funny interpretation of rule - was Ruturaj Gaikwad out ?!?

The much awaited / touted IPL is back again !  - today at Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad, Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to field.  Happy moment for CSK – though foreign stars Moeen Ali, Conway, Ben Stokes failed, Ruturaj Gaikwad was in sublime form hammering every thing away.  Mercurial MS Dhoni stoked a six and four !

 

Ruturaj  was out rather a wrong decision caught by Shubman Gill off Alzarri Joseph having made 92 off mere 50 with 9 sixers and 4 boundaries. The replays suggested that the ball was hit when it was more than waist high but some tech-aid showing the trajectory showed it to be lower – and the TV umpire was heard saying that it is clearly below the waistline !! – all along I had belived that it is the point of impact that matters and not any projected trajectory !! 

The law of Cricket states :  Any delivery, which passes or would have passed, without pitching, above waist height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease, is unfair. Whenever such a delivery is bowled, the umpire shall call and signal No ball.

 

Today is the 1^st match of 2023 Indian Premier League (TATA IPL 2023) -    the 16^th  season of the Indian Premier League (IPL),   owned and operated by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).  The season schedule will return to its original home and away format after a period of four years.  Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic the previous three seasons were held at neutral venues.  

Today following the introduction of the Impact Player rule, Chennai's Tushar Deshpande was the first utilised impact player, replacing Ambati Rayudu in their match against Gujarat Titans.  

In the present tournament, teams are divided in two groups (A and B). Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, Lucknow SuperGiants are in Group A – Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Gujarat Titans, Royal Challenders Bangalore, Punjab Kings are in Group B.  Each team will play 7 home and away games, facing the opposite group's teams twice. Teams within the same group will play against each other once. A total of seventy games will be organized throughout the country in 12 stadiums and there are to be matches in Chepauk too.  

The DRS or Umpire decision review system is used in all IPL matches -  each team having  two chances to review an on-field umpire's decision per innings.  From this  season, players can review wide and no balls, which is not the case in other men's cricket tournaments. If the bowling team doesn't completed its overs in allocated time, then they can have  only 4 fielder outside 30 yard field for the remainder of the innings.  

There is the substitute rule, called Impact player -  Teams can use a substitute, which termed as an "Impact player". For this the teams have to handover list of five players as probable substitutes to the match referee.   Teams can declare their squads and list of Impact players after the toss, albeit all five players must have to be Indian. This rule IPL has  borrowed from Football and NBA. Both the participating teams can introduce substitute once in a match. If a batter got out and bowling team decides to make substitute in middle of the over then the substitute bowler cannot ball remaining balls of that over. The replaced player further can not take any part in the match, not even as substitute fielder. Teams can introduce a foreign player as substitute if they have included less than 4 foreign players in the team.  After fall of wickets the new batter always have to take the strike.  

Kane Williamson was forced off the field 13 overs into his Gujarat Titans debut, against Chennai Super Kings, after injuring his right knee. He had done the damage while fielding on the deep-square leg boundary, where he had leapt brilliantly  to intercept a ball headed for six off Ruturaj Gaikwad's bat. He managed to save two runs, palming the ball into the field of play before it bounced onto the boundary boards, but by that point Williamson was on the ground clutching his right knee. Gujarat Titans brought  B Sai Sudharsan on as substitute fielder.  

Kane has good memories of Motera as he made his debut in 2013, becoming  New Zealand's youngest player to hit a century on Test debut.  

Elsewhere, Hundred draft saw 30 men's players picked across the eight teams, with Welsh Fire strengthening significantly after a winless 2022 season. Their new coach Michael Hussey used the first pick of the draft to select Tom Abell - after Tim David returned to Southern Brave via their Right-To-Match (RTM) card - then secured the services of Pakistan's pace duo Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, as well as the all-round skills of David Willey. 

The Hundred is a professional franchise 100-ball cricket tournament involving eight men's and eight women's teams located in major cities across England and Wales. The tournament is run by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).   

England great James Anderson expressed surprise  that Pakistan skipper Babar Azam went unsold in this year’s The Hundred draft. While speaking in BBC’s Tailender Podcast, Anderson said that he would have spent the “entire budget” to make sure that Babar Azam was in his side.  Babar, who entered the draft with a reserve price of £100,000, didn’t find any takers in the draft. Alongside Babar, his compatriot Mohammad Rizwan were also unsuccessful in finding teams.

 
Interesting !
 
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
31.3.2023 

colleague Anantha Padmanabhan retires !!

 After almost 4 decades of service in Insurance industry, Mr N Ananthapadmanabhan retired from FG today. 

He joined insurance industry in 1984 at Oriental Insurance, DO I, later joined Royal Sundaram in  2007, worked in SBI Genl, Universal Sompo, HDI Magma and then joined Future Generali in 2015. 

