Rains in Chennai ! ~ Cyclone Fengal and its previous avatars !!

It is raining !   Simple, remain at home, do not venture out !!

 

Chennaites are under difficult times ! – it has been raining as    Cyclone Fengal moves closer to the Tamil Nadu coast. Rains are not new ! – perhaps Storms, Cyclone too are not new !!  Cometh Nov – Dec, we hear one name after the other of impending Cyclones – sometimes, Orange, Red alerts turn into nothing  !! with weather bloggers predicting cloud burst, very heavy rain, inundation and mugger crocs out there on streets !!!

 

Deep Depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal intensified into Cyclonic Storm “FENGAL” [pronounced as FEINJAL]. The Cyclonic Storm “FENGAL”   moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 13 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred at 0830 hours IST of today, the 30th November 2024 over the same region near latitude 12.3°N and longitude 80.9°E, about 120 km east-northeast of Puducherry, 110 km southeast of Chennai, 200 km north-northeast of Nagappattinam and 420 km north of Trincomalee. It is likely to move nearly westwards and cross north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram close to Puducherry as a cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph during evening of 30th November  says IMD Bulletin. 

In recent decades, as an Insurer, have experienced many storms, cyclones, heavy rains, inundation and more.  In school days, remember 1977 was a bad year – Kotturpuram was badly affected. 

Nov 1977 was at its worst.  In mid Nov,   a devastating tropical cyclone  hit Andhra Pradesh  reported  killing around 10,000 people. The worst affected areas were in the Krishna River delta region. The island of Diviseema, was hit by a seven-metre-high (20 ft) storm surge, experienced a loss of life running into the thousands. The large loss of life prompted the establishment of early warning meteorological stations on the coast of Andhra Pradesh. Cyclone shelters and other measures for disaster management were also taken. A memorial, at the point of furthest advance of the tidal wave, near the town of Avanigadda, was built in memory of the people who died in the storm. 

That year, there were one too many.  Between Oct 27 – Nov 1 1977 – a cyclone crossed South Andhra Pradesh coast near Kavali between Nellore and Ongole. Weakened into a depression over the interior parts of Karnataka by morning of November 1 and emerged into the Arabian sea, It caused huge damage to property and Telegraph posts over 80 km stretch from Kavur to singaraykonda about 40 km on either side of the storm track stood slanting.  Close on its heels, on Nov 8-12, another struck and crossed Tamilnadu coast within 10 km to south of Nagapattinam early in the morning.   The speed of the  wind recorded about 120 KMPH ( 65 kt) on 12th mroning at Thanjavur , Tiruchirapalli and Podukottai. 560 people died and 10 lakh people rendered homeless, according to reports.  23,000 Cattle heads perished. Total damage to private and public property  was put to be  Rs. 155 crores.  Then in mid Nov, cyclone made a landfall   Chirala in A.P at 1200 UTC on 19th Nov and weakened into a low on the evening of 20th.  Maximum wind speed recorded by the ship Jagatswami recorded at 1030 Utc on 17th was 193 KMPH( 104kt).  This killed thousands of people, damaged acres of crops and property damage was estimated to be around 350 cr of those days !!!   

Here is something extracted from – ‘Handbook of Cyclonic storms in Bay of Bengal’ published for the use of Sailors by John Eliot, MA, FRS, CIE, Director General of Indian Observatories printed in 1900 priced Four rupees.     

"On the 2nd of October 1746 the weather at Madras was remarkably fine

and moderate all day. About midnight a furious storm arose and continued  with the greatest violence until the noon of the next day. Six of the French ships were in the road when the storm began, and not one of them was seen at  day break. One put before the wind and was driven so much to the southward  that she was not able to gain the coast again ; the 70-gun ship lost all her masts; three others of the squadron were likewise dismasted, and had so much water  in the hold that the people on board expected every minute to perish, notwithstanding they had thrown overboard all the cannon of the lower tier; the other ship, during the few moments of the whirlwind which happened in the most furious part of the storm, was covered by the waves, and foundered in an instant and only six of the crew escaped alive. Twenty other vessels, belonging to different nations, were either driven on shore or perished at sea. Two ships, laden with part of the effects of Madras, together with three lately arrived from Europe, were at anchor in the road of Pondicherry, where they felt no effect of the storm which was raging at Madras.'  

