Kombu vathiyam - Thiruvallikkeni Periya Pillaiyar visarjanam 2025

 

திருவல்லிக்கேணி பெரிய விநாயகர் 42ம் ஆண்டு விழா

வீர விக்னேஷ்வரர் விசர்ஜன ஊர்வல  விழா  -

கொம்பு வாத்தியம்  - திரு சிவபிரகாஷ் சிவ வாத்திய குழு

Stuntman Hero - thiru Kanal Kannan

 

தமிழ் திரையுலகில் சண்டை காட்சிகளில் அனல் பரப்பிய திரு கனல் கண்ணன் நடிகர், திரைக்கதை எழுத்தாளரும் கூட.

 

நல்ல பண்பாளரான இவர் ஹிந்து முன்னணியின் கலை இலக்கிய மாநிலச் செயலாளர் ஆகவும் உள்ளார்.  இன்று திருவட்டீஸ்வரர் கோவில் அருகே திருவல்லிக்கேணி பெரிய விநாயகர் 42ம் ஆண்டு விழா வீர விக்னேஷ்வரர் விசர்ஜன ஊர்வல  விழா மேடையில் இவர் !

நில்லாதவற்றை நிலையின என்றுணரும் ~ Impermanence !!

 

Statures are  free-standing sculptures  in which the realistic, full-length figures of persons or animals are carved or cast in a durable material such as wood, metal or stone – and they are permanently placed in public places for remembrance !! nay, impermanence is the subject matter. 

Chennai beach dots with statues – the  culture of statues has a long history and is not new to Tamilnadu alone – and there have been some clashes arising out of issues involving statues, it is another colonial vestige.  

Some may not instantaneously recognize VC Ganesan … but every Tamilian and most South Indians would easily recognize Sivaji… ~ a versatile actor Sivaji Ganesan [1928-2001]- popularly known as Nadigar Thilagam.  In my earlier days there were so many fans of Sivaji who would keep talking hours together on his versatile acting skills.   

.. .. and people identify this part of the beach as Gandhi beach (opp to IG Office / Queen Mary’s college) by this statue.

 

The statue of  Sivaji placed in 2006 in Kamarajar Salai / Dr Radhakrishnan Salai Jn was removed a decade ago, with a court order.  Gandhi statue too, was moved from its pedestal to a nearby place, due to Metro works !! 

நில்லாதவற்றை நிலையின என்றுணரும்

புல்லறிவாண்மை கடை. 

நிலையில்லாத பொருள்களை நிலையானவைகளென்று கருதுகின்ற புன்மையான அறிவு துறந்தார்க்கு இழிவாகும்.

Regards – S Sampathkumar
31.8.2025

the wing patterns of a dragonfly !!!

Identify this !!

 

Our school days were lost without our understanding many things – remember this English poem of William Wordsworth (1770 – 1850), an English romantic poet whose magnum opus is considered to be ‘the Prelude’ : this was ‘butterfly’ 

I'VE watched you now a full half-hour;

Self-poised upon that yellow flower

.. .. .. ..

I know not if you sleep or feed.

How motionless!--not frozen seas 

The opening lines  reveals his apparent entrancement.  It  perhaps was no poem on a simple butterfly, but more of what it could represent ! It's fragile, delicate, short lifespan and every moment could be it's last, with all the "predators" out there.  Though we take solace planning longer things, our life too is fragile… 

Not as attractive is the one that we see generally when it is cloudy and about to rain – a  dragonfly,  an insect belonging to the order Odonata, having hindwing broader than front wing. Adult dragonflies are characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, sometimes with coloured patches and an elongated body. Dragonflies are agile fliers, while damselflies have a weaker, fluttery flight.  Have seen blue, green and black dragonflies – and rare  red ones too. 

