Dsudee and her family use the stove which reduces emissions, uses less fuel and cooks
Chennai:
At the crack of dawn, 14-year-old Dsudee begins an arduous journey to collect firewood. Shivering under her monkey cap and sweater, the Class 9 resident of Khalsa village in Uttarakhand struggles through rocky terrain and uneven paths. She repeats this trip thrice a day, walking nearly 18km in total. Once home, she helps her grandmother make a tall stack of rotis for the family, coughing and battling tears due to the clouds of smoke from the chulha or mud stove. But her difficult lifestyle is slowly changing for the better after ‘clean stoves’ were distributed to houses in her village as part of the Himalayan Clean Cooking Project (HCCP).
Launched by the Chennai Hub of the Global Shapers Community and the Himalayan Environment Trust in 2014, the project seeks to supply clean cooking stoves to remote mountain communities. These stoves combust the same fuels – wood and biomass – more efficiently. “We got the idea when we were stuck in a hailstorm during a trek in Himachal Pradesh. We took shelter in a hut but the smoke was suffocating,” says Varun Gunaseelan, project director.
In an article on the World Health Organisation (WHO) site dated March 2014, an estimated 700 million people in India still rely on solid fuels and traditional cook stoves for domestic cooking. It further states that having an open fire in the kitchen equivalent to burning 400 cigarettes an hour. Women and young children are considered the first victims of smoke-related acute and chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. “According to WHO estimates, in 2012 there were close to 1.7 million premature deaths attributed to household air pollution from cooking in the Southeast Asia region with India shouldering the biggest burden,” it says.
After extensive research and surveys, the HCCP team distributed their first batch of single-burner stoves to all the 55 households in Sidri village in Uttarakhand, last year. “We conducted road shows and live demonstrations by boiling water. On seeing that the water heated much faster, many locals placed orders,” says Varun, adding that the stoves were provided at a discounted price of 1,000.
The village headman, Ram Singh Pawar, said that households continued to use the appliance as it produced ‘less smoke, cooked food faster and used lesser wood.’
For the next phase of the project, the team partnered with Puducherry-based social enterprise, Prakti, to provide double-burner stoves suited for Himalayan families. The stoves accommodate wood, cow dung and agricultural wastes without processing while the steel combustion chambers ensure the fuels combust more completely.
“The stoves produce 80% to 95% less smoke compared to traditional mud stoves and three-stone fires. It also uses 40% to 80% less fuel and reduces deforestation,” says Prakti program officer Mimi Liu, adding that cooking time is brought down by about 70%.
Limited access to healthcare facilities in these remote areas makes fuel-efficient stoves the need of the hour.
“Using these stoves is crucial as early exposure to large amounts of smoke and pollutants could lead to asthma, wheezing or bronchitis in children below five years and prolonged exposure can cause lung cancer,” says Dr Samantha Balaji, who is pursuing her masters in paediatrics.
The team now conducts periodic roadshows and awareness programmes through student volunteers for various mountain communities on clean cooking methods.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Chennai / Aditia Maithereya / TNN / July 24th, 2016
From Singapore to Saidapet, alumni of Madras Christian College are gearing up for a reunion of a lifetime. Celebrating 179 years of the institution, students from across generations will come together for the second Global Alumni Reunion on August 6-7.
At 125 years old, the MCC Alumni Association, which is organising the event, is the oldest in the country. Members of the association have been putting the word out for more than three months. “Many alumni have booked tickets from across the world to fly in for this special event,” says C Selvaraj, secretary of the association, and as some students would remember, former head of the Department of Economics.
Besides posting the details on social media where the excitement is abuzz, and sending out e-invites for the reunion, the alumni group has sent out about 1,000 postal letters — so as not to miss out on the elderly who don’t have an e-mail address. With close to 2,000 people expected, on similar lines of the first Global Alumni Reunion held three years ago, even a rather formal principal R W Alexander Jesudasan is unable to keep the nostalgia out of his voice.
“It’s really moving to see our past students (although they may be old now) go back to the rooms where they once stayed on campus… with a sort of child-like excitement,” he recalls. “It’s really a sight to behold.”
