Category Archives: Records, All

Ramanujan museum in Erode proposed

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technologies

House where math whiz was born identified

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The house at Azhagiya Singar street in Erode where Srinivasa Ramanujan was born. /  Photo: M. Govarthan / The Hindu

The Erode Corporation on Wednesday expressed its desire to convert into a mathematics museum the house where Srinivasa Ramanujan was born. The Corporation passed a resolution to this effect, moved by Mayor Mallika Paramasivam. A proposal to convert the house on Azhagiya Singar Street into a museum will be submitted to the State government.

Though it was known that Erode was the birthplace of the maths genius, the house where he was born remained untraceable until recently. It was located following the efforts made by Susumu Sakurai, professor and head, Department of Math, Tokyo University of Science and Technology, and Professor and President of Tamil Nadu Science Forum N. Mani.

“We had the information that Ramanujan was born in a house that was situated exactly between a Siva temple and its water tank. After extensive search, we found it and confirmed that Ramanujan was born in the house that had the door number 18 in Azhagiya Singar Street,” Mr. Mani said.

The house will be a huge inspiration to children if it is converted into a museum. “It should not be neglected. We should celebrate the math genius by making his birthplace a museum. We already adopted a resolution demanding the State government to convert the house into a museum. It is good to know that the civic body has now come forward to convert it into museum,” Mr. Mani told The Hindu.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> National> TamilNadu / by Staff Reporter / Erode, March 28th, 2013

Rotary Club Award for Irai Anbu

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Education, Records, All

V Irai Anbu, Principal Secretary, Personnel and Administrative Reforms, has received the ‘For the sake of honour’ award from the Rotary Club of Madras Vadapalani.

Shanthi Selvam, president of the club, presented the award to Irai Anbu for his noble contribution to the student community, at a function here on Thursday. “The cause is more important than the goal,’’ said Irai Anbu, in his acceptance speech.

At the same event, Dr Jothi Clara J Michael and Shurthi Jauhari were honoured with the ‘rotary vocational excellence awards’ for their exemplary services in the field of nursing and Hindustani music, respectively.

Sarada Venkatraman, a Carnatic musician of Ashok Nagar was also awarded with ‘Rotary Appreciation Award’ for her excellent service to the women and kids. “Music and art enrich every person, so every child has to be trained in any one of the fine arts,’’ observed Sarada.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service – Chennai / March 23rd, 2013

Rs 2 crore fossil museum in Ariyalur

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

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Chennai:

The state budget on Thursday announced an infra package for the tourism sector at a cost of Rs 68 crore and also announced a special fossil museum in Ariyalur at a cost of Rs 2 crore. The total budget for the tourism sector will be Rs 153 crore for the ensuing fiscal.

Further an amount of Rs 10 crore from the state’s fund will be allocated for the publicity works for ‘Destination Tamil Nadu 2014’, the budget read.

Tourism spots in eastern and southern tourist circuits will be reviewed and improved and financial assistance for these projects will be availed through Asian Development Bank up to Rs 450 crore, the budget said.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> News> Current Affairs /  DC / March 22nd, 2013

TN girl is GATE biotech topper

Education, Records, All
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Chennai:
A final year B.Tech student of the SASTRA University, Thanjavur, Deepa Rajagopalan, has bagged the all India first rank in biotechnology in GATE this year.
The res­ults were released Fri­day morning by  the Indian Institute of Tech­nology (IIT), Bombay, which coordinated GATE.
With a score of 80, Deepa has emerged first amongst the 16,159 candidates who appeared for GATE-2013 in the biotechnology str­eam. “Although I’ve been preparing for the past three years, I put in a lot more effort  from Dece­mber last year and my two internships at the Indian Institute of Scie­nce (IISc), Bengaluru and University of Michi­g­an, too helped me in writing GATE,” said an elated Deepa.

AP students ace tech aptitude test

Hyderabad: Students from Andhra Pradesh have outdone their peers in other states in the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE-2013) results announced on Friday.