Dragonflies are predators, both in their aquatic larval stage, when they are known as nymphs or naiads, and as adults. Several years of their lives are spent as nymphs living in fresh water; the adults may be on the wing for just a few days or weeks. Found nearer water bodies, they  have a uniquely complex mode of reproduction involving indirect insemination, delayed fertilization, and sperm competition.   Adult  dragonflies eat other insects and can consume hundreds of mosquitoes in one day! They are valued predators, since they help control populations of harmful insects. Dragonflies are usually found around lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands because their larvae, known as "nymphs", are aquatic. Adult dragonflies do not bite or sting humans, though nymphs are capable of delivering a painful but harmless bite. 

The wings are unique,  not flat, but deliberately shaped. The grooves on the surface create tiny cyclones on the upper surface during flight, creating substantial lift. Dragonfly wings possess great stability and high load-bearing capacity during flapping flight, glide, and hover. Scientists have been intrigued by them and have carried out research for biomimetic applications. 

The wings of dragonflies are mainly composed of veins and membranes, a typical nanocomposite material. The veins and membranes have a complex design within the wing that give rise to whole-wing characteristics which result in dragonflies being supremely versatile, maneuverable fliers. The wing structure, especially corrugation, on dragonflies is believed to enhance aerodynamic performance. Dragonflies can move and rotate each of their four wings independently. Thanks to this unique ability, these insects can fly backwards, up and down. They can turn on a dime and can hover, all contributing to their great flying abilities. 

There are a number of key structures in the wing which contribute to the manner in which it bends in flight and therefore help to facilitate the wing’s aerodynamic properties.   The vein structure of the dragonfly has an optimum shape which is adapted to the forces acting at the location of the vein. The leading edge consists primarily of rectangular frames whereas the trailing surface is largely formed of hexagons and other polygons with more than four sides, which guarantee wing stability against loading.     

If you are wondering what the photo at the start represents – it is a dragonfly sitting on a wire, and only its wings are fully visible !!

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
30.8.2025 

History of combustion engines ! ~ Daimler Reitwagen ("riding car")

How fond are you of vehicles ! especially two-wheelers.  Cars may be status symbols but a few decades ago, owning a two-wheeler was macho !! 

A few decades ago, there were not so many automobiles on road – two wheelers were few.  There were scooters like Vijay, Bajaj, Vespa and Lambretta. Motor-bikes were considered macho… the brands seen on road were – Rajdoot 175 cc; Jawa [later Yezdi] 250cc with twin silencers; and the most princely Enfield Bullet 350 cc…  A Bullet motorcycle on road was the cynosure of all eyes ~ many would put a rubber mat improperly cut near its silencer that would produce thudding sound as the vehicle went majestically past..   

The engine is responsible for converting the stored fuel into mechanical energy. An engine consists of a piston, spark plug, engine valves, cylinder heads, and crankshaft, among a few other things. Bike engines are usually distinguished by the number of piston cycles. 

Remember in schools,  we studied about Piston cycle / Combustion engines (though not much was understood !!)  -  the two-stroke and four-stroke engines used in bikes/ scooters are a type of reciprocating piston engine. These pistons move up and down capturing air and mixing them with fuel to create ignition. The intense pressure and temperature caused by this ignition convert into mechanical energy.  

India transitioned from a predominantly two-stroke motorcycle market to four-stroke technology following the government's ban on two-stroke production around 2005 due to high pollution levels.  The transition began a good two decades earlier – when players like Hero Honda CD 100 came in to market showing fuel efficiency in 100cc sector. 

In the past, the word engine (via Old French, from Latin ingenium, "ability") meant any piece of machinery.   A "motor" (from Latin motor, "mover") is any machine that produces mechanical power. Traditionally, electric motors are not referred to as "engines"; however, combustion engines are often referred to as "motors".   

A two-stroke (or two-stroke cycle) engine is a type of internal combustion engine that completes a power cycle with two strokes of the piston, one up and one down, in one revolution of the crankshaft in contrast to a four-stroke engine which requires four strokes of the piston in two crankshaft revolutions to complete a power cycle. During the stroke from bottom dead center to top dead center, the end of the exhaust/intake   is completed along with the compression of the mixture. The second stroke encompasses the combustion of the mixture, the expansion of the burnt mixture and, near bottom dead center, the beginning of the scavenging flows. 