With a reputation for showcasing some of the best musicians and bands over the years as well, MCC has planned two performances — one, a trip down memory lane put together by the alumni and the other, by present students for the alumni. Veteran musician Timmy Madhukar, who is coordinating the show, gives us a preview. “We’ve got all the favourite tunes that were blasted in the halls back in the day — Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, a little bit of John Denver…”
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express Features / July 18th, 2016
The Royal Society of Biology, London, has elected S. Vincent, Dean of research, Loyola College, as a fellow of Royal Society of Biology, a press release said. By its resolution, the society elected Mr. Vincent on July 1 for his outstanding contribution to biological sciences, the release said. Mr. Vincent came up with a biophysical method for quickly finding the levels of metal accumulation and toxicity based on electrical conductivity of proteins.
His contribution will help solve crisis in water management and vector-borne disease management. — Staff Reporter
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Staff Reporter / Chennai – July 24th, 2016
The author of Tamil prayer Neeradum Kadaludutha was a philosopher, historian and epigraphist
He is known as the author of the Tamil prayer Neeradum Kadaludutha , which is part of his verse drama ‘Manonmaniam’. But few people know that P. Sundaram Pillai was a philosophy professor at the Maharaja’s college in Trivandram for over 15 years and the work was dedicated to Robert Harvey, Professor and Head of the Department of the College.
Sundaram Pillai, who died at the age of 42 in 1897, was also a historian, an epigraphist and a government official who held the post of Commissiones of separate revenue.
“He dedicated his work to Dr. Harvey as it was he who had recommended the appointment of Sundaram Pillai in his place after he decided to leave for England. He had even named his house as Harverypuram,” said A.K. Perumal, whose new book Manonmaniam Sundaranarin Innorupakkam (‘The other side Manonmaniam Sundaram’, NCBH), throws light on the multi-faceted personality of the author of the Tamil prayer.
‘Manonmaniam’ has its roots in Lord Litten’s ‘The Secret Way’, which was part of the collection of ‘The Lost Tales of Miletus’.
It was made into a film by Modern Theatres in 1942. The prayer song was set to music by late M.S. Viswanathan, but M. Karunanidhi, the then Chief Minister, deleted a few lines.
Sundaram Pillai’s family was from Kalakadu in Tirunelveli district and moved to Alapuzha in the 18th century.
“He had studied Tamil in school. It is not clear how he had learnt Tamil literature in Kerala even though he was in touch with great Tamil scholars of his time, including U.Ve. Swaminatha Iyer and C.V. Damodaram Pillai,” said Mr. Perumal.
When he was the principal of the MDT Hindu School he learnt Saiva Siddantha from Kodakanallur Sundara Swamigal and held a long discussion with Swami Vivekananda during his visit to Kerala.
As the Commissiones of separate revenue, the temple management was under his control and it came in handy for his research on epigraphs.
“As a historian he established with substantial evidence that Saivaite saint Thirugnana Sambandar belonged to 7th century and his English essay on the subject was published in the journal of the Madras Christian College. He also wrote an early sovereign of Travancore, an in-depth study of Travancore history,” said Mr Perumal, who has collected the essays.
Lost letters
“Unfortunately, we are not able to get many of his letters and photographs. Since he was a Congressman, police seized many documents from his residence, including his correspondence with Swami Vivekananda. They are lost permanently,” said Mr. Perumal.
‘He was in touch with great Tamil scholars of his time, including U.Ve. Swaminatha Iyer’
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by B. Kolappan / Chennai – July 24th, 2016
The 26th annual conference of the Tamil Nadu Archaeology Association was held at Kaveripattinam here on Saturday.
Scholars, archaeologists, epigraphists, and students attended the conference.
The theme of the conference was themed around Aavanam or Documentation by the Tamil Nadu Archaeology Association. Exclusive journals on archaeology and epigraphy were released on the day.
Arun Raj, Superintendent Archaeologist, ASI, Bengaluru, presented a report on Arthipura excavation of the Jain Site near Maddur in Hassan district of Karnataka.
The special paper on the excavation was presented by Arun Raj, Superintendent Archaeologist, ASI, Bengaluru. The structure and artifacts that were part of the discovery made in November 2015, is a significant 9th century AD excavation for South Indian Jainism. Arthipura is about 50 kilometers from Shravanabelagola. The excavation was a four-month-long process, Mr. Arun Raj told The Hindu .
“This is the first presentation after the major discovery as far as South Indian Jainism is concerned,” he said. Amarnath Ramakrishnan, Superintendent Archaeologist, ASI, Chennai, presented the Keezhadi excavation that revealed ancient settlements dating back to the Sangam age.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Tamil Nadu / by Staff Reporter / Krishnagiri – July 24th, 2016
A view of the Our Lady of Snows Shrine Basilica in Thoothukudi.— Photo: N. Rajesh
Arrangements are under way for the 434th festival of Our Lady of Snows Shrine Basilica here.
