famous singer from Triplicane - MJ Shriram

In 1980s – he was a small kid, very popular in TP Koil Street, his mother treated the other playing kids affectionately, his father MJ Narayanan was a Civil Engineer.  MJ Shriram even as a child was very dynamic, fast and bubbled with enthusiasm.

 

Besides his Sports exploits, he could sing well too.  Much later he blossomed to become an actor and sing in films too.    He is best known for his songs in Pachchak Kuthira (2006) and his role in Sivakasi (2005).  Away from movies, he is a famous concert singer. 

Shiram began singing  at a very young age and back in 1993, shared the stage with Kamal Haasan at a concert in Singapore.  He played a small role in Sollamale (1998) before playing Vijay's friend in the film, Sivakasi (2005), which is considered his acting debut. He made his singing debut in Parthiban's Pachchak Kuthira (2006). 

The no.of songs he has done in movies do not do justice to his calibre – the stage programs, the concerts have revealed his class.  His wife is also a famous singer – Mrs  Srilekha Parthasarathy – together they  have been entertaining the audience at various stages and  online through some hit songs.  When Covid made people sit at home,   MJ Shriram and wife Srilekha Parthasarathy, took to social media to entertain people. Shriram is known for his SP Balasubrahmanyam-Ilaiyaraja nights, a music concert series, which is an ode to both the legends, while Srilekha is a popular singer of the ‘90s with chartbusters like Kalyanam than  Kattikittu, Thimsu Kattai and Pambarakannu.  Srilekha  began her professional career in 2000,  with the nice  jingle for the "Idhayam Oil" advertisement. 

Sriram comes in the lineage of   a double Inernational. Morappakam Josyam Gopalan  [1906 – 2003] represented India in cricket and hockey. When Ranji Trophy was inaugurated in 1934, MJ Gopalan delivered  the first ball of the  Ranji tournament. His only Test match was against England at Calcutta in early 1934.  In 1936 he was selected in the hockey team for the Berlin Olympics and the cricket team to tour England.  He chose Cricket over Hockey  which turned out to be a terrible decision. The hockey team captained by Dhyan Chand, one of the finest teams in the history of the sport, won the gold medal with little difficulty. As it turned out, Gopalan did not play a Test in England.  

 

Here is a picture of MJ Shriram with my brother S Sundararajan.

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
31.10.2024   

என் வானிலே ! ஒரே வெண்ணிலா ~ beautiful Pigeon

சிரிக்கும் விழிகளில், ஒரு மயக்கம் பரவுதே

வார்த்தைகள் தேவையா   ?!?

 

கண்ணதாசன் வரிகளில், ராகதேவன் இளையராஜா இசையில்  ஜென்சி குரலில் இந்த பாடல் ஞாபகம் வந்தது, இந்த புறாவை பார்த்தவுடன் !!

 

என் வானிலே  ! ஒரே வெண்ணிலா 

காதல் மேகங்கள்; கவிதை தாரகை .. .. ..  ஊர்வலம்

Triplicane mourns V. Azhagiya Singan

 

Sad to know the passing away of Veeravalli Azhagiya Singan (Manimangalam) (aged around 57)  

 

Triplicanites would remember  him for his Sripadham kainkaryam, Santhanam (சந்தனம்) kainkaryam and association with temple.

 

Om Shanthi.

29.10.2024

Anilu ~ நேர்கொண்ட பார்வை !!

 Squirrel   ~   

நேர்கொண்ட பார்வை !!

“மனம் ஒரு குரங்கு" - Pygmalion !

Mind wavers, thoughts wanders !! – it is difficult to concentrate !!! 

Maruthayi selling vegetables in a village, by sheer accident, becomes an actress named Mallika Devi. Murgesa, a farmer from the same village, loves Maruthayi and wants to marry her, but after she becomes an actress, she moves away from him. A wealthy  Gopinath succeeds in his challenge in transforming a village girl into a famous actress.   A rich man's son Chellappa aspires to marry Maruthayi, but ends up marrying another girl. Murgesa realises that Maruthayi with her  new status is a changed person ! 