Three years later, in the evening of the 13th of April 1749 the northern monsoon changed, and the southern commenced with a hurricane on the Coromandel Coast. At Portonovo it lasted with such violence until four o'clock the next morning that the tents of the English forces which were encamped on the bank of the River Vellar (which disembogues itself at Portonovo) were blown into rags, many of the draught bullocks and horses were killed, and all the military stores were so much damaged that the army was obliged to march to Portonovo, in order to repair the detriments it had sustained. Here they were informed that the storm had committed much greater ravages at sea ; two of the Company's ships were stranded between Cuddalore and Fort Saint David ; the Apollo hospital ship was lost with all her crew; the Pembroke a 60-gun ship, which sailed on the expedition, was wrecked and only six of the crew saved ; and the Hamur of 74  guns, in which Admiral Boscawen hoisted his flag, and which was the finest ship of her size belonging to the navy of England, perished with 750 men. Fortunately most of the other ships were either at Trincomalee, or in parts of the coast to which the greatest violence of the hurricane did not extend."

 

It is hardly too much to say that the knowledge of the laws of storms, which is due to the labours of meteorologists utilizing the observations furnished by thousands of seamen, is now sufficient, if properly employed, to enable sailors to avoid the full strength of cyclonic storms in the open sea of the Bay of  Bengal. Disasters still occasionally happen, and, in some cases at least, may be traced to neglect of the most ordinary precautions, or to disregard of the accumulated experience of the past.   

Air motion in cyclonic storms is a complex phenomenon that arises when more or less violent actions occur over an area or centre of disturbance. Thus, for example, when a very large forest is on fire, the heated air over it rises and the air flows in towards it from all sides. The air which rises up after it reaches a certain height tends to spread out and to move away in all directions. The  inflow near the surface of the earth to the heated air does not take place directly, but by a species of spiral or revolving motion, forming whirls, such as are very common in  water motion, even on the smallest scale. The air is in such a motion drawn to to the centre, but not directly. It moves round the centre of the disturbance and at the same time moves towards the central area into which it is drawn and passes upwards. Hence, when such a disturbance is started, the air at and near the earth's surface rushes towards the centre from all directions, and the actual motion which results from such a rush towards a central area of disturbance and uptake is always rotatory. In the case of very small whirls such as give rise to waterspouts at sea, the whirling or rotatory motion is probably due to the fact that the air from different directions rushes in with slightly different velocities  or rates of motion. In the case of the enormous whirls which form cyclonic storms this is not the chief cause in operation. This is due to the fact that the air is connected with the earth, which is a moving body. Hence, when the  air is in apparent motion, it is actually moving with respect to a body which is  itself in motion.

 

Interesting – with graphic details taken from - https://mausam.imd.gov.in/imd_latest/contents/cyclone.php

 
Regards S Sampathkumar
30.11.2024 

Technology / controversy in Cricket - Snicko !

In Nov 1992, India toured South Africa and the 1^st Test was drawn – there were so many debutants.  Ajay Jadeja, Pravin Amre (scored a century on debut!); Brian McMillan,  Brett Schultz, legendary Jonty Rhodes, Omar Henry, Jimmy Cook and  .. .. and   Karl Liebenberg- who ?

 

Having watched Cricket at different decades, there  have been Umpiring errors and biased decisions over the years and the introduction of Technology was thought to be a panacea for all the problems.  Technology is good ! – there still remains some controversies cropping up hither and thither. 

At Perth on day 1 - KL Rahul’s controversial dismissal sparked widespread debate, with critics questioning the third umpire’s decision.  

The incident occurred in the 23rd over of India’s innings when Mitchell Starc bowled a delivery that angled across Rahul. Looking solid on 26 from 74 balls, Rahul got forward to defend. The ball passed close to the bat and was caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey. The on-field umpire initially ruled it not out, but Australia went for a review. The review showed a spike on Snicko,  which is interpreted as  contact.  However, the front-on replay, crucial for determining if the sound came from the bat or bat-pad contact, was inconclusive. Despite the ambiguity, the third umpire,Richard Illingworth, overturned the decision, citing the spike as sufficient evidence of an edge 

At that point it was a very crucial one, yet India won the match by a huge margin is not the subject matter of the post – but technology of Snicko is. 