AP had the most number of students declared qualified at 22,746. The second place went to Uttar Pradesh (22,400), followed by Mahar-ashtra (9,951), Bihar (9,820) and Kerala (8,992).

Pune student Rohit Ronge, who took the exam from Hyderabad, secured All-India First Rank in Instrumentation Engineering.

AP student Chakradhar Reddy secured sixth rank in the Electrical Engine-ering while Parth Lathigara, also from AP, secured 10th rank in the Electro-nics and Communication Engineering stream.

Out of the 9,84,855 candidates who took the exam 1,36,699 have qualified which is 13.88 per cent.

Among the candidates who qualified, 72,125 belong to General category, 41,237 to OBC-NC, 18,936 to SC, and 4,401 to ST category. There were 1,136 physically challenged candidates who qualified in various categories.

The online exam for 2,02,223 candidates, in 15 papers, was conducted in 572 centres spread over 123 cities across the country, on January 20. The offline exam for 9,98,505 candidates in the remaining six papers was conducted in 992 centres in 183 cities and towns on February 10.

“Aspirants in Civil Engineering increased substantially this year to 67,472 from 36,000-odd last year,” said Aditya Reddy of GATE Forum, a popular coaching institute.
source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com /  Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / by N. Arun Kumar / March 16th, 2013

A tale of grit and hardwork

About Chennai(Madras) / TamilNadu, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All

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The history of Parsis in Chennai dates back to 1795 | N Vajiravelu

Though they have always been a small number, from the time the first group of Parsis came to the city from Coorg in 1795, the community has had a major role in shaping the history of the city from the time it was known as Madras.

As per records shared by Zarin Mistry in her series for Madras Musings, Heerjibhai Maneckji Kharas was accompanied by five other Parsis and two priests. It is likely that their decision to settle in Madras was not pre-planned but taken after arrival. They bought a plot in Royapuram, opposite the Catholic Church.’

It was in 1876 that they formed a Parsi Panchayat that comprised 11 members. Donning an important role, in 1893, Cawasji Panday was the first Parsi to be appointed Sheriff of Madras.

But, it was in the turn of the 20th century that turned out to be a glorious period in the history of the community in the city. Becoming prosperous dealers in motor cars and cycles, perfumes and dyes, the Parsis of Madras had a predominant role to play in various fields of occupation and services here, apart from being managers of banks and shops. Some established soda water and ice factories.

In 1906, when the young son of  philanthropist Phiroj M Clubwala died, the shattered family built the Fire Temple in his memory. This Fire Temple in Royapuram known as the Jal Phiroj Clubwala Dar E Meher was consecrated in August 1910. In 2010, the community celebrated the 100th year of the Temple amid pomp and splendour.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Janani Sampath  / ENS – Chennai / March 11th, 2013

Pay tyagi pension to wife, says court

Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

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Chennai:

Castigating the Union government for not giving due respect to freedom fighters, the Madras high court came to the rescue of a wife of a freedom fighter and quashed a 1980 Central order, refusing freedom fighter pension, and directed it to pay pension from the date of his application (1980) and family pension to the wife  from the date of his death.

Justice D. Haripa­ranth­aman allowed the petition filed by Ms Palammal, the wife whose husband N. Palaiyan was a freedom fighter.

Palaiyan joined the Indian National Army (INA), led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and fought for freedom. He received freedom fighter pension from the state from 1967. In 1980, he applied to the Union government for pension under the Swat­hantratha Sainik Samman INA pension, along with two co-prisoners’ certificates. The Centre sought some clarifications and he replied. However, his claim was rejected on October 10, 1980 stating that there was some contradiction in his reply. After his death in 1993, and several representations to the Union government for pension, his wife filed the present petition.

Stating that he was quashing the 1980 order, the judge observed there was no contradiction. He said it is not known on what basis the Union government has stated that the British government did not imprison civilian members of INA. If that yardstick is adopted, neither Bose nor Captain Lakshmi would be entitled to pension under the Central scheme as they did not desert the British army. “Therefore, the reason given by the Union government is really a humiliation and not giving due respect to the freedom fighters.”