In Greek mythology, Pygmalion was a legendary figure of Cyprus. He is most familiar from Ovid's narrative poem Metamorphoses, in which Pygmalion was a sculptor who fell in love with a statue he had carved.  The general idea of that myth was a popular subject for Victorian era British playwrights, including one of Shaw's influences, W. S. Gilbert, who wrote a successful play based on the story called Pygmalion and Galatea that was first presented in 1871.  

 

Pygmalion is a play by Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, named after the Greek mythological figure. It premiered at the Hofburg Theatre in Vienna on 16 October 1913 and was first presented on stage in German. Its English-language premiere took place at His Majesty's Theatre in London's West End in April 1914 and released as movie in 1938.  

Manam Oru Kurangu was a play written by Cho Ramaswamy,  inspired by the George Bernard Shaw play Pygmalion. It was originally announced as Dil Ek Bandhar, a pun on the title Dil Ek Mandir. The play Manam Oru Kurangu,  also starred Delhi Ganesh. Cho was part of the cast and also wrote the screenplay.  

The movie had hit songs – music by Sri DB Ramachandran.  DBR lived in Triplicane, TP Koil Street (in the house where Medplus is operating now).  He was a very nice gentleman, his son BR Balaji was my schoolmate (for some years we used to go together to school).  Have seen and listen to him playing Harmonium at home.  A very unassuming, exceptionally simple and friendly person, he used to play carom also.  For sure, he did not get the recognition he deserved.  In mid 1970s, he used to do play music for stage dramas too.

Here is the song :  “மனம் ஒரு குரங்கு;  மனித மனம் ஒரு குரங்கு”.

 

திரைப்படம்: மனம் ஒரு குரங்கு

இயற்றியவர்: வீ. சீதாராமன்

இசை: டி.பி. ராமச்சந்திரன்

பாடியவர்: டி.எம். சௌந்தரராஜன்

 

மனம் ஒரு குரங்கு மனித மனம் ஒரு குரங்கு அதைத்

தாவ விட்டால் தப்பி ஓட விட்டால் நம்மைப்

பாபத்தில் ஏற்றி விடும் அது பாசத்தில் தள்ளி விடும்

 

Yesterday mid-noon,  saw this monkey in Car Street, Triplicane.  Though couple of dogs were agitated and tried to chase, not many people took cognizance of this rare sight – monkeys are rare to be seen in Triplicane.  However, as it reached and disappeared near Thirukkovil Thiruther, the flower vendor there remarked that monkey makes appearance every Aippaisi.

 
Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
28.10.2024 

Brahminy Starling - 'ஓ மைனாஓ மைனா! - இது உன் கண்ணா பொன்மீனா'

A very attractive small bird visited yesterday and posed too !  Unlikely you know her !!  How many birds can you identify – a close friend responded 10 !  -  Crow, Pigeon, Parrot, Mynah, Peacock, Owl, Sparrow, Duck, Crane, Pelican .. .. ..  and .. .. and !!!

 

'ஓ மைனாஓ மைனா! - இது உன் கண்ணா பொன்மீனா' - என அதிகம் கேட்டிராத பாடல். SPB குரலிலும், TMS குரலிலும் ஒலித்தது..  நான்கு சுவர்கள் 1971 ஆம் ஆண்டு வெளிவந்த தமிழ்த் திரைப்படம். கே. பாலச்சந்தர் இயக்கத்தில் வெளிவந்த இத்திரைப்படத்தில் ஜெய்சங்கர், வாணிஸ்ரீ மற்றும் பலரும் நடித்திருந்தனர். 

The mynas  are a group of birds in the starling family (Sturnidae). This is a group of passerine birds which are native to Iran and Southern Asia, especially Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Several species have been introduced to areas like North America, Australia, South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand, especially the common myna, which is often regarded as an invasive species. It is often known as "Selarang" and "Teck Meng" in Malay and Chinese respectively in Singapore, due to their high population there.  The common myna or Indian myna (Acridotheres tristis), sometimes spelled mynah, is an  omnivorous open woodland bird with a strong territorial instinct that  has adapted extremely well to urban environments.

