nucleus of an atom were recorded and analysed.

Support from your Indian counterparts and the government?

Research of this magnitude was not possible without their support. My entire research was from the institute (CMI) funded by various government agencies including the Department of Science and Technology (DST). We had several conferences and meetings regarding this and scientists from LIGO-India were extremely supportive throughout the entire process.

What does this detection mean or what is its significance?

This is a very important breakthrough in the field of astrophysics that has provided new ways to look at the universe. This will also allow us to know more about the Big Bang and with LIGO-India’s GW detector proposal in India, this gives us a chance to colloborate with various other industries that can help in differentiating conventional and gravitational astrophysics.

PROFILE

Dr K G Arun

Associate Professor, Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI)

Qualifications

Ph D, Raman Research Institute, Bangalore

MSS in Physics, Cochin University of Science and Technology

Positions Held Previously

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Washington University in St Louis, USA.

Virgo Ego Scientific Fellow, Institute of Astrophysics (IAP), Paris

Associate of the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Bangalore

Research Interests

Gravitational Wave Astronomy

Short Gamma Ray Bursts

High Energy Astrophysics

Cosmology

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Ram M. Sundaram / February 13th, 2016

Long journey of Inner Wheel Club in Chennai celebrated

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinion
Mervin Alexander, Postmaster General, Chennai City Region, releasing a special postal cover on Thursday evening. Photo: G. Krishnaswamy
Mervin Alexander, Postmaster General, Chennai City Region, releasing a special postal cover on Thursday evening. Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

Countries should come forward and release commemorative stamps recognising the service done by Inner Wheel clubs in their countries, said Post Master General (Chennai Region) Mervin Alexander, while speaking at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Inner Wheel Club of Madras here on Thursday.

Alexander said such commemorative and cancellation stamps were mainly based on certain themes. At present, such stamps were released for the work done by Rotary Clubs all over the world.

“This is the first time such special cancellation is done for the service of Inner Wheel in the country,” he said. Addressing the gathering, Charlotte De Vos, International Inner Wheel president, said she was happy to see many enthusiastic women volunteers and members take the vision of Inner Wheel across the country. She also said that she was touched by the passion and commitment of the members of the Inner Wheel Club of Madras in serving the general public, especially women and children. Earlier, danseuse Anita Ratnam enthralled the audience with a dance performance as a tribute to her mother, Lily Ratnam, who was association president of Inner Wheel Clubs in India.

On the occasion, a special postal cover with special cancellation was released by the Post Master General. Also, The Golden Journey , a book that deals with the journey of the Inner Wheel Club of Madras in the past 50 years, was released on the occasion.

Noted participants at the event included Kamala Ramakrishnan, convenor, golden jubilee celebrations, and Mamta Agarwal, association president, Inner Wheel Clubs.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Staff Reporter / Chennai – February 12th, 2016

Fading ritual finds new life through lens

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinion

Chennai:

Each time Julie Wayne visited an Ayyanar temple with her camera, her viewfinder caught images of a vanishing ritual once prevalent across Tamil Nadu. It was a journey in search of diversity and colour through the rituals of the ancient cult of Ayyanar, the protector god many village dwellers have been honouring for centuries. Terracotta offerings in various sizes and shapes are part of the worship of Ayyanar. Julie has taken almost 12,000 photographs from various Ayyanar temples in her decade-old journey.

A photographer from France, Julie’s interest in a fading cult in Tamil Nadu deserves praise. What attracted Julie to Ayyanar was the illustrious god’s strong connection with the villagers through agriculture, art and craft. The villagers believe that Ayyanar protects them, their cattle and harvest. “Frequently hidden within sacred groves, the open shrines are home to remarkable and fantastic terracotta bestiaries. But there is an interesting story behind this art of pottery,” said Julie.