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> News> Current Affairs  / DC / by J. Stalin / March 10th, 2013

‘Be not job seekers, but job creators’

Business & Economy, Education, Leaders, Records, All

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Rajakumari Jeevagan, Founder and Managing Partner, Wings and Waalai Group of Hotels, Madurai, addressing students as part of Business Line Club lecture at St Mary’s College, Tuticorin. / The Hindu Business Line

Madurai , MARCH 8:

“Be not job seekers, become job creators’’ said Rajakumari Jeevagan, Founder and Managing Partner, Wings and Waalai Group of Hotels and Chairperson of “WE (Women Entrepreneurs)’’ forum of Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Madurai.

She was delivering a lecture on ‘Women Empowerment and Entrepreneurship’ under the Business Line Club of the Department of Commerce, St. Mary’s College, Tuticorin, recently.

The event was sponsored by Tamilnad Mercantile Bank, Tuticorin.

She said India is changing from a traditional society where the duties of women, especially at home as dependents, were stressed more. Today, women are equal partners in the process of growth and development and a significant productive force in the economy. A good number of them have risen to occupy high and commanding posts in public life. But this is not enough. The contribution will become more fulfilling only when they emerge as job creators, and not remain mere job seekers.

Opportunities abound around in their immediate environment. Only they need to be identified and grabbed. The Government aims to empower women and help develop their skill-levels. There are various programmes under implementation and institutions support such programmes, she said.

Citing her own experience, she spoke of the transformation from a humble housewife to an entrepreneur. She observed that one can become an entrepreneur either independently or as a team. Hard work and self-belief, coupled with uninterrupted focus are vital. A larger perspective and a sense of business climate are also necessary. Constant up-gradation of knowledge and a flair for technology adoption will also help women entrepreneurs. Under Indian conditions, circumstances such as family support and background do matter, but not for those who are determined, she said.

The capability for multi-tasking and a search for new things and value addition should be a constant endeavour. She urged the students to penetrate themarket, discover something new and start a business, a product through brand-building.

Earlier, R.Thangapandian, Regional Manager, TMB, explained the schemes of the bank, especially for promotion of education and entrepreneurship. Dr J. Ellora, Head of the Department, was present.

(With inputs from Paul Joseph)

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Home> News> Education / by The Hindu Correspondent / Maduran, March 08th, 2013

City to get its first cycling velodrome soon

Records, All, Sports

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SDAT has proposed the development of the velodrome near Thiru.Vi.Ka. park (in pic) in Shenoy Nagar. Around six acres is required for the project which would facilitate performance cycling, cycling competitions and practice sessions — /  Photo: K. Pichumani / The Hindu .

The city may have been robbed of a chance to host the 20th Asian Athletics Championship but residents have something new to look forward to.

Chennai will soon have additional sporting facilities including a world-class cycling velodrome and football turfs. A team of officials from the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and the Chennai Corporation has inspected plots and playgrounds of the civic body for development of the modern facilities. A decision is likely soon.

SDAT has proposed the development of a cycling velodrome near Thiru.Vi.Ka. park in Shenoy Nagar. Around six acres is required for the project which would facilitate performance cycling, cycling competitions and practice sessions.

The Chennai Corporation is mulling handing over the land to SDAT for the cycling velodrome. However, SDAT officials have also inspected a plot in the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University in Vandalur.

The decision to set up the facility either in Vandalur or Shenoy Nagar will be taken shortly. However, experts fear a number of students from city schools may lose out on the opportunity to train in a world-class facility if SDAT opts for Vandalur.

The sports authority has requested the Chennai Corporation to permit them to develop and maintain football playgrounds in areas such as Vyasarpadi, Tondiarpet and Mogappair. The development of football turfs to international standards is likely to facilitate better training for students in the city.

The Chennai Corporation, a few years ago, initiated the process of improving 10 playgrounds chosen from each of the old Corporation zones into star-rated playgrounds. The facility in Gopalapuram was equipped with facilities for various sports, including volleyball. There are around 250 playgrounds maintained by the civic body in the city.

