Focal length ! - Zoom lens !! - தொலை நோக்கு பார்வை !!

தொலை நோக்கு பார்வை  !!   Photographers strain themselves great length to provide quality clear pictures. 

Focal length is often a photographer’s first consideration when deciding what lens to use to capture a given scene or subject. It  is the distance measured in millimeters, between the optical center of the lens and the camera sensor, where the light information is recorded. 

Some lenses have a variable focal length (like 18-55mm or 70-200mm) and are called zoom lenses, while others have a fixed focal length  and are referred to as prime lenses.   

A web search indicated that Nikkor AF-S 400mm F/2.8# FL ED VR lens costs approx Rs.8.60 lakhs !!

 

Here is our friend Mr Muthukumar (wildlife photo expert) wielding Nikon mounted on 400mm lens  (not sure of its price !!) 

A search on how good is 400mm yielded this hilarious response on web :   The 400mm focal length of this lens is ideal for many field based sports such as soccer (football) and rugby as it's not too long, such as a 500mm for example, but at the same time it's gives more pull than a 300mm.  (400 > 300 but < 500)

 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
30.9.2023 

Red Rose ! - கொம்பேறிமூக்கன்

கொம்பேறிமூக்கன்  என்பது ஒரு நஞ்சற்ற மரவாழ் பாம்பு.  எனினும் இந்த  பாம்பு நஞ்சுள்ளது என்றும், இது கடித்துவிட்டால் இறந்துவிடுவார்கள் என்றும், அவ்வாறு இறந்தவர்களை சுடுகாட்டில் எரிப்பதை மரத்தின் மீது ஏறி பார்க்கும் என்று மக்களிடம் ஒரு கட்டுக்கதையும் அச்சமும் உள்ளது.

 

 கீரனூர் கிராமத்தில்  வாழும் மக்களை காப்பாற்றும் தாதாவாக தியாகராஜன்,  இணையாக சரிதா, ஏ. ஜெகநாதன் இயக்கத்தில்  இசைஞானி இளையராஜா இன்னிசையில் 1984 ஆம் ஆண்டு வெளிவந்த தமிழ்த் திரைப்படம். கொம்பேரி மூக்கன்.    SPB  மற்றும் S ஜானகி குரலில் இந்த பாடல் பெறுமளவில் விரும்பப்பட்டது

ரோஜா ஒன்று முத்தம் கேட்கும் நேரம்…

வானும் மண்ணும் ஒன்றாய் இன்று சேரும்… 

Eyes, Beautiful eyes !! - கண்களும் கவி பாடுதே

 Before you read this post, do you perceive what this is ??

கண்களும் கவி பாடுதே கண்ணே உன்

கண்களும் கவி பாடுதே உன்னாசையால்

காலமெல்லாம் இன்ப காதல் மேவும் நீதியோடு – உன்

கண்களும் கவி பாடுதே 

-  இந்தோள ராகத்தில் அமைந்த மிக அற்புதமான  போட்டிப் பாடலை -  சீர்காழி கோவிந்தராஜன், திருச்சி லோகநாதன் குரல்களில் கேட்டு ரசித்து இருப்பீர்கள்.  ‘அடுத்த வீட்டுப் பெண்’ (1960) படத்தில் அமைந்த இந்த படத்தின் நாயகி அஞ்சலிதேவியின் கணவர் ஆதிநாராயணராவ்தான் இசையமைப்பாளர்.  ஸ்வரங்கள், ஆலாபனை என இந்தோள ராகத்தின் சாரத்தைப் பிழிந்து தந்திருப்பார்கள் பாடகர்களும் இசையமைப்பாளரும்.  சினிமா கதை அல்ல இந்த பதிவு ! - கண்கள் பற்றியது ! - உங்கள் கண்களால் எவ்வளவு விஷயங்களை ஒரே சமயத்தில் காணமுடியும் ??  