A four-stroke (also four-cycle) engine is an internal combustion (IC) engine in which the piston completes four separate strokes while turning the crankshaft. A stroke refers to the full travel of the piston along the cylinder, in either direction. The four separate strokes are termed: Intake, Compression, Combustion  &  Exhaust.  Now  Four-stroke engines are the most common internal combustion engine design for motorized land transport, being used in automobiles, trucks, diesel trains, light aircraft and motorcycles.   

Combustion, or burning, is a high-temperature exothermic redox chemical reaction between a fuel (the reductant) and an oxidant, usually atmospheric oxygen, that produces oxidized, often gaseous products, in a mixture termed as smoke. Combustion does not always result in fire, because a flame is only visible when substances undergoing combustion vaporize, but when it does, a flame is a characteristic indicator of the reaction.    

An internal combustion engine (ICE or IC engine) is a heat engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer (usually air) in a combustion chamber that is an integral part of the working fluid flow circuit.  The force is typically applied to pistons (piston engine), turbine blades (gas turbine), a rotor (Wankel engine), or a nozzle (jet engine). This force moves the component over a distance. This process transforms chemical energy into kinetic energy which is used to propel, move or power whatever the engine is attached to.

 

The first commercially successful internal combustion engines were invented in the mid-19th century. The first modern internal combustion engine, the Otto engine, was designed in 1876 by the German engineer Nicolaus Otto.    

The Daimler Reitwagen ("riding car") or Einspur ("single track") was a motor vehicle made by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach in 1885. It is widely recognized as the first motorcycle. Daimler is often called "the father of the motorcycle" for this invention. Even when the steam powered two-wheelers that preceded the Reitwagen, the Michaux-Perreaux and Roper of 1867–1869, and the 1884 Copeland, are considered motorcycles, it remains nonetheless the first gasoline internal combustion motorcycle,  and the forerunner of all vehicles, land, sea and air, that use its overwhelmingly popular engine type.

 

The Reitwagen's status as the first motorcycle rests on whether the definition of motorcycle includes having an internal combustion engine. The Oxford English Dictionary uses this criterion. It was the Reitwagen that inspired following designs and started the motorcycle industry. 

Gottlieb Wilhelm Daimler (1834 – 1900)  was a German engineer, industrial designer and industrialist. He was a pioneer of internal-combustion engines and automobile development. He invented the high-speed liquid petroleum-fueled engine. Daimler and his lifelong business partner Wilhelm Maybach were two inventors whose goal was to create small, high-speed engines to be mounted in any kind of locomotion device. In 1883 they designed a horizontal cylinder layout compressed charge liquid petroleum engine that fulfilled Daimler's desire for a high speed engine which could be throttled, making it useful in transportation applications. This engine was called Daimler's Dream. In 1885 they designed a vertical cylinder version of this engine which they subsequently fitted to a two-wheeler, the first internal combustion motorcycle which was named the Petroleum Reitwagen (Riding Car) and, in the next year, to a coach, and a boat.  

 

In 1890, they converted their partnership into a stock company Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft (DMG, in English – the Daimler Motors Corporation). They sold their first automobile in 1892. Daimler fell ill and took a break from the business. Upon his return he experienced difficulty with the other stockholders that led to his resignation in 1893. This was reversed in 1894. Maybach resigned at the same time, and also returned. Daimler died in 1900 and Wilhelm Maybach quit DMG in 1907. 

Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
29.8.2025

Pic of drawing of vehicle :  
By Gottlieb Daimler - http://www.emercedesbenz.com/magazine/wp-content/uploads/Mercedes-Benz-History-464104_793714_3445_2774_1005255b42884.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13260618 

Heron in flight !!

With its long legs and elegant neck the Gray Heron strikes a regal pose as it stands motionless in shallow water, waiting to strike at unsuspecting fish.   .. .. and a Heron  in flight is attractive !!