 

Pictured here is a “Brahminy Starling”.  This handsome starling from India and Nepal is named “pagodarum” in its scientific name, from its habits for perching on temple pagodas in S India. As other Sturnidae, the Brahminy Starling is very gregarious and often seen in large flocks at roosts.  I saw a solitary bird only. 

The adult has long loose crest formed by elongate crown feathers. On nape and upper breast, feathers are also hackled. On the head, forehead and crown are glossy black. The nape is cinnamon with fine shaft streaks. This part is often concealed by the long crest feathers. On the upperparts, mantle, back and rump are brownish-grey.   The tail is grey-brown with white tips except on central pair.The underparts are cinnamon, including the neck sides. The bill is yellow with bluish base. Eyes are pale greenish-yellow. Legs and feet are yellow. 

The   adult Brahminy starling, like  European starling is a handsome species and is a resident of dry scrub forests and has  fondness for perching on buildings and temple pagodas in southern India.  It was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with the thrushes in the genus Turdus and coined the binomial name Turdus pagodarum.  The specific epithet pagodarum is Modern Latin meaning "of the temples" or "of the pagodas".  

 
Interesting !
 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
21.10.2024

 

  

Euphorbia pulcherrima ! ~ Monroe doctrine !!

Euphorbia pulcherrima  ! ?  - is that a flower or a plant ??

 

The Monroe Doctrine is a United States foreign policy position that opposes European colonialism in the Western Hemisphere. It holds that any intervention in the political affairs of the Americas by foreign powers is a potentially hostile act against the United States.  The doctrine was central to American grand strategy in the 20th century. 

President James Monroe first articulated the doctrine on December 2, 1823, during his seventh annual State of the Union Address to Congress. At the time, nearly all Spanish colonies in the Americas had either achieved or were close to independence. Monroe asserted that the New World and the Old World were to remain distinctly separate spheres of influence, and thus further efforts by European powers to control or influence sovereign states in the region would be viewed as a threat to U.S. security.In turn, the United States would recognize and not interfere with existing European colonies nor meddle in the internal affairs of European countries. 

Believe Me, no History post ! – but a photo post on a flower (flowering  plant) 

Joel Roberts Poinsett (1779 – 1851) was an American physician, diplomat and botanist. He was the first U.S. agent in South America, a member of the South Carolina legislature and the United States House of Representatives, the first United States Minister to Mexico, a Unionist leader in South Carolina during the Nullification Crisis, Secretary of War under Martin Van Buren, and a co-founder of the National Institute for the Promotion of Science and the Useful Arts (a predecessor of the Smithsonian Institution). 

Poinsett served as a special envoy to Mexico from 1822 to 1823, when the Government of James Monroe became concerned about the stability of newly independent Mexico. Poinsett, a supporter of the Monroe Doctrine, was convinced that republicanism was the only guarantee of a peaceful, free form of government for North American countries, and tried to influence the government of Agustín de Iturbide, which was beginning to show signs of weakness and divisiveness. The U.S. recognized Mexican independence but it was not until 1825 and the establishment of the Mexican Republic that it sent a minister plenipotentiary. Andrew Jackson and several others turned down the appointment, but Poinsett accepted and resigned his congressional seat. 

On January 12, 1828, in Mexico City, Poinsett signed the first treaty between the United States and Mexico, the Treaty of Limits, a treaty that recognized the U.S.-Mexico border established by the 1819 Adams–Onís Treaty between Spain and the U.S. Because some U.S. political leaders were dissatisfied with the Treaty of Limits and the Adams–Onís Treaty, Poinsett was sent to negotiate acquisition of new territories for the United States, including Texas, New Mexico, and Upper California, as well as parts of Lower California, Sonora, Coahuila, and Nuevo León; but Poinsett's offer to purchase these areas was rejected by the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs headed by Juan Francisco de Azcárate. 

