Trichy:

A stone pillar dating to 13th century CE, found near Gandarvakottai in Pudukkottai district, could finally unravel the mystery about the existence of ‘Meepozhi Nadu’ around Pudukkottai, says an archaeology enthusiast.

The 2.5 feet tall rectangular pillar was found while desilting the Periyakulam tank near Pichanathur. This second record, if proved correct, would certainly confirm the existence of Meepozhi Nadu.

“It was the stone inscriptions in Agatisvara temple near Varappur in Pudukkottai district which was the first finding that had the mention of Meepozhi Nadu,” says A Manikandan, a science teacher in a government school.

An archaeology enthusiast, Manikandan was the first who went along with his team to interpret the Tamil script in the pillar.

“The existence of Meepozhi Nadu, with Kovil Nallur as its capital, could be read in the stone inscriptions at the temple but there was hardly any other record until now. The fact that Gandarvakottai is known as Kovilur in the revenue records, there are chances that Kovilur would have been known as Kovil Nallur,” he said.

He further said that there could have been 15-20 villages under the Meepozhi Nadu, which could be the present Gandarvakottai.

“The inscription narrates the story on how an intruder named Sengulatharayan destroyed Kovil Nallur. The villager then approached Kadungolan, a warrior, to face Sengulatharayan,” said Manikandan.

The stone inscription is learned to have been carved in the early 13th century which was part of a temple. Two holes on both side of the pillar show that it was later also used as a sluice gate for the tank which eventually got buried.

There are chances that more such tank could have more inscriptions, further giving information on Meepozhi Nadu, added Manikandan.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Trichy / TNN / May 30th, 2016

Chennai  :

When you enter the fourth floor residence of Robert Kennedy at Royal Touch apartment in Kodambakkam, the first thing you’d notice is a vast collection of clocks and time pieces. Besides the clocks, you’ll find several typewriters, coffee grinders, lanterns, weighing machines and so on. Each item is as old as 150-200 years.

Robert, 52, has been collecting these antique pieces from the age of 16. It has been his passion to collect antique items for which he would tour the country. “I don’t buy these pieces from collectors or traders. I always search for scrap shops,” he says. Among the many typewriters he has, he showed us three worn-out machines from the US which date back to 1897.

These typewriters were the first prototype models declared as fully functional and successful. “The brands — Underwood and Woodstock — were two famous models of that time. The features of these typewriters were followed throughout the world till they became obsolete,” he explains. He bought these typewriters in Puducherry.

Robert then pulled out a briefcase which looked more like a kerosene stove. It was used by the US army in the World War-II and was made in Sweden. When he opened the case, the stove was still inside.

Explaining the reason for its look, he said, “It was made like a briefcase so that the army people would be able to carry it during the war,” he says. “I got it from a scrap shop in Kolkata.”

He also showed a binocular from WW-II vintage. It was used by the US navy and was considered as the most successful optical tool. “It was meant for the US Navy ships and was used in 1943,” he informs us.

Apart from all these archaic devices and artefacts, he has a coffee grinder, a candle stand which is 200 years old, gramophone records, cigarette pipes, a working steam engine, railway kerosene light and so on. Most of these pieces were bought from places like Tiruchy, Madurai, Puducherry and Kolkata.

Robert who has worked in a computer industry and now dabbles in real estate is afraid that his collections might get sold by the next generation. “I am afraid my next generation would sell and dispose all my collections. So before my time is over, I want to put them in a trust or a museum,” he says. Earlier when he started collecting all these antique pieces, they were not considered valuable and he got them at cheap rates. But now people are aware of their value and hence, he could not afford to buy such ancient items at throw-away prices.

Robert’s neighbours used to wonder how he sleeps at night with all such old collections. “People said the clocks, the weighing machines and the lanterns have all been mute witness to bygone eras. So all these may contain some evil spirits,” he laughs. “All these collections are like my children.”

A Machine That Weighs You in Stone

The most remarkable antique piece of all is the 260-year-old weighing machine. Unlike the modern-day machines, this one had a tall stand which connected the base where people are supposed to stand and a clock like round shape at the top which indicated the reading. “Till this date, it gives correct reading and is in a perfect condition. The company name is Salters Albion from England,” he says. Another weighing machine from Germany was 250-year-old. “During those times, the reading was mentioned in stones,” he said.

Cheap Buy Worth Crores

“My whole investment right from the start has been around Rs 40 lakh. But as per the current antique value at the international markets, I have in possessions materials worth Rs 9 crore. Most of the collections, I bought for Rs 3,000 or at the most Rs 9,000 for each item,” he explains.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Ashmita Gupta / May 31st, 2016

On the busy East Cost Road in Chennai in Tamil Nadu, most people give a cursory glance to a signboard that says ‘Dr Arun’s Camera Museum’ in the hamlet of Kovalam and make a mental note to check it out later. “I’ve heard so many people say they have passed the museum but never visited it,” laughs Dr A V Arun, a dentist and the founder of India’s first camera museum. He admits that since its launch in January, 40 people walk in each day, but he is sure that footfall will increase with time. “Across India, there are many private camera collectors, but I’m perhaps the first one to open up the collection for public viewing,” says the 46-year-old who displays over 1,500 cameras in the museum and several books on photography dating back to 1930. “I have more at home,” he says.

In 1998, a casual weekend stroll in Moore Market, a popular flea market in the city, ignited Arun’s pursuit to read, learn and collect cameras. “I saw two twin lens cameras in a broken-down condition. I bought them for `100 each and got home to read about them and tried to repair them,” he says. He doesn’t spend big on cameras. Even during work-oriented trips, he visits local flea markets to find rare cameras. “The stories on how I collected all these cameras would provide a more interesting read,” laughs the doctor. “I got them from an auto driver, a homemaker, senior photographers and others. A common sentiment was that they all wanted to pass it down to someone who would value it as much as they did.”

At the far end of the museum sits a six feet long large format studio camera, which he found in an attic of a third generation photographer’s home in Mysuru. “This young lad’s father and grandfathers were photographers, and he wanted to sell it to buy a bike,” Arun says with a smile. He believes that the camera would have been used in palaces to take photographs of maharajas. “You can’t move the camera, it’s meant to be in one place,” and he brings to attention that 75 per cent of his collection is in working condition. “The very old cameras, especially from the 30s, cannot be repaired simply because we do not have their parts.”

The oldest one is a 1870 British wooden field camera. Another rare piece is a mahogany camera from 1890. A World War II Air Force in the collection was found by a friend in Thailand. “It was specifically made for the US to take aerial shots,” says Arun.

“The idea of a museum came simply because I was running out of space in my house. Photography enthusiasts would want to visit and discuss, and it was taking up a lot of my family space and time,” explains the collector, who displayed his collection at the World Camera Fair in Chennai in 2012. “I hold workshops and lectures at the museum today. Most of the visual communication students have read about these cameras. Imagine their delight when they see one. It helps them understand the functioning of the equipment better,” says Arun, and adds that his first love will always remain wildlife photography.

Arun is asking people to donate used digital cameras for his community support initiative called Camera For All. “Many groups support the poor and hungry, I’m keen on supporting children who have a passion. Through Camera For All, we will identify children from the Kovalam fishing village who want to give photography a shot. We will give each child a digital camera, train them and help them discover photography. It could be a new lease of life for them,” he says.

Arun explains that “every country has a unique type of camera. There are approximately 1,000 kinds of twin lens cameras in the world. I only have 300 of them”. He will continue his search for rare, almost forgotten camera boxes.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Magazine / by Jayanthi Somasundaram / May 21st, 2016