 

The herons are long-legged, long-necked, freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 72 recognised species, some of which are referred to as egrets or bitterns rather than herons.   Egrets do not form a biologically distinct group from herons, and tend to be named differently because they are mainly white or have decorative plumes in breeding plumage. Herons, by evolutionary adaptation, have long beaks.   Distributed across most of the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world, it builds tree nests in colonies close to water.  Although herons resemble birds in some other families, such as the storks, ibises, spoonbills, and cranes, they differ from these in flying with their necks retracted, not outstretched.   

The word heron first appeared in the English language around 1300, originating from Old French hairon, eron (12th century), earlier hairo (11th century), from Frankish haigiro or from Proto-Germanic *haigrô, *hraigrô.

 

Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
29.8.2025 

Vinayaka Fervour - Ganesh mandals of Mumbai - GSB Seva Mandal

Vinayaka Chathurthi is a very popular festival across the Country. Ganesh Maharaj,  Ganapathi, Vinayaka, Vigneshwarar – in various forms is celebrated in Temples, households and in Pandals made by groups/ Mandals  where the idol of Vinayaka is kept, worshipped and then immersed in river / sea and water after worship.  

While there are so many restrictions in keeping Vinayaka idols in Tamil Nadu, across the Nation – it is done much more enthusiastically and in Mumbai the religious fervour reaches newer heights every year.  Some time back -   a Radio provided  treasured opportunity for its listeners to watch ‘Ganpati Visarjan’ from a chopper flying above the Arabian Sea.  Their  ‘Dekho Visarjan Aasman Se’,   involved a simple process where a   customer just needs to download a ‘Ganesha’ caller tune on his phone by sending an SMS – RJ would  choose one lucky subscriber randomly from the pool of registered downloaders. Next  the  RJ would ask  a simple question, the correct answer to that question ensures one to  fly high, enjoying the once-in-a-lifetime experience of watching ‘Ganesh Visarjan’ from a chopper.

 

There are many Pandals – put up by local Organisations with ornately made Ganesha idols. Lalbaugcha Raja is one of the most popular ones.  The idol is kept for public display for Eleven days thereafter it is immersed on the auspicious day of Anant Chaturdashi. This Ganesha attracts lakhs of devotees every day.  The  Idol of Lord Ganesha is Navsacha Ganpati (fulfiller of all wishes).  This popular Ganesha is hosted by Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaug, founded in 1934 at Lalbaug.  Lalbaug lies in the approximate centre of Mumbai, near Dadar and Parel, and has been a famous centre for reunions of Hindus during their festivals, especially the Ganesh festival. 

From ornaments to insurance, Mumbai’s richest Ganesh mandal is the one at King’s circle - GSB Seva Mandal pandal    

Gowd Saraswat Brahman (GSB) Seva Mandal, Mumbai, was established in the year 1951 on the auspicious day of Vijaya Dashami.  Gaud Saraswat Brahmins  also known as Shenvis are a Hindu community who primarily speak Konkani and its various dialects as their mother tongue. They  trace their origins to the Saraswat region, which is believed to be located along the banks of the now-dried-up Sarasvati River in ancient India. They are believed to have migrated to the Konkan coast, including Goa, around the 7th century CE from Guada desh (present Bihar and Bengal).

 

The mandal’s website states that few members of our Samaj who were working in Kamala Mills came together to form a team of individuals who could arrange for funerals & related rituals under the banner of GSB Seva Mandal. Thus started the humble journey of GSB Seva Mandal where such likeminded members would meet once a week. In the early days they decided to utilize the time in devotion and started doing Bhajans. Thus, in those days, Seva Mandal was & still is a synonym for funeral assistance. Bhajans were performed in a small room at Prabhadevi,   which till date remains their Registered Office.