About five lakh people are expected to take part in the 11-day annual festival which will begin on July 26 with a flag-hoisting ceremony at 7.30 a.m. Special prayer services would be conducted throughout the festival, Rev. Fr. Lerin De Rose, Rector and Parish Priest of the Basilica, told media persons here on Saturday.
Detailing the programmes, he said a compact disc titled ‘Punitha Maadha’ would be released and cultural programmes conducted in the evening on all festival days. The festival was not confined to Christians as people of all faiths would participate in the celebrations.
People from across India and from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries were expected to attend the festival.
Accommodation would be provided at Eskalin Illam, St. La Salle School and Das Navis Madha Girls School. On the eve of flag hoisting ceremony, a flag procession would be taken out. Bishop of Thoothukudi Roman Catholic Diocese Rev. Fr. Yvon Ambrose, former Archbishop of Madurai RC Diocese Rev. Peter Fernando and Rev. Fr. Antony Devotta of Tiruchi RC Diocese would conduct prayer services at the Basilica, he said.
Assistant Parish Priest Fr. Viniston, Bro. Jegadis, S. Lasington Fernando, vice- president, Parish Council, J. Johny Boy, secretary, and G. Motha, treasurer, were present.
The district Administration has declared a local holiday on August 5, the feast day when and festival comes to a close.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Tamil Nadu / by Staff Reporter / Thoothukudi – July 24th, 2016
A team of doctors of Government Hospital in Manapparai on Saturday performed a spine surgery on a 27-year-old labourer. It was said to be the first spine surgery performed at the GH in Manapparai ever since it was upgraded as District Headquarters hospital recently.
Though the GH was yet to get many facilities on par with a district hospital, the doctors have successfully performed the surgery that lasted for three hours and removed a neurogenic tumour over spinal cord.
Ravi Selvakumar (27) of Puthupatti near Manapparai, who underwent the surgery, was recuperating well.
John Viswanath, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, who performed the surgery along with anaesthetist Malai Durai, said there was no post operative neurological deficit in the patient’s leg. He was responding to the treatment well.
It was successfully done with the cooperation of family members of Selvakumar. He preferred the surgery at the Manapparai GH after visiting a few leading hospitals and a Central government hospital in Puducherry. He said the surgery would cost Rs.80,00 to Rs.1 lakh in private hospitals. It had proved that complicated surgeries could be done at GH on par with private hospitals.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / Special Correspondent / Tiruchi – July 24th, 2016
It was a matter of great pride for Alliance Francaise in India that all instructors in its 17 centres are Indian nationals: Director
On the job:Pierre Emanuel Jacob, Director, Alliance Francaise Madras (AFM), Sarah Belrhali, course director with L. Geetha Sree, Tiruchi centre in-charge, on Saturday.— Photo: M. Moorthy
“Alliance Francaise Madras looking at expanding faculty in satellite institutes”
The popularity of French language learning in India is not just proof of the warm relationship between France and India, but also reflective of a globalised workplace where knowing the language could be a plus for Indians in multinational companies too, say top officials of Alliance Francaise Madras (AFM).
Speaking to The Hindu ahead of a function to felicitate the 27 students of the centre’s Tiruchi chapter who had passed Diplome D’Etudes En Langue Francaise (DELF), Levels A1 and A2 exams, at Sri Sivananda Balalaya’s Ramalinga Nagar campus, Pierre-Emmanuel Jacob, Director, AFM, said,
“There are over 80 French companies in Tamil Nadu, and nearly all of them require workers who are fluent or at least competent in French, besides technical skills. So it is a plus now to know the language. There is also an attraction towards France among Indians – who associate it with culture, arts and love. French is the second foreign language taught nationwide, so we are already dealing with students who have had some exposure to it at school level.”
When asked about maintaining the quality of instruction, Sarah Belrhali, Deputy Director – Course Director, AFM, said, “It is important to have a high standard for our teachers from the beginning. We hold regular training workshops for them, which includes making them spend time in France, so that they can learn to communicate like a native speaker. We also conduct student surveys to find out if their requirements are being met.”
Mr. Jacob added that it was a matter of great pride for Alliance Francaise in India that all the instructors in its 17 centres are Indian nationals. “Sometimes they have greater mastery over French than even the native speakers, such is their dedication,” he said.
The centre would be looking at expanding the faculty in satellite institutes in Madurai and Coimbatore based on demand, said the officials.
