Veejay Lakshmi Textiles Ltd of Coimbatore bagged the export awards for 2013-2014
Coimbatore:
Veejay Lakshmi Textiles Ltd of Coimbatore is one among the two export houses in Tamil Nadu that bagged the export awards for 2013-2014 instituted by TEXPROCIL (The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council of India).
The exporters from the state won the bronze medals/trophies for the highest global export category. This year, Texprocil distributed 71 awards based on 29 criteria, including the coveted gold trophy for the highest global exports.
Highlighting the challenges in the sector, chairnman of Texprocil Manikam Ramaswami said, “Indian textile industry, however competitive it may be at present, needs cotton at less than or equal to international prices and needs a level playing field when it comes to tariff barriers to perform to the best of its potential.”
He pointed out that despite India being a cotton surplus country, every year cotton prices go above international prices from February onwards until the new season and this severely impacts competitiveness.
Texprocil has already articulated a revenue positive solution to the ministry and hopes that it will be implemented soon, he said. On the tariff front, India needs to have agreements with the European Union, Canada and Australia, favourable duty in China similar to Pakistan, Bangladesh, who have negotiated reciprocal benefits with China.
India has US dollar 34 billion deficit with over US dollar 12 billion imports taking place at less than 5 per cent duty. Hence, the country should bargain reciprocal benefit for textiles. China exports US dollar 20 billion of textiles and India can improve exports by a huge amount if they get a level playing field, he said. Emphasising the need for implementation of the export incentive policy, he said, “Export of textiles is the only way forward.”
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC Correspondent / September 23rd, 2014
A poor girl’s dream to make a mark in Tinsel Town was more than fulfilled when she got the chance to act in a major role in a French film. Thirty- year-old Janagi, the daughter of a brick kiln worker from a remote village near Aralvoimozhy in the district, bagged the role of Gracie in Son épouse (His Wife). But Janagi’s journey to stardom was not easy. A performing artiste from Devasahayam Mount near Aralvoimozhi, she was the youngest of five children to Devasahayam, a brick kiln worker, and Virisithal, an anganwadi worker. “After completing my plus-two, I was compelled to go for tailoring and other menial jobs as my family was very poor. During that time, I was attracted to what my cousin Selvi did — she was part of a local cultural troupe Kalari and she used to act in plays,” said Janagi, speaking to Express. She later joined the troupe and learnt various folk arts. She was with them for three years, during which time she also managed to complete BA Tamil through correspondence. When she joined another cultural troupe Murasu, she got the opportunity to participate in a workshop organised by the National School of Drama held in Nagercoil. The workshop helped her hone her acting skills and she later enrolled in a three-year full-time diploma course in dramatic arts at NSD and successfully completed the course. In the course of time she got to know Prema Revwathy, who was a member of director Gautham Menon’s production team.
Not only did she get the opportunity to work as an associate director in the French movie Son épouse, directed by Michel Spinso, but Revwathy also got her the role of Gracie, said Janagi.
Gracie is the friend of the main character, Catherine, a drug addict, etched by Charlotte Gainsbourg. After Catherine’s untimely death her spirit enters Gracie. “I learnt French to act in the film,” said Janagi. The film was released in Paris a few months back.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> The Sunday Standard / by S. Mahesh / September 07th, 2014
Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday greeted Dipika Pallikal for winning the bronze medal in Women’s Squash singles event at the Asian Games and announced a cash award of `20 lakh in appreciation of her achievement.
“You have done us all proud once again by winning a bronze medal in Squash Women’s singles event at the ongoing 17th Asian Games at Incheon, South Korea. My heartiest congratulations on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu for your splendid achievement”, the Chief Minister said in her message to Dipika.
Congratulating Dipika and and all those who had contributed to her success, the Chief Minister wished her many more such laurels on behalf of the country and Tamil Nadu in future.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service / September 23rd, 2014
Chennaiites have over a 100 different events to choose from while celebrating the 375 birthday of their city. The celebrations mark the day when the small piece of land on which Fort St. George stands today was formally handed over to the East India Company.
