Category Archives: Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

As a loyal Tamil soldier, he gave his life in Italy

Amazing Feats, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, World Opinion

by K R A Narasiah

I recently had a chance meet ing with Durailingam who told me the story of his father, Subedar Subramanian of the Madras Sappers regiment. Subramanian lost his life trying to protect others during mine clearing operations in Italy in World War II. Subedar Subramanian was awarded the then instituted George Cross; the first Indian to get the bravery award for noncombatants.

India was drawn into the Second World War without its ond World War without its consent and in spite of stout protests from the national leaders. Madras SapParis pers’ 4th division was put into operation in the Italian campaign landing in Taranto in December 1943. Two companies of the Madras Sappers joined action 100 miles south of Rome where they were mainly engaged in clearing the mines. In all, about 50,000 Indian troops fought in Italy. Half of them were injured and one in ten lost their lives.

The Madras Sappers were sent there after the allies invaded on September 3, 1943 the Italian mainland, with the invasion coinciding with the armistice made with the Italians who then joined the allies’ side. The objective of the attack was to draw the German troops from France, where an offensive was planned. The allies were facing the Gustav line (German winter defensive position) which extended from the river Garigliono in the west to Sangro in the east. Very soon the allies had occupied the ridge overlooking the river.

The Sangro River Cremation Memorial near Torino di Sangro is one of the memorials erected in Italy to officers and men of the Indian forces whose remains were cremated in accordance with their faith. In that memorial Subedar Subramanian’s name is inscribed.

The details recorded in the Sangro river memorial reads, “Subramanian, son of Kannayiram and Thangammal holding the rank of Subedar, with official Number 14069 from the unit Queen Victoria’s Own Madras Sapper and Miners and husband of Shanbgammal of Keelvodivakkam, Chengalpet, India.”

The details show that while Sub Subramanian was operating the mine detector, with Lance Naik Sigamani behind him marking his path with a white tape, there was a small explosion. The subedar realized immediately that the Lance Naik had stepped on an anti-personal mine and within the next four seconds the canister would be thrown into the air and explode causing great damage. Without the slightest hesitation and knowing that this would be fatal, Subramanian hurled himself over the mine knocking the Lance Naik aside. The force of the explosion was neutralized by the Subedar’s body which caused his death. With this action he saved the lives of his comrades, especially Lt Young, who was next to him.

In a rare gesture of gratitude, touching tributes were paid to 5,782 Indian soldiers who laid down their lives fighting for Italy against the fascist forces, on Oct 5, 2007 in Rome. The Memorial Gates in London have been constructed in the Constitution Hill, to pay tribute to the brave men of WW II. Sub Subramanian’s name is included in the memorial list.

Durailingam who did well for himself in his business wanted to perpetuate his father’s memory by giving the ancestral home in his village Keelottivakkam in Kanchipuram district to the Army to run an Ex Servicemen Health Service (ECHS) polyclinic. Durailingam has erected a statue (bust) of his father at the site with a cenotaph. Unfortunately, stating no reasons, the Army has withdrawn from this place after using the same for seven years in 2013. Durailingam says he has no idea why the Army withdrew. He says since he is getting older his only wish is to donate this land of over 700 sq yards to the Army so that the polyclinic can be set up.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / TNN / April 15th, 2015

Where saving lives is a routine

Amazing Feats, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Science & Technologies
A. Kennedy, district project coordinator, Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project, Vellore, hands over a certificate to an emergency medical technician on Thursday.— PHOTO: C. VENKATACHALAPATHY
A. Kennedy, district project coordinator, Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project, Vellore, hands over a certificate to an emergency medical technician on Thursday.— PHOTO: C. VENKATACHALAPATHY

Emergency medical technicians honoured for service

For A. Sharmila, an emergency medical technician (EMT) with the 108 ambulance network, the last six years has been about saving lives. More importantly, she has also helped to create a change in deterring a section of people from unsafe delivery practices.

“One of my earliest cases was a labour pain in Keeranur, The call was from an interior village on a hill. I saw a woman sitting on a pregnant woman in labour trying to push the baby out. She was bleeding profusely. We took her in the ambulance and she delivered her baby onboard,” she said.

With the mother and child hospitalised safely, Ms. Sharmila learned that this was way the villagers have been delivering babies for years. She went on to visit the village around 10 to 12 times for demonstrating safe practices.

