Category Archives: Records, All

Novel on tiger hunting wins Yuva Puraskar award

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Sports
PROUD MOMENT: Kaanakan is the second novel of Thirumangalam-based Lakshmi Saravana Kumar
PROUD MOMENT: Kaanakan is the second novel of Thirumangalam-based Lakshmi Saravana Kumar

Saravana Kumar’s novel ‘Kaanakan’ deals with Paliar tribes’ struggle against bid to appropriate their land for ganja cultivation.

Tamil writer and filmmaker Lakshmi Saravana Kumar’s novel Kaanakan, which depicts the life of Paliar tribe in the Western Ghats and hunting practices, has won the Sahitya Akademi’s Yuva Puraskar award for 2016.

“It deals with the Paliar tribes’ struggle against ganja plantations and the attempt to appropriate their land for the purpose in the 1980s,” said Mr. Saravana Kumar, who has penned three novels and six short stories and a poetry collection.

An associate of director, Vasanthabalan, Saravana Kumar, who had worked with him Kaaviya Thalaivan and Aravaan, is now working on his own film.

Kaanakan is Thirumangalam-based Saravanakumar’s the second novel. His first novel is Uppu Naaigaland his latest is Neelappadam .

“Kaankan deals with hunting and the ethics of hunting. It starts with hunting of a tiger and ends with tiger hunting men. The richness of a forest is always judged by the presence of tiger. There are some ethics when it comes to hunting. Females are spared by hunters,” said 31-year-old Saravana Kumar.

Tamil writer and publisher Kuzha. Kathiresan has won the Sahitya Akademi’s Bal Sahitya Puraskar for his contribution to children’s literature. Born in Royavaram in Pudukottai district, Mr. Kathiresan was trained in by Azha. Valliappa, a writer known for his contribution to children literature.

Simple lines with good messages are the hallmark of Mr Kathiresan’s works. He is running Inthinai Pathipagam, which published most of the works of T. Janakiraman and other great writers.

“I have written 4,000 poems and some of them were prescribed for schoolchildren in the State and Singapore,” said Mr. Kathiresan.

It deals with Paliar tribes’ struggle against bid to appropriate their land for ganja cultivation

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by B. Kolappan / Chennai – June 17th, 2016

Chennai doctors to compile list of localised healthy foods for heart

Education, Records, All, Science & Technologies

Biting into a juicy watermelon or having a glass of cold beetroot juice may sound like a healthy way of beating the heat but a group of cardiologists is now listing these fruits and vegetables as “avoidable high-salt foods”, particularly for those with high blood pressure.

A panel of doctors from the Chennai chapter of the Cardiologists Society of India has been working on ’10 commandments for heart-healthy homes’ based on an outline from the parent body. “We are localising the content based on the culture and behaviour. We have some common guidelines on smoking, stress and exercise but we will be localising those related to diet. We will be listing out south Indian foods that are heart-healthy, some that should be taken in moderation, and a few that should be avoided particularly if a person has conditions like diabetes or hypertension,” said CSI (Chennai-chapter) president Dr K Kannan, professor of cardiology, Stanley Medical College and Hospital.
Eggs, lobsters, cauliflower, beetroot, water melon, prawns, beef, chicken and lettuce, having more than 50mg of sodium per 100g of serving, are listed as “avoidable” high-salt foods. “These should be taken in moderation by healthy people and should be avoided by those with risk factors like hypertension,” he said.

Raisins, broad beans, carrot, apple, pineapple, banana, dhals, lentils and mutton have medium protein content and should be taken in moderation by those with risk factors. But the list may differ for people with diabetes as a risk factor. Low-sodium foods like grapes and sapota have high sugar. “One important thing we ask diabetics not to have is porridge. They tend to digest foods very fast and porridge increases glycaemic index,” he said.

Non-communicable diseases account for nearly 50% of deaths across the country, of which cardiac ailments contribute a significant number. In October 2015, Cardiologists Society of India told the state chapters to initiate a campaign to promote healthy hearts at homes.

The TN chapter has been working with a panel of doctors to bring out guidelines that will be circulated as posters and fliers to doctors across the state. “We haven’t given ourselves a stringent deadline because we know it will take a long time to compile but we are planning to complete it as early as possible,” said Dr Kannan.