From walking and learning about heritage structures to getting your answers right at quizzes to watching aachis from Chettinad spice up food, listening to lectures about Australia’s connection with Emden and celebrating the centenary of actor T. S. Baliah, there is a whole lot that a lover of Madras can do till the end of this month.
Madras Musings editor and historian S. Muthiah, who along with other enthusiasts addressed the press on Wednesday at the Taj Connemara, explained how the Madras Day celebrations began 12 years ago as just a half-a-day event and has now grown to a month-long string of events. Talking about some of his favourite programmes from among the over 100 events, he said the day-long seminar by geography teachers’ associations, teaching taxi drivers about the city was truly special. He also said he liked an exhibition by the Armenian Association of Paris at the Armenian Church from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from August 17 to 25.
You can keep tab of all the events through the Madras Day app (available on Android and iOS) developed by Broad Gate Technologies and funded by Sundaram Finance Ltd. Historian V. Sriram said that the app helped smartphone users sort events based on classification, date and location. “Another app Past Forward, which was also launched recently, provides details of heritage buildings and their pictures,” he said.
Actor Mohan Raman and the architect of the celebrations Vincent D’Souza were also present.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai> Madras 375 / by Special Correspondent / Chennai – August 14th, 2014
Madeley Road at Mambalam was named after British engineer J.W. Madeley who arrived in Chennai at the age of 19 at the turn of the 20th century and revolutionised the concept of an organised drinking water system in the city before he returned home in 1932, earning the name ‘Father of Madras Drinking Water Distribution System’ through the pioneering works he carried out in the interim. (Photo: DC/File)
Chennai:
What do Jones Road, Madeley Road, Ellis Road, Nowroji Road, Fraser Street and Captain Baker Street have in common?
All six roads are in different corners of the city, but they are united by one factor. All expect Nowroji Road were named in honour of British engineers and civil servants who envisioned the civic infrastructure of Madrasapattinam.
Madeley Road at Mambalam was named after British engineer J.W. Madeley who arrived in Chennai at the age of 19 at the turn of the 20th century and revolutionised the concept of an organised drinking water system in the city before he returned home in 1932, earning the name ‘Father of Madras Drinking Water Distribution System’ through the pioneering works he carried out in the interim.
‘Baptising’ of Ellis Road, connecting Anna Salai and Triplicane, dates back to 1818. A stone inscription on the ledge of the well at Periya Palaiathamman temple at Royapettah tells how the then Collector of Madras Francis Ellis dug 27 wells to overcome acute drought way back in 1818.
Retired engineer Meenakshi Sundaram, who served 37 years since 1976 in the city’s drinking water networks, says, visionary British engineer Captain Baker dug 10 wells in Bethanayakhanpet (opposite Vallalar Nagar Street) and water was lifted, using piccota buckets and delivered through iron pipes, to British inhabitants in George Town in 1772, and hence, it is called Captain Baker Street which is in front of the Madras high court.
The Seven Wells near Mint actually had 10 wells. “Three of the 10 wells did not serve the purpose and hence the name, Seven Wells,” Sundaram added, quoting from the book, Madrasapattinam, by Narasaiah.
Likewise, Jones Road at Saidapet is a tribute to the first sanitary engineer of Madras, Mr Jones, who introduced Madras to laying drinking water pipes.
Harmusji Nowroji, an assistant sanitary engineer of Parsi origin, formulated a pipeline system conducive to the condition of the native soil. Independent India immortalised his contribution by naming a street after him in Chetpet.