The Tiruchi branch (established in 2010) has 38 students under the tutelage of L. Geetha Sree in the current batch.
Till date, 500 Tiruchi centre students have cleared the DELF exams.
Saturday’s function started with two minutes of silence in homage to the victims of the recent terror attacks in the French city of Nice.
Students presented a short cultural show in French, featuring a song, a recipe demonstration, and a skit, among other items.
Ms. Geetha Sree, co-ordinated the function, which also had K.G. Meenakshi, Correspondent, Sri Sivananda Balalaya, as a special guest. The AFM, a non-profit organisation, was established in 1953.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / Nahla Nainar / Tiruchi – July 24th, 2016
Dharun Ayyasamy (19) from Tirupur district who qualified for Rio Olympics.
Dharun lost his father 11 years ago, and has been supported in his sporting endeavours by his mother K. Poongodi, a teacher.
The first lap of this race was difficult, but the track is clear now for Dharun Ayyasamy, a 19-year old lad from a village near Avinashi.
He has qualified for the Rio Olympics to represent India in the 4 X 400 metres relay, and what is more, has found sponsors. But he has had to fight many odds to get here.
Dharun lost his father 11 years ago, and has been supported in his sporting endeavours by his mother K. Poongodi, a teacher in a private school in Kaniyampoondi here.
“Only after Dharun got silver medals in the junior South Asian Federation games in Jharkand a few years ago, did financial support start coming. Till he started winning medals, only my brother Boopathy, my sister Mohana and her husband Sivakumar were extending financial support”, Ms. Poongodi told The Hindu . She fondly recalls the contributions of Sakthi Kumar and J. Alagesan, the school coaches who tutored him on the nuances of athletics, especially running and hurdles.
College gives stipend
A monthly stipend of Rs. 15,000 given by Alva’s College of Arts at Moodabidri in Karnataka, where Dharun is a student of BA (Human Resources) has provided relief, helping the family meet sundry expenses incurred to participate in sports events.
The Olympic qualification has brought in the Union Government, which is taking care of all training costs.
Financial help from private bodies and individuals too has come after the Olympics entry and the media attention that followed. The Tirupur Exporters Association, Rotary Club in Avinashi and some personal contributors have extended financial support to the family.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Tamil Nadu / R. Vimal Kumar / Tirupur – July 23rd, 2016
Searching for some information the other day I was delving into The Madras Tercentenary Commemoration Volume when I noticed that there had been an officially constituted Madras Tercentenary Celebration Committee in1939 and that it had been chaired by a Dewan Bahadur S E Runganadhan. The name struck a chord and I recalled having written briefly about him in his role as Vice Chancellor of the University of Madras. It was as Vice Chancellor (1937-40) that he had ensured the publication in 1939 of the 20,000-word addendum to the Tamil Lexicon (1924-1936). And it was while Vice Chancellor that he had steered the celebrations of Madras’s 300th birthday, which included the publication of the Tercentenary Volume and a History of Madras by Rao Saheb C S Srinivasachari who had been the first Professor of History at Annamalai University.
Srinivasachari’s Vice Chancellor at Annamalai University had been its first, Samuel Ebenezer Runganadhan (1929-35). Starting from scratch, Runganadhan had developed at Chidambaram the country’s first private university to a level of the country’s pioneering ones — Calcutta, Bombay, Madras and Allahabad. Runganadhan had come to Annamalai after heading a college and teaching English at Presidency from 1908 to 1915 and heading that famed Department from 1919 to 1929.
The quintessential ‘brown sahib’ in immaculate Western attire, speaking impeccable English perfectly pronounced, and displaying the elegant manners of English gentry, he was considered a better teacher of English than any Englishman. It was only his occasional outbursts of temper over carelessness and shoddy work that cracked the veneer, it was said. But it was also said that it was the standards that he set that helped Annamalai University sink deep roots and grow into an institution of repute, a reputation unsullied until recent years.
Invited to serve on the Council of the Secretary of State for India in 1940, Runganadhan moved to London and from there it was but a step to being appointed High Commissioner of the Government of India in 1943, the year he was knighted. He was succeeded by V K Krishna Menon in 1947, who became Independent India’s first representative in the U.K.
