Monthly Archives: December 2016
Jayalalithaa, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, passes away
Ms. Jayalalithaa’s health took a turn for the worse when she suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday evening at the Apollo Hospitals, Chennai.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa passed away at 11.30 p.m. on Monday at the Apollo Hospitals, Chennai. She was 68. The mortal remains of Ms. Jayalalithaa have been taken to her residence, Veda Nilayam, at Poes Garden, and after completion of rituals, will be taken to Rajaji Hall in Chennai on Tuesday for public homage. The cremation of the AIADMK leader is expected to take place on Tuesday next to the MGR samadhi, the memorial of her political mentor M.G. Ramachandran.
The government has announced a mourning period of 7 days and three-day holiday for schools and colleges.
Ms. Jayalalithaa’s health took a turn for the worse when she suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday evening at the Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, where she had been undergoing treatment since September 22 for dehydration and fever. She has been on extracorporeal life support since then.
Early on Monday evening, a few television channels erroneously reported that the Chief Minister had died, triggering emotional responses among AIADMK cadres assembled at the Apollo hospital premises and at party offices across Tamil Nadu. The hospital then released a bulletin that she was continuing to receive life support treatment.
The Chief Minister was hospitalised on September 22. A few days later the hospital consulted Dr. Richard Beale, a specialist from the Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital, London. It was then revealed that the treatment regimen included continued respiratory support, nebulisation, medicine to decongest the lungs, antibiotics, nutrition, general nursing care and supportive therapy.”
Her health appeared to improve over the coming weeks, and after more than 50 days in the hospital, Ms. Jayalalithaa, in a signed letter, said that she has taken a “rebirth” and that she was waiting to get back soon to routine official work.
Ms. Jayalalithaa was a reluctant entrant into films as well as politics but she succeeded in both; her film career began in 1965 with her first film ‘Vennira Aadai’. Ms. Jayalalithaa was Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister for 6 terms and has been in politics since 1982 when she joined the AIADMK and made her first speech on “Pennin Perumai” (The Greatness of a Woman).
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Tamil Nadu / by Internet Desk / Chennai – December 06th, 2016
dec 04th
A prof’s efforts to take science out of textbook
Chennai :
Balloons turn into air pressure models, DVDs transform into hovercraft and kitchen utensils become devices for physics experiments. For government middle school students, many of whom are without proper science labs in their schools, these Saturday sessions stretch their imagination, thanks to the efforts of Lata Kumar, former Anna University professor.
Her ‘Curious People’ science initiative, with the help of ‘select school students who moonlight as co-instructors, involves conducting these sessions for corporation school students from Classes 6 to 8.
Although a lot of classes draw from popular encyclopaedias of home experiments, she mixes her years of physics teaching. But why only middle school students? “Middle school is the right time to learn basic concepts in science visually and through hands-on experiments. Class 6 is when science is broken down into sub-branches. So we target those students,” says Kumar. Experiments are intended to expose students to science and kindle their inquisitive spirit. Topics like ‘light’ and ‘heat’ are learned from candle-glass experiments; botany is iodine-on-leaf test; and chemistry with ingredients like vinegar and baking soda.
Kumar says corporation schools in the city have been open to her ideas. Children improve social skills by interacting with their peers. The real driver, she says, is the general misconception about state board science syllabus not being good enough. “When I started designing the programme, I found the state board imitating CBSE. It is the teaching method and the way exams are conducted that need change. Only that can inspire real interest in the subject.”
Manoj Suresh, a Class 12 student of Akshar Arbol school who is a volunteer, explains a lesson. Children are told how laws of physics from acceleration to mass affect an action like a football kick. It is taught while they play the game .
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Chennai News / by Amrutha Varshini / TNN / December 03rd, 2016
Noted camera expert Julison Vincent passes away
Photo: HANDOUT_E_MAIL | Photo Credit: HANDOUT_E_MAIL
Noted camera expert Julison Vincent passed away here on Monday. He was 50.
Popular among photographers from the media and film industries, Julison, affectionately called Abbudu, was an expert in troubleshooting sophisticated cameras of any brand from any part of the world.
He is survived by wife Jane Julison, son Joshua and daughter Joshna.
Julison was brought to the industry by his father Vincent, who is also a camera technician. Late cinematographer A.Vincent was Julison’s paternal uncle.
“People in the industry consider Abbudu the best camera technician in the country. He would fix within minutes the cameras termed irreparable by the respective manufacturers,” said a photojournalist, who was his regular customer.
A philanthropist, he often declined to take money from poor customers, he recalled.
The last rites were performed at Fathima church in Kodambakkam on Wednesday.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Special Correspondent / December 01st, 2016
Teen swims towards an elusive gold
Chennai :
Like many others, Sharon Mary Cherian’s sporting career began by chance. It wasn’t to do with her wanting to pursue excellence in the field; it has an interesting story behind it. The swimmer has gradually managed to stack up quite a resume, her most recent success being a silver medal and three bronze medals at the CBSE Nationals in Bhopal held during November 15-18.
“I didn’t exactly start swimming because I was enamoured by the sport. I used to go for a swim with my elder sister when I was five, and we had lots of fun in the pool. But one day, a coach saw me and asked me to enroll at a local swimming club, saying that I had potential. However, shortly after that I got tonsillitis and had to undergo surgery. That kept me away from the pool a while, and technically, I only started swimming properly when I was nine,” Sharon says.
Hailing from a family with a sporting background, the Class 11 commerce student at Schram Academy got great support to pursue swimming. “My mom, dad and sister played badminton, so they’re well versed in the field. And that translated to me as well, and they’ve always been supportive of my swimming,” she added.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Ravi Iyer / Express News Service / November 30th, 2016