A street in Perambur was named in memory of Engineer Frazer who constructed the Tamaraipakkam dam across Kosasthalaiyar and conveyed water from Red Hills through an open conduit to Kilpauk Masonry Shaft, which is still conserved as a monument in Kilpauk pumping station.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC / K. Karthikeyan / September 21st, 2014
Till 1976, 91 tribal villages in Kalvarayan mountain range in Salem were ‘ruled’by three tribal chieftains. The region was finally brought under the administrative control of Union of India during the Emergency.
Information to this effect, obtained under the RTI Act from Villupuram district administration, has now been submitted to the Madras high court, which is hearing a PIL seeking a special development package for the backward region. The Kallakurichi division of Villupuram district forest office, responding to a PIL from advocate K R Tamizhmani, said: “Kalvarayan hill was being ruled by the following three jagirdhars (Poligars) – Sadaya Goundan, Kurumba Goundan and Arya Goundan. The hill was brought under the government control on June 25, 1976 by invoking slavery abolition legislation, 1963.”
The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayanan, before whom the PIL came up for hearing on Friday, ordered notices to the Union tribal welfare department and the state government.
Tamizhmani said he came across the region and the issues dogging it only in 1991 when he visited a place called Karumandhurai. While studying the history of the region, he realized that till June 25, 1976 the area was “not part of India, as there was no presence of governance or any government till then”. The three jagirdhars were mini-rulers of the locality and they were not willing to recognise the government of India and abide by its statutes by handing over 105 villages under them, the PIL said.
As per 1901 census, Sadaya Goundan had 40 villages with a population of 10,009, Kurumba Goundar had 40 villages with a population of 7,490 and Arya Goundan had 11 villages with 2,318 people. “In effect and substance, these three were the rulers and whatever they said had the force of law,” Tamizhmani said. The community had wedding tax, cultivation tax, registration of births and deaths, and everyone had to offer gifts to jagirdhar’s families during Pongal celebrations.
Pointing out that the entire stretch covering more than 2,000sqkm did not have proper school, medical and transport facilities, the PIL said thousands of people, including school children and the elderly, were living in sub-human conditions. Elementary schools were three to five km away, while high schools are located 7-25km away, he said, adding, “educating a child beyond class V is an ordeal. This forces many to skip education.” Their rights to health, education, transport and employment have been completely denied, the PIL said, adding, “this is a clear case of infringement of the most valuable fundamental right – right to a decent living.”
Tamizhmani suggested distribution of livestock to tribals, setting up a sago factory in the region, fruit processing units, roads with bus facilities, and promoting the area as tourist hotspot, to improve the living standard of people in the area.
It wanted the court to direct the authorities to frame and implement a special scheme providing for these basic facilities to residents of Kalrayan, Periya Kalrayan and Chinna Kalrayan regions of Kalvarayan mountain ranges spread across Salem and Villupuram districts.
source: http://www.timesofindia.com / Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by A Subramani, TNN / September 20th, 2014
Denmark appears to be keen on preserving Schmidt Memorial on the Elliot’s beach in Besant Nagar. The structure was put up in memory of a Danish sailor who gave up his life to save a drowning English girl off the beach.
On Friday, Danish ambassador to India Freddy Svane and S B Prabhakar Rao, honorary vice-consul of Denmark for Southern India, will visit the site along with R Anandakumar, regional joint commissioner (south) of the city corporation.
The civic body had taken up the restoration in November 2014 at an estimated Rs 15 lakh after beachgoers and activists complained that the heritage monument had been converted into a toilet and was also being used as a bar. On December 30, 2012, a few residents placed wreaths at the memorial to commemorate K A J Schmidt’s 82nd anniversary.
The memorial was ordered built in 1930 by Madras Governor Lieutenant-Colonel Sir George Frederick in memory of Schmidt, a Dutch sailor who lost his life while trying to save a girl from drowning in the sea. The epitaph on the memorial stone reads, “To commemorate the gallantry of K A J Schmidt who drowned near this spot on December 30, 1930, while helping to save the lives of others.”