We worked together in Oriental (in different offices); then in RSIL and in FG since 2015. 

A grand function was organized on his retirement.  Happy retired life Ananthu !

with regards - S.Sampathkumar
31.3.2023

Nadanam, Nattiyam at Gangaikonda Chozhapuram !!

நடனம் !  நாட்டியம் !!  1980களில் மிக பிரபலமான படம் சலங்கை ஒலி  - இளையராஜாவின் இன்னிசை பட்டி தொட்டி எங்கும் ஒலித்தது

நாத வினோதங்கள் நடன சந்தோஷங்கள், பரம சுகங்கள் தருமே

அபினயம் காண்பதும் அதில் மனம் தோய்வதும், வீடு பேறு பெறுமே

கயிலை நாதன் நடனம் ஆடும் சிவரூபம்; பௌர்ணமி நேரம் நிலவில் ஆடும் ஒளி தீபம்  

என்ற பாடலை பற்பல தடவை கேட்டு களித்து இருப்பீர்கள்.  நடனம் என்பது பொதுவாகத் தாளத்துக்கும் இசைக்கும் அமைவாக உடலை அசைத்து நிகழ்த்தப்படும் ஒரு கலை வடிவம். இது ஒரு விடயத்தின் வெளிப்பாட்டு வடிவமாகவோ, சமூகத் தொடர்பாடலாகவோ இருக்கலாம்.  உடல் அசைவுகளும், கை முத்திரைகளையும் சேர்த்தது 'அடவு' என்று வழங்கப்படுகிறது. பல அடவுகள் சேர்ந்தது 'சதி' எனப்படும்.  

நடனத்தை ஆடுபவர்கள் பெரும்பான்மையோர் பெண்களேயென்றாலும், ஆண்களும்சிறப்பாக  ஆடுவதுண்டு. சைவ சமயத்தவர்களின் முழுமுதற் கடவுளான சிவன்,  நடராசர் வடிவத்தில் இந்த நடனத்தை ஆடியபடி சித்தரிக்கப்படுவது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. சிவபெருமான் ஆடும் நடனம் 'தாண்டவம்' என்று சொல்லப்படுகிறது. மகிழ்ச்சியின் உச்சத்தில் அவர் ஆடும் நடனம் 'ஆனந்த தாண்டவம்' என்றும், அழிக்கும் கடவுளாக அவர் ஆடும் நடனம் 'ருத்ர தாண்டவம்' என்றும் அழைக்கப்படுகிறது.

கொண்டதோர் கோலமாகிக் கோலக்காவுடைய கூத்தன்

உண்டதோர் நஞ்சமாகி உலகெலாமுய்ய வுண்டான்

எண்டிசையோருமேத்த நின்றவே கம்பன்றன்னைக்

கண்டு  நானடிமை செய்வான் கருதியே திரிகின்றேனே.

 

தான் விரும்பிக் கொண்ட வடிவுடையவனாய்த் திருக்கோலக்கா என்ற திருத்தலத்தை உடைய கூத்தனாய் , உலகங்கள் எல்லாம் உயிர் பிழைக்குமாறு விடத்தை உண்டவனாய் எட்டுத் திசையிலுள்ளாரும் போற்றுமாறு நிலைபெற்ற ஏகம்பனைத் தரிசித்து அவனுக்கு அடிமைத் தொண்டு செய்வதற்கு அடியேன் தலந்தொறும் அலைகின்றேன் . அவனே ஞானானந்த நடனம் புரிபவன் ; ஐந்தொழிற் கூத்தன் .  திருமுறையில் திருக்கூத்தன் என்றுள்ள இடந்தொறும் மகேசுரமூர்த்தியாகிய நடராசர் என்பர் . உண்டது நஞ்சம் , அதனை உண்டதன் காரணம் உலகெலாம் உய்தல் வேண்டுமென்று கொண்ட திருவுள்ளம் . திருவேகம்பனைக் கண்டு அடிமை செய்தற் பொருட்டாக அவன் திருவடியே கருதித் தலந்தோறும் திரிகின்றேன் நான்!!  நான்காம் திருமுறை - திருநாவுக்கரசர் தேவாரம் பாசுரம் 

 

படத்தில் கங்கைகொண்ட சோழபுரம் எனும் அற்புத இடத்தில் - சித்தரிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள சிவபெருமான் தாண்டவமும், கோவில் பிரகாரத்தில், ஏதோ விளம்பர படத்திற்க்காக நடனம் ஆடுவது போல அபிநயம் கட்டிய ஒரு சுந்தரியும் !!  

ஒரு நல்ல வெயில் தெறித்த மார்ச் மாத மத்தியானத்தில் எடுக்கப்பட்ட படங்கள்

 
அன்புடன் - ஸ்ரீனிவாசன் சம்பத்குமார்
31.3.2023

Srirangam Andal !!