Public health experts and senior cardiologists say such guidelines will help people maintain good health. Doctors’ bodies in many countries like the US have been able to reduce risk substantially with their campaigns, particularly against smoking, salt and sugar intakes. “On most occasions, we tell patients the importance of exercise and eating healthy . They then have a session with the dietician. But a detailed guideline in the form of a flier or booklet will help many patients,” said Dr TR Muralidharan, professor and head of cardiology , Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Chennai / by Pushpa Narayan / TNN / June 05th, 2016

VOC Port bags two awards

Business & Economy, Records, All

V.O. Chidambaranar Port here has received two awards, one each for achieving the second highest growth in traffic and for attaining the second position in Results Framework Document (RFD) target achievement for 2015-16. The VOC Port is among 12 major ports that achieved these feats.

S. Anantha Chandra Bose, Chairman, and S. Natarajan, Deputy Chairman, of V.O.C. Port Trust received the awards from Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Shipping, at a programme on June 4 in Goa when performance of ports was reviewed.

According to a statement from the VOC Port Trust on Tuesday, it handled an all time record cargo traffic of 36.85 million tonnes during 2015-16 and surpassed the previous year’s achievement of 32.41 million tonnes, registering an increase of 13.70 per cent. The Port also crossed the Ministry’s target of 36.80 million tonnes by handling 36.85 million tonnes.

Further, it performed exemplarily in achieving the various parameters of the RFD to enhance traffic throughput, augment capacity, provide efficient, prompt, safe and timely seaport service at optimum cost and improvefinancial parameters and administrative reforms.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Madurai / by Staff Reporter / Thoothukudi – June 08th, 2016

In the ring with Muhammad Ali

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

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Thirty-six years after he sparred with Muhammad Ali, Rocky Brass tells SUSANNA MYRTLE LAZARUS how that one moment with the boxing legend changed his life

Like most 17-year-olds, Rocky Brass was frequently in trouble for several reasons. “My father, Dion Brass, was a police constable, and he wanted to make sure I wasn’t doing anything foolish. Although he was not a boxer himself, he thought that the sport would give me discipline; so he started the Crusaders Boxing Club,” says Rocky. That’s what set the amateur boxer on a path that would lead to one of the highlights of his career: sparring with Muhammad Ali.

The scene is best described in Rocky’s words: “There was an event where Ali was to spar with Jimmy Ellis at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Madras in 1980. I was the bantamweight champion of the State at the time. It was chaotic, with the then Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran also making an appearance at the venue. Being the brash 22-year-old I was back then, I put up my hand when Ali asked the crowd if anyone wanted to get into the ring with him. He immediately asked me to come up. I can still recall every moment of that bout. Seeing the way he moved up close — he really does float like a butterfly and sting like a bee! I ducked one blow, but I can still hear the whoosh of that punch as it passed by my ear. Of course, he did knock me out, but it was worth it.”

Less than a minute in the ring with one of the greatest boxers of all time changed Rocky’s life. It helped that Ali mentioned in his speech that he was a promising talent.

He was offered a job under the sports quota in Southern Railways as a khalasi; today, after 36 years of service, he is a mail express guard.

Memories of that day — a photo of him sparring with Ali, another of him with MGR, and the most precious of them all – a glove given to him by Ali. “We have shifted several houses over the past three decades, and all of this has been carefully taken with us wherever we’ve gone,” laughs Rocky, as he flips through a file of photos and certificates from his boxing days. He has passed on his love for boxing to both his sons, Ricardo and Gerard, who have bagged several titles themselves.

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As we chat in his Perambur apartment, the 58-year-old shows no signs of fatigue, although he returned to Chennai from Renigunta only at 4.30 a.m. He recalls how in the pre-Internet era, he would depend on the occasional The Ring magazine his aunt would send from abroad to read about the international stars.

“With no YouTube, we had to wait till someone brought along tapes of matches, so we could watch and learn. It was a different time, and we could devote all our energy and concentration to boxing. Today, there are enough and more distractions for youngsters, so they aren’t able or willing to do the same,” says Rocky.

He admits that the current situation for boxing is less than desirable, with politics in the governing bodies of the sport.

His son Ricardo explains, “There were some issues in the State Boxing Association, which resulted in it splitting in two. Only one team from each State can participate at the National level. This can get frustrating for the others who train and then can’t compete.”

It’s only when this situation is clarified and there is additional support in terms of finances, competitions and training infrastructure provided by the Government that the sport will be able to really flourish, adds Rocky. In spite of this, there are many who are passionate about boxing, and continue to pursue it.

With 17 months left to go before he retires, Rocky is already planning to get back to the sport; this time, as a trainer.

“I definitely want to start a boxing school for those who are passionate about the sport and are willing to learn. If a small state like Manipur can produce a Mary Kom, why can’t Tamil Nadu?” he asks.