The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a commercially important flowering plant species of the diverse spurge family Euphorbiaceae. Indigenous to Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia was first described by Europeans in 1834. It is particularly well known for its red and green foliage and is widely used in Christmas floral displays. It derives its common English name from Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States minister to Mexico, who is credited with introducing the plant to the US in the 1820s. Poinsettias are shrubs or small trees, with heights of 0.6 to 4 m (2.0 to 13.1 ft). Though often stated to be highly toxic, the poinsettia is not dangerous to pets or children.   

Native to Mexico, poinsettias are in the Euphorbia family and are a popular holiday plant because of their colorful bracts (leaves). There is also a species that is used as a cut flower. They are most commonly used for decorating during the winter holidays but are also attractive as green plants throughout the year. Poinsettias change color in response to shorter winter days. Poinsettia flowers are made up of the bracts, which look like petals, and the tiny yellow flowers in the center, called cyathia. The colorful bracts attract insects to the flowers and will drop after pollination. 

Poinsettias are not harmful to animal or human health. But they should not be eaten. Euphorbia pulcherrima is known by other names of :  Bird-of-Paradise Flower; Flame-Leaf Flower; Lobster Flower & of course – Poinsettia.

Interesting !  ~  a picture taken at Yercaud few years ago !!

 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
26.10.2024 

Innoncence, maturity, wisdom and more !!

In childhood, kids are generally happy ! – as one ages, learns, grows, some wisdom is begotten but innocence and happiness is seemingly is lost !! 

How learned are you ?  the educated ones tends to disbelieve, asks Q exhibiting their rationality, they no longer believe in miracles, little things, develop more faith that infinite powers and goodness of people are myth.    

As we age, life offers lot of experience and learning. Maturity isn't just about age, it's about emotional wisdom. It's embracing inner peace over external opinions and choosing love over ego in conflicts. Your true maturity isn't measured in years but in the depth of your understanding and compassion.  Is wisdom related to aging? While many people associate wisdom with advanced age, becoming wise clearly requires more than “just” growing old – accumulated life experience is an important foundation for wisdom, but not all highly wise individuals are old and many old individuals are not particularly wise.  

What is it that is most appealing about children? Nay not  their physical beauty alone ! – it is more about their openness to loving and being loved. Their playfulness, their innate humour – and the one quality that we have lsot over a period of ageing –  innocence.  Only children derive happiness with little things that may or may not be of value.  

Children have so many wonderfully innocent and naive traits. It’s these traits that draw us to them. They make us laugh and their purity and innocence is what makes living with children so special. We love to retell their funny stories.  As we age, we are no longer kind to strangers.  We do not say hello or smile   to random people and random things?   Children have this amazing ability to just see the good, sing randomly and break out into  a spontaneous dance.  Time often steels our childhood innocence from us.    

Wisdom is known to be tied with age, but does one’s age correlate with maturity? Those who are younger tend to assume and have been taught that wisdom comes with age. Elders tend to look down on those who are younger. Adulthood is marked with extra responsibility and knowledge, but many people consider that your age has nothing to do with maturity, but with experience.  

Maturity is often debated within the medical field in regard to when the brain actually functions and is fully developed. Research has shown that the brain matures in one’s 20s and typically occurs around age 26. According to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, if your personality has a huge impact on maturity level and age does not simply reveal someone’s maturity.  

Any reference to wisdom in Western society would lead to Solomon and Socrates – both  were considered to be the smartest man in  the world at their time. According to the Hebrew bible Solomon was the smartest and according to the oracle of Delphi Socrates was the wisest man alive.  

Socrates is one of the most influential figures in Western thought, and his teachings have impacted a wide range of philosophers and fields. Some of his most well-known beliefs are about wisdom. He believed that wisdom was essential to virtue and living a good life.  Socrates didn’t leave any written records of his teachings. In fact, most of what is known about the great thinker comes from his students, especially Plato, who wrote extensively about him in his dialogues. 

