Read in : தமிழ்
RSS rally: Will AIADMK govt show the way for DMK?
Following the state police submission to the high court that permission for an RSS rally would be considered if it were not to be held on Gandhi Jayanthi (October 2), the court ordered that the rally be held on November 6. The RSS rally has had a troubled history...
Better Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu, casting away the fishermen net for a stethoscope
The world of stethoscopes and medical wards is a far cry from the rough seas and uncertain catch of a fishermen village in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu. And yet in a success story, it is a distance bridged by hard work and determination by 23-year-old Surjith. His father Munisamy, a fisherman,...
Painter, restaurant owner, technician – transgenders in our midst
After turning 50, Mahalakshmi recently opened a restaurant near Tondiarpet clocktower. She wanted to make a living and be independent after years as a bar dancer and folk artiste. Her friend, Trisha works at Indian Oil Corporation. Another, Varsha is a painter. But this is not the story of...
The first graduate in this tiny village is a woman
G. Sowmiya, 23, is the first graduate in Thamarai Oorani village in Ramanathapuram district. In a village notorious for refusing to send girls outside for higher education, what Sowmiya has done is indeed a breakthrough which has rubbed off on two or three more girls who, following suit, are...
Nilgiris teacher inspires tribal girls to aspire, finish schooling
Six girl tribal children at a Nilgiris village, who would have otherwise discontinued their studies and been married off by their parents, were encouraged by their teacher to finish Class 12. One of these girls participated in the Vijay TV Super Singer competition. Samudra Pandian, the teacher,...
Thaiman Veedu: an engineer’s promise to Mother Earth
A couple of years ago, when A. Jegadeesan decided to construct a house in Annamangalam in Perambalur district, he set himself two conditions. The house would be constructed only by using unfired mud bricks and no tree would be cut for making doors and windows of it. But the self-imposed...
Opinion
Is MK Stalin secular or pseudo-secular?
Is MK Stalin more committed to secularism than his late lamented father? We can begin to believe so, though our own instincts might rebel against such ‘hasty’ judgments. Secularism is under existential threat in the entire country at the moment. Only a few opposition...
Why Modi government should save online journalism?
The Internet has given new hope for news consumers and journalists. The entry barrier in terms of capital cost is low. Unlike in print and television, the investment needed to start and run an online news journalism operation needs to cover only salaries, largely....
‘ICSSR-funded social science research lacks perspective’
Independent India’s founding fathers and mothers had envisioned that any social science research institution's efforts and its outcomes should reflect the ground realities and struggles of the people, translating into public policy debates to improve living standards...
Mathi Memes
Mathi Memes: He can’t act, he can’t dance. Yet Ajith’s Valimai is a smash hit
Actress Khushbu was referring to the reception to Ajith's film Valimai. In what seemed like a mix of admiration and envy, she tweeted in Tamil: “Only you [Ajith Kumar] draw such crowds.” On Wednesday (Feb 24) evening, at a theatre in Thoothukudi, there was a large...
Editor’s Pick
Could precast drains have saved Chennai from gridlock?
Chennai’s storm water drain work has become a major disruption for normal life in a big city. But it could well have been minimised or avoided. One striking feature of Chennai Metro Rail’s construction methods is the speed at which the concrete spans and pillars come up along the elevated...
Techmathi: Why iPhone 14 is not a compelling buy over 13
Apple products typically received enthusiastic response so the excitement with which iPhone 14 was received wasn't surprising. Apple rarely compromises on quality but the premium that customers pay for the brand is always going up. Customer patience is tested often. iPhone 14 was unveiled on...
The ordinary songs of PS-I: Did Rahman hold back deliberately?
Actor Dhanush in his film Padikaathavan says: “Guys like me are not liked on sight; will be liked as they are seen more and more.” I have often thought if these lines were written keeping in mind music composer A R Rahman. The reason is that there is a critical opinion right from his early days...
YouTuber Savukku: Can tea shop talk reform judiciary?
Media have described Savukku Shankar as activist and YouTuber. He calls himself whistleblower, someone who blows the whistle on the rot in various institutions and among people in power. His mode of expression is tea shop talk and WhatsApp rant. Savukku Shankar has said his writings or even...
Smart e-scooters run over owners right to privacy
Battery-operated electric vehicles, a trail-blazer in the automotive industry amid rapid climate change, are catching the fancy of an increasing number of customers. Production of e-scooters has started in several states including Tamil Nadu. But news reports of accidents involving e-scooters...
Politics
Govt’s ST status for the Narikuravar marks the end of a long struggle
Conceding the long-pending demand of the Tamil Nadu government, the union government has finally approved the inclusion of the Narikuravar community, a semi-nomadic tribe, in the list of Scheduled Tribes. The community was so far listed among...
Bharat Jodo yatra: What polarized Kanyakumari shows
Amit Shah’s jibe on Rahul Gandhi’s dress and the row over him meeting a radical Catholic priest in Kanyakumari indicate how the BJP will try to counter the Bharat Jodo yatra. Rahul Gandhi’s choice of Kanyakumari as the starting point for his...