With Schmidt’s 84th death anniversary coming up on December 30, beachgoers have urged the city corporation to initiate steps to ensure that the monument is protected from further acts of vandalism.
Residents of Besant Nagar, who had for long fought to the get the monument restored, are happy. Kamakshi Subramaniyam, a resident, said there was a need to conserve the structure. “There should be a comprehensive plan for the protection of this heritage structure. Technical and financial support from Denmark would be an additional benefit. The coordination between the Denmark consulate and corporation will prevent future vandalism.”
The fact that the restoration is nearing completion has thrilled regulars to the beach. Raghav Kumar, a frequent visitor, said: “It’s the only heritage structure on the beach. There is a need to conserve this landmark. The story of the sailor should act as a model for future generations.”
He said strict action should be initiated against those trying to misuse it. “Members of the public should also be made responsible to protect the monument,” he added.
The corporation is considering deploying security guards and constructing a compound wall around the memorial.
source: http://www.timesofindia.com / Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / TNN / September 19th, 2014
Efforts are being taken to renovate the moats (agazhi) surrounding the entire Brahadeeshwara temple for a 2.5 km stretch and also the big fort in the city that span for 4 km. The moats that were built during the Chola period used to be completely filled with water and were intended to defend against any attack from the enemies. Once the moats are cleared, the administration is planning to operate boats between the small and big forts to promote tourism.
For long, the moats have been a subject of issue and several organisations voiced concerns over the protection of the structures, which have now been taken up for renovation. The big fort moat that surrounds the city spans for 4 km in which about 3.4 km have been cleared of the thorny bushes and other establishments that were obstructing the flow of water, while work on the small fort protecting the temple for 2.5 km has been taken up by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
According to officials from Intach (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), the mission is to clean the entire premises and to allow operation of boats in the river from the big fort to the small fort, which in turn would boost tourism. Muthukumar Sathyamurthy, honorary secretary, Intach said, “The clearing works began six months ago and has been moving at a tremendous pace and we are expecting the first boat to be operated on September 27.” The entire moat surrounding the city was completely occupied by agricultural land and encroachments, which delayed the project.
He further added that the moats are weak as they were built 1,000 years ago during the Chola period and the water is now freely flowing into the passages nearby. The water is currently flowing from Pudhu Aaru into the passages, which is an advantage for the tourism department to operate the boats. Since the entire project is gigantic, several departments like the public works department, tourism, ASI and the district administration have come together.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Trichy / TNN / September 21st, 2014
A DATE WITH HISTORY: Each inscription at Sivapuripatti tells a story from the past, about royal families, peasants, damsels and warriors. Photo: G. Moorthy
Over 60 inscriptions immortalize history on the stone walls of a 1000-year-old Shiva temple in Sivapuripatti
“When Kulothunga Chola-I subjugated the Pandya kings in the 11th Century A.D., Jainism had taken roots in the Pandya country. A staunch saivaite, Kulothunga decided to resurrect the lost religion and constructed Shiva temples and mutts across the region,” narrates art historian Dr. R. Venkatraman. “Most of these places functioned as centres propagating Saivism and were situated along the major trade routes. These were also the places for the monarchs to rest.”
One such Shiva temple was built at Sivapuripatti, a village situated on the legendary trade route connecting two ancient ports — Muziris on the west coast and Thondi on the east. “The Chinese traders landed in Thondi port, while the Romans used Muziris,” says Venkatraman. “The route which was later maintained by Rani Mangammal, exists till date and passes through a number of villages.”
Today, Sivapuripatti in the present Sivaganga district is much like any other village with tiled-roof houses, dry ponds, barren fields and tall trees under which men play Dhayam and Kattam. Probably, this was how the kings and traders also played in leisure when they stopped at the mutts in the village en route to business and wars.
Not a single mutt said to be built by the Cholas is seen today. Only the temple of Suyamprakasham stands intact, bearing a slew of 60 inscriptions on its stone walls.