The field of view (FOV) is the extent of the observable world that is seen at any given moment. In the case of optical instruments or sensors it is a solid angle through which a detector is sensitive to electromagnetic radiation. In the context of human and primate vision, the term "field of view" is typically only used in the sense of a restriction to what is visible by external apparatus, like when wearing spectacles  or virtual reality goggles. Though  eye movements are allowed in the definition. They  do not change the field of view when understood this way.  

Eyes  are the most important  organs of human body that provides vision. They provide beauty to the face, more importantly  make us see beautiful things.  They provide living organisms with vision, the ability to receive and process visual detail, as well as enabling several photo response functions that are independent of vision. Eyes detect light and convert it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons.   Eye is a wonder object, slightly asymmetrical globe, about an inch in diameter. The front part  includes:  Iris, Cornea, Pupil, Sclera, Conjunctiva, .. .. and all these work together to give us the vision that we see !!    The  brain through a lengthy process  turns the signals into the images you see. .. . and eyes need tears to work correctly !!  

Lens is a clear crystalline structure in the eye. It helps in focusing images on retina. Any changes causing denaturation of lens proteins makes it opaque thus blocking visual pathway and leads to blurred vision.  Some of the symptoms could be :  Cloudy/milky/foggy/blurry vision; Poor night vision; Seeing a halo (glare) around lights especially when looking at headlights in the night; double vision and a feeling of improper vision !!   

When proteins present in the eye form clumps, it muddles the vision with a cloudy, hazy outline. It gradually develops and starts interfering with your vision and unless treated could lead to total blindness. This medical condition is often called Cataract.  The word “cataract” is derived from the Greek word katarraktes which loosely translates to waterfall. It was believed that a congealed fluid from the brain had flowed in front of the lens of the eyes. Today, eye cataract is defined as the clouding of the lens of your eyes. 

Cataract : (Noun) means :

1 : a clouding of the lens of the eye or of its surrounding transparent membrane that obstructs the passage of light

2 :  waterfall; especially : a large one over a precipice 

A cataract is an eye disease in which the normally clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy or opaque, causing a decrease in vision. The lens focuses light onto the back of the eye (the retina) so images appear clear and without distortion. The clouding of this lens during cataract formation distorts vision. Cataracts are usually a very gradual process of normal aging but can occasionally develop rapidly. 

 

Here are some photos of eyes taken by me !:

 

Giraffe

Cat

Squirrel

Gorilla

Crow

Calf

Parrot

Maadu - cow

Pigeon

Rhino

Tiger 

Eyes are extremely sensitive and a surgery in the eyes is most feared yet the modern technology has ensured that Eye cataract surgery today is more of a daycare / outpatient procedure – Surgeon skillfully removes the clouded lens, replaces them with artificial lens and the person just walks out of the bed !!  

               A few decades ago, this was a big procedure, as there would incision and patients would be advised on many things including how to sleep and avoiding oil bath etc.,  now a days,  it is done with laser, minimally invasive, small incision surgery – that has changed the way of cataract surgery.   

Phacoemulsification is a procedure in which surgeon makes small incisions with help of blade to enter the eye and cataract is removed with the phacoemulsification probe. Surgeon uses ultrasound energy to dissolve cataract. Traditional phacoemulsification procedure is highly skilful surgery, very much dependent upon surgeon’s dexterity, experience and volume of surgeries one has performed.  In laser assisted cataract surgery, an advanced femtosecond laser replaces or assists use of a hand-held surgical tool.  

For more than couple of decades, SYMA has been organizing free Cataract detection camp on every Aug 15 (Independence Day of India) – more than 100 patients get screened – around 25 to 30 people requiring Cataract surgery are taken to  Sri Sankara Eye Hospital, Pammal  and surgery conducted free of any charge. 

Hopefully after Cataract people get full vision back and are able to see things better without the need for spectacles (one may still require a glass for reading or for correction of vision !!) .. .  .. concluding with a close-up photo of the most captivating eyes that exude karunyam – Sri Varadha Raja  Perumal  at Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam.

The photo at the start is that of a Lion undergoing Cataract surgery !! 