Days earlier, India was humiliated 3-0 at home by Kiwis.  New Zealanders naturally felt gleeful. New Zealand coming off the back of that series in Sri Lanka where they lost 2-0 would not have imagined handing out such a drubbing.  In the Mumbai Test, when one thought India might hit back chasing improbable, was hit by that dismissal of Rishab Pant. An explosive Pant was given out caught bat-pad, with DRS overturning the on-field umpire's decision. Pant stood between New Zealand and a historic 3-0 series sweep with 64 off 57 balls, and before his dismissal India were 106 for 6, their target 41 runs away. New Zealand eventually won by 25 runs.  In the 22^nd over, Ajaz Patel twice went up in appeal against Pant. Once for a catch at slip. The on-field decision was not-out, and DRS upheld it. Two balls later, Ajaz spotted Pant charging out of his crease, pulled his length back, and forced the batter into a defensive prod. Pant tried to defend, the ball lobbed off him, into the keeper's gloves. Ajaz and the close-in fielders thought there had been an inside edge onto his front pad. Umpire Richard Illingworth didn't. New Zealand captain Tom Latham sent it upstairs for a review.

 

The ultraedge showed a spike when the ball seemingly passed the bat but the bat pad were so close that spike may have come from bat brushing the pad !!   Pant looked completely unflustered until this point - he'd performed a double glove-touch with his batting partner Washington Sundar as soon as New Zealand went up to review; it was their last remaining review. Now he walked over to the on-field officials with his hand extended. Third umpire Paul Reiffel, in making his judgment, noted that the spike could have been from bat hitting pad. But then, after further replays and rocking-and-rolling of the moment where bat, pad and ball were close together, he changed his mind based on what he thought was a deflection at the moment the ball passed the bat. 

New Zealand had reduced India to 29 for 5 on a rank turner and looked heavy favourites to win. But Pant managed to turn the tide for a while and Rohit felt his wicket had a huge impact on the game. "That dismissal actually was very, very crucial from our point of view. Rishabh was really looking good at that point”.   

The technology available in India- Newzealand series was ‘Ultra Edge’ supposedly an advanced version of Snickometer. The technology, Snickometer, was first invented by British computer scientist Allan Plaskett in 1990 and it was used in 1999 by UK's Channel 4 prior to being used match between India and Australia. This technology graphically shows if the ball has touched the bat or not by using sound waves.   Ultra Edge helps determine any contact between the bat and the ball using sound frequencies. The Snickometer is composed of a very sensitive microphone located in one of the stumps, connected to an oscilloscope that measures sound waves. Oscilloscope is nothing but a piece of equipment that shows changes in electrical current as waves in a line on a screen. When the ball nicks the bat, the oscilloscope trace will pick up the sounds. At the same time, a high-speed camera records the ball passing the bat. The oscilloscope trace is then shown alongside a slow-motion video of the ball passing the bat, and by the shape of the sound wave you can determine whether or not the noise picked up by the microphone coincides with the ball passing the bat, and whether the sound seems to come from the bat hitting the ball or from some other object. The real-time snicko meter automates the process of combining the visual and the audio in order to assist the final decision of confirming the edge of the bat. All the findings are live telecasted to the big screen and to the viewers at home to keep it transparent among the spectators. 

That way Ultra Edge is combo technology using   a series of highly sensitive microphones placed around the pitch that pick up sound waves and the visual feed.      

Gary Stead was the NZ Coach for this series.  A top-order batsman, Gary Stead played five Tests in 1999, averaging a decent 34.75  but after two mediocre performances against West Indies he was dropped. He later took to coaching, first working with the New Zealand Cricket High Performance Centre, before taking over the national women's team and in 2018  taking over from the highly successful Mike Hesson. 

To the Q at the start on Karl Liebenberg.  The third umpire (or TV Umpire) is an off-field umpire  called upon to make final decision in questions referred to them by the two on-field umpires or the players.  The concept of TV Umpire debuted in that Kingsmead Test. Karl Liebenberg was the third umpire, with Cyril Mitchley the on-field umpire, referring a  run out decision in this match. Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman to be dismissed (run out) by using television replays in the second day of the Test scoring 11.

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
29.11.2024

  

genus Rosa, in the family Rosaceae ! ~ ரோஜாவை தாலாட்டும் தென்றல்

 

The weather is chill and gloomy – one could hear the buzzing air, but not much of rains, though they say that it rained heavily last night !