But, players who make use of the playgrounds have pointed to the fact that many of them have faulty designs and are poorly planned. These have led to inundation during rains. Many such football playgrounds were inundated in north Chennai last monsoon.

The new Chennai Corporation council, too, is yet to make any efforts towards putting in place a sound procedure to create and maintain good playgrounds. The SDAT’s proposal to develop world-class football turfs on Corporation land may be good news for football players in the city.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Aloysius Xavier Lopez / Chennai, March 06th, 2013

Tamil scholar from France gets award

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All, World Opinion

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Professor Gros receiving the Kural Peedam award in Puducherry on Friday| G Pattabiraman

In recognition of the untiring and eminent services rendered to Tamil language, eighty-year-old Professor Francois Gros was handed over the Indian President’s Kural Peedam award for the year 2008-2009 for Classical Tamil studies at a function organised at the French institute in Puducherry on Friday.

The award carrying a citation and `5 lakh, was handed over to Gros by Gnanamoorthy, director-in-charge of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil, Chennai, in presence of the Consul General of France in Puducherry, Pierre Fournier.

Prof Gros, a researcher at the French Institute of  Pondicherry (IFP) was earlier presented the award in absentia by the President Pranab Mukherjee on December 21, 2012, at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi, which he could not attend owing to health reasons.

Later, addressing the gathering Professor Gros said that classical Tamil needed to be kept alive in modern age to understand tradition, culture and value.

The function was attended by French Institute director,  Dr Pierre Grard and staff.

Gros was closely associated with the activities of the French Institute (l’Institut Français) of Pondicherry over a long period of time in Tamil classical literature.

He was involved in the translation of ‘Paripatal’, a text of ancient corpus called Sangam, (Prix Saintour 1969 of l’Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres) and Livre de l’Amour de Tiruvalluvar (1992), and Tamil Saiva devotion in its various aspects.

He also studied and translated poetry and iconography of Karaikkalammaiyar, Tevaram (1984, edition under the patronage of UNESCO), Periya Puranam (2001), fundamental text of medieval literature, and the works of Arunagirinatar (1980), lyrical expression of a bilingual regional culture, Tamil and Sanskrit.

He was deeply interested in integrating archaeology and study of monuments with history, through epigraphy and environment. In the year 1970, he produced a monograph on Uttaramerur.

In the year 1980, he launched a multidisciplinary project on Tiruvannamalai mobilising the resources of Pondicherry and his associates for fifteen years, and later in 1985 he launched a project on the Kaveri valley.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service – Puducherry / March 02nd, 2013

Highfield tea fetches record price at Coonoor auction

Business & Economy, Records, All

Coonoor , FEB. 25:

New price records were created at Sale No: 8 of Coonoor Tea Trade Association (CTTA) auctions when about 90 per cent of the year’s lowest offer of 12.51 lakh kg was sold.

The Broken Orange Pekoe Dust special grade of orthodox category of Highfield Estate, auctioned by Contemporary Tea Auctioneers, created a new price record when Kushal Tea Company bought it for Rs 291 a kg. This was the highest price fetched by any orthodox dust grade of any factory ever since CTTA auctions started 50 years ago.

The oldest bought-leaf tea factory in Kotagiri region, Cross Hill Tea Factory, created a hat-trick by topping the CTC market for the third consecutive week. Homedale Tea Factory tea, auctioned by Global Tea Brokers, fetched the highest price of Rs 168 a kg in CTC dust auction. Vigneshwar Estate got Rs 161. In all, 79 marks got Rs 125 and more a kg.

Among orthodox teas, Chamraj got Rs 260 a kg, Kodanad Rs 201, Kairbetta Rs 179, Havukal Rs 170, Glendale Rs 167 and Prammas Rs 165. In all, 79 marks got Rs 100 and more.

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Home> Industry> Agri-Biz / by P. S. Sundar / Coonoor, February 25th, 2013