 
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
28.9.2023

Father of Green REvolution - man who ensured food on our plates MS Swaminathan is no more

Nation mourns the passing away of a great son of India closer to becoming a Centurion !!  - the renowned agricultural Scientist Dr MS Swaminathan is no more !

 

Heard of : IR 20, IR 36, CO 43, CO 46, ADT 38, ADT 39, ADT 46, Bhavani, Mappillai Samba; Karunguruvai; Seeraga Samba; Kudavazhai; Varappu Kudainchan, Ponni etc., - rice varieties of Tamilnadu -  even those of us familiar with these names would only imagine  the picturesque image of rice paddies -- lush, green fields, but fail to understand  know how rice gets from the paddy to your plate? The process is seriously labour intensive, requiring more steps than one thinks is necessary for such tiny, little grains.

For his contributions to the world food supply, Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970. Norwegian officials notified his wife in Mexico City at 4:00 a.m., but Borlaug had already left for the test fields in the Toluca valley, about 40 miles (65 km) west of Mexico City.  In his Nobel Lecture the following day, he speculated on his award: "When the Nobel Peace Prize Committee designated me the recipient of the 1970 award for my contribution to the 'green revolution', they were in effect, I believe, selecting an individual to symbolize the vital role of agriculture and food production in a world that is hungry, both for bread and for peace".

 

Back home, today we mourn the passing away of a great personality who by  his revolutionary contributions to agriculture steered Nation away from hunger.  Dr. Swaminathan was a powerhouse of innovation and a nurturing mentor to many. His unwavering commitment to research and mentorship has left an indelible mark on countless scientists and innovators.  At a very critical period in our nation’s history, his groundbreaking work in agriculture transformed the lives of millions and ensured food security for our nation.

 

Moncombu is a village in the district of Alappuzha in the state of Kerala,   part of the Kuttanad delta region popularly mentioned as 'Rice bowl of Kerala'. Its unique geography embodied by Vembanad lake, inter-linked Pambaa, Manimala and Achenkovil river systems, gives rise to islands, back waters, network of waterways and canals, below sea-level paddy fields and marsh.  

The Green Revolution was a period that began in the 1960s during which agriculture in India was converted into a modern industrial system by the adoption of technology, such as the use of high yielding variety (HYV) seeds, mechanised farm tools, irrigation facilities, pesticides, and fertilizers. Mainly led by agricultural scientist M. S. Swaminathan in India, this period was part of the larger Green Revolution endeavor initiated by Norman Borlaug, which leveraged agricultural research and technology to increase agricultural productivity in the developing world. 

Under the premiership of Congress leaders Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi, the Green Revolution within India commenced in 1968, leading to an increase in food grain production, especially in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. 

MS Swaminathan was born in Kumbakonam, Madras Presidency on 7 August 1925.  He was the second son of general surgeon M. K. Sambasivan and Parvati Thangammal Sambasivan, who hailed from Alappuzha district in Kerala. At age 11, Swaminathan lost his father – going by the wish of his to  study medicine, he started off his higher education with zoology.  When he witnessed the impacts of the Bengal famine of 1943 during the Second World War and shortages of rice throughout the sub-continent, he decided to devote his life to ensuring India had enough food.  Despite his family background, and belonging to an era where medicine and engineering were considered much more prestigious, he chose agriculture. 

He went on to finish his undergraduate degree in zoology at Maharaja's College in Trivandrum, Kerala; then studied at Madras Agricultural College, earning  a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Science. Swaminathan was awarded the first World Food Prize in 1987 following which he set up the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in Taramani, Chennai.   

 

               Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan -  Indian agronomist, agricultural scientist, plant geneticist, administrator, and humanitarian  is no more !!  He was the main architect  of the green revolution in India for his leadership and role in introducing and further developing high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice. Swaminathan's collaborative scientific efforts with Norman Borlaug, spearheading a mass movement with farmers and other scientists and backed by public policies, saved India and Pakistan from certain famine-like conditions in the 1960s.  His leadership as director general of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines was instrumental in his being awarded the first World Food Prize in 1987, recognized as one of the highest honours in the field of agriculture.  The United Nations Environment Programme has called him "the Father of Economic Ecology". 