As for protective parents who are worried about the physically demanding nature of boxing, he says, “It’s more than just that. It teaches discipline, hard work, and like it did for me, can change one’s life for the better.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Society / by Susanna Myrtle Lazarus / June 07th, 2016

Chennai-born physicist who helped with Higgs Boson theory dead

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Science & Technologies, World Opinion

Tom Kibble has also done path-breaking work in cosmic strings and several awards came his way

Chennai-born physicist Tom Kibble, whose work was crucial in the theory of the Higgs Boson, died on Thursday. He was 83. Prof. Kibble had been working with Blackett Laboratory at Imperial College, London.

“After Peter Higgs formulated his ground-breaking mechanism for the [simpler] Abelian gauge theories, in 1964, Tom Kibble came up with a more general version for non-Abelian gauge theories, in 1967.

This immediately led Weinberg to make the connection and postulate the Higgs Mechanism. Kibble’s contribution was crucial in making Weinberg see the connection,” says G. Rajasekaran, leading particle physicist from Chennai.

Several awards and honours did come Prof. Kibble’s way, including the Order of the British Empire, and Albert Einstein Medal.

However, the fact that he was not included in the Nobel in 2013, for the discovery of the Higgs Boson, which went to Peter Higgs and Francois Englert, reportedly worried even Higgs himself. Prof. Kibble has also done path-breaking work in cosmic strings.

Prof. Kibble was born in Madras, as Chennai was known then, in 1932, and his father was a math and statistics professor at Madras Christian College (MCC).

During his trip to Chennai in 2012, just after the discovery of the Higgs Boson, Prof. Rajasekaran recalls accompanying him on a visit to MCC, where the latter was feted. Joshua Kalapati, Associate Professor of Philosophy and co-author of Life and Legacy of Madras Christian College, said Prof. Kibble had shared many anecdotes related to his college life and the city of Madras.

His parents, Walter and Janet, were an integral part of MCC for close to four decades between 1924 and 1961. “While Professor [Walter] Kibble, with a Mathematics Tripos (Cambridge University), and Doctorate in Statistics (Edinburgh), contributed to the growth of the Mathematics Department in the college, Janet served as the first warden of the women’s hostel in Guindy,” Mr. Kalapati said.

This article has been corrected for a typographical error. Francois Englebert has been changed to Englert.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Shubashree Desikan / Chennai – June 04th, 2016

The songster’s journey to Tiruvaiyaru

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

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Jagdish Koppa’s book on Bangalore Nagarathnamma is a detailed account of the musician and also the life of devadasis in South India

This is a single question quiz. Name this person from Mysore who was an extraordinary musician, a writer of eminence, an activist, and a philanthropist. No guesses? Another clue. If you are a connoisseur of music, and if you have visited Tiruvaiyaru, you may perhaps know. But if you still have difficulty in answering this question, it is not your fault.

Who determines what is high and what is low in the flow of history? Why do these conscious erasures take place? Gender, caste, class or all of these? If you still haven’t got your answer, then here it is: the exceptional artiste Bangalore Nagarathnamma. She spent her last years in Tiruvaiyaru and donated all her earnings for the maintenance of the dilapidated samadhi of saint Tyagaraja. Yet, her idol in front of the samadhi is locked up and her memory is forced to oblivion. Dr. N. Jagadish Koppa, author of “Gatti Daniya Ditta Kalavide: Bangalore Nagarathnamma” dedicates the first few pages of his well-researched book to the curious obscurity that shrouds Nagarathnamma.

Nagarathnamma is from Karnataka. Born in Nanjanagud to a Devadasi Puttalakshamma, Nagarathnamma was trained in dance and music. During the late 20th century she moved to Madras and through her talent and dedication became a well-known name among connoisseurs. Her grace, etiquette, sharp intellect and strong commitment to the cause of music and women of the Devadasi community, made her a much sought after person in the upper echelons of society. Nagarathnamma has the distinction of being the first woman artiste to have toured 146 towns and cities in South India and created a record with 1235 concerts. Just in Madras alone, Nagarathnamma is supposed to have given 849 concerts. What is even more interesting is the fact that Nagarathnamma earned fame for being the only woman artiste in South India to have paid income tax to the British. She was very close to the top leaders of those times, including C.V. Rajagopalachari. Yet, there is hardly any mention of Nagarathnamma in any books on music, except for passing references. As the author notes, U. Krishna Rao makes a special mention of the “famous dancer Nagarathnamma”. The other references to her are by the Kannada writer D.V. Gundappa and Mysore Vasudevacharya who said “her music has the mellifluousness of a woman and the dignity of a man.” However, V. Sriram’s Devadasi and the Saint, is the only full-fledged work on the adventurous and courageous woman.