 We cherish photos with people we love and at places where we yearn to be ! – at Thiruvarangam, photographed with famous Andal, elephant.

 

Many thanks to Rajesh annan (Mahout) and Mr Ramadas sir.

Capsicum !! - குட மிளகாய் !!!

 Capsicum !! - குட மிளகாய் !!! 

The fruit (technically berries in the strict botanical sense) of Capsicum plants have a variety of names depending on place and type. The more piquant varieties are commonly called chili peppers, or simply chilis.  We call it ‘chilly’ – umbrella chilli !! (kuda mulagai) commonly pampered in paruppu sambar and sometimes standalone vegetable delicacy and in combo (I am not a great fan though !(

 

Capsicums are also known as bell peppers in America or just peppers in the UK. In the intermediate stage of ripening, capsicums are yellow or orange and are significantly sweeter than the green version !!  When fully ripe, capsicums are red and are at their peak when it comes to vitamin and antioxidant content.

 

Capsicum  is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family Solanaceae, native to the Americas, cultivated worldwide for their chili pepper or bell pepper fruit. The generic name may come from Latin capsa, meaning 'box', presumably alluding to the pods; or possibly from the Greek word   kapto, 'to gulp'. The name "pepper" comes from the similarity of piquance (spiciness or "heat") of the flavour to that of black pepper, although there is no botanical relationship with it or with Sichuan pepper. The original term, chilli (now chile in Mexico) came from the Nahuatl word chīlli, denoting a larger Capsicum variety cultivated at least since 3000 BC. Different varieties were cultivated in South America, where they are known as ajíes (singular ají), from the Quechua term for Capsicum.

 

How much do you relish this ??
 
Regards – S. Sampathkumar
28.3.2023

Enga Ooru Madrassu - Velachery !!

Those of us born and brought up in Chennai or for that matter any metropolis may not realize this, perhaps we would, when we land in say London or New York !! – too much of vehicles / building / population, a bit frightening !!

 

Here is a photo of an area, which perhaps had many barren lands – say 40 years ago – now there is an exponential growth, conjuring  visuals of a place that floats during the monsoon, has apartments everywhere,  multiple ice-cream parlours, luxury shopping malls, tech giants, coaching centres and a choking  traffic.  

Anubavi Raja Anubavi (transl. Experience it boy, experience it) written and directed by K Balanchandar hit the silver screens in 1967 – starring  Nagesh along with  Muthuraman, Rajasree and Jayabharathi. The film was  remade in Hindi as Do Phool (1973),[3] in Malayalam as Aanandham Paramaanandham (1977), in Kannada as Kittu Puttu (1977) and in Marathi as Changu Mangu (1990).  Music was by MS Viswanathan, to the lyrics of legendary Kannadasan.   "Madras Nalla Madras" was one of the first songs that tried to provide a commentary on life in the city – might stir controversy, if it had come in recent times !!   

மெட்ராஸ் நல்ல மெட்ராஸ்;  மெட்ராஸ் நல்ல மெட்ராஸ்

மெதுவாப் போறவுக யாருமில்லே; இங்கே சரியாத் தமிழ் பேச ஆளுமில்லே

….           ………..                ………..

ஊரு கெட்டுப் போனதுக்கு மூரு மாருக்கெட்டு அடையாளம்

நாடு கெட்டுப் போனதுக்கு;  மெட்ராஸு நாகரிகம் அடையாளம்

 

The lyrics of the song are not exactly a tribute to the city of Madras  sung in the movie by the wonderful comedian Nagesh.  Nagesh, a villager, comes to Madras   and finds himself completely at sea and everything chaotic and confusing. You can’t blame him, really. Any one experiencing the city for the first time would  feel the same way Nagesh did in the movie.  

It is newly constructed bridge at Velachery junction near bus terminus. The rapid growth of Velachery as a commercial and residential hub, could be attributed to its geographical advantage in terms of the connectivity to other parts of the city:   It has big shops, malls, banks, IIT, Temples and more.   

The  name given to IIT Madras’s back gate, which is currently known as the ‘Appala kulam’ gate,  was derived after Appaya Deekshithar, a scholar who lived in the 16th century, who visited and stayed in this part of the campus, which was previously a forest. ‘Appaya kulam’ became Appala kulam over the years!!” Velachery was within ‘Kottur Naadu’-  the area being referred to as Dinachanthamani Chaturvedimangalam, named after a Chola queen, the wife of Kulothunga I.” Chaturvedi Mangalm, is a settlement of Brahmins who were skilled in all four Vedas. 

Interesting !  - enga ooru Madrassu !!
 
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
23.3.2023 

the ever-green relationship !!