 

Great leader and   Mentor, Smt. Madhav Puranik  led them to Walkeshwar Shri Kashi Math and started performing seva  - the GSB as an Organization was established in 1951 as a non-profit, charitable trust and registered under the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950. GSB  Seva Mandal has been at the forefront of social and charitable causes reaching  out to the needy and underprivileged.  Their guiding philosophy is :  ' Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramayah.' To transform  philosophy into a tangible reality, they  endeavour to build a 100 bed multi speciality, charitable Hospital at Versave, Mira - Bhayander.  During Covid 19 pandemic, they initiated "Santusht Anna Dana Seva" for the patients' relatives at various Hospitals in the heart of Mumbai & Thane. 

GSB Seva Mandal Ganpati festival  is held at the G.S.B. Sports Club Ground, near S.N.D.T. Women’s College, R.A. Kidwai Road, King’s Circle, Matunga (East), Mumbai – 400019.  The Ganpati idol, revered as Mahaganpati, is popularly called Navsala Pavnara Vishvacha Raja — “the king of the world who fulfills the desires of devotees". 

Adorned with approximately 66 kg of gold and over 295–336 kg of silver and other valuables, making it one of India’s most brilliantly ornately decorated idols. The idol is crafted from eco friendly clay (shadu mati), reinforced with grass and colored using natural paints—maintaining a sustainable approach to decoration. In this pandal, the celebration lasts only five days, unlike most mandals where the idol is worshipped for 10 days. This year, the pandal will display the idol from Aug. 27 till Aug. 31, according to the mandal’s website.

 

Away from the religious fervour, there is avenue for the Insurer as well.  More than a decade ago, in  2011   Mumbai's famous Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh mandal  reportedly had insurance for Rs.14 crores.  To ensure a safe festival, they had  elaborate security arrangements, deployed  300 private guards, installed many CCTV cameras.    

This year, perhaps GSB Mandal is the highest value insured.  It’s website suggests that the coverage for 2025 is taken for INR 400 crores (though another X post puts it at Rs.474 crores) – reportedly insured with PSU New India Insurance.   This includes All risks Insurance coverage for ornaments – Gold, Silver and Jewellery amounting to 43.15 crores; Standard Fire & Special perils insurance for FFF, installations, Computers, CCTV, QR scanners, utensils, groceries, fruits and vegetables;  Public liability insurance for 30 crores; 325 Cr Personal accident insurance for Volunteers, Archakas, Cooks, valet and other workers, security guards; besides coverage for the venue premises.    

Before concluding, the Industrial revolution enveloped Bombay in 1850s.  In 1854,   Cowasji Nanabhai Davar, a visionary entrepreneur, established one of the first textile mills in   Bombay pioneering India's textile industry, shaping the economic and social landscape of the nation for decades to come. The significance of cotton mills in India's industrialization was impactful.  During the colonial period, cotton was one of the primary raw materials exported from India to feed the burgeoning textile industries in Britain.  Kamala Mills was established in the 1960s as a textile processing unit. However, over the years, it evolved into a complex hosting various industries, including media, technology, and hospitality, turning into a  prominent commercial complex in Lower Parel, Mumbai, renowned for its vibrant dining and nightlife scene.  In Dec 2017, a major fire broke out here originating in a bar and killing 14 people.   

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
29.8.2025

PS: Pics & news collated from GSB web and other web including X.  Some pics are of earlier years !

near century old pic at Yadava Chathiram, Triplicane

 

photo of 8^th  Mar 1939 ~  @ Thiruvallikkeni Yadava kula kalyana mandapam 

bullock carts at Pandavapura

 

மாட்டு வண்டி சாலையிலே,  கூட்டு வண்டி.. போகுதம்மா

கூட்டு வண்டி.. உள்ளுக்குள்ளே கூண்டுக் கிளி வாடுதம்மா

bullock carts at Pandavapura, Karnataka

Sea gulls on boat !

 

Who owns what ?

- boats laden with birds (sea gulls) or  non-fare paying passengers on boats !!

How to handle students in school !!

 

மாணவர்களை வழி நடத்துதல்

 

பள்ளி நாட்களில் கடுமையான பிரம்படி சிரித்துக்கொண்டே வாங்கிய மாணவர்களின் கவனத்துக்கு !! 

