Category Archives: Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Madurai girl dribbles basketballs for 6km, enters Limca Book of Records

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All, Sports

Madurai :

A 13-year-old girl from here has successfully entered into the Limca Book of Records for dribbling two basketballs simultaneously for a distance of six km. The girl, who skated throughout the distance, achieved the record in 29 minutes and 58 seconds. The 13-year-old L S Sivashree is known to make everyone awestruck with her feats as she often engages herself in doing many impossible tasks. She is also a state-level under-14 basket ball player and an athlete who loves to run on long tracks.

Sivashree did the dribbling for Limca a few months back amidst thundering applause from the crowds on the busy Kamarajar Salai. She, along with her father L S Sundaramoorthy, a sports trainer and her younger sister L S Yogashree were all on cloud nine when they received the copy of the book recently. Although they received an official e-mail with confirmation and the copy of book with her record under ‘Human Story’ category, they are still awaiting the certificate. Like Sivashree, Yogashree too is keen in athletics and basketball.

A Class 8 student of Meenakshi School at Vandiyur Mariamman Theppakulam where she resides, an enthusiastic Sivashree said, “I want to participate in the Olympic Games and bring laurels to the nation in athletics event. Not only in sports, I’m also good in studies too. I always score more than 80% in all the subjects.”

“Sivashree in earlier attempts ran for 30 km when was just five years old. When she was six she ran for 10.5 km by dribbling a basketball. In another attempt she dribbled a ball while skating for 19 km when she was seven years. We have presented them to the Guinness records but they have not even considered the little girl,” said Sundaramoorthy.

“In the next level, I want prove my talent in running and basketball at the national level. I have been undergoing rigorous training to come up at the national level,” Sivashree said.

Sundaramoorthy said that during his school days he wanted to pursue basketball and table tennis seriously but was rejected citing his height. He then took up kho-kho and athletics to emerge as a state player. From then, he has been coaching his two daughters to groom them into the international level, he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / by v. Devanathan, TNN / May 23rd, 2014

Of heritage, gyaan and quizzes

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence
Participants at the India Heritage Quiz 2014 at Asian College of Journalism | Albin Mathew
Participants at the India Heritage Quiz 2014 at Asian College of Journalism | Albin Mathew

Chennai :

Did you know that Mysore Pak was created by Kakasura Madappa? Several other quiz questions such as these were thrown at students from classes seven to nine from across the State at the INTACH India Heritage Quiz 2014.

The nation-wide contest was organised by The Indian National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage (INTACH) as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, in collaboration with Xpress Minds Edutainment. It tested the students’ knowledge of Indian culture and heritage.

On Thursday, the Tamil Nadu zonal final was conducted at the Asian College of Journalism, Taramani, for students of nine schools. They were among the 150 students who were shortlisted from 40 schools in Puducherry, Ooty, Kodaikanal, Salem, Madurai, Tiruchy, Coimbatore and Chennai.

The winner, an all-girls team comprising Adithya Sivasankar and G Prashanthi from Sri Akilandeswari Vidyalaya, Tiruchy, was selected to participate in the National finals to be held in New Delhi.

Sarayu S from INTACH, said that quiz contests like these were designed to give the right exposure and motivate students to know about heritage.

“Heritage is more about the way we think. We all need to ponder along the lines of what our workplace or home would have been before. This gives a whole new perspective, and would interest kids. When they are tuned to think this way, conducting quizzes will further help them to be on track,” she said.

The organisation has also created heritage clubs in schools, where periodic activities such as presentations and role plays are conducted to enhance the students’ knowledge.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / July 19th, 2014

JMC’s students cooperative store adjudged best

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All
Jamal Mohamed College Students Cooperative Stores, Tiruchi, being awarded as the Best Student Cooperative Stores / .Photo: Special Arrngement / The Hindu
Jamal Mohamed College Students Cooperative Stores, Tiruchi, being awarded as the Best Student Cooperative Stores / .Photo: Special Arrngement / The Hindu

The store managed to achieve a sales turnover of Rs.13 lakh last year and a maximum dividend of 14 per cent has been paid to its members for the last 20 Years.

Jamal Mohamed College Students Cooperative Store has been adjudged the best store among the 276 student cooperative stores functioning in Tiruchi district for the year 2012-13. It won the award for the second consecutive year.