 Life is all about friendship and relationships !  - there are people who are lonely and more so, fascinated by remaining so.  Not all !  - many would like to have many friends,  people claim that they want to be sociable and speak people happily. 

Most of us grew in cities fascinating ourselves to be practicing  glamorous city life surrounded by a group of close friends. Over the years, for sure, most have  made lots of friends: childhood friends, work friends, college friends, writer friends, travel friends, friends who share passions,  WA group friends and more.  We may like  to chat over coffee even with  friends who live far away   whom one talks rarely or even those whose face is unknown.  But close friends? “Friends” level friends? – may not be many !!  

Many crave for the right time to  engage in a little self-disclosure. This gives your partner in conversation permission to also self-disclose. You may get to understand each other.  Too much closeness can be a little frightening. Even those who are close don't need to connect too frequently or on a deep level all the time. Sometimes a little space and levity also feed a close relationship and help keep it alive and well.  

Perhaps the foundation of friendship and getting nearer is ‘trust’ !  When you trust someone, it means that you believe they are dependable, reliable, and honest. A certain amount of trust is necessary for relationships.  But trusting other people is not always easy, and the closer the relationship is, and the more you have to reveal yourself, the harder it can be. Trust doesn't just involve believing that others are reliable. It also means making yourself vulnerable and believing that others will live up to your expectations and act with good intentions. That can be a big ask, and not everyone is prepared or willing to accept the risk of making themselves vulnerable.

 

Forget everything above  - this post is all about the trust this parrot has in me.  Parrots fly away when they feel, we are watching eve from a distance !!

 
Regards – S. Sampathkumar
23.3.2023

 

 

Pigeon - Bumrah style !!

 A short run-up, followed by a dramatic jump at the last moment –

delivering arm high with other arm stretched horizontally fully – confusing looks –

that is Jasprit Bumrah special.

Taking good photo - focus on the Centre !!

 Centre is the  middle point or part. 

What  should be the focus or Centre point of concern for a civilized society – is it protection to innocent or ensuring that the criminal too is not subjected to any harsh punishment !! 

The Centre should consider whether there can be a "less painful" alternative to death by hanging way of carrying out death sentences than hanging, the Supreme Court said today. The Supreme Court asked the Centre to initiate a discussion and collect information to examine if there can be a less painful method than hanging by the neck. Attorney General   was asked to get back to the court on any study on the impact of death by hanging. 

The court said it was open to setting up a panel of experts to consider the subject, as it heard a petition seeking a "painless end for death convicts”. The petition also suggests shooting, lethal injection or the electric chair instead of hanging. .. .. never worry  of the pain and suffering of the victim, more so of the survivors and their families ! 

Every budding photographer tries to focus and keep his object at the centre – focus is required and there are single and multi-point cameras.  

Autofocus (AF) uses AF points and AF areas to acquire focus. DSLR  cameras  let you choose from a number of AF point and AF area patterns, from single points to zones, and mixtures of both. Understanding the different patterns will bring you closer to getting the shots you want. 

Without knowing how focus works, it’s difficult to create the pictures we’re looking for. We need focus to make images that impact our viewers and convey the emotions we feel when working with a subject.  Understanding focus in photography starts with breaking down the different ways you can find focus with your lens and camera. From learning how to focus in-camera using both manual and autofocus to using the best photography focus techniques to nail your focus is all about learning to shoot great !

All photographers should know how to focus manually. No matter how advanced your camera is, it still can’t read your mind. Sometimes there isn’t enough light for the autofocus system to work, or you have the wrong focus area selected. Manual focusing can help you capture the moment much faster. Despite autofocus being much easier, some photographers prefer manual focus mode for some genres like landscape, portrait, or macro.

 

.. .. ..   .Here is a beautiful kolam in front of Nammalwar sannithi for Sri Parthasarathi perumal Amaasai purappadu, a cow standing at the centre, white thirukudai inside .. .. and for some whatever you try to do, there is always an element of surprise, photo-bombing ! 

 
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
21.3.2023

Welcoming rain !!

மழை துளி, ,மழை துளி பூவில் சங்கமம் !!  - மழைக்கொரு தேவனே வருணனே வருகவே !!

 

Enjoying summer rains !  - so unusual in what otherwise would have been hot March !  Rain is the hope of life for animals, plants and humans in the planet !  Rain is a very  key element in the Earth's water cycle,  vital to all life on Earth. Rainfall is the main way that the water in the skies comes down to Earth, where it fills our lakes and rivers, recharges the underground aquifers, and provides drinks to plants and animals.