Each inscription tells a story from the past, about royal families, peasants, damsels and warriors. “These inscriptions in Tamil script belong to different time periods starting from 11th to 17th Century A.D., showing that the village was inhabited continuously and a number of kings passed through this place,” says Dr. V. Vedachalam, Retd. Archaeological Officer.
A DATE WITH HISTORY: Each inscription at Sivapuripatti tells a story from the past, about royal families, peasants, damsels and warriors. Photo: G. Moorthy / The Hindu
Apart from four inscriptions by Kulothunga-I, few date to the reigns of medieval Pandya kings Srivallaba, Parakrama, Kulsekara, Sundara and Vikrama Pandya. Some also refer to Vijayanagara kings like Achutharaya and NagamaNayaka and the much later Polygars such as Vijaya Ragunatha Setupati of Ramnad and the Marudu Brothers of Sivaganga.
One of the inscriptions records the existence of 10 dancers in the temple and a nattuvangar who choreographed the performances during festivals. Another refers to a peace treaty signed between two clans that ruled the region – Nishada Rajans of Pon Amaravathy and Dwarapati Velans. It elaborates on the practice of giving lands in charity to families of martyrs.
Yet another inscription talks about how King Maravarman Sundara Pandya installed an idol of his predecessor Moothanayagan in the temple premises.
“The Inscriptions state that Sivapuripatti was called Nirubasekara Chaturvedi Mangalam and Chola Marthanda Chaturvedi Mangalam during various eras,” says Vedachalam, who also postulates that the village could have been among the 300 hamlets that constituted the kingdom of Pari.
“The Sangam literature sings the glory of Piranmalai which is close by and Sivapuripatti could have very well been a part of Pari nadu.”
“A Panchaloha Nataraja idol was apparently consecrated here, though we don’t find it now,” says Vedachalam. The village people say that the idol was taken to the Archaeological research centre in Chennai, a few years back.
Another rare idol found in the temple is that of Jyeshta Devi, along with Nandikeshwara and Agni.
“This can only be found in Pandya period temples. Jyeshta Devi was the clan-deity of Pandyas and symbolizes fertility,” says Venkatraman. “The temple reflects both Pandya and Chola architectural elements. The short vimana is a trademark style of the medieval Pandyas.”
Sivapuripatti is two kilometres from Singampunari and can be reached via Kottampatti.
The heritage walk was jointly organized by DHAN Foundation, INTACH and Travel Club.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by A. Shrikumar / Madurai – September 19th, 2014
Chancellor G Viswanathan giving away a prize to a winner of a contest held under ‘Tamil Saral 2014’ function at VIT on Tuesday | express
Vellore :
VIT chancellor G Viswanathan while presiding over a function, to mark the birth anniversary of Anna on VIT campus on Tuesday said that the former CM Annadurai was the first man to make Tamil language accessible to the common man.
The programme was billed as ‘Tamil Saral 2014’ and was conducted under the aegis of the Tamil Literary Association of the university. Viswanathan, in his address, said that Tamil was once only in the realm of poets and pandits and added that Anna was an ideal leader who had a flair for writing and speaking Tamil.
Mannarmannan, son of the great Tamil Poet Bharathidasan, who was a special invitee on the occasion, lamented that people of this State were losing interest in the Tamil language. Quoting his father Bharathidasan, he said, the Tamilians here could do well only if their language was protected and nurtured. He said, while Anna was able to nurture Tamil through his fiery speeches, Bharathidasan did the same through writings.
The grandson of Bharathidasan, Bharathi, was also invited and in his address, wanted people of the State to work hard to realise the dreams of great leaders like Anna and Bharathidasan. Students should develop the habit of reading books written by great leaders. “Aim for the Nobel prize”, he told the young audience.
Prizes were distributed to winners of competitions conducted on the occasion, in which over 100 students from 50 colleges and universities participated.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service / September 17th, 2014