The store has been functioning as an outstanding student store ever since it came into being in 1953. All the students of Jamal Mohamed College are enrolled as members of this store. The teaching and non-teaching members have also been admitted as members and they have to pay a share capital of Rs.100. The student store at present accounted for 109 teachers and non-teaching staff as members and over 2,500 students as associates. The store managed to achieve a sales turnover of Rs.13 lakh last year and a maximum dividend of 14 per cent has been paid to its members for the last 20 Years.K. K. Selvaraj, Managing Director, Tiruchi District Cooperative Union, handed over the shield to Khaja Nazeemudeen, Secretary and Correspondent of the College, and Khaleel Ahamed, treasurer, in the presence of Mohamed Salique, Principal, and Syed Ghayas Ahmed, secretary of the cooperative stores.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / by Special Correspondent / Tiruchi – July 20th, 2014

Festival of Our Lady of Snows Basilica to Start on Saturday

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Our Lady of Snows Shrine Basilica in Thoothukudi
Our Lady of Snows Shrine Basilica in Thoothukudi

Thoothukudi :

The 432nd year celebrations of Our Lady of Snows Shrine Basilica, popularly known as ‘Madha Kovil’, would begin from July 26, said Father, Lerin Deroze.

Talking to press persons here on Saturday, Father Lerin said that the festival would be celebrated on the same date as that of 2013 and there would be no change in the programmes also. The festival would begin with the flag hoisting ceremony on July 26 which would be presided by Bishop of Thoothukudi Diocese Ivan Ambrose. Bishop of Madurai Diocese Peter Fernando would be the special guest.

The car festival would conducted be on August 5 and the next day, the flag would be lowered marking the culmination of the festival, Father Lerin informed.

The Madha Kovil festival does not belong to particular Parish and it was celebration of all the 22 Parish in the Pearl City. During the entire course of festival, people from individual Parish would offer special prayers in the Basilica. He noted that similar to last year, a music CD on Our Lady of Snows would be released during the festival. But, this year, a new book on Our Lady of Snows compiled by several old poets from Thoothukudi would be released on August 2, Father Lerin added.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service / July 20th, 2014

As she turns 100, nurse takes a walk down time

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technologies

Chennai :

With a rusty trunk in hand and a plethora of instructions in mind, Anna Jacob boarded SS Franconia from Bombay to Liverpool to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. “It was 1947. There were 3,500 passengers on board, and most of them were Britons returning home,” says Jacob, 67 years later.

The journey lasted three weeks. “There was a badminton court, a swimming pool, a live band. Many of them were upbeat as they all were returning home at last,” says Jacob, her face breaking into a wrinkled smile.

Jacob, who will turn 100 this month-end, was among the first batch of students who completed the higher grade nursing course from Christian Medical College, Vellore, in 1936. In the city to attend the centenary celebration of Women’s Christian College, where she did an intermediate course in 1946, she recounts her days with Dr Ida Scudder, founder of CMC, and Vera Pitman, her nursing tutor.

Jacob, fondly called Annamma by her family and friends, surprises people with her sharp memory. “I still remember the day Miss Pitman came to our school in Tiruvalla, Kerala,” she recalls. “She was really tall and graceful, but what drew people to her was her passion for what she did — nursing. Fifteen minutes into her talk on the need for dedicated nurses in the country, I had already made up my mind to join her team in Vellore.”

Her family members were aghast as “Nursing was looked down at that time. No woman from a good family would get into the profession.” When I broke the news to my family that I was moving to Vellore, they were aghast. News spread fast and my father received condolence letters,” said Jacob, who was the third among five sisters. Undeterred, she went on to be among the first batch of nine students under Pitman. “It was the best move I made in my life,” says Jacob.

After completing her course three years later, Jacob moved on to work in Delhi, before she got a scholarship in 1947 to do a bachelor’s in Canada. “A month later, I saw myself on board SS Franconia and later made my way from Liverpool to Montreal,” she said. She returned to Vellore two years later, where she was made the Nursing Superintendent. She worked there from 1949 to 1974.

Pitman continued mentoring her through letters from London. “She said it was up to me to now to pass on what I was taught. And that’s what I did and continue doing,” says Jacob, who stays on her own in Vellore and continues mentoring young nurses.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by Ekatha Ann John, TNN / July 20th, 2014

 

Tamil Nadu govt institutes award in poet Ilango Adigal’s name

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Tamil Nadu govt institutes award in poet Ilango Adigal's name
Tamil Nadu govt institutes award in poet Ilango Adigal’s name

Chennai :

The Tamil Nadu government has instituted an award in the name of Ilango Adigal, the author of “Silappathikaram,” which is one of the five great epics in Tamil literature, to honour people who have done pioneering work in the field of literature.

Chief minister J Jayalalithaa said in the assembly that the award would be presented to individuals credited with similar feat in the literary world and who spearhead the cause of classical literature. “The award, carrying Rs 1 lakh in cash, one sovereign gold medal and a citation, will be presented during the Tamil New Year in April,” she said.

Similarly, the government has instituted ‘Tamil Chemmal’ award to honour people who have made big contributions for the development of Tamil in every district. It would carry a cash prize of Rs 25,000 and a citation.