“Such a situation prevailed prior to 2008. We cater for many pregnant women,” said Ms. Sharmila, who has helped 81 mothers deliver their babies on board the ambulance, she added.

Ms. Sharmila is now with thaanipadi ambulance in Tiruvannamalai.

Thursday was the day to recognise the efforts put in by EMTs like her as GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI), which operates the ambulances, celebrated the National EMT Day.

Several male EMTs have also helped mothers deliver babies on board the ambulance. Like A. Charles, another EMT at Vaniyambadi, who has 11 ambulance deliveries to his credit. “In fact, my first case was delivering a baby with cord around the neck. I attended to another woman who had previous caesarean section but delivered the baby in the ambulance,” he said.

EMTs should never get angry or emotional when handling patients, E. Ramarajan, an EMT with Avoor Primary Health Centre ambulance, Tiruvannamalai, stressed.

“A year ago, I attended to two persons aged 24 and 25 involved in a road accident. Both suffered head injury and fractures. We rushed them to the Government Hospital, Tiruvannamalai, and then to another centre. Recently, they called us and said they were doing well,” he said.

Six EMTs – three each from Vellore and Tiruvannamalai – received the Best EMT Award on the occasion. There are 41 ambulances in Vellore and 28 in Tiruvannamalai, with both districts accounting for nearly 200 EMTs.

Handing over the awards, A. Kennedy, district project coordinator, Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project, Vellore, said the EMTs played a pivotal role in saving lives as they bring the patients to hospitals on time.

“This golden hour is important as doctors, however experienced, will be able to save lives if patients are brought on time,” he said. He also asked the EMTs to take care of their safety and asked the district officers to conduct annual medical check-up for them.

R. J. Shriraman, district manager of GVK EMRI, Vellore and Tiruvannamalai, said the best EMTs were selected based on certain parameters such as highest number of life saving cases and those who secured above 85 per cent in the exam held in the refresher training.

Jayageetha, chief medical officer of Government Pentland Hospital, and Krishna Kumar, head of Finance, GVK EMRI, Chennai, spoke.

VK Emergency Management and Research Institute celebrates the National EMT Day

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Tamil Nadu / by Staff Reporter / Vellore – April 03rd, 2015

60 years of exemplary service

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technologies
(From left) Sugalchand Jain and Dr. V. Shanta of the Cancer Institute, writer Sivasankari, R. Seshasayee of Ashok Leyland and N. Ram of Kasturi and Sons Limited at the function—Photo: M. Vedhan
(From left) Sugalchand Jain and Dr. V. Shanta of the Cancer Institute, writer Sivasankari, R. Seshasayee of Ashok Leyland and N. Ram of Kasturi and Sons Limited at the function—Photo: M. Vedhan

On the occasion of the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Cancer Institute (WIA), its chairman V. Shanta recalled the years of struggle that the team faced to ensure that the hospital functioned properly.

Speaking at the function on Friday, she recalled the formative years of the institute, when it was difficult to find donors.

“ Today, we have a new problem, with no space being available on either of our campuses for any development,” she said.

The Cancer Institute (WIA), founded by Muthulakshmi Reddy in 1954 when her sister died of cancer, started out as a four-bedded hospital. Sixty years later, it is a 500-bed speciality hospital.

N. Ram, chairman, Kasturi and Sons Ltd., said the negative portrayal of cancer in the media and culture was a problem. “In recent years, the scenario had changed a bit, but the problem continues to take a toll,” he said.

The Diamond Jubilee Book of the Cancer Institute was released by Mr. Ram. Ram Santhanam of the TVS Group, Sivasankari, Tamil writer, N. Sugalchand Jain, chairman, Management Committee, Cancer Institute (WIA), K.R. Purushotham from the Satyanarayana Trust, N. Sankar, chairman, Sanmar Group, and A. Krishnamoorthy, chairman, The Amalgamations Group, were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Staff Reporter / Chennai – March 31st, 2015

Kayaking team goes on eco-drive in Gulf of Mannar

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Sports

Tuticorin :

A five-member team, including a woman, that has been paddling their fibre kayaks for six days on the scenic Gulf of Mannar Sea completed their expedition here on Sunday, doing so with the satisfaction that they have been able to educate at least some coastal communities on the need to keep beaches free of pollution and littering.