For each shrine, at the beginning of the summer a meeting takes place among a group of wise men to determine the date of the next festival honouring Ayyanar. “Once the auspicious date is decided, the potters for whom it is the hereditary charge begin to create the various clay effigies ordered by the villagers. These statues manifest the devotees’ request for protection or for the fulfilment of desires, and gratitude for wishes granted,” she said.

The sculptures consist of life-sized horses (Ayyanar’s mount), cows, elephants, dogs and snakes and small human-like figurines that represent the devotees themselves. All of these pieces are modelled, dried, fried, painted and finally decorated during elaborate celebrations, which often last two or three days. “Once the rituals that implore Ayyanar’s grace and give life to the terracotta offerings are completed, the pieces are placed in an outdoor shrine dedicated to the god. There they will stay, gradually worn by the sun and wind. And slowly, they crumble, like things bound to the cycles of nature, once again becoming earth and dust,” said Julie, who has even made a documentary on the potters.

Today, as many potters are busy with commercial terracotta making, many temples don’t get these sculptures. Many Ayyanar temples have dropped the idea of placing terracotta offerings, according to Julie. “Only a few temples follow the ritual these days. This is a dying art. I am happy that I could document it,” she said. A selection of 99 photographs has been exhibited at DakshinaChitra, after being displayed in Delhi, Bangalore and Thanjavur.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India /  News Home> City> Chennai / M T Saju, TNN / February 09th, 2016

Fort at Tirumayam being renovated

Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
A compound being constructed at Tirumayam.— Photo: B.Velankanni Raj
A compound being constructed at Tirumayam.— Photo: B.Velankanni Raj

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has taken up reconstructing the compound of the ancient fort at Tirumayam on the Pudukottai – Sivaganga National Highway.

The compound was destroyed during the course of a battle centuries ago and the ASI has initiated steps for restoring it. The work, which commenced in December, aims at construction of the compound to a length of 100 metres and for a height of 10 metres.

“We have brought the boulders needed for the compound from the adjoining hilly area. We ensure that the original methodology with regard to materials is adopted, so that the grandeur is retained,” a source told ‘The Hindu’ here on Monday.

This was the fourth phase of renovation. Earlier, the damaged parts of the fort were re-built. The fort has two major temples dedicated to Sri Sathyamurthy- Sri Uyyavanda Nachiar (Vaishnavite) and Sri Sathyagireeswarar-Sri Venuvaneeswari (Saivite). In the earlier phases, the three-tier merlon — at the top, middle and base of the fort — were renovated. Clearing of vegetation with stronger roots such as banyan using a tree-killer, a non-chemical substance, was a major achievement.

This was followed by the strengthening work, involving a series of reinforcing processes — crouting, pointing and brickwork and plastering.

Details were worked out for the renovation of the merlons. They were strengthened using lime, terminlia chevula (‘kadukkai’) and palm sugar (‘panai vellam’). To protect the ‘pushkarani’ at the fort, the ASI has set up a chain-link, which would prevent straying of cattle.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Tamil Nadu / by M. Balaganessin / Pudukottai – February 09th, 2016

Chennai doctors replace patient’s defective heart valve without using scalpel

Records, All, Science & Technologies

Chennai :

When 73-year-old Padmanabhan approached a city hospital with severe breathing difficulties, poor kidney function and high blood pressure, doctors found the answer to his problem in his heart.

It wasn’t a scalpel that mended his organ, but a thin tube inserted through the groin. Padmanabhan, a retiree, was diagnosed with severe narrowing of his aortic valve, which maintains one-way flow of the blood from the heart to other parts of the body.

While doing an open heart surgery was the only recourse for patients like him, doctors ruled out making the cut, citing his advanced age. “Besides, he was suffering from other conditions like severe asthma, high lung pressure and anemia. The odds were stacked against him,” said Dr G Sengottuvelu, interventional cardiologist at Apollo Hospitals.