Drawing from extensive travel, interviews, various sources and research papers, Dr. Koppa writes a fairly detailed chapter on the Devadasi tradition in south Karnataka. His surmise is that Puttalakshamma may have come from Kolar and her mother tongue was Telugu. Quoting an essay by U. Krishna Rao on dance in the old Mysore kingdom, “most dancers and nattuvanars came from T. Narasipura, Kolar, Mulubagilu, and Chintamani. Over 200 dancers lived in this region and they had scholars who trained them in Sanskrit, theory of performance….” The kings of Mysore, Mummadi Krishnaraj Wadiyar and Chamaraj Wadiyar, offered patronage to these talented women and attached them to various temples across Karnataka. It is said that in a Mulabagilu Temple there were 14 dancers at one point! This flourishing art scene in Karnataka got a blow when Krishnaraja Wadiyar decided to put an end to the devadasi tradition. The anti-nautch movement and anti-dedication movement of 1882 in the North was also the reason for this decision. However, the Mysore kings didn’t abandon the devadasis, they gave them continued patronage, and several of them were inducted into the drama company set up the Kings.

The book traces the life of Bangalore Nagarathnamma in detail, and doesn’t make it an uni-dimensional chronological account. The author, very meticulously, brings alive the social ethos of the times of Puttalakshamma and Nagarathnamma, replete with people and happenings. Puttalakshamma, like several devadasis of her generation, struggles to make her daughter a competent scholar not just of music and dance, but also Sanskrit and Telugu. She takes her to the best of teachers, sells away her gold ornaments, and makes sure that there are no obstacles for Nagarathnamma’s learning. Puttalakshamma moves to Bangalore with her daughter and trains her under the dance teacher Kittanna. She also has special teachers for Telugu, Tamil and English. She learnt music under Bidaram Krishnappa, who taught her Kannada compositions. Nagarathnamma, with her extraordinary talent, earned the goodwill and affection of several masters, including Veene Subbanna.

There are some very interesting aspects in the book. Among them are the vivid description of life in George Town at the turn of the 21st century throbbing with great musicians and equally large-hearted patrons. The most important part of the book is however, Nagarathnamma’s translation of Muddupalani’s Radhika Santhwanam and the furore it created in the literary circles. The earliest reference to Nagarathnamma and Muddupalani are in “Women’s Writing In India”, edited by Susie Tharu and Lalitha. But Dr. Koppa gives a detailed account of the long drawn battle. The other is the major ruckus between the two warring factions at Tiruvaiyaru and how Nagarathnamma had great difficulty in resolving the problem. The narration comes alive when 50 Devadasis arrive in Tiruvaiyaru for a concert at the Tyagaraja samadhi! In both these instances – Radhika Santhwanam and Tiruvaiyyaru — Nagarathnamma’s courage and determination is exemplary. She takes on the male world, and doesn’t let go of justice even in the most difficult times.

While most part of Nagarathnamma’s life was tough and trying, there are some warm moments. Justice Narahari Rao, Nagarathnamma’s patron, was a middle-aged man. He was deeply interested in the arts and had admiration for Nagarathnamma’s talent. After seeking consent from his wife, Narahari Rao, every evening after finishing his work at the High Court, would park his horse carriage in front of Nagarathnamma’s house in the narrow lanes of Nagarathpet in Bangalore, listen to her music and then return home. This became huge news and reached Diwan Seshadri Iyer, who in turn advised him to keep personal matters separate. On his advice, he bought a house for Nagarathnamma in the peaceful Hanumanthnagar and stopped using the official carriage to visit her. He not only admired her music, but encouraged her immensely. She came in contact with writers and big musicians due to Narahari Rao’s high offices. Nagarathnamma toured for concerts regularly. In fact, it was he who advised Nagarathnamma to shift base to Madras, since it was the centre of music. He was a very unusual patron.