Jaylalithaa said two new buildings would be constructed at Tamil University in Thanjavur. A museum to showcase the life of ancient Tamils would be opened at the International Tamil Research Institute in Taramani, Chennai.

“My government’s efforts will develop Tamil language, encourage Tamil enthusiasts and help the future generations know about the ancient Tamils’ values,” she said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by Julie Mariappan, TNN / July 25th, 2014

Chennai turns hub for broadcast technology

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Science & Technologies
A girl poses for a picture with special lights used in TV studios at a stall in an exhibition on broadcast equipment and technology in Chennai on Friday. — DC
A girl poses for a picture with special lights used in TV studios at a stall in an exhibition on broadcast equipment and technology in Chennai on Friday. — DC

Chennai:

Chennai is turning out to be a major hub for broadcast equipment manufacturers. To showcase the latest equipment, the trade organised an expo in the city.

Speaking to DC on Friday on the sidelines of the two-day international exhibition on broadcast equipment and technology on Friday, Satish Aggarwal, president of the association, said that this was the first in a series of exhibitions their association would organise.

“We chose to organise the exhibition in Chennai as it had several top TV channels in the country.  In the first hour of opening the expo, we had 150 registrations which show the kind of overwhelming response the city has given us. We expect the registration to touch 1,000,” he said.

Further, Mr Aggarwal said that in terms of logistics too Chennai provides good air connectivity to world’s top destinations which made them select Chennai to bring all broadcast equipment manufacturers under one roof.

Mr Masayoshi Hirashita, sales manager, Ikegami Electronics Asia Pacific Private Limited, a six-decade-old company manufacturing TV camera systems and video production accessories, said that the company had several Chennai-based Tamil channels as their clients. “We have provided latest equipment to many Tamil channels and we have come again to display our latest equipment,” he said.

Shyam, a broadcast engineer, says that Chennai boasts of being a hub for satellite channels as the cable TV industry in the city dates back to early ‘90s. “Even before anybody launched a satellite channel for Tamil, Chennaittes stahad started connecting to cable TVs to view foreign  channels,” he said.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC / by  N. Arun Kumar / July 19th, 2014

These keerai farmers use cars, Facebook to sell their produce

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature

keerai-farmersCF23jul2014

Chennai :

When farmers are quite reluctant to encourage their kids to pursue agriculture, who head to cities for new jobs, a group of men have turned farmers, leaving their corporate jobs behind. Yes, you read that right! How many of us would give up high-paying jobs to be the change we want to see? Nallakeerai, a farming initiative, which was started by R Jagannathan, formerly a business manager with a city-based firm, and his friend, in 2011, aims to influence people to switch to organic farming.

Inspired by organic farmers in the State, including popular organic farming scientist who passed away last year G Nammalvar, this experimental cultivational venture has made many farmers in the Melappedu village take up organic farming, besides attracting more takers with their door delivery services of the organic produce.

Currently, Nallakeerai cultivates 30 varieties of spinach and sells 10 lakh bundles within the city per month. “Organic greens have a huge market. Even in half an acre of land, we can cultivate greens. I was able to produce 45 varieties of greens in one cycle,” says Jagannathan.

“The biggest challenge was to create a customer base. That’s where agriculture marketing consultants come in. We use Facebook to promote Nallakeerai and have volunteers who pick them up from certain localities and sell them.

About 15 people have invested on their land for their yearly produce,” he says. What started as a team of two in 2011, has now grown into a group of 30  metropolitan farmers ranging from an IIT graduate, management consultant, software architect, and so on. And they their keerai in a koodai just as easily as they do off the backseat of a car! So it didn’t surprise us when we discovered that theNallakeeraiFacebook page — https://www.facebook.com/NallaKeerai — has  a massive 10,000 followers.

Ask Jagannathan why his choice of crop is spinach and he  responds, “It requires a very short growth period and gives quicker returns, which eases the transition to organic farming.”

He goes on, people who produce food for the country, go to bed hungry and that’s the plight of today’s farmers. The idea struck me when I conducted a survey in my native, near Thirunindravur. I decided to do something about it and started to study the economy of farmers in my village. I found that the 240 farmer households in the village spent about `40 lakh investing in fertilisers and pesticides.

If this money was properly channelised within the farm, they would lead more comfortable lives.

So what does Nallakeerai do differently? “We help organic farmers by eliminating middle men, and connecting them to a direct consumer base in the city,” explains this farmer-preneur.  This is apart from supplying to some of the biggest organic retail stores in the city and also renting out store space within the premises of large companies to sell the veggie.