Jehan Driver, Arjun Motha, Rizwan Gani, John Suganth and Charmine Pereira from Quest Expeditions and Aqua Outback had set off from Kuntakal near Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram district on Tuesday, flagged off by Ramanathapuram district collector, K Nandakumar. They were received here by Coastal Security Group (Marine Police). The team paddled for 49km a day and camped in some beach at night. “We stopped at coastal villages and talked with local people. We told them how important it was to keep their coastal environment clean and protect their resources for sustained living,” said Rizwan Gani. Jehan Driver, who led the team, explained that the objective of the expedition was to create awareness about the vast natural reserves Tamil Nadu has to offer and the sustainable practices that will keep it pristine. The expedition also aimed to promote Kayaking as a sport and let people know the importance of preserving the natural environment of the marine biosphere to encourage other sportsmen and sportswomen to practice and enjoy their non-motorised sports.

“Gulf of Mannar is a marine eco-system in the country that has remained clean till now and it should be protected. We could share this message among the people we met in the coast during our paddling. We collected more information on the beaches, besides watching pristine islets to check if there are any poaching activities. We could see that marine life is still flourishing in the region and we should protect them together,” Driver said. The team also expressed their concern about untreated sewage mixing in Gulf of Mannar waters. Based on their findings, they will prepare a report which they will submit to concerned government agencies, they said. Government agencies like Indian Coast Guard and Coastal Security Group and additional director general of police, C Sylendra Babu were of great help, they said. Having succeeded in their first venture, they plan to turn this into an annual event to keep the tradition alive.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / TNN / March 30th, 2015

‘Andal Perfect Role Model for Women’

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

Chennai :

Showering praise on Tamil poet-saint Kothai Andal, BJP MP Tarun Vijay on Wednesday said the Vaishnavite icon had challenged male supremacy 1300 years ago, inspiring women to assert their rights to make personal choices.

Not only did he mention the lone woman saint of Vaishnavite tradition at the Women in Parliament Global Summit 2015 held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, he also presented a portrait of Andal to the global chairperson of the summit, Sylvana Koch.

Tarun Vijay said Andal’s legacy must be followed by women across the continents to make this planet happier and safer for women. “Gandhi said women don’t need protection, but a freedom to make choices and freedom to make decisions. Poetess Andal, who was born in Tamil Nadu 1300 years ago is a great symbol of that power. Making choices for her and challenging male domination in that era”, the BJP MP said.

“India’s legacy is to respect women. I begin from Andal to Lal Dyad of Kashmir and to Sister Nivedita and Rani Gaidinliu, who fought against the British at the age of 16, and Indira Gandhi to our present day world boxing champion Mary Kom, India is a saga of women empowerment in a sea of gender discriminations.”

He said India was leading the world with highest number of micro level women members of gram panchayats which is about 1.4 million. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign to help women resulted in a mission to build 12 million toilets helping girls and women. Revolutionary Jandhan scheme empowered women most and just a signature enabling exercise made them feel good and empowered.

LoneVaishnavaiteCF27mar2015

“I was in Ladakh to inaugurate this scheme when a bank manager asked a woman to sign on a form. She was perplexed and said, but sir, only big and influential people sign, I can merely write my name. When manager taught her to sign, that was a defining moment for her and she felt empowered. A mere opportunity to put a signature brings about a change in her life. Its the decision making power that she enjoys”, Tarun Vijay said. Place technology in the hands of women to change the world for betterment, he added.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service  / March 26th, 2015

Liquor to milk: Distillers turn dairy farmers

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Nature

Coimbatore :

R Ravi, 43, from Shankara Nagar, was once a sought after man in the village just outside of Mettupalayam. Long before noon, at least half-a-dozen men would be waiting at his hideout on the forest fringes for a glass of the village’s best arrack. With every passing day his clientele increased because his arrack was known to have the best bite.

However, for the past 10 years the village’s best arrack brewer has been cutting trees and clearing fields for a meagre 150 to 200 a day to feed his family of four. “I learnt how to distil arrack because I started hanging around an arrack distiller in the village when I was eight years old and dropped out of school,” said Ravi. “I began serving customers and slowly learned the art of distilling,” he said. After his master died, he took over the business. “I would work till 11.30pm, earning up to 800 a day,” he said. Ravi’s reformation from an illegal arrack distiller to a tree cutter was not easy. “We would never know when we’d get caught by police,” he said. “Once we were picked up, our family members would have to go from station to station to trace our whereabouts,” he added.