As doctors went through medical literature and discussed ways to replace his valve without wielding a scalpel, time became a luxury. Padmanabhan’s heart was fast failing. “I couldn’t walk or lie on my back. I felt this constriction in my chest and couldn’t breathe. I prepared myself for any eventuality,” said Padmanabhan, who was presented before the media on Tuesday.

Doctors at the hospital decided to undertake a procedure that was fast gaining popularity in other countries but is still in the nascent stage in India — transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This minimally invasive procedure replaces the narrowed aortic valve with a valve made of bovine pericardium (membrane enclosing the heart), supported with a metal stent. The new valve is mounted on a catheter (a thin tube) and guided into the heart through a small hole in the leg.

Padmanabhan, who had been in and out of the hospital for more than a year, was discharged in four days. “For years I’ve been climbing the same flight of stairs at home and not once did I think of counting them. My battle with ailments made me do it as they crippled me. I aimed to climb the 21 stairs some day. I can finally do it now,” he said.

Padmanabhan will be remembered by the team of doctors who treated him for being the first to undergo TAVR at the hospital. “We need to undertake more such procedures as the risks are minimal compared to open heart surgery and the recovery is much faster,” said Dr Sengottuvelu.

However, although the procedure shows promises, the cost remains a hurdle. A single valve costs Rs 13 lakh. “The cost will come down probably if these valves are indigenously made. It will translate into lesser people going under the knife,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Chennai / Ekatha Ann / TNN / February 09th, 2016

Chennai-based Kids Win Medals, Set Records in Archery Events

Records, All, Sports

Chennai :

Two-year-old Aradhya Vedwan and 6-year-old Anoop Skanda, both residents of Chennai, have created unique records in the realm of children in sports. The former has been titled the world’s youngest archer, and was awarded Bronze for ‘Recurve Archery’ at the under-10 category. The latter won gold in the complex ‘Compound Archery’ category, making him the youngest in the world to hold the type of bow at any recognised event. They returned home after bagging medals at the National level archery competition conducted by the Archery Association of India at Vishakapatnam last week.

The two young awardees and record-setters were felicitated at their Archery training institute run by Shihan Hussaini. “Its not everyday when your student makes you so proud. That too children at such a tender age picking up an art like archery, its the best moment for a teacher like me,” he said at a press meet on Saturday at his ‘Dojo’ (institute).

6 YEAR OLD ANOOP SKANDA WAS AWARDED A GOLD MEDAL BY THE ARCHERY ASSOCIATION OF INDIA, DURING THE PRESS MEET ORGANISED BY SHIHAN HUSSAINI. EXPRESS/ MARTIN LOUIS. AMRUTHA STORY.
6 YEAR OLD ANOOP SKANDA WAS AWARDED A GOLD MEDAL BY THE ARCHERY ASSOCIATION OF INDIA, DURING THE PRESS MEET ORGANISED BY SHIHAN HUSSAINI. EXPRESS/ MARTIN LOUIS. AMRUTHA STORY.

The two archers both skilfully demonstrated their shooting techniques with their respective bows, to the  watching audience after being felicitated along with their parents who have also been training alongside them. “One parent is expected to train alongside the child, to act as a parent coach. It becomes like an addiction even for us,” says Ashwin Kumar, father of Anoop.

The class one student showed-off his skill in handling the complex and hefty ‘compound’ bow which his master declared has “never been held by a 6-year-old anywhere in the world. He even practices for 15 hours a day,” say his proud parents, who accompany him from Valasaravakkam to Besant Nagar for classes.

The other star of the show, Aradhya had picked up a plastic bow and arrow when she was just a year old – “there was no looking back after that,” say her mother Abhilasha, and father Kuldeep, national-level archers themselves. “She’s a very young child, so we didn’t know if she would listen if we told her to shoot. But upon seeing the crowd, she took aim and shot it right at the target,” said Hussaini.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service / February 07th, 2016

Centre bestows Chettinad cotton saris with ‘Indian Handloom Brand’ tag

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

Sivaganga:

In a big boost to a group of 650 weavers from Koviloor and Karaikudi in Sivaganga district under the Rajiv Gandhi Weavers’ Co-operative Society, the Union textile ministry has bestowed the ‘Indian Handloom Brand’ tag on Chettinad cotton saris, which would enable them to promote the material in the international market.