 

Most of the Earth's surface is covered with water -- and most of it is water we can't drink. 97 percent of Earth's water is salty sea water which is useless to most land-dwelling plants and animals.  Precipitation supports life on land with salt-free water.  Rain is liquid precipitation: water falling from the sky. Raindrops fall to Earth when clouds become saturated, or filled, with water droplets. Millions of water droplets bump into each other as they gather in a cloud. When a small water droplet bumps into a bigger one, it condenses, or combines, with the larger one. As this continues to happen, the droplet gets heavier and heavier. When the water droplet becomes too heavy to continue floating around in the cloud, it falls to the ground.  

Burning fossil fuels can influence rain patterns ! says Scientists. In urban areas, where many vehicles are on the road at once, rainfall is more likely during the weekend than during the week. This is because during the week, millions of cars release exhaust into the atmosphere, creating billions of CCN [cloud condensation nuclei] in the clouds.  By the end of the week, clouds are much more likely to be saturated with moisture and CCN.

 
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
24.3.2023 

India Vs Australia - decider at MA Chidambaram Chepauk Stadium

Decider at Chepauk 22.3.2023 – some history !! 

Tomorrow  afternoon starts the 3^rd ODI, the decider of the 3 match series at Chepauk.  .. .. before you read further, can you identify this Cricketer ?

 After the low scoring the 1^st match, India was thrashed at Vizag.  Indian score of 117 is their   fourth-lowest in ODIs at home. Their lowest is 78 all out against Sri Lanka in Kanpur 1986, followed by 100 all out against West Indies in Ahmedabad 1993 and 112 all out against Sri Lanka in Dharamsala 2017.  

It was not only defeat but the way it was handed out -  234 Balls remaining off 300,  when Australia reached the target, making it the biggest margin of victory - in this category - for any team against India. New Zealand had recorded the previous best when they beat India with 212 balls remaining in Hamilton 2019. This is also the third-biggest ODI win for Australia in balls remaining.  

So there is lot at stake for today’s match at Chepauk – don’t get carried away by explanations of six gardens that existed and all that – here is some History.  

 

In 1681 a ‘Garden-house”” was completed for the use of the Governor in the site now occupiel by the General Hospital and Medical College, That house was destroyed by La Bourdonnais when he occupied Madrad in 1746. In  1753 a new garden-house in Triplicane was acquire from the executors of Mr. Luis de Medeiros. The house was a large one with a frontage of about 130 feet and stood in a rectangular compound laid down in the Italian style about 400 yards long from east to west and 85 yards wide. That house was the nucleus of the present Goyernment House.  

At the time spoken of, the roads which now bound the Park did not exist. The Triplicane High Road ran north without deviation up to the Government house Bridge and passed within 50 yards of the House.   Additions were made to the compound and the Park from time to time. In 1758 the Government House was occupied by the French Count de Lally when besieging Madras. He pulled down its verandahs, destroyed private houses near it, and burned the village of Chepauk.  The house was put in order again in 1762 and was much improved between 1786 and 1789 when Sir Archibald Campbell was the Governor. The second Lord Clive, however, found it inadequate, either as a residence or as a place for holding State entertainments. Extensive alterations and improvements in the house were carried out under his auspices between 1800 and 1802, and the Banqueting Hail, which stands by the side of the main house, was formally opened in 1802.  

Something extracted from The Madras Year book 1924 – official commercial and general directory of the Madras Presidency compiled by HOnble Diwan Bahadur LD Swamikannu Pillai, printed by the Superintendent, Government Press priced at Rs.7, a princely sum those days.   

The book further states that Madras Cricket Club stood at Wallajah Road, Chepauk and had entrance fee of Rs.25 !! – annual subscription of Rs.40 for playing members and Rs.30 for non-playing members.  Its President was  H.B. Lord Willingdon.  Politically the boundaries of what existed as Chepauk division was – Coovum river in the North, east by Sea, South by Pycrofts Road (presently Bharathiyar Salai); west Triplicane High Road, Wallajah Road & Mount road.   

In 1859, Madras Presidency acquired Chepauk palace in an auction – a few years later obtained Govt permission to build pavilion at the palace grounds to Madras Cricket Club. The pavilion was reconstructed in 1892 and was utilized till 1982 when it was demolished as part of the stadium renovation.  Understand that a couple years ago, the lease period of the stadium was extended by the Tamil Nadu government for 21 years from 2015. Again in recent years, it has undergone major renovation  and is new for today’s match to be played under flood lights.

The  stadium thus has existed for century +  and the first match of the Ranji Trophy was held on 4 November 1934 between Madras and Mysore at Chepauk. MJ Gopalan  bowled the first ball to N Curtis.  

Chepauk stadium …  MA Chidambaram stadium to be precise.  We have seen so many first division matches, local tournaments, Buchibabu, Ranji, Duleep, Deodhar trophy matches and then Tests (Pongal Tests !) ..   in all it has hosted 46 one dayers !!   