Sri Lanka: Curtains down on the Aragalaya
For the first time in the history of Sri Lanka, the nation experimented with a ‘Peaceful Protest’ to oust a leader they came to hate. And they succeeded! Sri Lankans across the nation, crossing boundaries of ethnicity, religion and social class...
Plantation Tamils of Sri Lanka face a mountain of troubles
The Sri Lanka plantation or ‘hill country’ Tamils, have been living in the island nation for more than one and a half centuries, particularly in the plantations as workers. These are among the most deprived sections in the country in terms of...
RSS rally: Will AIADMK govt show the way for DMK?
Following the state police submission to the high court that permission for an RSS rally would be considered if it were not to be held on Gandhi Jayanthi (October 2), the court ordered that the rally be held on November 6. The RSS rally has had a troubled history...
Culture
1980 conference a turning point for Narikuravars
The union government’s decision to include Narikuravars in the list of Scheduled Tribes – a welcome migration from the MBC list - has not come out of the blue. It is a hard-earned final victory for the long suppressed people’s struggle of sweat,...
In Thoothukudi, a cop found hardcore criminals were just victims
Most journalists start as beat reporters, reporting on crime, politics, corporation and so on. They retire from a senior editorial position. V Sudarshan held top editorial positions in various newspapers and after retirement became a crime...
Who celebrated Onam first? Answer: The Pandyas
As Keralites throughout the world are celebrating Onam festival, the cultural festival of Malayalees cutting across caste and religion, a public holiday has been announced in several districts of Tamil Nadu too. Political leaders of Tamil Nadu...
How the pain of a transgender turns spiritual
The rights of a transgender may have been secured legally but their right to be recognized as humans in society is still not available to them. Larger society doesn’t recognize them as humans. The turf of the transgenders is invisible – society...
Warning: Violence on screen is injurious to YOUR kids
Tamil actor Ajith’s new film poster released recently showed him lying while holding a child in one hand and a gun in another. In a shot in a recent film Kamal Haasan appeared, playing guitar quite engrossed, even as he held a gun in his grip. In a poster of a film...
Food
The pleasures of home-made pickling
March and April were pickle season at home when we were children and the smell of salted mangoes filled the house. It was to fun to open the piece of muslin cloth that covered the tall porcelain jars of chopped and marinating fruit and pick a...
Steamed food: Tips to make the trendy ones healthy
Actor M R Radha famously derided Tamil love of traditions by saying Tamils use steam to make steamed food (puttu) whereas in Europe they use steam to drive engines. But today our steamed foods are discovered to be quite modern and healthy....
Nayan wedding trail: Is jackfruit biryani healthier?
Among the newsmakers in the Nayan-Shivan wedding was Jackfruit Biryani that was served to guests. This mock-meat dish may have helped guests eat a biryani with the texture of meat but without actually eating meat. But how healthy is jackfruit...
Organic certification: Much of the produce is uncertified
Organic produce is often marketed as non-toxic in Chennai but without any certification. Sales depends on trust created by word of mouth. Below is the second part of (read first part here) of the interview with Arogyam Organic Foods managing...
Researchers pen Tamil encyclopedia on food and nutrition
More awareness and understanding of food items consumed in our regular life can help us lead healthy lives. Food is not only for energy and growth, it is necessary to repair tissues, rejuvenate cells and protect against diseases. Spoilt food and contaminated food...
Civic Issues
Parking fees an untapped goldmine for civic bodies
Chennai’s swirling mass of two-wheelers and cars could technically make the Greater Chennai Corporation a wealthy civic body through parking fees, but the current realisation of revenues is only of the order of Rs.1.2 lakh a day, going up from a low Rs.80,000 after...
Which ‘model’ can improve TN’s road safety record?
The recently released data for road accidents across India present the shocking picture of Tamil Nadu topping all States in the rise of traffic accidents in 2021 over the previous year, going up from 46,443 to 57,090. Chennai is the mega city that fares the worst...
Environment
TN joins monsoon mainstream. Are Nilgiris, Kovai prepared?
Nilgiris is teaching the rest of Tamil Nadu some lessons. The storied monsoon that has inspired weathermen, poets, writers and nature lovers defines much of India in many ways. It used to define Tamil Nadu too by leaving the state out barring bright showers up in...
Mullaiperiyar: Friendly Stalin creates positive vibes in Kerala
At a time when the monsoon rains are lashing Kerala and the water in the dams in Kerala at alarming levels, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has told Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that all necessary precautions would be taken to ensure the safety of...
Sports
Fantasy cricket apps are little different from online rummy
The recent ban on online rummy by the Tamil Nadu government has thrown the focus on online gambling affecting the lives and health of our people. The Tamil Nadu government has decided to pass a law banning online rummy and poker. This was decided at a recent...
With golds and team bronze, juniors shine in chess final
Uzbekistan beat Netherlands at 2 ½ - 1 ½ to come on top in chess final. With three boards entering a tie, Jakhongir Vakhidov winning Max warmerdam, helped the Uzbeks with a decisive gold in the Olympiad scoring 19 match points. Armenia beat Spain at 2 ½ - 1 ½ ....
Read in : தமிழ்