According to president of the society, S Palaniappan, when they (society members) attended the textile conference in Chennai last August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was impressed with their product. The textile committee authorities then asked the society to apply for the Indian Handloom Brand tag, which it did on September 28, last year. After the product was subjected to a series of testing, the society received an official communication from the textile ministry on January 6, about the tag.

Palaniappan said the society provides yarn to the weavers who spin the beautiful intricately designed saris in a hue of colours. “This is the traditional sari of the region, characterised by its silk-like texture and contrasting border and bodies colours, with intricate designs adorning the border,” he said.

The society has about 650 weavers, most of them women who are paid for their weaving, which they predominantly undertake in their homes. They comply with specifications of the textiles committee of 60 x60 (warp and weft) and also use permitted dyes. “The saris are suitable for both summer and winter, where the can keep the body warm or cool according to the climate,” said Palaniappan.

 Women in Karaikudi region, especially the elderly, take pride in owning these saris, which form a major portion of their wardrobe, some of which are even passed on for generations. Devanai of Athangudi, 75, said that she owns a 60-year-old sari that was given to her by her mother, which is still in good condition and looks new.

“The colours of these saris never fade, and unlike other cotton saris, they will retain their 48-inch width even after umpteen number of machine or hand washes,” said Palaniappan. He says that the Kancheepuram silk from Tamil Nadu has also received the tag.

The ‘India Handloom Brand’ is an endorsement to quality of the handloom products right from its inception, that is raw material, processing, embellishments, design besides compliances of social and environment.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India /News Home> City> Madurai / by Padmini Sivarajan, TNN / February 07th, 2016

Senna, an apt alternative for arid areas

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, World Opinion

SennaCF06feb2016

Official says it has a good market in Europe and many countries

‘Senna’ (Cassia angustifolia), a highly valued medicinal plant, could be an ideal alternative crop for paddy farmers in the arid district, said S. Tamil Vendhan, Deputy Director of Horticulture, here on Friday.

As the leafy tropical plant required less water and no application of fertilizers, farmers could take up its cultivation whenever there was uncertainty on the prospects of paddy crop.

Farmers in drought-prone Kamudhi, Mudukulathur, Kadaladi and Paramakudi areas could cultivate ‘senna’ as a late crop in the event of losing their paddy crop due to water scarcity during drought.

The plant, used as a natural laxative to treat constipation, had a good market in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other cold countries, Mr. Tamil Vendhan said.

As almost all parts of the plant — leaves, flowers, branches and roots — could be used as laxative, farmers could benefit to the maximum extent, he said. Marketing would never be a problem as representatives of companies and exporters would directly visit the field and procure the produce, he added.

The leaves and other parts were processed as powder and granules and capsules with ‘sennoside-B’ extracted from the leaves, he said. Farmers could harvest about 500 kg of leaves from one acre and sell them at Rs. 60 a kg with less input cost, he said.

As the plant was first introduced in Tirunelveli district from the European countries in the mid 18th century, it was popularly known as ‘Tinnevelley senna’ and widely cultivated in Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Virudhunagar districts. Farmers in Kamudhi and parts of Kadaladi and Sayalkudi areas had also started cultivating the medicinal plant, Mr. Tamil Vendhan said.

Instead of burning their fingers by repeatedly cultivating traditional crops, farmers could try cultivation of ‘Periwnkle’ (nithyakalyani) and dragon fruit cactus, both having varied medicinal benefits, he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Tamil Nadu /by D J Walter Scott / Ramanathapuram – February 06th, 2016