In 2005, at least 80 arrack distillers in Mettupalayam and Karamadai panchayats were forced to leave their arrack business. “We kept them in jail for three months and counseled them, promising to give them jobs if they kept away from the illegal business,” said a senior inspector in Mettupalayam. “We told them that if they showed us that they had reformed, they would get a reward,” he said.

The government began distributing cows to reformed arrack distillers in 2011. We distributed around 120 cows in the district, said a government official.

The beneficiaries have been given medical and life insurance for the cow for three years, free periodical visits by the animal husbandry department and a one-day training programme on how to care for the cows. “This is to give the reformed men an alternative livelihood as dairy farmers,” said district collector Archana Patnaik.

S Arumugam, president of Palepalayam panchayat, said at least 50 men who received cows in last year have reformed. “Earlier, these arrack distilling units destroyed several families in our village. It is only in the last 10 years that men can be seen holding a job,” he said.

“The distillers are also working hard to sell their milk, keeping their cattle sheds clean and taking care of their calves,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / by Pratiksha RamKumar, TNN / March 21st, 2015

Nobel laureate Sir Venkatraman Ramakrishnan to head Royal Society in UK

Amazing Feats, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technologies, World Opinion

Nobel laureate Sir Venkatraman Ramakrishnan has been confirmed as president elect of Britain’s prestigious Royal Society. Ramakrishnan, who will be the first Indian-origin scientist to hold the post, was born in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, and studied biology in the US.

The result of a ballot held by the fellowship was confirmed at a meeting of the Society’s Council this week and Ramakrishnan, or Venki as he is popularly known, will take up the post on December 1, 2015, PTI reported.

“I feel very touched that the Royal Society has chosen me for this job, especially because I only came to Britain 16 years ago from the US,” said the 63-year-old structural biologist who shared the 2009 chemistry Nobel Prize for discovering the precise structure of ribosomes ? the molecular machines that manufacture proteins inside all living cells.

“I think in some ways the Royal Society, ever since its inception, has reflected the best traditions of openness in Britain. I think of Britain as a particularly open and tolerant society,” he told BBC.

He is currently deputy director of the British Medical Research Council’s Laboratory of Molecular Biology at Cambridge University.

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2003 and was knighted by Britain’s Queen in 2012.

The Royal Society dates back to 1660 and its president is a key advocate for science in the UK and the world.

Previous presidents of the Royal Society have included Isaac Newton, Christopher Wren, Samuel Pepys, Joseph Banks, Humphry Davy, and Ernest Rutherford.

Ramakrishnan?will succeed geneticist Sir Paul Nurse, also a Nobel laureate.

“Appointing the first Indian-born president of the Royal Society sends a strong message about the importance of the contribution of immigrants to British science,” said Blakemore, a Royal Society Fellow from the School of Advanced Study, University of London.

The research for which Ramakrishnan shared the Nobel was commenced in the US, where he has spent much of his working life before moving to Cambridge in 1999. He shared the prize with Thomas Steitz, of Yale University, and Ada Yonath, of the Weizmann Institute of Science, Jerusalem.

The award recognised the team working out, between 2000 and 2002, the exact structure of a key part of the ribosome, the tiny molecular machine ? found in the cells of our body ? that turns the genetic code of living beings into the proteins from which they are made.

“I knew the ribosome was going to be the focus of Nobel prizes. It stands at the crossroads of biology, between the gene and what comes out of the gene. But I had convinced myself I was not going to be a winner,” he said of his award.

In winning the prize, Venki became the 13th member of staff of Cambridge’s Laboratory of Molecular Biology to win a Nobel; previous winners include Crick and Watson, discoverers of the structure of DNA.

source: http://www.indiatoday.intoday.in / Indiatoday.in / Home> World / New Delhi – March 20th, 2015

Vidya Sagar celebrates 30th anniversary

Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

Chennai :

After schools repeatedly denied admissions to her son because he had cerebral palsy, Poonam Natarajan decided to work with what she had. She got trained as a special educator to teach her son and from the garage of her house on Arcot Road in T Nagar, in 1985 Natarajan began with three students and two staff. That was the beginning of Vidya Sagar that completed 30 years on Sunday.