M S Swaminathan, hailed as the father of India’s Green Revolution, passed away this day  Thursday, 28^th Sept 2023 . He was 98. Swaminathan was instrumental in developing high-yielding varieties of paddy that helped ensure India’s low-income farmers produce more yield. His last rites are likely to be held on Sunday.

 

During his tenure in office, Swaminathan served in various capacities across departments. He was appointed Director of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (1961-72), Director General of ICAR and Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (1972-79), Principal Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture (1979-80), Acting Deputy Chairman and later Member (Science and Agriculture), Planning Commission (1980-82) and Director General, International Rice Research Institute, the Philippines (1982-88). In 2004, Swaminathan was appointed as chair of the National Commission on Farmers, a commission setup to look into farmer distress amid alarming suicide cases. The commission submitted its report in 2006 and suggested, among its recommendations, that the Minimum Selling Price (MSP) should be at least 50 percent more than the weighted average cost of production. 

Swaminathan has been conferred with the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan. He is also the recipient of the H K Firodia award, the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award and the Indira Gandhi Prize, apart from several international awards including the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1971) and the Albert Einstein World Science Award (1986). 

Swaminathan is survived by his three daughters Soumya Swaminathan, Madhura Swaminathan, and Nitya Swaminathan. His wife Mina passed away in 2022. 

In 1961 when Asia and specifically  India was on the brink of mass famine, Borlaug was invited to India by the adviser to the Indian minister of agriculture M. S. Swaminathan. Despite bureaucratic hurdles imposed by India's grain monopolies, the Ford Foundation and Indian government collaborated import wheat seed from CIMMYT. Punjab was selected by the Indian government to be the first site to try the new crops because of its reliable water supply and a history of agricultural success. India began its own Green Revolution program of plant breeding, irrigation development, and financing of agrochemicals. 

Norman Ernest Borlaug (1914 – 2009)   was an American agronomist who led initiatives worldwide that contributed to the extensive increases in agricultural production termed the Green Revolution. Borlaug was awarded multiple honors for his work, including the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.  Borlaug was often called "the father of the Green Revolution",  and is credited with saving over a billion people worldwide from starvation.

 

Some time back a new rose variety was  named after the eminent agriculture scientist MS Swaminathan.  The Rose is highly disease resistant with rich magenta purple colour with stimulating aroma. Kodaikanal-based M.S. Viraraghavan, India’s leading horticulturist and rose breeder,  bred and named it as THE M.S. SWAMINATHAN ROSE, in the honour of Prof. Swaminathan. 

The Nation today mourns the death of a Man who has left indelible impression in ensuring that we have enough to eat.

 
With profound regrets in his passing away – S Sampathkumar
28.9.2023 

Kubla Khan Xanadu ... .. .. Dipendara Airee !!

Xanadu would mean a metaphor for opulence or an idyllic place, based upon Samuel Taylor Coleridge's description of Shangdu in his poem Kubla Khan.  Today learnt that a few new names of Cricketers – Munkhbat, Malla, Airee !! 

Enkhtuvshin Munkhbat sounds difficult to pronounce !!  - he made his debut, coming in at no. 9 did not score and did not bowl too !!  on a day that belonged to 19 year old Malla who became the second-youngest batter to score a century in men's T20Is. The youngest is Gustav Mckeon of France.  More to be read about Dipendra Airee who  broke Yuvraj Singh's record of scoring fastest fifty in T20I cricket, reaching the milestone in just 9 balls. 

Genghis Khan (1162 – 1227), was the founder and first khagan of the Mongol Empire, which later became the largest contiguous land empire in history. Having spent the majority of his life uniting the Mongol tribes, he launched a series of military campaigns that conquered large parts of China and Central Asia.  Years later Genghis' grandson Kublai Khan established the Yuan dynasty in 1271, taking the temple name Taizu. Kublai's great-grandson Külüg Khan later expanded this title into Fatian Qiyun Shengwu Huangdi, meaning "Interpreter of the Heavenly Law, Initiator of the Good Fortune, Holy-Martial Emperor". 

