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Better Tamil Nadu

Opinion

Ayurveda, Siddha, Homeopathy: Why Mixopathy is risky

Ayurveda, Siddha, Homeopathy: Why Mixopathy is risky

The Siddha system is often celebrated in Tamil Nadu just as Ayurveda is being upheld elsewhere in the country. Recently a few months back while we were limping back to normalcy from the epidemic, there was a judgement in Madras High court that went largely unnoticed....

The Wire, Meta, BJP: Beware of hoaxers

The Wire, Meta, BJP: Beware of hoaxers

The Wire and its editorial leadership is under a cloud. They first put out a story on Meta saying that Instagram posts by a satirical account critical of the BJP and Hindutva are being taken down rather too quickly by Instagram. A follow-up article said, based on a...

‘Dravidian Model far from perfect’

‘Dravidian Model far from perfect’

Periyar is there on the bookshelves or as a statue on street corners. So all is right with the world, almost… That I think neatly sums up the Dravidian model. Going through the endless proclamations on the strides made by Tamil Nadu under the leadership of the...

Mathi Memes

Editor’s Pick

Editor's Pick

Man-animal conflict: Why culling may work well

The recent incidents involving the tusker Arikomban in Kerala and later in Tamil Nadu have sparked a furore among the public and unsettled government officials in both states. There was an outpouring of sentiment from stakeholders on the rough handling of the elephant. However, the issue of...

man animal conflict

Politics

Karnataka bandh: Vatal Nagaraj weighs in

Vatal Nagaraj, former MLA and head of Kannada Chaluvaliga, is not supporting the Sept 25 bandh called by political parties in Karnataka on Cauvery but speaks for some in the state when he says Karnataka has exclusive rights over Cauvery. He...

As Kerala govt defaults, teachers save midday meals scheme

While the Tamil Nadu state government is on an expansion mode strengthening the midday meals scheme for school students with breakfast, the cash-strapped neighbour Kerala is struggling to serve noon meal for its over 30 lakh students of...

Babri Masjid: When communists fail…

My neighbour of 30 years in Chennai knocked on my door recently and offered what seemed like temple prashad. He said he had gone to Ayodhya as part of a family pilgrimage that included Varanasi. My neighbour's politics is typically Tamil, or Dravidian, if you will....

communists

Culture

Warli tribe’s colorful tradition

At the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples celebrated near Mumbai recently, the cynosure of all eyes was the parade of adivasis: The most striking feature about them was that the clothes and hats they wore and the musical...

Coconut food festival adds flavour to Aadi in Kongunadu

Tamil Nadu abounds in festivals marked by various food items depending on the geographical and cultural features of the regions. The Kongu region comprising Salem, Erode, Dharmapuri, Namakkal and Tirupur celebrates the advent of the Tamil month...

One hundred years of goli soda

In Tamil Nadu, the very mention of soft - or cool - drinks brings back to mind goli soda. Time was when goli soda was served to guests at home as a token of honour. Post-Independence, the industry expanded. But after the advent of the foreign...

How TN working women can feel more at home in workspaces

TN may boast of females contributing more to the paid economy but major challenges exist for working women. In September 2022, a 15-day residential training program for the Tamil Nadu Education Fellowship— a 2-year scheme launched by the School...

Who celebrated Onam first? Answer: The Pandyas

(This article was first published on Sept 7, 2022) 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....

Onam

Food

GI tag for Vellore thorny brinjal, Ramnad rotund chilli

In recognition of Tamil Nadu’s indigenous varieties of brinjal and chillies, the thorny brinjal of Vellore and the rotund chilli of Ramanathapuram have been given the geographical indication or GI tag. ‘Mullu kaththarikaai’ (thorny brinjal) is...

Drink water regularly; it does more than just quench thirst

Drinking enough water every day plays a great role in maintaining human health. Water accounts for 75 per cent of the substances our body is made up of, and drinking enough water aids digestion and regulates metabolism. How much water should you...

Have greens everyday to keep diseases at bay

Food in itself and of itself is medicine. So goes an old Tamil adage. Familiar with the medicinal properties of greens, our forefathers made them a part of their daily diet. Modern doctors too insist on taking greens regularly as they play a...

Drop it like a hot potato: Boiled good, french fries bad

Is potato good for health or not?  Some vouch for the potato’s health benefits such as being able to prevent cancer. But others say the tuber is anything but healthy. So, which is it? Potato, one of the world’s important food crops, is a...

No oil no boil — raw food restaurant serves superfoods

In the midst of an explosion of exotic food fads and Internet gourmet gurus, Chennai’s own Kannamma Neelakandan flips all our assumptions about food on their head — by serving delicious, multi-course meals without cooking! On the outskirts of the city in...

no oil no boil

Civic Issues

CMDA crosses 50 years: Time to assess

Urbanization has reached such a level in Tamil Nadu that the functioning of the CMDA (Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority) is under the lens now.  A failing CMDA is an indication of the poor state of urban governance in the state reflected in declining...

Ground zero Tiruvannamalai: Why does TN fail on road safety?

At least 15 people have died on a stretch of a national highway in prosperous Tamil Nadu that connects Tiruvannamalai and Bengaluru in just ten days during October 2023, bringing the State closer to another dubious road traffic accident record. Only some months...

Environment

Kerala caught in storm over Justice for Arikomban

Kerala: Protest marches, road blockades, endless poster campaigns on digital platforms, legal wrangles, vociferous discussions in television channels, poetry readings, music albums, cultural resistance and much more — Kerala is caught in jumbo debate over problem...

Sports

Chennai, TN, the surfing capital of India

Surfing in Chennai and all of Tamil Nadu has seen a surge in popularity, captivating both locals and tourists along the state’s long and breathtaking coastline. The state's diverse range of surf spots cater to surfers of all levels, making it an enticing...

CSK’s Gujarati, GT’s Tamil talent bode well for IPL

“You do get emotional; the first game at CSK everyone was chanting my name. My eyes were full of tears,” said an emotional Mahendra Singh Dhoni as he led Chennai Super Kings to a record fifth IPL final on Monday. So without going into the details of how and where...

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