The city’s pioneering organization that works with children and young adults with disabilities later moved to Kotturpuram in 1996 and now have close to 4,000 students across the country. As the school grew, Natarajan lost her son when he was 22. Did she foresee that Vidya Sagar would nurture people with disabilities for three decades? “Yes, it was a step by step process and I did know it would be an organization that continues to do great work,” says Natarajan who left the oganisation in early 2000s to become the chair of a statutory body constituted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. “I am the founder but I came like a parent visiting to celebrate.”

An alumni association and a website that exclusively tells stories of their alumni was launched on the 30th anniversary Sunday to celebrate their past students. “The website isn’t a profile but it documents every student’s challenges, how they met the challenges, their milestones and memories with Vidya Sagar,” says deputy director, Dipti Bhatia.

“Many parents also are empowered over the course of time and start their own initiatives or community activities”

The website features 69 alumni students and will feature more over the year. “We are celebrating our students who come in with various disabilities from mild to profound,” Bhatia says. The organisation’s alumni had together launched the association saying it was for them to network and help each other. This was followed by a carnival for their students. Vidya Sagar provides education for children with neurological disabilities, and work in rehabilitation, advocacy and training.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / TNN / March 16th, 2015

Accounting company releases documentary

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

Venture is part of Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives of the service provider

Vitae International, an accounting service provider that has its Corporate office here, has released a documentary titled “The Power of Love and Commitment-The Jethro Daniel Story”, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

The documentary is an effort to create awareness on cerebral palsy.

Daniel Victor, Managing Director of Vitae, told presspersons here on Wednesday the company has started and supports about 10 organisations that work in the areas of environment, care for senior citizens and infrastructure development in and around Coimbatore. The documentary will be available on social media and television channels shortly. It is a story of Jethro Daniel, son of Mr. Victor, who is affected with cerebral palsy and microcephaly.

Mr. Victor said that the company spent about Rs. 40 lakh towards CSR projects in 2013-2014.

It services 17 accounting firms in several countries, including Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. and its annual turnover is Rs. 15 crore. It has plans to expand to more countries taking its client base to 25 or 30 soon.

Documentary creates awareness on cerebral palsy

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Coimbatore / by Staff Reporter / Coimbatore – March 19th, 2015

Spirit of entrepreneurship has no age

Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

The 78-year-old’s unit employs many women, including his daughters

T.P. Rajendran working in his 'vaththal' factory in Aruldosspuram in Madurai.Photo: R. Ashok
T.P. Rajendran working in his ‘vaththal’ factory in Aruldosspuram in Madurai.Photo: R. Ashok

Ask for ‘Vaththal Thatha,’ even a child in Sellur will take you to where he is. A road in Aruldosspuram is named after his business, ‘Tirupati Vilas.’ Tonnes of papad, vaththal and vadagam leave his factory to several States and outside India every month. At 78, T.P. Rajendran of Ahimsapuram in Sellur is an example of how spirit of entrepreneurship can win over age.

A drop-out in fifth standard, Mr. Rajendran wanted to do something on his own while working in a dhal mill in Virudhunagar for a salary of 10 annas. He came to Sellur in the 1960s with his wife and started a grocery shop by pledging her jewels for Rs. 300. He added vegetables to the shop but the leftovers posed a problem. The ‘vaththal’ made of unsold vegetables was a hit and soon the family of five, including three daughters, started to produce several ‘vaththal’ varieties.

The actual break came in 2005 when he procured a machine from Gujarat to produce papads. Since then, Tirupati Vaththal Company has been producing the accompaniments to daily food in different forms. The range includes 30 varieties made from rice, wheat, corn, ragi, potato, brinjal, onion, chilli and cashew. Most of them are made by hand under his supervision.

Mr. Rajendran starts his day at 4 a.m. by monitoring the wholesale vegetable market at Paravai through his mobile phone. If need be, he goes to the market to select the vegetables and other ingredients.

He reaches his factory by 8 a.m. to experiment new combinations. Every batch of ‘vaththal’ is first tested by him during lunch and production goes in full stream after his nod. His unit provides employment to many women, including his daughters. But the salary for them is on a par with that of others. He takes his employees on a free tour twice a year.

Mr. Rajendran, who provides free training to college students in papad making, firmly believes that hard work, honesty and quality make a successful entrepreneur.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Madurai / by S. Annamalai / Madurai – March 18th, 2015