SYMA honoured good Samaritan(s) - Childfest 2026

 

Imp Pre-script :  the mind blowing act of honesty   happened in Jan 2026, everybody from the CM to Corporates recognized the person.  Being a Triplicanite, SYMA thought it fit to honour them on stage – that of Childfest 2026 Prize Distribution.  A small write-up coming up rather belatedly. !!

 

The proverb "honesty is the best policy" originated in late 16^th -century England, emphasizing truthfulness as the wisest long-term strategy over deception. It reflects cultural values of integrity in personal and public affairs. Moral character is formed by one's actions. The habits, actions, and emotional responses of the person of good character all are united and directed toward the moral and the good. Character and action are intertwined  

 

The great Thiruvalluvar said : 

தூய்மை துணைமை துணிவுடைமை இம்மூன்றின்

வாய்மை வழியுரைப்பான் பண்பு.

 

It is slightly off the topic yet conveys :  in this Thirukkural, Valluvar highlights the qualities of – ‘Integrity, resourcefulness, soul-determined & truthfulness – as the hallmark of a person who can be a trusted emissary. Integrity and truthfulness are hallmark of great sincere honest people too !!  

Embezzlement in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) primarily falls under Section 405 (Criminal Breach of Trust), defining it as dishonestly misappropriating or converting entrusted property, with Section 406 dealing with general punishments, while Section 409 imposes stricter penalties for specific individuals like public servants, bankers, or agents.  Not to feel tempted and not to usurp other’s asset is a great virtue.    

 

In Indian ithihasam – the epic tale of Harishchandra stands out – a real tell-tale version of striking testament to unyielding honesty, pushing the limits of human endurance. King Harishchandra of Ayodhya, famed for truthfulness, boasted to sage Vishwamitra about his integrity.  He descended into poverty, working as a menial cremation ground keeper enduring lashes and humiliation while upholding his vow.

 

In the 17^th  century, Galileo Galilei honestly shared evidence that Earth orbits the Sun, despite opposition from authorities. Facing house arrest, his truth advanced science and earned posthumous vindication, proving honesty endures beyond personal risk. Benjamin Franklin exemplified honesty through his personal virtues and life experiences, often weaving it into his writings and actions. His autobiography and "Poor Richard's Almanack" highlight stories where truthfulness built trust and success. Franklin listed "Sincerity" as one of his 13 virtues: "Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and if you speak, speak accordingly." He tracked his adherence daily, crediting it for his influence and relationships, as it made others seek his company despite imperfections.

 

Honesty remains a timeless virtue, as illustrated in engaging moral stories that show truthfulness leading to rewards and inner peace.  Triplicane’s couple Mr Subramani & Mrs Padma are epitomes of these virtues.    

 

Srinivas YOungmens’ Association [SYMA] founded in 1977 has been actively engaged in social service, enabling betterment of the society in many ways.  From 1989, we have been running a Medical Centre, where free medical consultation and medicines are provided (at a notional fee of Rs.2/-).   From 2008, we are running a Free Educational support centre – SYMA Growth – taking care of more than 100 years every year. This centre has two X Std sections and one each of +2 Commerce & Science groups.  The beneficiaries are from the economically challenged group of citizens.

 

Childfest is our initiative for the past 3 decades – this year on 7^th & 8^th of Feb 2026  we conducted 10 competitions at NKT National Girls High School – more than 80 schools and 2000 students participated in the two day extraganza.    

0n 8^th Feb 2026 evening, Prize Distribution was held.  The Chief Guests were -  Subedar Major Anandasayanam, more than 3 decades of distinguished service in the Indian Army, (Army Service Corps);  Mrs. A. Jayanthi, a teacher in Army Public Schools across various states Mr Kasi Viswanathan, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chennai Super Kings  were on stage.  

On the stage – SYMA honoured Mrs Padma & Mr Subramani [for sure you have seen news about them in various media / social media and more] … still to recap.  In Jan 2026, Mrs Padma employed as a Conservancy worker found a bag in Maharajapuram Santhanam Salai, T Nagar .. .. .. and it was jewellery of 45 Sov (approx 50 lakhs worth!).  without battling an eye-lid, she along with her co-workers and husband went to Pondy Bazaar Police Station and handed over the bounty.  It was simple and plain – it was not mine, someone had missed it and it should reach them !!  moving back a few years, in Feb 2021, her husband Mr Subramani, an auto driver found a bag in Beach road and handed it over to Police – it contained Rs.1.75 lakhs in cash. 