The first ever ODI played here was Reliance World Cup on Oct 9, 1987.  A match to remember for that opening stand between Sunil Gavaskar & Krish Srikkanth (83) and the sixer hitting Navjot Sidhu.  Then  Kapil Dev's sportsmanship – one of  Jones's two sixes, in his 39 from 35 balls, had been signalled as four; but between innings Kapil concurred with the Australians' insistence that the ball cleared the boundary.   India's target was increased by 2 seemed insignificant when India raced past 200 for the loss of only two wickets. McDermott's first four overs went for 31 runs. Closer to finish -  India, with four wickets in hand, needed just 15 from the last four overs; when the last over began, the requirement was 6, with the last man, Maninder Singh, taking strike. He managed two 2s, but was out with India short by a solitary run !!  

222 deliveries only were  bowled in Visakhapatnam, the second-fewest in a completed men's ODI hosted by India (excluding shortened games). The shortest was between Kenya and New Zealand during the 2011 World Cup in Chennai, which lasted only 191 balls.  

Looking forward to a good match and an Indian win ! The man at the start is Karun Nair who has played only 6 tests – totaling 374 runs with a triple ton (303*) at Chepauk in test 2241 at Chepauk in 2016.  Only Virender Sehwag has scored more runs than him in a single innings at Chepauk.  

 
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
21.3.2023

Birds of Paradise !! - கூடையில் என்ன பூ ??

வாழ்க்கையில் ஏற்றமும் இறக்கமும்  !  அண்ணாமலையான ரஜினிகாந்த் லிப்ட் படிகளில் மேலேற, சரத்பாபு கீழே இறங்குவார் !  - ஒரே பாடலில் வாழ்க்கை மாறும்.  பால்காரரான சைக்கிள் ஓட்டும் அண்ணாமலை –

 

கொண்டையில் தாழம்பூ,  நெஞ்சிலே வாழைப்பூ !! (அது என்ன நெஞ்சிலே !!)  - படம் பார்ப்பவர்களை பார்த்து -  கூடையில் என்ன பூ  - என வினவுவார் ?  - கேள்வி -  இது என்ன பூ ??  - to those who cannot read Tamil – identify this flower ?!? 

Among the most amazing creatures in the world, more than 40 species of this most attractive birds  live in New Guinea’s Indo-Pacific rainforest, one of the largest intact tropical forested areas on Earth.  Most are distinguished by striking colors and bright plumage of yellow, blue, scarlet, and green. These colors distinguish them as some of the world's most dramatic and attractive birds. Males often sport vibrant feathered ruffs or amazingly elongated feathers, which are known as wires or streamers. Some species have enormous head plumes or other distinctive ornaments, such as breast shields or head fans.  Here is a photo of the bird from Sandiegozoo website.  

 

The birds-of-paradise are members of the family Paradisaeidae of the order Passeriformes. The majority of species are found in eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and eastern Australia. The family has 45 species in 17 genera. The members of this family are perhaps best known for the plumage of the males of the species, the majority of which are sexually dimorphic. The males of these species tend to have very long, elaborate feathers extending from the beak, wings, tail or head. For the most part they are confined to dense rainforest habitat. The diet of all species is dominated by fruit and to a lesser extent arthropods. A number of species are threatened by hunting and habitat loss.  

It is a plant – known as false bird of Paradise !! H. rostrata is a very large, evergreen perennial with banana-like leaves up to 2m long. In spring and summer it produces hanging inflorescences made up of bright red bracts, each tipped with yellow and green, with yellowish-white flowers  

Heliconia rostrata, the hanging lobster claw or false bird of paradise, is a herbaceous perennial plant native to El Salvador, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, and Ecuador, and naturalized in Puerto Rico. Other heliconias grow in an upright position (e.g. Heliconia bihai), their cup-shaped flower bracts storing water for birds and insects. This plant, however, has downward-facing flowers, the flowers thus providing a source of nectar to birds.  

Heliconias are known to those who grow them as a host flower to many birds, especially the hummingbirds. Because of its unique characteristics, it is often used as a specimen for tropical gardens. Along with the Kantuta flower, Heliconia rostrata, known as patujú, is the national flower of Bolivia.

 

Interesting !

 
With regards – S.Sampathkumar
20.3.2023 

Ducks in Cricket !!

Unlikely you would have heard of  Cricketer -  Edward James Gregory but can you link him to Greame Watson and Mathew Sinclair !!   The first two were Australians while the third was a Kiwi !

Edward James Gregory (1839 – 1899)  played in the first recognised Test in 1877 between Australia and England at  Melbourne. Ned was the father of a famous Australian cricketer, Syd Gregory, and brother of Dave Gregory who captained the first Australian eleven in England in 1878. Ned was also father-in-law of Harry Donnan. In the latter part of his life he was custodian of the Association ground at Sydney ground.  Ned Gregory and Nat Thomson are indicated by Wisden to have been born on the same day, and thus jointly were the earliest-born Australian Test cricketers.  That is trivia and not the answer though !