 

வசந்தங்கள் வாழ்த்தும் பொழுது  உனது கிளையில் பூவாவேன்

இலையுதிர் காலம் முழுதும் மகிழ்ந்து உனக்கு வேராவேன் 

 

Cyclone Fengal ! – was the threat real ? – did it really bring in rains as hyped !?  As Cyclone 'Fengal' approaches the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, heavy and widespread rainfall is expected in most parts of the state, even as educational institutions are closed in parts of the State. Cyclone Fengal is forecast to intensify within the next 24 hours. "It is likely to move north-northwestward and likely to cross between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram by 30th morning. Under the influence of this system, rainfall is likely to occur in the next 2-3 days, fairly widespread moderate rainfall in most of the parts of Tamil Nadu !!!! 

Amidst this wind and rains, this beautiful Rose blossomed. They are beautiful .. .. though there are hundreds of variants, most common is a ‘Red Rose’ but can one imagine them being associated with wars and brutal killings !!   A rose is a woody perennial flowering plant of the genus Rosa, in the family Rosaceae, or the flower it bears.  

When first seen, Rose is 19 years old and working in a shop named Henrik's. She has a boyfriend named Mickey Smith, and lives in an apartment with her mother Jackie Tyler in the Powell Estate in London. Rose left school without taking her A-levels but won the bronze medal in an under-sevens gymnastics competition at her school. Her father, Pete Tyler died in 1987 in a car accident, the year after Rose was born. 

Rose Marion Tyler, also known as Bad Wolf, is a character in the British television series Doctor Who. She was played by Billie Piper. Rose was a companion of the Doctor. The character was created by series producer Russell T Davies. When Doctor Who was returned to television in 2005, Rose was introduced in the show as a new "companion" of series protagonist the Doctor, in his Ninth and later Tenth bodies.  Rose Tyler is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who.  

 

முதலில் கண்ட வரிகள் வரும் பாடல் - நினைவெல்லாம் நித்யா படத்தில், ராகதேவன் இளையராஜாவின் இன்னிசையில் சப் பாலசுப்ரமணியம், ஜானகி குரல்களில் எங்கெங்கும் ஒலித்த பாடல் .

ரோஜாவை தாலாட்டும் தென்றல்  .. ..

பொன்மேகம் நம் பந்தல்; : உன் கூந்தல் என்னூஞ்சல்

உன் வார்த்தை சங்கீதங்கள்  .. .. ..

Legendary director CV Sridhar was associating MS Viswanathan for long but in 1982 chose to combine with Isaignani Ilayaraja in his film ‘Ninaivellam Nithya’ starring Karthick and Jiji (Gigi) [Dr Jayalakshmi Sridhar].  Jiji after this film moved on to medical field for practice and became a successful Doctor.  The movie perhaps flopped commercially but was a superhit for the songs. 

Regards – S Sampathkumar
29.11.2024

Kaun Banega Maha CM ! - Lithuanian elections 2024

                                “Kaun banega Maharashtra ka CM?" –  the Q  is reverberating as   Maharashtra has delivered a clear and thumping result.    Will it be Devendra Fadnavis or Eknath Shinde? Despite the Mahayuti's landslide victory, the BJP has remained silent on the announcement of the next Chief Minister.

 

Immediately after the debacle – Team Thackeray announced ‘Congress's Overconfidence Cost Us":  The Congress contested 103 seats but won only 16. The Sena (UBT), which contested 89 seats, managed to win 20 seats.   The Congress's "overconfidence" in Maharashtra and its "attitude" during seat-sharing talks hurt Maha Vikas Aghadi's prospects, a senior leader of Shiv Sena (UBT) has said a week after the Opposition bloc was routed in the state polls. The BJP-led Mahayuti scored a thumping victory in the election, winning 230 seats in the 288-member Assembly. 

A post on Elections elsewhere !!  The Treaty of Salynas  was a peace treaty signed on 12 October 1398 by Vytautas the Great, the Grand Duke of Lithuania, and Konrad von Jungingen, the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights. It was signed on an islet of the Neman River, probably between Kulautuva and the mouth of the Nevėžis River.  It was the third time, after the Treaty of Königsberg (1384) and Treaty of Lyck (1390), that Vytautas promised Samogitia to the Knights. The territory was important to the Knights as it physically separated the Teutonic Knights in Prussia from its branch in Livonia.  However, it did not solve the territorial disputes over Samogitia and they dragged on until the Treaty of Melno in 1422. 

The Prime minister of Lithuania is the head of government of Lithuania. The prime minister is appointed by the president with the assent of the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas. The modern office of prime minister was established in 1990, when Lithuania declared its independence, although the official title was "Chairperson of the Council of Ministers" until 25 November 1992. Historically, the title of prime minister was also used between 1918 and 1940. This was during the original Republic of Lithuania, which lasted from the collapse of the Russian Empire until the country's annexation by the Soviet Union. 