At - Zhejiang University of Technology Cricket Field, T20I no. 2255 – Nepal played Mongolia.  

Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia  and China. The western extremity of Mongolia is only 23 km (14 mi) from Kazakstan.  Mongolia is covered by grassy steppe, with mountains to the north and west and the Gobi Desert to the south. Ulaanbaatar, the capital and largest city, is home to roughly half of the country's population. The territory of modern-day Mongolia has been ruled by various nomadic empires. 

In the Asian Games records tumbled as  Nepal's batters smashed a number of records in the opening match of the Men's Asian Games against Mongolia in Hangzhou, in a record 273-run win.   

A young Kushal Malla made a hundred off just 34 becoming the fastest  century in T20Is.  The previous record of 35 balls was jointly held by David Miller, Rohit Sharma and Czech Republic's Sudesh Wickramasekara. 

That was to be walloped by a fifty by Dipendra Singh Airee – in mere 9 balls.  Airee's innings featured eight sixes and no fours,  the fastest fifty in all T20s, beating the previous record of 12 balls, which was jointly held by Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle and Hazratullah Zazai. While Yuvraj's fifty came in a T20I, the other two were scored in T20s. 

273 - Nepal's margin of win against Mongolia,  is the highest margin in terms of runs in all T20s. The previous biggest margin was Czech Republic's 257-run win against Turkey in 2019.  Nepalese batsmen hit 26 sixers.   

It is Cricket at Asia Games - Cricket became a medal sport at the 2010 Asian Games. The last time cricket featured in a major multi-sport event was at the 1998 Commonwealth Games held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The gold medal was won on that occasion by South Africa, who defeated Australia by 4 wickets in the final with New Zealand winning the bronze medal. At a general meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia, held in Kuwait on 17 April 2007, it was announced that cricket would be included as a medal sport in the 2010 Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou. Matches would be played on a Twenty20, 20-overs per side format. 

The 2022 Asian Games (officially the 19th Asian Games)  currently being held from 23 September to 8 October 2023 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. The games marks 110 years since the creation of the continental event, starting with the 1913 Far Eastern Championship Games. 

Indian womens’ team has won the Gold this year.  The Men’s team for the event reads :  Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Mukesh Kumar, Shivam Mavi, Shivam Dube, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rahul Tripathi, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh.

With regards – S Sampathumar
27.9.2023 

Wishing Jyoti Yarraji Gold in Asian Games 2023

Mark your calendar – Sunday 1^st Oct 2023, remember to watch Women’s 100m hurdles at Asian Games 2023.   .. .. and can you identify this Sports person ??

 

        The event evolved from wooden barriers being placed along a 100 yard stretch, in England during the 1830s. The inaugural Women’s World Games of 1922 featured the 100m hurdles, and a slightly truncated event made its first Olympic appearance over the 80m distance in 1932. The distance was increased to 100m at the 1972 Olympics.  

        Athletes run in lanes and start from blocks, negotiating 10 hurdles of 2ft 9in (83.8cm) over a distance of 100m.      A reaction time – measured by sensors in the starting pistol and on the blocks – of less than 0.1 is deemed a false start and runners will be recalled, with the responsible athlete disqualified.  

The 100 metres hurdles,  is a track and field event run mainly by women (the male counterpart is the 110 metres hurdles). For the race, ten hurdles of a height of 33 inches (83.8 cm) are placed along a straight course of 100 metres (109.36 yd). The first hurdle is placed after a run-up of 13 metres from the starting line. The next 9 hurdles are set at a distance of 8.5 metres from each other, and the home stretch from the last hurdle to the finish line is 10.5 metres long. The hurdles are set up so that they will fall over if bumped into by the runner, but weighted so this is disadvantageous. Fallen hurdles do not count against runners provided that they do not run into them on purpose. Like the 100 metres sprint, the 100 m hurdles begins with athletes in starting blocks.  