Another disappointing day for Indian fans at Vizag.  Mitchell Starc produced a masterclass in new-ball swing bowling before openers Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head hammered rapid fifties to complete a knockout performance against India and level the series 1-1. India received a thrashing like no other in Visakhapatnam - their heaviest defeat in terms of balls remaining - when they were bowled out for 117 in just 26 overs.  Starc was the tormentor in chief with his 5 for 53, his ninth five-for in ODIs, and gave Marsh and Head freedom to bat with no scoreboard pressure; Marsh raced to 28-ball fifty before Head got to his in 29 balls and Australia chased the target down in just 11 overs.

Suryakumar Yadav walked in looking to make up for his first-ball duck from the first ODI, but he suffered the same fate when Starc swung the ball into him again, and had him lbw for another golden duck. In what was another repeat from the first ODI, KL Rahul came in trying to survive a hat-trick delivery. He did that successfully, but could not last too much longer.  

A simple Q – how many ways can a batsman get out without facing a ball [on record !] ….the first possibility is getting ‘run-out’ before facing a ball… then the way Lendl Simmons got out in an IPL match  – stumped off a wide ball – the delivery would not count and scored card would read : Lendl Simmons out stumped 0(0)…………. You will see the illumination – and batsman clearly out of frame …

In cricket, a duck is a batsman's dismissal without troubling the scorers ie., not making any run !!  Batsman out on  their first delivery faced is known as a golden duck.  The term is a shortening of the term "duck's egg", the latter being used long before Test cricket began. Wiki records that when referring to the Prince of Wales' (the future Edward VII) score of nought on 17 July 1866, a contemporary newspaper wrote that the Prince "retired to the royal pavilion on a 'duck's egg' ".   The name is believed to come from the shape of the number "0" being similar to that of a duck's egg, as in the case of the American slang term "goose-egg" popular in baseball and the tennis term "love", derived – according to one theory – from French l'œuf ("the egg").   

The first duck in a Test match was made in the first Test, between Australia and England at Melbourne in March 1877, when Ned Gregory was caught by Andrew Greenwood off the bowling of James Lillywhite.   A high-profile duck occurred on August 14, 1948, at Oval - Sir Donald Bradman strode to the crease for his final innings in Baggy Green; two  balls later,  had to return to the Oval dressing room, having recorded the most famous duck in Test cricket history.  Bradman was bowled second ball by Eric Hollies, a Warwickshire leg-spinner ending  a legendary career with 6,996 runs, and the famous average of 99.94.   Australia won the match by an innings, and so Bradman did not get to bat a second time.   Indian all-rounder Ajit Agarkar had the  nickname "Bombay Duck" after being dismissed for ducks five consecutive times in test matches against Australia.

To conclude with answer to the Q at the start Edward Gregory was the first batsman to be out for duck in Test;  Greame Watson the first to register a duck in ODI – in the 2^nd ODI at Manchester on Aug 24, 1972; Mat Sinclair was the first to get a duck in T2oI  - coming in the very first T20I at Auckland on 17.2.2005 – between Australia and New Zealand.

Regards – S. Sampathkumar
20.3.2023 

Special people of Triplicane - the tenacity of PM Narayanan

Nice smile – how often do you smile ! or does all people smile ?  -   Heard somewhere - "If you see someone without a smile today,  give them yours" …… a smile [sirippu] costs nothing, yet could change the way people look at you.  Please read this bio-sketch  fully – and you would appreciate the sheer grit and tenacity of this smiling person ! 

Like every other  Triplicanite, he played Cricket on the streets, at beach and .. .. – don’t ask what is great about that !! – remember, a match before Peyalwar sannathi (underarms match) – he opened – I watched a low full toss sent soaring high to Bharathiyar illam (compare it with Dhoni 112M hit off Mckay at Adelaide Oval) – remember him keeping wickets and bowling without a run-up too  - remember to read this para again once you finish reading the last line. 

21 June 1975 -  Lords (no TV but we read about that later) Clive Lloyd’s  West Indies defeated Australia, 291 to 274, to win the first-ever Cricket World Cup, the Prudential Limited Overs World Cup – 60 overs aside game contested by 8 Nations.  June 1975 also saw Suez Canal being reopened  for the first time since the Six-Day War eight years earlier.  O 25^th June 1975, Nation was up for a rude shock as Emergency was declared  by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352 of the Constitution because of prevailing "internal disturbance’.  The order bestowed upon the Prime Minister the authority to rule by decree, allowing elections to be cancelled and civil liberties to be suspended.   No political post this – while some may read back happily those days, for sure this man would have only sad memories of that day !! 