To me,  learning patience was a journey that started with understanding that not everything in life happens at the pace we want it to.  We waited for good marks, seats in educational institutions, good job, promotion, marriage and more and more – and not everyone of us waited patiently !!  Patience is a sign of maturity and wisdom because it shows an understanding that good things often take time. It’s about knowing when to act and when to wait. It’s about having faith in the process and in yourself.  Mature and wise individuals understand this and are not just open to change, but they embrace it. They see it as an opportunity for growth, learning, and new experiences.

 

Well,  life is too beautiful to be spent worrying ! - see the kid, extremely happy with the lollypop, an aged would spend time comparing with what one has to that of another, and yearning of things that one does not possess !

With regards – S Sampathkumar
25.10.2024

 

 

  

Brahminy kite (Haliastur indus) ~ Garuda !!

 

Guess the movie and song with the description in the following para : 

முன்பு ஒரு காலத்தில் பாடல்களில் கருத்துக்கள் செறிந்து இருந்தன.  கவிஞர் கண்ணதாசன் என்ற சிறந்த மனிதன் சினிமா பாட்டுக்கள் எழுதி வந்தார்.   1973ம் ஆண்டு முக்தா சீனிவாசன் இயக்கத்தில் வெளிவந்த 'சூரியகாந்தி' திரைப்படத்தில் எம் எஸ் விஸ்வநாதன் இசையில், டி.எம். சௌந்தர்ராஜன் அவர்கள் பாடுவதாக அமைந்துள்ள பாடல் மிக சிறப்பானது.   ஜெயலலிதா, முத்துராமன், சாவித்ரி, சோ ராமஸ்வாமி, மௌலி, மனோரமா இவர்கள் நடித்த படம்.  காரைக்குடி ஈன்றெடுத்த காவியக் கவிஞனே திரையில் பாடுவதாக அமைந்திருக்கும்  பாடல் அது.  "தன்னை விட மனைவி அதிகம் சம்பாதிக்கிறார் என்கிற தாழ்வு மனப்பான்மை பிடித்து ஆட்டும் கணவனின் ஈகோ தான் கதைக்களம்.  

The Brahminy kite (Haliastur indus), also known as the red-backed sea-eagle in Australia, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors, such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers. They are found in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Adults have a reddish-brown body plumage contrasting with their white head and breast which make them easy to distinguish from other birds of prey.  

கருடன் செம்மண் நிற இறக்கைகளையும்  உடலின் நடுப்பகுதியை வெண்ணிறமாகவும்  உடைய செம்பருந்து (Brahminy Kite, Haliastur indus). கருடன் பறவை மங்களம் நிறைந்ததாகக் கருதப் படுகிறது.  

ஸ்ரீமன் நாராயணனின் பெருமைக்குரிய வாகனமாக- பெரிய திருவடி,  என  திகழ்பவன் கருடன். கருடாழ்வானுக்கு கொற்றப்புள், தெய்வப்புள், வேதஸ்வரூவன், பட்சிராசன், சுவர்ணன், விஜயன்,   ருத்துமன், சாபர்ணன், பந்தகாசனன், பதகேந்திரன், பட்சிராஜன், மோதகாமோதர், மங்களாலயர், சோமகாரீ, விஜயன், ஜெயகருடன்,  சுவணன்கிரி, கிருஷ்ண பருந்து, ஓடும்புள்,   போன்ற பல பெயர்கள் உண்டு. 

கருட பக்ஷியை வானத்தில் காண்பது சிறப்பானது.  கருட தரிசனம் சிறந்த சமயோகித புத்தியையும், நல்ல சிந்தனைகளையும், நல்ல எண்ணங்களையும் அளிக்கிறது. கருடன் பறக்கின்ற நிலையில் படைகளை நிறுத்திப் போரிட்டால் எதிரியின் படைகளைப் பாழ்படுத்தி வெற்றி பெறலாமென்று பாண்டவர்கள்  கருட வியூகம் அமைத்துப் போரிட்டு கெளரவர்களை வென்றனர் என்று மகாபாரதம் கூறுகின்றது.  உலக மக்கள் தாங்கள் செய்யும் தீவினைக்களுக்குரிய பலனை உயிர் பிரிந்தபின் அனுபவிப்பர். எந்த பாவங்களுக்கு என்னென்ன தண்டனை என்பதை கருட புராணம் கூறுகிறது. இந்நூலினைப் படித்தால் தவறு செய்ய அஞ்சி நல்வழிப்படுவர்.