A 655-member Indian contingent is competing at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China. The 19th edition of the continental multisport event officially began on September 23 and will conclude on October 8.  A total of 48 sets of medals in track and field athletics are on offer at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou taking place in 2023.  

The likes of Olympic champions Mutaz Essa Barshim, Neeraj Chopra, Gong Lijiao, and Liu Shiying will be in action  with competitions taking place at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium and the Smart New World Qiantang River Green Belt. 

At the last edition, Jakarta 2018, a 570-strong Indian squad racked up a best-ever Asian Games haul of 70 medals - 16 gold, 23 silver and 31 bronze. With an increase in the contingent strength, a bump in the medals count is also expected. Over the years, athletics have accounted for the majority of India’s medals at the Asian Games - 254 from a total of 672. Track and field events will once again be the focus at Hangzhou 2023 with India fielding 68 athletes - the country’s largest contingent in any sport. 

The Indian athletics squad in Hangzhou features top names like men’s javelin throw ace Neeraj Chopra, the reigning world, Olympic and Asian Games champion, Commonwealth Games men’s 3000m steeplechase silver medallist Avinash Sable and women’s hurdles sensation Jyothi Yarraji.  By now you have read in detail the success of Indian Womens Team in Cricket.   

 

Jyothi Yarraji, the national record holder in women’s 100m hurdles, is making  her Asian Games debut in Hangzhou. She is the first Indian woman to run sub-13 seconds in the event.  This season, the 24-year-old from Visakhapatnam won gold medal at the Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok. She also clinched silver at the same tournament in the 200m event and will be in action in both categories in China too. 

She was born in Aug 1999, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Her father, Suryanarayana, works as a private security guard while her mother, Kumari, is a domestic help who works part-time as a cleaner in a city hospital 

The  Sports person featured at the start is – Valsamma.  Manathoor Devasia Valsamma became  the second Indian woman to win an individual gold medal at the Asian Games and the first to win it on Indian soil. Valsamma won the gold medal in the 400 m hurdles in an Indian and Asian record time of 58.47 seconds in front of a home crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the 1982 Asian Games. This made her the second woman athlete to win an Asian Games gold for India, after Kamaljit Sandhu (400 metres-1974). She later figured in a silver medal-winning 4 X 400 metres relay team.  She was  conferred with  Arjuna Award in 1982 and the Padma Shri in 1983.

Wishing Jyoti all success for winning a Gold at Asian Games 2023

 
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
26.9.2023 

வெண்சங்கு கழுத்தோடு .... .. .. நான் கண்ட பொருள் கூறவா!

வெண்சங்கு கழுத்தோடு !  ?  !!

Conch (Sanghu) is a common name of a number of different medium-to-large-sized sea snails. Conch shells typically have a high spire and a noticeable siphonal canal (in other words, the shell comes to a noticeable point at both ends). 

தோட்டினையும் குழையினையும் அணிந்த பெருமான் என்று செங்காட்டங்குடி தலத்து பதிகத்து பாடல் ஒன்றினில் திருஞானசம்பந்தர் குறிப்பிடுகின்றார்.  தோடுடைய செவியன் என்று ஒரு காதினில் தோட்டினை அணிந்த பெருமான் என்று தனது முதல் பதிகத்தினை தொடங்கிய திருஞானசம்பந்தர் மற்றொரு காதினில் வெண்சங்குக் குழையினை அணிந்துள்ளார் என்று உணர்த்துகின்றார்

நினைத்ததை முடிப்பவன் படத்து பாடலில் காதில் ரீங்காரமிடும் புலமைப்பித்தன்  வரிகள் :

வெண்சங்கு கழுத்தோடு பொன்மாலை அசைந்தாட - நான் கண்ட பொருள் கூறவா!