நாங்கள் எங்கள் ஆசிரியர்கள் இடம் நல்ல மரியாதையும் பாசமும் கொண்டு இருந்தோம் இன்றும் எங்கள் அந்நாள் ஆசிரியர்களை அன்புடன் நினைவு கூறுகிறோம் !!!

இல்லை நினைவு கூறுதல் அல்ல  கூர்தல் என்பதே சரி !  நினைவு மேலோட்டமானதாக இருக்கும்போது அதனை   நினைத்துப் பார்ப்பது. நினைவுக்குள் சரிபார்ப்பது. இதுதான் அத்தொடரின் பொருள். நினைவு கூறுதல் என்றால்  நினைவுகளைக் கூறுவது. அதாவது  இளமைக் காலத்தைப் பற்றிய நினைவுகளை சொல்வது.   கூர்தல் என்றால் ஒன்றின்மீது மிகுதல். நினைவுகூர்தல் என்றால் நினைவின்மீது மிகுந்து நிற்றல்  - எனவே இங்கே நினைவு கூர்தல் என்பதே சரி !!   

இன்றைய  28.8.2025  தினமலர் செய்தி

once upon a time ! there was lockdown !

 

Life was simple ! – people would get up, morning chores, breakfast, rush to office,  toil in Office, return late in the evening or early night, eat dinner, hit bed and repeat! 

Then in Mar 2020 – life turned difficult for many – newer words and newer meanings – came ‘lockdown’ – people had to remain in home, not in touch with others – Corona Virus, Covid 19 and   the behaviour of Covidiots !

 

One day curfew was imposed and then came - Janata Curfew for  21 days  announced by Prime Minister of the Nation Shri Narendra Modiji.  He emphasised the need of remaining at home, not crossing the Lakshman Rekha !  

The affected people statistics was alarming.  "It took 67 days for the first lakh people to be infected from coronavirus. It took only 11 days for the next 1 lakh to be infected. Even more scary was the fact that it took only four days for the figure to rise to 3 lakhs," –

 

Fortunately, lockdown is a thing of the past !  ~ people memories are short lived and so most have forgotten that there was one !!

Rose ! ~ Yellow Rose !!!

 

A rose is a rose is a rose ! ~ and by any colour too,  it is attractive !

Sea-Cow !!

In Triplicane, Cows roam on the street !  - ever seen a Sea Cow – no, nothing to do with sighting a Cow near the Sea – which this photo depicts

 

Once mistaken for mermaids by weary sailors, the dugong — shy, slow-moving marine mammals — now face a very real threat of extinction.  Their closest relative, Steller’s sea cow, vanished in the 18th century after relentless hunting.  Touching a manatee is illegal in the United States. The ban’s aim is to protect these vulnerable marine mammals from harm and stress caused by human interaction. 

The "sea cow" is a common name that refers to marine mammals called manatees and dugongs. The now extinct Steller's Sea Cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) was also a sea cow, the largest of the group. These herbivorous aquatic animals are named for their gentle nature.  The Sirenia,  commonly referred to as sea cows or sirenians, are an order of fully aquatic, herbivorous mammals that inhabit swamps, rivers, estuaries, marine wetlands, and coastal marine waters. The extant Sirenia comprise two distinct families: Dugongidae (the dugong and the now extinct Steller's sea cow) and Trichechidae (manatees, namely the Amazonian manatee, West Indian manatee, and West African manatee) with a total of four species.

 
Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
25.8.2025

Teesri Kasam, Caning at School ... .. Bamboo !!!

 

My friends know too well that I do not see Cinemas much – ‘Teesri Kasam’ (transl. The Third Vow) starring  Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman was released in 1966 – its relevance to this post !?!

 

The eco-friendly wonder Bamboo !  - yet if you are 55 years young or more, most likely you will recount your experience, when you were thrashed with Bamboo cane at school, many a times, without even committing any fault !!  - Caning was common and in Hindu High School, some teachers carried strengthened canes and would thrash students coming late and other times !!   