Lithuania  is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Latvia, Belarus,  and the Russian semi-exclave of Kaliningrad Oblast,  with a maritime border with Sweden.  Its capital and largest city is Vilnius. Other major cities are Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai and Panevėžys. Lithuanians belong to the ethnolinguistic group of the Balts and speak Lithuanian. 

The 2024 Lithuanian parliamentary election was held on 13 and 27 October 2024 to elect the 141 members of the Seimas. Parliament members were elected in 71 single-member constituencies using the two-round system, and the remaining 70 in a single nationwide constituency using proportional representation. The elections were won by the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP), which secured 19.32% of the popular vote and 52 seats, up from 9.58% and 13 seats in the previous elections in 2020. The Homeland Union (TS–LKD), the largest party in the ruling centre-right coalition in the preceding Seimas, finished a distant second, securing 28 seats, down from its previous 50. 

The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania   is the unicameral legislative body of the Republic of Lithuania. The Seimas constitutes the legislative branch of government in Lithuania, enacting laws and amendments to the Constitution, passing the budget, confirming the Prime Minister and the Government and controlling their activities. Its 141 members are elected for a four-year term, with 71 elected in individual constituencies, and 70 elected in a nationwide vote based on open list proportional representation.  A party must receive at least 5%, and a multi-party union at least 7%, of the national vote to qualify for the proportional representation seats. Following the elections in 2024, the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania is the largest party in the Seimas, signing an agreement to form a coalition government with the Union of Democrats "For Lithuania" and the Dawn of Nemunas. 

Gintautas Paluckas has been  elected the 18th prime minister of Lithuania, succeeding Ingrida Šimonytė. Paluckas was Deputy Mayor of Vilnius from 2015 to 2019 and the leader of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) from 2017 to 2021. Paluckas led his party in the 2020 parliamentary election and won a seat in the Seimas. In 2024, as the Deputy Leader of the party, Paluckas participated in the Lithuanian parliamentary election, which was won by the LSDP. As a result, he was nominated as a candidate for the position of Prime Minister of Lithuania. 

Ingrida Šimonytė is an  economist who served as the 17th prime minister of Lithuania since 2020. She has been a Member of the Seimas for the Antakalnis constituency since 2016 and was Minister of Finance in the second Kubilius cabinet from 2009 until 2012. Šimonytė was a candidate in the 2019 and 2024 presidential election, but lost in the second round runoff to Gitanas Nausėda both times. She has been a member of Homeland Union since 2022, having previously been an independent politician.

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
28.11.2024 

look up the Sky !!

 

A few decades ago, air travel was the luxury of elite – not any longer.  Still, aircrafts are awe-inspiring and make us look upwards !!  Cargo aircraft – no windows !!

 

பூமியில் இருப்பதும் வானத்தில் பறப்பதும் அவரவர் எண்ணங்களே

இருக்கும் இடம் எதுவோ !! -  நினைக்கும் இடம் பெரிது  

போய்வரும் உயரமும் புதுப்புது உலகமும் அவரவர் உள்ளங்களே

 

சாந்தி நிலையம்   ~   கவிஞர் கண்ணதாசன்

 

 

getting closer to a Parrot !!

 

Close Proximity ! – cannot imagine getting this close !!

 

என்னை நான் தேடி, தேடி  -  உன்னிடம் கண்டு கொண்டேன்

பொன்னிலே பூவை அள்ளும்... ஆ...   புன்னகை  மின்னுதே

 

SP பாலசுப்ரமணியம் குரலில் இசைஞானி இளையராஜாவின் இன்னிசையில் ரஜினி நடித்த - தம்பிக்கு எந்த ஊரு  திரைப்பட பாடல் வரிகள்.

Thirumeyyam Octagonal Tank

After the rule of the Vijayanagara empire, in the 16th and 17th century CE, the town was part of the northern outpost of the Sethupathis of Ramnad however it was administered by the Pallavarayans.  The town was fortified during 1687 when a fort was constructed by Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi I of Ramanathapuram. After various successions, in 1755, the town was submitted to the East India Company by the Thanjavur Maratha house. 

The Tower of the Winds, also known by other names, is an octagonal Pentelic marble tower in the Roman Agora in Athens, named after the eight large reliefs of wind gods around its top. Its date is uncertain, but was completed by about 50 BC, at the latest, as it was mentioned by Varro in his De re Rustica of about 37 BC.  It is "one of the very small number of buildings from classical antiquity that still stands virtually intact", as it has been continuously occupied for a series of different functions. 