அது என்ன வெண்சங்கு கழுத்து .. .. பளீர் என்ற நிறம் !  - சங்கின் வளைவு போன்ற அமைப்புள்ளதாலும்,  மிருதுவான தொடுஉணர்வைக் கைகளுக்கு அளிப்பதாலும், சங்கைப் போன்றே மங்கலச் சின்னமான தாலி, தழையப்பெற்றிருப்பதாலும்,  பெண்களின் கழுத்திற்கு சங்கு உவமையாகக் கூறப்படுகிறது. !!!  என எங்கோ படித்தேன் !!

சங்குகள் கூட்டம் கூட்டமாக வாழும் தன்மை கொண்டவை. கடலின் அடிமட்டத்தில் சுமார் 20 முதல் 25  அடி ஆழமுள்ள பகுதிகளில் வாழ்கின்றன.  இந்த இடங்கள் சங்குப் படுகைகள் என்று அழைக்கப்படுகின்றன. பெரும்பாலும் பாறையோரத்தில் இருக்கும் திடமற்ற, மெல்லிய மணற் பகுதிகள் சங்குகள் வாழ்வதற்கு ஏற்ற இடங்களாகும்.  வெண் சங்கு (Xancus pyrum) கடல் நத்தை வகையைச் சேர்ந்த மெல்லுடலி ஆகும். இது வலம்புரிச் சங்கு எனவும்  தட்சணாமூர்த்திச் சங்கு எனவும் அழைக்கப்படுகிறது.

 

நான் பார்த்த படங்கள் மிக குறைவு - சிறு வயதில் சென்ற ஊர்களோ இன்னமும் குறைவு !  .. .. 1975ல் ஹோகேனேக்கல் சென்று குளித்து, தர்மபுரியில் தங்கி - ஏதோ திரையரங்கில் பார்த்த படம் : நினைத்தை முடிப்பவன்" - MGR படம்.  கதாநாயகன் ஒரு சாதாரணன் ! - திருமண ஊர்வலத்தில் இசைக்கருவி வாசிப்பது மட்டுமே தெரிந்தவன்.  அவன் லட்சியமே, தங்கையின் திருமணச் செலவுகளுக்காகப் பணம் சேர்ப்பது - தன சொந்த ஊரை விட்டு,  பட்டணத்திற்கு வந்து நாட்கள் பலவாகியும் வேலை கிடைக்காமல் சுற்றியலைகிறான்.  

திரு எம்.எஸ். விஸ்வநாதன் இசையில் - திரு  TM சௌந்தர்ராஜன் இசையில் பட்டி தொட்டியெல்லாம் ஒலித்த பாடல் :  

பூ மழைத் தூவி வசந்தங்கள் வாழ்த்த - ஊர்வலம் நடக்கின்றது

எழில் பொங்கிடும் அன்பு தங்கையின் - நெற்றியில் குங்குமம் சிரிக்கின்றது

மங்கள  , குங்குமம் சிரிக்கின்றது 

 If you are wondering, what this is all about ?  - this morning saw a cow (calf)  in Triplicane wearing a conch-dollar, yes – a real white conch around its neck.

 
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
10.9.2023 

Madras Munro Statue

The equestrian statue of Thomas Munro , 1st Baronet, Major-General in the British Army and Governor of Madras from 1820 to 1827,  is a major landmark in Chennai city on the arterial Mount Road.   The bronze statue was  sculpted by Francis Chantrey in the United Kingdom in 1834 and shipped to Madras in 1839

 

A photo taken from moving MRTS as it crossed the road from Chintadripet – what amazes is on the R the gantry cranes of Port are seen and on the left High Court and old lighthouse too are seen  !!!

 
S Sampathkumar
9.9.2023 

Do you like Pigeon or Parrot !

Life is full of perceptions !  We see whatever we want to see in others.  Some are thought to be extremely compassionate and nice people while others are portrayed as angry, overwhelming and bad. 

உங்களுக்கு புறாவை பிடிக்குமா ! அழகான அமைதியான  பச்சை கிளியை பிடிக்குமா ?  - கேள்வியே ஒருதலை பட்சமானது ! - கேட்கும்போதே கிளியை அழகானது அமைதியானது என்று .. ..  