இதோ அந்த பாடலின் சில வரிகள்: 

பரமசிவன் கழுத்தில் இருந்து பாம்பு கேட்டத,  கருடா சௌக்கியமா ??

யாரும் இருக்கும் இடத்தில் இருந்து கொண்டால்

எல்லாம் சௌக்கியமே.. கருடன் சொன்னது.. அதில் அர்த்தம் உள்ளது.. 

உயர்ந்த இடத்தில் இருக்கும் போது   உலகம் உன்னை மதிக்கும்

உன் நிலைமை கொஞ்சம் இறங்கி வந்தால் - நிழலும் கூட மிதிக்கும்

 
Garuda pictured at Triplicane
 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
25.10.2024

Madras by Night !!!

Gold prices in Chennai today dropped considerably after a sharp rally that was observed on wednesday. Yellow metal rates soared to unprecedented levels, breaching the 80,000 mark in the previous session amid the strong festive demand and the ongoing geopolitical uncertainties in the Middle East. However, today's decline in prices resulted from a stronger U.S. dollar, which limited the appeal of the precious metal, and a surge in U.S. Treasury yields signaling a shift in investor sentiments. 

Life in a village is far different than the one in a City, in a Metropolis.  Chennai city is admixture of Good, Bad & Ugly and how you see them !  A high % of residents live a secluded life, especially living in apartments / gated-communities.  To them life is all luxury and enjoyment – they go to work, work late hours, return in their own vehicles and close their doors oblivious to anything happening around ! 

There is something more serious to worry than Gold price !!  How often do you venture out especially in the night and are you aware of the offences occurring around ?  

There is a certain drug  - a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is mainly used as a recreational or performance-enhancing drug and less commonly as a second-line treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obesity.  It has also been researched as a potential treatment for traumatic brain injury.  This substance  was discovered in 1893 and exists as two enantiomers – know what ?  if you are a parent, you may be worried that such things exist closer to your door !! 

A few decades ago, stage dramas ruled the roost.  Cho Ramaswamy’s Viveka Fine Arts was among the premier sabhas and one of their hit drama was ‘Madras By Night’ that portrayed  the comic nocturnal experiences of a young man in the city and the funny situations he finds himself in. 

                   Walter White, a struggling, frustrated high school chemistry teacher from Albuquerque, New Mexico becomes a crime lord in the local methamphetamine drug trade, driven to provide for his family financially after being diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. Initially making only small batches of meth with his former student Jesse Pinkman in a rolling meth lab, Walter and Jesse eventually expand to make larger batches of an extremely pure, blue meth which creates high demand. Walter takes on the name "Heisenberg" to mask his identity. Because of his new business, Walter finds himself at odds with his family, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) through his brother-in-law Hank Schrader, the local gangs and the Mexican drug cartels (including their regional distributors), putting him and his family's lives at risk. The events of the series take place between 2008 and 2010. 

That was the storyline of ‘Breaking Bad’ -  an American crime drama television series created and produced by Vince Gilligan for AMC. Set and filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the series follows Walter White (Bryan Cranston), an underpaid, dispirited high-school chemistry teacher struggling with a recent diagnosis of stage-three lung cancer.  From 2008, it ran and concluded in  2013, after five seasons consisting of 62 episodes. 

In an episode straight out of the iconic show 'Breaking Bad', a chemistry student found himself in the role of real-life Walter White, hired to manufacture meth by a drug syndicate in Chennai. The group had set up a secret laboratory in the city to produce the highly addictive drug. However, their plans were foiled when the Chennai police busted their operations leading to the arrest of seven people. Among those arrested are five engineering graduates and a postgraduate student of Chemistry studying at a prestigious college in Chennai. He was also a gold medallist in his Bachelor of Science course at another institution.  