Mr Subramani is well known to Triplicanites – he now drives an auto and earlier was a devoted Sripathamthangi (bearer of vahanams of Perumal) at Sri Parthasarathi swami thirukkovil.  They are shining jewels of Triplicane.    

 

SYMA thought it fit to honour them on stage as they will be a living example of honesty for the future generations.  Those on stage too felt overwhelmed in appreciating and honouring them on stage. 

Here are some photos of the honouring of the couples at SYMA stage on 8^th Feb 2026.  

Regards – S Sampathkumar
Vice – President, SYMA
10.3.2026

"crow bath" - காக்கா குளியல் - kauwa snan

 

How long do you bathe ?  A "crow bath" (காக்கா குளியல் or kauwa snan in Hindi) is a colloquial term for a very quick, shallow, or superficial shower, similar to the Japanese phrase karasu no gyouzui (crow’s bath). It refers to taking a rapid bath without properly scrubbing, often implying a hurried morning routine. Though stated thus, Crows do take a neat long bath – some sources say !! 

காகங்கள் நீரில் மூழ்கிக் குளிக்காமல், தன் அலகால் நீரைத் தெளித்தோ அல்லது தலையை மட்டும் நீரில் நனைத்தோ மிக வேகமாக குளித்துவிட்டுப் பறந்துவிடும். இதைப் போலவே, உடலை முழுமையாகத் தேய்த்துக் குளிக்காமல் அவசரம் அவசரமாகக் குளிப்பவர்களை "காக்கா குளியல் போடுகிறான்" என்று ஏளனமாகச் சொல்வார்கள். பேச்சுவழக்கில் இப்படிச் சொன்னாலும், உண்மையில் காகங்கள் தண்ணீரில் நன்றாக இறங்கித் தன் சிறகுகளை விரித்து உற்சாகமாக குளிக்கும் பழக்கம் கொண்டவை என சில காணொளிகள் சுட்டிக்காட்டுகின்றன.

 

Here is Pigeon’s bathing !!

11/3/2026

துள்ளி துள்ளி விளையாட துடிக்குது மனசு ~ Calf jumping !!

 

At the turn of the 20th century, businessman Horace Pennypacker Jr., has two families: one wife and eight children in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and nine children (by a deceased wife) in Philadelphia. During the course of events, his bigamy is uncovered, and he struggles to maintain the status quo  !!  [don’t jump to say nothing uncommon !!]. 

Ever heard this or seen this song that was featured in an old movie – theme being the story of  a man hailed as  virtuous in the society but leading  a double life, having two sets of families. :

 

துள்ளி துள்ளி விளையாட துடிக்குது மனசு

தோழி மணமாலை காதலின் பரிசு!! 

துள்ளி விளையாடும் கன்றுக்குட்டி மகிழ்ச்சியின் அடையாளமாகும். அது தன் தாயின் அருகே துள்ளிக் குதித்து, ஆனந்தமாக ஓடித் திரிந்து, விளையாடும் காட்சி காண்போரை மகிழ்விக்கும். கன்றுக்குட்டிகள் பெரும்பாலும் சுறுசுறுப்பாகவும், ஆற்றல் மிக்கதாகவும், விளையாட்டாகத் தன் சூழலை ஆராயும் இயல்புடையவை.  

"துள்ளி துள்ளி விளையாட துடிக்குது மனசு" என்பது 1966ல் வெளியான மோட்டார் சுந்தரம் பிள்ளை திரைப்படத்தில், P. சுசீலா மற்றும் எல்.ஆர். ஈஸ்வரி பாடிய புகழ்பெற்ற பாடல் ஆகும்  

•        திரைப்படம்: மோட்டார் சுந்தரம் பிள்ளை (Motor Sundaram Pillai).