The English name Tower of the Winds—personified on the building as the Anemoi—is ultimately a calque of the ancient Greek name Pýrgos tōn Anémōn. In ancient Greek religion and myth, the Anemoi  were wind gods, each ascribed a cardinal direction from which their respective winds came and were each associated with various seasons and weather conditions.  In geometry, an octagon (from Ancient Greek) is an eight-sided polygon or 8-gon. 

Thirumeyyam is a divyadesam – the place name literally means ‘place of truth’.  Divyadesakoil has two deities – Thiru Sathyagirinathar (Sathyamurthi) and Thirumeyyar.   Thirumeyyar is in kidantha thirukkolam (reclining)  sanctum,  by far the largest reclining idol measuring 30 feet.  Temple tank (thirukkulam) pictured here is an Octagonal sacred tank named ‘Sathya pushkarini”.    

Adjacent to this temple lies Sivan temple – Thiru Sathyagireeswarar thirukkovil.

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
27.11.2024 

26/11 ~ Nation remembes its wounds and recalls its valiant saviours !!!

 

Many of us followed IPL Auction 2024 – can identify many a players and saw with interest that Bihar youngster Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a left-hand top-order batter, becoming  the youngest player to earn an IPL deal, worth INR 1.10 crore   from Rajasthan Royals (RR). 

 

Unlikely that most can identify nor remember this gentleman worth many a billions, valour of few like him saved the Nation and we are able to live peacefully and see IPL auction and other entertainment happily !! 

A visitor to Mumbai, may get down at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station, have a sip at Cafe Leopold, look on the way at Cama and Albless Hospital, pass through  big buildings and wonder whether an ordinary man can ever walk into Oberoi-Trident Hotel or the much inspiring  Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel on the sea-front !  From every angle, the Taj Palace near the Gate way of India, the imposing arch monument on the Arabic sea erected  to commemorate the landing of King George V and Queen Mary at Apollo Bunder on their visit to India in 1911, prior to Delhi Durbar looks regal.          

                           The historic Taj Mahal Palace hotel first opened its doors to guests 121 years ago, on December 16, 1903. Located in Colaba, Mumbai, the Taj Mahal hotel, or the Taj Palace hotel, was the country's first ever harbour landmark. Over the last century or so, the hotel has played host to royalty, several dignitaries, and eminent personalities from all over the world. A popular theory states that Jamshedji Tata built the hotel because he was refused entry at Watson Hotel, one of the grandest hotels of that time, which was for 'whites only. It was the first Indian hotel that had electricity, American fans, Turkish baths, German elevators, and English butlers. Later, it became the first ever hotel in the city that had a licensed bar and India's first discotheque, called Blow Up. It was also the first Indian hotel to have an air-conditioned ballroom and an all-day dining restaurant.  In 1903, when it first opened to guests, a room with fans and attached bathrooms would cost ₹13.

 

 

On November 26, 2008, one of the most horrific terrorist attacks in Indian history, known as the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, unfolded in South Mumbai. Ten armed militants from the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) infiltrated the city by sea and launched a series of coordinated attacks at prominent locations, including the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (CST) Railway Station, and Nariman House.  

The attackers, armed with automatic weapons and grenades, took hostages and engaged in intense shootouts with security forces, causing widespread panic and chaos. The brutal assaults lasted for nearly four days and resulted in 166 fatalities, including 18 security personnel, with over 300 people injured. The attacks, which targeted both civilians and security forces, became a defining moment in India’s battle against terrorism. The attack was carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based terror group, which executed a deadly assault on multiple locations across Mumbai.   

While most of the violence ended within hours, the attacks continued at three sites: Nariman House (a Jewish outreach center), the Oberoi Trident, and the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, where hostages were taken. The siege at Nariman House ended on November 28, with six hostages and two attackers killed. The standoffs at the Oberoi Trident and Taj Mahal Palace concluded the following day.  Nine of the ten terrorists were killed in the operation, with one, Ajmal Kasab, being captured alive. Kasab was later put on trial for his role in the attacks, which included charges of murder and waging war against India. Although he initially confessed, Kasab retracted his statement during the trial. He was convicted in May 2010 and sentenced to death, with his execution carried out in 2012.  