The group of young graduates started drug peddling by selling small quantities of methamphetamine procured from a man   who has an assault case registered against him. Later, the idea of manufacturing the drug themselves struck them and they brought the chemistry student into the picture. They then procured required chemicals for the manufacturing.  

Methamphetamine is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It takes the form of a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol.  Methamphetamine was developed early in the 20th century from its parent drug, amphetamine, and was used originally in nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers.  

 

Moving away from all the melee, here is a photo taken in the night time at Marina beach – with TV station in the background.  How is it ?

 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
24.10.2024 

Deepavali 2024 - Joy of giving - Jewels of Triplicane

joy of giving ! ~ celebrating Deepavali - SYMA Growth 2024 

Jewels of Thiruvallikkeni

                                                 Deepavali ‘the festival of lights’ is always enchanting –  it is a festival of happiness - the festival is all about happiness .. .. the way to celebrate is a simple routine.  Have Ganga snanam, wear new clothes, burst crackers gleefully, eat sweets unlimited, respect thy elders, be kind and courteous to all around, be happy and make others happy by sharing – sweets, food, crackers and more – simply spread the happiness.  – the festival would be grandly celebrated all over the country on   Thursday 31^st Oct 2024..    

Thiruvallikkeni aka Triplicane is a famed land…   It is a place where religion, nationalistic fervour, patriotism, sports, education and the individual dignity have interspersed for the benefit of the State and the larger interests of the Nation.  Triplicane houses some best historic educational institutions driving home the point of scholastic excellence for decades.   Triplicane was the seat of freedom struggle  Mahakavi Subrahmanya Bharathi lived in Triplicane and from this place freedom struggle germinated.  

Today it is about another jewel of Triplicane – ‘Dr PT Srinivasan ’ – a renowned scholar, philanthropist, great human being living at TP Koil Street,  opp to Raghavendra Mutt and closer to NKT Boys High School. 

At SYMA, we are feeling very elated ~ Deepavali celebrations have already started. This evening  we ensured  happiness to  our 100+ students at SYMA Growth by providing all of them new clothes; also clothes to their parents .. .. 

சந்தோஷத்தை தரும் பண்டிகைகளில் மிக சிறப்பு வாய்ந்தது *தீபாவளி திருநாள்*.  பண்டிகைகளின் நோக்கமே, நாம் சிறப்புற கொண்டாடி, மற்றவர்களையும் மகிழ்விப்பதுதானே !  கடந்த 16 ஆண்டுகளாக 'சைமா கிரௌத்" [SYMA  Growth] கல்விமையம் வாயிலாக ஒவ்வொரு ஆண்டும் நூறுக்கு மேற்பட்ட மாணவ மாணவியர்களுக்கு தரமான கல்வி - வழங்கி வருகிறோம். தீபாவளி பண்டிகையை நாமும் கொண்டாடி, நம் மாணவமணிகளும், அவர்தம் குடும்பங்களும்  ஆனந்தமுற - கடந்த ஆண்டைப்போலவே, இவ்வாண்டு     இன்று  - நம் மாணவ மாணவியர்களுக்கும், அவர்தம் குடும்பங்களுக்கும்   புத்தாடைகள் வழங்கி,    கொண்டாடினோம்.  

Deepavali,  festivity could be felt in the air even before a fortnight, when one walks either in T Nagar area, where every shop be it selling Gold, silver or clothes – are overcrowded – the entire area would be flowing with people jostling to buy more and more.  In our childhood, a small sum of rupees spent would provide a bagful of crackers which would be our pride possession of exhibit to friends and neighbours.   

At our fulltime tuition Centre – SYMA Growth, we are now providing quality Educational support to  100+ students [X –English medium; +2 Commerce & Science Groups English] in our  Seventeenth   year of operation [2024-25].  We talk to them, nurture them, guide them, make them understand the good and bad and realize the need for studying well. We strain ourselves to make them feel happy – with Deepavali around the corner, if the students are to be asked, what would make them happy – there would be a list [no our students will not say ‘holidays’ !!]  