•        பாடகர்: பி. சுசீலா, எல்.ஆர். ஈஸ்வரி, சூலமங்கலம் ராஜலட்சுமி  

•        இசை: M.S. விஸ்வநாதன்   

A bold theme of those days – released in 1966 – ‘Motor Sundaram Pillai’    directed by S. S. Balan and written by Veppathur Kittoo starred Shivaji Ganesan, Ravichandran, Sowcar Janaki and Jayalalithaa.  It was a remake of the Hindi film Grahasti (1963), itself based on the American film The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker (1959).  

Described in the starting para, The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker is a 1959 American DeLuxe Color comedy film starring Clifton Webb and Dorothy McGuire directed by Henry Levin in CinemaScope. The film was based on the 1953 Broadway play of the same title, which ran for 221 performances and which had featured Burgess Meredith as Horace Pennypacker and Martha Scott as 'Ma' Pennypacker.  

Moving away from all the double-life – here is a video of  raw happiness unfolded – a Calf (either just born or just the day of birth) moving gleefully in the streets of Triplicane.  :  https://youtu.be/Z53kiDPk2bM

 
Pure bliss !!!
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
10.3.2026

Siruthai !!! ~ Panthera pardus fusca

Enjoyed interview scene in Vaalu – Brahmanandam asking Simbu & repeating the same Qs to Santhanam  -  ‘rocket entha speedla pogum !’   .. .. Singathukkum Siruthaikkum enna vithiyasam ! [what is the difference between Lion and Leopard !!]

The movie opens  with Bhavuji, a ruthless rowdy, receiving a call that IPS officer, Rathnavel Pandian is still alive, when everyone believed that he was killed by Bhavuji's younger brother, Badhra. Bhavuji and his henchmen went to Rathnavel's grave to exhume his body to which they found a coffin of heavy rocks, which meant that Rathnavel was still alive and Bhavuji is desperate to know his current location.

Meanwhile, Rocket Raja and his friend Kaatupoochi are small-time criminals who steals expensive items and cons people into giving them money. Kaatupoochi receives a call that a very rich person is having a wedding near their area, which Raja and Kaatupoochi go there to steal. In the wedding, Raja meets Swetha and immediately is attracted to her, which she also reciprocates. 

Moving away from Movies – the big awesome animals that fit into the Cat family are :  Lion, Tiger and ………  Leopard, Panther, Cheetah, Jaguar, Puma .. . and 

The Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) is  widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent. It is threatened by illegal trade of skins and body parts, and persecution due to human-leopard conflict and retaliation for livestock depredation.

Felis fusca was the scientific name proposed by Friedrich Albrecht Anton Meyer in 1794 who described a black leopard from Bengal that was on display at the Tower of London.  Leopardus perniger proposed by Brian Houghton Hodgson in 1863 were five leopard skins from Nepal, out of which three were black.  Since leopard populations in Nepal, Sikkim and Kashmir are not geographically isolated from leopard populations in the Indian subcontinent, they were subsumed to P. p. fusca in 1996.    

The Indian leopard has strong legs and a long, well-formed tail, broad muzzle, short ears, small, yellowish-grey eyes, and light-grey ocular bulbs.  Its coat is spotted and rosetted on a pale yellow to yellowish-brown or golden background, except for the melanistic forms; the spots fade toward the white underbelly and the insides and lower parts of the legs.   

Here is a Leopard [Siruthai] photographed at Vandalur Zoo recently.

The movie described in 2^nd & 3^rd para was “Siruthai” – starring Karthi, Tamanna, Santhanam, directed by SS Rajamouli with the music of Vidyasagar.   The story revolves around "Rocket" Raja, a petty thief who comes across a little girl says that he's her father. When he learns the truth about his lookalike Rathnavel Pandian, who's an honest cop, he decides to turn a new leaf and help get rid of a crime gang.  The film hit the screens during Pongal 2011.  

It was a remake of 2006 Telegu movie directed by Rajmouli – ‘Vikramarkudu’    based on a story by V. Vijayendra Prasad.  The movie starred  Ravi Teja and Anushka to the music of M. M. Keeravani, with cinematography by Sarvesh Murari.  

Regards – S Sampathkumar

10.3.2026