In order to get youngster interested, Jagannathan conducts weekend workshops on organic farming and eco-friendly lifestyles, assisting a community of Irula farmers to market their produce.

“Organic spinach farms are profitable through weekly door-delivery of organic greens to residences and apartment complexes in the city. We want people to emulate our model,” says Jagannathan, explaining how he spread cow-dung on his planting beds once and harvested three bundles of spinach from tiny one sq ft area. “Today, if I am doing this with spinach, somebody will come up with organic milk and organic potatoes tomorow. If the pricing of organic food is feasible, organic farming can make it big,” he assures us.

Priced at `25 to 30, Nallakeerai’s organic greens are available in T Nagar, Virugambakkam, Vadapalani, Anna Nagar, Adyar, Thiruvanmiyur, Ambattur, Velachery, and Kodambakkam, and can be reached on 99626 11767/9840614128.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by S. Subhakeerthana / July 23rd, 2014

Parents’ Day at Don Bosco

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education
Students and faculty with the chief guest at the Don Bosco Parents’ Day celebrations | D SAMPATH KUMAR
Students and faculty with the chief guest at the Don Bosco Parents’ Day celebrations | D SAMPATH KUMAR

Chennai :

The mood was jubilant as the primary section of St Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School gathered for the Parents’ Day festivities on Friday.

The festivities were in sync with the mood of the crowd, keeping students, parents and teachers tapping their feet.

Siddharth Sonthalia, AGM-TN, The New Indian Express, an alumnus of Don Bosco, was the guest of honour at the event. He acknowleged the contribution of parents in moulding the character of pupils in the institution.

“All students have the potential of being a politician, sportsman or whatever they desire in life — the motto is simple; the three  qualities – honesty, integrity and tolerance would make each one an achiever that this institution would produce,”  said Siddharth, speaking at the event.

Siddharth recollected his days in his alma mater when he strolled  through the corridors of the institution and said that  childhood days were one of the most nostalgic moments. Those moments moulded him to what he is today.

Students from classes one to five received certificates from the chief guest for their achievements for the year, as their parents looked on with  happiness and anticipation when their kids were on the stage . The school choir with all boys dressed in Turquoise shirts and navy blue ties, kept the crowds swaying to the tune of ‘No love, no power’.

The bi-centenary birth logo of St Don Bosco was unveiled at the event by Siddharth and the administrative team of the Don Bosco School.

Father John Alexander, correspondent, St Don Bosco School, said, “It is time for a spiritual renewal of the educational system that the school is so well known for, as 2015 is the bicentenary birth anniversary of Saint Don Bosco.”

He further added that the upcoming DB Converge and Global reunion, to be held on the campus on July 26 and 27  is expected to bring together over 1,000 students who passed out of the Don Bosco school, from across the globe.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / July 21st, 2014

Lawyer-turned-councillor gave Arokiasamy road its name

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence

Coimbatore :

As houses and empty plots give way to shops and office complexes, the rich history behind the name of Arokiasamy Road seems to getting buried deeper by the day. Extending from Thadagam Road in the west till Sri Shanmugam Road, Arockiasamy Road is practically filled with landmarks either side.

It’s a favourite with young people in R S Puram because the burial ground is used as a playground by cricket and football lovers. The corporation’s Ammini Amma Girls High School, government Tamil Isai Kalloori, R S Puram Ladies Club and Purandara Dasar Hall, which is a favourite for functions, ot this street.

Historians say the road was named in the 1940s or 1950s as a minor tribute to a great man. “We have information that runs into pages about the man who played a significant role in making Coimbatore the city it is today,” said historian Perur K Jayaraman.

M Arokiasamy, born in 1857, began his career as a sub-registrar with the government. His grandfather had served as a minister in the erstwhile Thanjavur kingdom. Arokiasamy studied law and became a prominent advocate in the city and a member of the Coimbatore Bar Council. He began his career as a lawyer with British company Boison and Mills. “During his tenure as a lawyer he bought a lot of property all over the city and did a lot of social service,” says Jayaraman.

He became a municipal councillor in 1888, vice-chairman of the council between 1896 and 1899 and Coimbatore municipal chairman in 1913 and remained in the post till 1916. In 1912, he was awarded the Rao Bahadur title coronation medal by the British government. “Not many people know that a lot of prominent buildings and institutions owe their legacy to this gentleman,” says Jayaraman.

Arokiasamy was the secretary of the construction committee of Victoria Town Hall, out of which the corporation functions today. He was responsible for building the coronation memorial at Chidambaram Park. “He was the one who built the Indian Christian Students Hostel in 1925,” he says. He was also instrumental in setting up many Christian education institutions like CSI Boys High School, St Francis Convent and London Boys Mission School.

source: http://www,timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / TNN / July 21st, 2014