In the aftermath of the 26/11 attacks, the Indian government took significant steps to strengthen its counterterrorism capabilities. On December 17, 2008, the Indian Parliament approved the establishment of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), a federal body dedicated to counterterrorism investigations, modeled after the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Additionally, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was amended to introduce stricter measures for combating terrorism and enhancing investigative powers. The attacks also drew comparisons to the September 11, 2001 attacks in the U.S., as both incidents highlighted vulnerabilities in national security.   

A general search 2611 may take you to the iconic Train – Grand Trunk Express running from Madras to Delhi for 34h 25m – a distance of 2182 km at an average speed of 63 kmph.  The train had  nos. 2611/2612 – later changed to  12615/6 –  when the numbering system changed from Dec 2010.  

It was outright audacious and outraging that immediately following the 26/11, there were live TV coverages literally showing all the plan, place, men,material and strategy !!! how foolish and idiotic was that !!  Nation can never forget this day  26/11 when it was  under siege by militants from across the border. 

 

Today, we recall those horrific memories and more particularly pay homage to our heroes who saved the Nation giving their lives protecting us.  The man at the start - Naik Velu Satish, a braveheart from the ranks of Indian Army's MEG & Centre (12 Engineer Regiment).  Satish was part of small team from the 51 Special Action Group (SAG) of National Security Guard (NSG), that took control of the 4th Floor. He was conferred Kirti Chakra.  According to the Defence Investiture Ceremony (2009) citation records, it was Satish's utter disregard for his personal safety that helped locate the terrorists under fierce firing. He helped his Team Commander in creating an entry through the wall by planting improvised explosives.  Immediately after the wall blasted, Satish jumped inside the room and killed a terrorist from close range. He lost one of his buddies in the operation (Hawildar Jittender Singh), but Satish's stunning courage under fire made all the difference,” Army sources said, referring to records.

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
26.11.2024

2 Puras ~ Mein Khiladi, Tu Anari !!

Happy moments for Cricket fans as India won at Perth.  After bowled out for 150, victory was improbable but was achieved by the bowlers backed by Yashaswi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli centuries in the second essay. 

One an Expert and another a brilliant Novice !!  that is what the title ‘Mein Khiladi Tu Anari’ perhaps suggests !  A hit song from the movie sung by Udit Narayan, Abhijeet & Anu Malik.

 

 

Hum dono hain alag alag,    hum dono hain juda juda, 

                    Ek duje se kabhee kabhee, rehate hain ham khafa khafa, 

History at Perth - what a WIN ?!?!??

 

A historic win at Perth on day 4 !  - the victory tastes much sweeter to the generation that has been watching Test Cricket since mid 1970s.  In 70s & 80s, Test matches would often end in dull dreary draws and India would lose many a matches.  Victories were rare and a win overseas was rarer still !!

 

Vividly remember  Test No. 752  in Jan 1975 –  those days, I would follow Cricket (in newspapers),  I would write the scores in a diary and update them next day.. .. Chepauk those days was spacious – the B & C stands had no chairs;  spectators used to carry bedsheets along squatting on the huge concrete steps much earlier before the game started.  The stadium had huge pillars, round in shape – so huge that perhaps it would require four persons holding hands to round them.  They were the  impediments too as they would hide the view on some angles from the place one sat.    

At a time when we started following, Indian Cricket was not on a high ! – the batting was too frail and there was no pace !! -  by mid 1960s started Indian spin revolution – the spin quartet led the way with a few famous wins.  The attack was so much spin oriented that sometimes bowlers like Solkar, Gavaskar – would bowl a couple of overs, the ball would be rolled from thirdman – then with a beaming smile the Sardar and his partners  would start his assassinations. 

Today at Perth, it was top class Team performance lead by debutant Captain Jasprit Bumrah.    Felt so happy, when a debutant Harshit Rana wrapped it up  Beautifully disguised delivery to Alex Carey, who defends with feet going nowhere. It's the slower offcutter from round the wicket, and it pegs back off stump after turning past the left-hander's outside edge. India have pulled off several memorable wins over their Test-match history: some of them overseas, some after being written off, some after stirring comebacks from desperate positions, some with key players missing.   

This one has all the ingredients of the greatest win – the big margin, team composition changing due to injuries and drop-outs, unlikely X1 of 4 pacers with two of them being debutants, at Overseas when everyone wrote them off, coming as it did after a white wash at home handed by New Zealand.  .. .. more so, winning the top, bowled out for 150 and Critics braying that match would not lost 3 full days – now look at the margin, it would never sink in !!     

