In praise of Chennai in 5th century AD
Several Alvars record references to ancient Chennai in paasurams from 5th century References in Hymns of Alvars to ancient Chennai (Chennai Maadham series) In tracing the antiquity of the Chennai region subsequent to the second century A.D., we have to rely on the...
Rangaraj | Oct 30, 2020
How Kollywood owes its name to a flower
The Tamil film industry is known as Kollywood -- a reference to Kodambakkam, the area in Chennai where studios were once located and stars lived. The real name of Kodambakkam, however, is Kodalambakkam (Kodal + pakkam)). Kodal...
Rangaraj | Oct 8, 2020
Stalin drops demand for immediate bypolls, surprising move by DMK
Not many are aware of a dramatic shift in the stand of the DMK regarding conduct of bypolls due in Tamil Nadu. DMK president M K Stalin’s statement in this regard has come as a surprise. W When the Tiruvarur bypoll, scheduled for January 28, was put off by the...
Rangaraj | Jan 23, 2019
Election Commission reduced to a farcical body, continues its whimsical ways in TN
The Election Commission was once respected as a constitutional, neutral body, with at least some pretence to be fair and apolitical. However, its actions relating to Tamil Nadu continue to raise eyebrows. Right from the time the EC took its time to hold the RK...
Rangaraj | Jan 7, 2019
Will PMK go the AIADMK way and re-create the 1998 alliance?
The PMK’s endorsement of the Governor’s address to the State Assembly on January 2 (which is actually a text prepared by the cabinet of the AIADMK government, in effect CM Edappadi Palaniswami’s speech) has sent signals of a renewal of ties between the two parties,...
Rangaraj | Jan 4, 2019
Arising through RISE: Tamil entrepreneurs congregate for success
The popular saying that two Tamils would never come together and work for a common goal is becoming a myth. The just concluded RISE, a summit for Tamil Entrepreneurs across the world held at Madurai on 28th, 29th and 30th December, is yet another success story of...
Tiruvarur bypoll may not reveal the real strengths of the major parties in TN
While everyone in Tamil Nadu is looking forward to the verdict in the Tiruvarur by-election on January 31, the result may not reflect the real strengths of the major parties in Tamil Nadu, for various reasons. For long, bypolls have seen massive misuse of official...
Rangaraj | Jan 3, 2019
If a farmer can own a mobile phone he can definitely maintain a native cow
My dear friends, following my last week column on kangayam cattle some of you had called me and asked if kangayam breed alone is the solution for organic farming? What about other breeds? Are local breeds in different regions not useful etc? For all of their...
MJ Prabu | Dec 30, 2018
AIADMK succumbs to BJP pressure, okays alliance for LS polls
A beleaguered AIADMK, which originally wanted to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls with only a few minor allies, and not align with the BJP, has succumbed to the pressure mounted by the saffron party and agreed to an alliance for the LS elections. The AIADMK wanted...
Rangaraj | Dec 27, 2018
Why the Kangeyam breed needs saving
My dear friends, my last week column on an Erode farmer making soap from his Kangayam cow and living profitably has kicked off interest in a section of farmers. Many have asked me if it is necessary that only the dung of Kangayam cows serves the purpose of making...
MJ Prabu | Dec 22, 2018
Both AIADMK and AMMK are jolted by Senthil Balaji defection to DMK
The defection of Senthil Balaji from the TTV Dinakaran camp to the DMK has come as a shock to the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu as this is the first case of a member of the AIADMK family to join the DMK in recent times. The refrain of the AIADMK ever since the party...
Rangaraj | Dec 21, 2018