Caning is a form of corporal punishment where an individual is struck with a rattan cane, often on the buttocks, hands, or back, as a sentence for a crime or a school disciplinary measure. While outlawed in many countries and prohibited under international law as a form of torture, it remains a criminal punishment in certain nations, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Brunei. No post on our school life !!    

Bamboo – is  flowering perennial evergreen plants in the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. Bamboos are the fastest-growing plants in the world, due to a unique rhizome-dependent system. Bamboos are of notable economic and cultural significance in many countries while it is even a food source in some.  Bamboo has a higher compressive strength than wood, brick, or concrete and a tensile strength that rivals steel.  Wikipedia states that its origin is from the Kannada term bambu, which was introduced to English through Indonesian and Malay !  

Is bamboo a tree or a grass? – has been the Q for Centuries.  Scientifically speaking, bamboo is not tree but grass. However, the Indian Forest Act, 1927 considered it as tree. Accordingly, cutting bamboo from outside forests and transporting it was made unlawful.  .. ..    For 90 years, bamboo was considered as tree. Its cutting and transporation was problematic.  In 2017, Shri Narendra Modi ji Government amended old law and categorised bamboo as grass.  

Despite India being the second largest grower of bamboo after China, it had to import bamboo from Taiwan even for sundry purposes such as making of 'agarbattis' (candlestick). There was a long-pending demand to amend the obsolete law. Finally, the amendment  came in 2017.    The Lok Sabha today finally amended a 90-year-old law and categorised bamboo as grass.  Following the amendment in the Indian Forest Act, 1927, bamboo stood  removed from the category of tree. Now there is no prohibition on growing or cutting bamboo trees even outside the forests. Lok Sabha passed the Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2017 which brought  bamboo outside the definition of tree.  

As bamboo was defined as a tree under the previous law, its inter-state movement required a permit. Consequent to the change brought in by the amended Act, felling or transportation of bamboos grown in non-forest areas will not require such permits.  Replying to a debate on the Bill, Environment, Forests, and Climate Change Minister Harsh Vardhan said the amended law will enable farmers to cut and transport bamboo grown on their land outside forest. He said that it would not only help increasing the income of farmers, but will also generate employment in big number. Several industries including paper and furniture making ones  immensely benefitted out of the amended law.   

Here is a Video of an artisan – making bamboo products – somewhere in Hale Kiranguru village near Sriranga Patna, near Mysore, Karnataka: - https://youtu.be/K9Km6yrHeDI

 

Teesri Kasam (transl. The Third Vow)   directed by Basu Bhattacharya  was  based on the short story Mare Gaye Gulfam, by the Hindi novelist Phanishwarnath Renu.  

After nearly getting arrested, Hiraman (hero Raj Kapoor)  promises to himself that he will never assist any black-marketeer nor transport bamboo. This incident does cost him his bullock-cart and he manages  to get his two oxen away in time. He manages to save enough money to buy another cart, and is hired to take a woman on a 30-hour ride to a Mela. He subsequently finds that his passenger is an attractive woman, Hira Bai, and he falls in love with her - little knowing that she is a traveling dancer - and it is this attraction that will get him into a physical altercation as well as in the bad books of Thakur Vikram Singh.

 
Interesting !
 
Regards – S. Sampathkumar
25.8.2025

 

sitting posture !!

 

What is your sitting posture when you work (WfH)

 - previously most had only plastic chairs at home –

Later when Corona came, new norm was that  Office chairs are required when you sit for long hours ! before laptop / desktop

[comfort is in the mind ?] - stressful ??

Contentment

 

untold expressions of a seller ~ epitome of contentment !!

(58mm - 1/100 - f5 - ISO 400)

the iconic Ripon Building

On Madras Day, a very important landmark of Chennai – the Ripon Building, a combination of Ionic and Corinthian styles – all white structure,  designed by G.T.S. Harris. The foundation stone was laid by Lord Minto, Viceroy of India, on 11 December 1909.   It was built by Loganatha Mudaliar, named  after Lord Ripon, Governor-General of British India 

 

The Ripon Building is the seat and headquarters of the Greater Chennai Corporation  from 1913

 

the Smiling beauty ! ~ stolen this day, 114 years ago !!!