The book is a complete account of the life of Nagarathnamma. It also captures the travails, ups and downs of nearly 150 years of the life of devadasis in Karnataka. Their phenomenal love for their art, and their quiet courage to take on the male world is unimaginable. Dr. Jagdish N. Koppa’s book is a value addition to the literary landscape. Its language is simple, its purpose straightforward. He tells the story with empathy and laments the society that we are.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Friday Review / by Deepa Ganesh / Bengaluru – June 02nd, 2016

Basking in the Afternoon glory

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Records, All

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Acting, directing, championing city events, collecting film memorabilia… National Award winner Sruti Harihara Subramanian speaks to RAVEENA JOSEPH about her myriad interests

Sruti Harihara Subramanian won a National Award a few weeks ago. Her 63-minute documentary, A Far Afternoon — A Painted Saga, which captures the craft of artist Krishen Khanna, was also screened at Cinema Indien, Stockholm, and All Lights India International Film Festival, Kochi. It was nominated for best documentary at the New York Indian Film Festival, and has recently been invited to the Indian Film Festival, Stuttgart. Yet, hardly anyone has heard about it. “People don’t consider you a filmmaker when you do a project like this, because everyone is still glued to the idea of traditional cinema,” says Sruti.

Sruti grew up a fan of Mani Ratnam and A.R. Rahman. She collected clippings of their interviews and saved ticket stubs after shows. Cinema felt like another world, one she never thought she could be part of. “I come from a family of dancers and singers — we thought of these as hobbies, not careers. The arts were just not considered a lucrative career track.”

To leverage her creative streak, however, she pursued Visual Communication at MOP Vaishnav College for Women. A chance stint in modelling and the Miss Chennai 2002 title later, casting calls came her way. After-college activities soon included shooting for K. Balachander’s Sahana and Naga’sChidambara Rahasiyam. After that, “I was receiving offers to play the daughter-in-law when I was still in college. I just couldn’t relate to the characters,” she shrugs.

It was around the same time that she wanted to know what went on behind the camera. So, after college, she assisted actor-director Revathy in a few scripts, director Vishnuvardhan in Panjaa (Telugu) and Vikram Kumar in Yaavarum Nalam. “But, being an assistant director does not pay,” she laughs. To make some extra money, she started to do corporate and ad films. So, when Piramal Art Foundation approached her to make A Far Afternoon in 2014, she took it up like any other commissioned project. “But, making a documentary is very different. I had to unlearn everything about commercial filmmaking and that was a whole new experience. Krishen Khanna has a meditative pace to his work: he thinks about every stroke he makes, chooses colours with care, rethinks his choice, and spends time perfecting it. It was a challenge to translate that pace, keeping in mind audience patience.”

But, does the young filmmaker have an eye for art? “Making the documentary was a personal journey as well, because I learnt a lot about the subject. I’m a connoisseur, but not a collector.”

However, what she does collect is film memorabilia. She has over 25,000 posters, lobby cards, song books, film scripts, movie magazines and photo albums. Why? “Some of these magazines and song books date to the 1930s. As film historians age, these are the only sources to know what happened in that era. They show how people used to live, love, dress and create art.” While Sruti collects some of these from run-down production houses and cinema halls, her main source is the paperwallah. “We say we are a land of culture, and cinema is about a 100 years old. Is this how we preserve it?”

She started The Cinema Resource Centre in 2009, and it provides film researchers a wealth of information from the bygone era. Eventually, she hopes to have a one-stop museum-like space for all things cinema — a well-stocked library, curated shows, special movie screenings, and more. “But, right now, due to a lack of space, we are just archiving everything.”

Her office, tucked inside Ashvita Bistro, Alwarpet, is stacked with dusty lobby cards that are being digitised for preservation. The rest of the café too, founded by husband Ashvin Rajagopalan in 2002, is coloured by Sruti’s interests.

As she started terrace gardening, home composting and upcycling, the cafe too started holding workshops in ecological living, and retails upcycled products through Goli Soda, a brand she set up in 2013.

Sruti’s interests over the last couple of years have spurred trends that are now popular city events. “This is the city that made me. What we love doing in other cities, we are trying to recreate here, within our cultural comfort,” smiles Sruti.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / Raveena Joseph /June 02nd, 2016

13th century pillar may solve mystery of ‘Meepozhi Nadu’

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

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

His ‘children’ are over 150 years old

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
Antique collector Robert Kennedy with a 1897 model typewriter made in the US  Ashwin Prasath
Antique collector Robert Kennedy with a 1897 model typewriter made in the US  Ashwin Prasath

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.

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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

Camera-derie with Memory Machines

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
Arun in his museum. Photo| R SATISH BABU
Arun in his museum. Photo| R SATISH BABU

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.”

A large format studio camera from the 40s; a process camera from 1895. Photo| R Satish Babu
A large format studio camera from the 40s; a process camera from 1895. Photo| R Satish Babu

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