While many love Parrots for their beauty and assume that they are clam and good, often Pigeons are seen as pests !

 

Pigeons are also beautiful and  here is the parrot harshly attacking the docile pigeon.

 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
9.9.2023 

Remembering - martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan

Llanfairpwllgwyngyll,  is a large village and community on the island of Anglesey, Wales.  The original name of the medieval township, within whose boundaries the present-day village lies, was Pwllgwyngyll, meaning "the pool of the white hazels" 

The 12445 / 12446 Uttar Sampark Kranti Express connects New Delhi railway station to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station. The train runs daily via Jammu Tawi, Jalandhar Cantonment, Ludhiana, Ambala, Panipat and Udhampur, covering a distance of 655 km at an average speed of 57 km/h.  

The Shivalik Hills, are a mountain range of the outer Himalayas that stretches over about 2,400 km (1,500 mi) from the Indus River eastwards close to the Brahmaputra River, spanning the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent. The literal translation of "Sivalik" is 'tresses of Shiva'.  The district of Udhampur is located in the Shivalik range of Himalayas and the terrain is mostly mountainous. The upper reaches of the district experience snowfall in the winter season.   

Udhampur is a city - is in a relatively flatter part of the district at an elevation of 756 metres (2480 feet) and it rarely experiences any snowfall.  It is the headquarters of Udhampur District. Named after Raja Udham Singh, it serves as the district capital and the Northern Command headquarters of the Indian Army. A Forward Base Support Unit (FBSU) of the Indian Air Force is also stationed here.   

Udhampur railway station is situated in the  average elevation of the station is 660.054 metres (2,165.53 ft) above mean sea level. The rail distance between UHP and JAT is 53 km (33 mi). The Uttar Sampark Kranti Express train from New Delhi was the first train to run on this link in 2005.  The rail link to Katra was inaugurated and opened in 2014. Jammu Mail and Uttar Sampark Kranti Express have been extended to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station  from  2015. As of now, 39 trains halt at udhampur en route to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway station from major cities in India and vice versa.  

Pampore  is a historical town situated on the eastern side of the Jhelum River on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. It was known as Padmanpur in antiquity.  It is famous worldwide for its saffron and known as the Saffron town of Kashmir.   

Back in 2016   in a three-day battle between security forces and terrorists holed up in the EDI building ended with the death of two militants, the army announced.  Three army commandos, including two Captains, were killed  in the fierce gunfight with a group of terrorists holed up inside a government building on the outskirts of Srinagar, raising the toll to seven in the encounter.  The multi-storied building of Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) building in Pampore caught fire as the encounter between army and the heavily-armed terrorists, suspected to be 3-4 in number, continued for couple of days. Through the day, the terrorists kept on firing and throwing grenades on the security forces who surrounded the building.  

Army lost Captain Pawan Kumar, Captain Tushar Mahajan and jawan Om Prakash, all of the elite Para commando units, in the gunbattle. 

Now comes the news that Udhampur Railway Station is being named  after Captain Tushar Mahajan, an officer of 9 PARA (Special Forces of the Indian Army), who was killed while protecting other army personnel in a terror attack on JKEDI building in Pulwama in February 2016. 

This was informed by the Union Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh through a tweet on ‘X’, on Thursday. He thanked the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji  for acceding to the long pending request of family, friends, local people and the politicians on this account. Captain Mahajan, who hailed from Udhampur, had killed the terrorists  before laying down his life in the service of the motherland.  Singh further added that communication  to this effect was sent to the UT government to formally issue the required Gazette notification. 

Following it, ‘The Tushar Mahajan Trust’ thanked the Prime Minister, Singh and other BJP leaders for making it happen. Singh represents Udhampur-Doda-Kathua constituency in Lok Sabha.

Hail the martyr Captain Tushar Mahajan and all our army soldiers. 

In Apr 2019, the main Railway Station of Chennai – Central railway station  officially renamed "Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station.”  The name became the World second longest name for a Railway station after   Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch in Wales. 

 
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
8.9.2023