~ this evening   too proved to be different to them.   We arranged for a speech by renowned PTS which was an enthusing gift for getting better in life and together, we  distributed new clothes to all our students and their parents also.  The glee on the faces of our students was a clear reflection of the happiness and our joy knows no bounds – by the pleasure of giving and sharing our happiness with those children from the economically weaker sections of the Society.

Long ago before reorganization and renumbering – House no. 111 Thulasinga Perumal Koil Street was a landmark.  A century old house, it was the residence Dr Raghavachari, a very famous physician (grand father of the Chief Guest). 

The Madras Corporation is the oldest municipal body of the Commonwealth of Nations outside the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1688 to control the powers of the Governor of Madras, Elihu Yale.  The corporation was created by a Royal Charter issued on 30 December 1687 by King James II.   The charter constituted the existing town of Fort St. George and all the territories belonging to the town, not exceeding a distance of ten miles from the Fort, into a Corporation.  Nathaniel Higginson was the first Mayor of Madras.

Mr Pakshi Rajagopalan, a famous Advocate was a Public Prosecutor who later turned a Corporator.  He was the Municipal Councillor of 95 (Triplicane those days) and in 1950s won the best managed council award too.  His son was the Chief Guest of the day.

University of Madras is  the paramount Educational institution.  In 1800s,  demand for higher education in Madras Presidency was given in a public address to Lord John Elphinstone, Governor of Madras, signed by 70,000 residents when the Governor-in-Council was contemplating "some effective and liberal measures for the establishment of an improved system of national education." This public petition, which was presented by the Advocate General Mr George Norton on 11 November 1839, pressed the need for an English college in the city of Madras. Pursuant to this, Lord Elphinstone evolved a plan for the establishment of a central collegiate institution or a ‘university.’ The University Board was constituted in 1840 and was the precursor of the present Presidency College, Chennai. University of Madras, organised on the model of the University of London, was incorporated on 5 September 1857 by an act of the Legislative Council of India.  Madras University is the mother of almost all the old Universities of south India.   The University of Madras has a historical monument – Senate House – which is one of the landmarks of the city of Chennai.  

Dr. PT Srinivasan is the ultimate role model every student can aspire.  Brilliant in studies, rising to serve Educational field in a meritorious manner, providing quality educational support to many. 

He had his schooling in Red Building – The Hindu High School, Big Street, passed out of AC Tech College with gold medal in Chemical Engineering, studied MBA in prestigious Madras University, briefly worked in Royal Enfield, before becoming a lecturer in the famed Madras University.  He became the Head of Management Studies in the University.  He was again a medalist in doing his PhD in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Madras).  Under him more than 30 students completed doctorate at Madras University. 

Those in Triplicane know him to be a soft, humble, genial person – kind to us all and most respected by us all.  Having seen him in close quarters right from my elementary school days, it was indeed a great occasion for me to introduce him and speak in front of him.  

His mother Mrs Jayalakshmi was a graduate in pre-independence days – hailed from Madanapalle (the place where Rabindranath Tagore stayed in 1919 and compiled our National Anthem).  His wife Mrs Harini Srinivasan, is B.Com, B.Ed and is involved in kainkaryam to Emperuman.

Dr. PT Srinivasan was the Chief Guest;  Mr RS Ramesh, LIC and Ms Kalavathi, HM NKT Boys High School were the other guests.  We thank all our donors, the NKT management, Chief Guests, our volunteers and parents for making this event a grand success.  Dr PTS provided practical advice to students and guided the parents on controlling the habits of children, providing anecdotes, short stories and bytes of wisdom laced with humour.  It was very well received by students, parents and those who had gathered there.

Deepavali pervades happiness ~ and at SYMA we are feeling happy. It indeed was a very memorable evening listening to Dr. PTS.

 
சமுதாயப்பணியில் என்றென்றும் சைமா
அன்புடன் ஸ்ரீ சம்பத்குமார்,  துணைத்தலைவர்
23.10.2024