At Thiruvallikkeni there are two Brahmothsavams every year – by June it would Aani brahmothsavam of Sri Azhagiyia Singar.  On 25^th June 1975 it was Thiruther – thousands had gathered to have glimpse of Sri Thelliyasingar on the massive thiruther – it was a bit delayed and there were so many people on the streets unaware of the impending disaster.  Nearer Balusserry Chits – the turning after Gangaikondan mandapam (TP Koil St – Singarachari St) – the massive thousand+ ton weighing thiruther could not be controlled – in the melee some people fell down!

 Thiru ther photos of recent years

The man in the photo – most Thiruvallikkenivasi would know is Narayanan (Punnai Madapusi Narayayan).  Understand that this village is nearer by ancestral village of Dusi Mamandar, in Kanchipuram Vandavasi route.  He was born in 4.6.1959 in a middle class family; his father was employed in LIC,  lived in the house in front of Thavana uthsava bungalow, cohabiting with many other tenants.  He joined Samarao school, later studied at NK Thirumalachar National Boys School, later joined Vivekananda College did Bachelor of Arts  - something very important hit him in between is the story ! 

On that fateful day – it was the time for reopening of schools and Narayanan was studying  X1 – a  smart active teenager.  Most youth of Triplicane were in and around the Temple thiruther doing odd jobs but when the massive ther went out of control, some fell down, some were trampled, some had bruises all over – all of them were fortunate, as one person died;  Narayanan fell down, right infront and the massive wooden wheel over 9 ft and weighing 100s of tons crushed him.  He was pulled out – he recalls that he  was bleeding profusely, his Cricket friends and locals were of great help, he was taken in the car of Dr Vadhiraja rao to Royapettah Hospital and the nightmare would remain etched in his memories.  He is able to recall the names of Doctors – one of whom he recalls to be the brother of Cricketer Bharath Reddy.  .. .. and he came back home one short on 19.9.1975  - yes 3 months in the hospital and returned with amputation of Right leg over the knee.  Cannot walk ! –  weak and bleak future threatening.  Do not want to describe more – have seen him immediately after and even yesterday when I was hearing, some tears did roll in my eyes !! 

It would have been a sad and tragic story of remorse and melancholy but Narayanan proved to be a man of iron will, strong mind and exceptional ability to adapt.  He recalls the motivation and support provided by his Cricket friends and neighbours as he started living a new life – one where he would have needed support in every step ! 

He completed his SSLC (11^th those days), PUC and did graduation in the prestigious Vivekananda, enlisted at Employment exchange and under PD quota got support. He first joined Civil supplies and later joined Indian Oil Corporation on 5.11.1984 

That would be a mere statement but those 9 years between 1975 to 1984 challenged him physically, emotionally, psychologically and financially too.  He overcame all that.  In between, he cycled – yes a very great accomplishment for one who had amputation above knees, used to travel long distances to and cycled his way to office.  

Perhaps His would rank as a very special love story!  Ms V Vijayalakshmi living in the same TP Koil Street (officers’ laundry) fell in love and their romance continued for some years with opposition from parents ..  .. .. the happy ending was they tied the knots on 1.7.1988. Great appreciations to this lady, who married  knowing fully the situation.  They are living happily ever after – have two children – a daughter, married since and a son – both of them presently living in Sydney, Australia.  She retired as a teacher from NKT National Girls High school with special ability in Arts & Crafts and ofcourse, in motivating and guiding !

 

PM Narayanan for sure had difficulty in walking, yet cycled, later bought a TVS scooter.  He is a graduate and had passed Typewriting Higher and joined IOC as Typist, steadily rose up, becoming Accounts Officer in 2002 and retired as  Deputy Manager, Finance in IOCL in June 2019. This might make a sad story but Narayanan remained cheerful, witty and active all along. He represented IOC in various disciplines of Sports – more specifically – Chess, Carrom and Bridge.  He was the Secretary of Sports and Recreation Club for many years and was very active inside office mingling with all colleagues and outside too. 

 

He attributes his present status to his wife, many a friends who supported him during his difficult days, with special mention of Tin Rangan.  He is very devout and says it is Sri Parthasarathi Emperuman who has provided him goodness all in his life and also Yoga Muneeswarar temple in front of Royapettah Hospital where he prayed on the day of his discharge.

 

Most people would have given up cursing fate, crying all time about that fateful day- for sure, it changed his life BUT, he stood up literally and kept walking / cycling to reach greater heights.  Yesterday at his home, he was composed, definitely would have felt tragic of that incident but it is the true story of a Man who has overcome odds to lead a happy contented life, smiling and remaining cheerful.  Hats off Narayanan, I am one of your innumerable fans !!

 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
19.3.2023