The Score card :  India 150 (Hazlewood 4-29) and 487 for 6 dec (Jaiswal 161, Kohli 100*, Rahul 77) beat Australia 104 (Bumrah 5-30) and 238 (Head 89, Bumrah 3-42, Siraj 3-51) by 295 runs. Completing a remarkable turnaround, India wrapped up a famous Test victory at Optus Stadium with a 295-run victory over Australia in a one-sided result set to cause aftershocks in the latest tussle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. 

Though the target was to humongous  and Aussies had lost 3 wickets yesterday itself, still one nursed some apprehensions not exactly on the result but when and how it would unfold.  Despite   counterattacking knocks from Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh, the formalities were completed and India is home quite comfortably and by a huge margin.  Indeed a very memorable performance. Captain Jasprit Bumrah  claimed eight wickets in  the match, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli produced outstanding centuries in India's second innings to decimate a flagging Australia. India had largely been written off after an unprecedented 3-0 home whitewash against New Zealand. They entered the series-opener without having played an official match on tour and were shorthanded without captain Rohit Sharma and injured batter Shubman Gill. Under intense pressure, coach Gautam Gambhir made the right moves and the brave selection calls, which included veteran spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja being left out, were vindicated. 

There is set to be recriminations for Australia, who underwhelmed in their first Test since March's New Zealand tour. There will be questions raised over the limited preparations of a number of players. Having started so well on the opening day, Australia's bowling wilted in India's second innings with captain Pat Cummins enduring a rare off match. Cummins had not played a red-ball match since March, preferring his series build-up through three 50-over games in the lead-up, and he finished with the modest match figures of 3 for 153 from 40.4 overs. Australia appeared flummoxed with the changing conditions of the pitch. 

This morning resuming at 12 for 3, after a disastrous start amid the shadows late on day three, Australia confronted an India attack eyeing to finish things off quickly. Usman Khawaja fell off the first short ball of the day's play when he top-edged quick Mohammed Siraj and was caught by wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant running back.  Smith was hit on the body couple of times from quickie Harshit Rana and he later   nicked off a superb back of a length delivery from a pumped-up Siraj.  Head was hitting his way out of trouble and marching towards a century when Bumrah came back to produce a superb delivery that took the edge.  Marsh was soon out to   allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who capped an impressive debut with his first Test wicket. Mitchell Starc was sharply held at short leg by Dhruv Jurel,  giving Washington Sundar his first wicket of the match, and it wasn't long before India claimed a victory they will saviour for some time as the pressure starts to intensify on Australia. 

In mid 1970s West Indies was formidable -  Clive Lloyd always had battery of pace bowlers. Gordon Greenidge made his debut in Nov 1974 at Bengaluru scoring well in his first test which WI won by 267 runs.  In the next test at Delhi, when Venkatraghavan was the captain,  King Viv Richards  who had debuted at Bangalore, flourished.  After two bad losses, india bounced back to win   Calcutta  …the  two debutants– Anshuman Gaekwad and Karsan Devraj Ghavri …. went on the play longer.  It was one of those Tests when India had two fast bowlers opening the attack – Madanlal and Ghavri. Ghavri in fact bowled 14 overs and took 2 wickets in that match…. 

In the next match at Chepauk, [Pongal Test Jan 1975]  little Master Gundappa Vishnawath showed class on a green top against quality Andy Roberts.  Gavaskar was not available – Farokh Engineer opened with Eknath Solkar and soon it was   41 for four with Bernard Julian taking 2; as Roberts rested, the fifth-wicket pair – Vishy & Mankad  raised the score to 74. Roberts made short work of Mankad and Madan Lal on resumption and India were reduced to 76 for six. At this point Viswanath was only 19, having batted for one and three-quarter hours.  When Indians were all out in 58.2 overs shortly after Tea, Vishy had  made 97 (unbeaten) studded  with fourteen 4s.  WI were bowled out for 192 with Prasanna taking 5 and Bedi 3. In the second India made 256 with Vishy 46, Gaekwad 80 and Ghavri 35. Needing 255 to win, West Indies soon got into trouble. Clive Lloyd stumped by Farokh Engineer off Erapalli Prasanna was the picture that flashed in newspapers the next day.

 

An Indian win always makes up happy and this would be savoured for many many more years to come.  Well played Team India – remarkably Jasprit Bumrah, Yashaswi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli and others.

 

Regards – S Sampathkumar
25.11.2024