The years immediately after the end of the war in Europe saw Indian students wanting to come to the U.K. for higher studies; the U.S. had not yet been ‘discovered’. But with its own war veterans returning to civvy life and Britain’s limited number of universities and polytechnics having to cater to them, Sir Samuel had his hands full trying to find seats for Indian students (I was one he couldn’t help) — especially with all the pressures being exerted on him. Getting Indian victims of the war — the wounded in hospitals, stranded sailors from torpedoed ships, and released prisoners-of-war — back home with the limited passages available was another problem that he had to tackle. And not least of all, he had to ensure the supplies India’s nascent industries needed. But he coped and survived and returned to India to enjoy a long retired life involved with various Christian activities like the Christian Medical Colleges and the YMCA.
The Best cricketers
The mention of A W Stansfeld of Best & Co in this column on June 13 reminded me of an era when the British business houses expected their ‘officers’ (they’re ‘executives’ nowadays) to be members of clubs and participate in the activities of such institutions, particularly in sport. Stansfeld’s firm (later Best & Crompton) was one of the most sports-minded of the lot and contributed significantly to Presidency teams and sports administration. Stansfeld, like Robert Carrick, Robert Denniston (later to be knighted) and E K Shattock, played cricket for the State and was to later say that the fact that he enjoyed playing cricket had a great deal to do with his being recruited by Denniston.
When Stansfeld sailed for India in 1937, Best’s London representative cabled Madras, “Sending A W Stansfeld. Left hand bat, played Kent Second Eleven.” Hastening Stansfeld’s departure from London was the fact that he was needed to replace Raymond King who was going on Home Leave. King himself was to remember his arrival in Madras at about 9.30 a.m. on a Sunday morning in January 1929. No sooner had he sat for breakfast with a colleague in the chummery, there was a call for him. It was from Denniston. “The A team (Madras Cricket Club) is one short,” said the legendary Denniston (Miscellany, July 28, 2003) after the usual warm welcome. “Would you be a good chap and join us?” And, since you don’t say ‘no’ to the boss even if you have spent two nights on the train for Bombay, there was R M King, later to be Chairman and Managing Director of the Company, on the field at 11.30 a.m.! He goes on to recollect, “At lunch, I signed the membership form and by 6 pm the following day I performed a similar action for the Gymkhana Club as I was required to play rugger against HMS Emerald on the Thursday of my first week.”
The most talented of the Best cricketers was, however, the burly Robert Black (Bob) Carrick. The ‘Four Musketeers’ of early Madras cricket were Daniel Richmond (also to be later knighted), Robert Denniston (Denny to all), C P Johnstone and H P Ward, the former two for their administrative contributions though their cricketing role was not insignificant, the latter two for their cricketing prowess, making the two Oxbridge Blues amongst the best ever in Madras cricketing history. But if they were the musketeers, they needed a D’Artagnan. And that was Bob Carrick.
Carrick, described as the ‘Jessop’ of Madras cricket and a player who could hit sixes on request, it was said, played for the Presidency for 18 years, including turning out against A E Gilligan’s team in 1927. C Ramaswami described this public school (Winchester) product as “the idol of the crowds”, a “natural cricketer who lifted the ball over the ropes with ease. His off-drives and hits to the long-off and long-on were pleasing to watch. Brilliant in fielding, his medium paced bowling was often used.” But typical of the best sportsmen of the age, Carrick was an outstanding all-rounder.
By 1929, Carrick had won the South India Golf Championship at Ooty nine times, on every occasion he participated. He played hockey for the MCC’s title winning teams, he muddied himself at rugby and soccer for the Gymkhana Club in championship events, and was a regular at the South Indian Tennis Championships. They don’t make them like that any more.
The Tom Kibble wedding
A picture out of the past
Prof. Rani Siromoney of Madras Christian College sends me this wedding picture from the past through Prof. Joshua Kalapati, the chronicler of MCC, as a reminder of the connection Prof. Tom Kibble, F.R.S., internationally renowned mathematical physicist, who passed away recently, had with MCC. He was the son of Prof. Walter Frederick Kibble, the third head of MCC’s Department of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, a department Kibble Sr. served from 1924 to 1961. His wife Janet was head of the women’s hostel in Guindy.
Tom Kibble was born in Madras, when MCC was in George Town, and grew up in Tambaram till he left for the U.K. for higher studies in the 1940s. In Madras, he schooled at Doveton Corrie. I wonder how many there remember him.
Walter Kibble was the mentor for several students who went on to teach at MCC, like Rani and Gift Siromoney and George Abraham.
Today’s picture of Tom Kibble’s wedding dates to 1957 and on the extreme right are Walter and Janet Kibble.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Metroplus / by S. Muthiah / June 19th, 2016