How often do you Smile !  ~ and whom do you feel has the most beautiful smile ? – when in love, people tend to think that their partner is most beautiful, ever smiling, mild- mannered, not speaking harsh words, and cool in temperament.  Well, people learn in few days, months, years – especially after marriage !! 

 

For most, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, also known as La Gioconda, is considered to be  one of the most beloved artworks in the world.   Its creator, left numerous details that have been debated for centuries. Seen by millions of people each year, it is considered to be the crown jewel of the Louvre’s collection, an iconic work of the Renaissance, and a painting that is impossible to value because it is seen as being priceless.   

The smile of the Mona Lisa has puzzled experts for centuries. Art historian E.H. Gombrich in The Story of Art (1950) suggests its ambiguity is due to the "sfumato" technique, used by da Vinci to soften contours and create an optical illusion effect.   

The Louvre or the Louvre Museum   is the world's largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris, France. A central landmark of the city, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine.   Approximately 38,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century are exhibited over an area of 72,735 square metres.  The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, originally built as the Louvre castle in the late 12th to 13th century under Philip II. The museum opened on 10 August 1793 with an exhibition of 537 paintings, the majority of the works being royal and confiscated church property.  The collection was increased under Napoleon and the museum was renamed Musée Napoléon, but after Napoleon's abdication many works seized by his armies were returned to their original owners. 

Pic credit X page : Scott  @Havenlust  

One of the biggest enigmas is the identity of the woman portrayed. According to Giorgio Vasari in Lives of the Artists (1550), she might be Lisa Gherardini, the wife of merchant Francesco del Giocondo. However, other researchers, have suggested the face could be a Renaissance ideal rather than a real person. 

The painting measures 30.3 x 20.9 inches, an uncommon size for a portrait of the time. This may suggest that  da Vinci was aiming for more than just a simple representation: an artistic experiment.  Since the 16th century, there has been debate about why the Mona Lisa lacks eyebrows and eyelashes. Pascal Cotte, in an analysis using scanning technology reflected in Lumière on the Mona Lisa (2010), discovered that she originally did have eyebrows, but they disappeared due to wear or restoration attempts.  

In 1911, the painting was stolen from the Louvre Museum by  a former museum employee. According to Dianne Hales in Mona Lisa: A Life Discovered (2014), this theft turned the painting into a global celebrity, as its return generated unprecedented media attention. The theft occurred this day 114 years ago !!  

The Mona Lisa was stolen on August 21, 1911, from the Louvre Museum in Paris. The thief was Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian handyman who had previously worked at the Louvre. He hid in a broom closet overnight, then removed the painting from the wall, concealed it under his smock, and walked out. Peruggia claimed he stole the painting to return it to its native Italy.  The theft was discovered the next day when the museum reopened, causing a huge uproar and international investigation. The police were initially baffled, and the museum even briefly became a suspect.  

Vincenzo Peruggia ( 1881 –   1925) was an Italian decorator.  When Peruggia hid the painting, he was stuck in a locked service door. A plumber, thinking he was an employee (Peruggia had finished working for the Louvre), unlocked the door for him, and Peruggia successfully left the museum.  He then hid the painting in his apartment in Paris.  The theft was not discovered until the following day, when a painter who was about to do a copy of the Mona Lisa found it missing. The director, who was on holiday, had boasted "steal the Mona Lisa? That would be like thinking that someone could steal the towers of Notre Dame cathedral."  The arts minister was also away, having ordered "don't call me unless the Louvre burns down or the Joconde is stolen."  At least 60 policemen scoured the Louvre in search of clues, and the top officer in charge of the investigation sounded confident, as he stated: "The theft took place on closing day, we know who came in and out, this investigation will only take two to three days."  Two Germans, the poet Guillaume Apollinaire, and the painter Pablo Picasso were arrested, and all passengers of an ocean liner set to sail were also searched. In New York, the police searched another ship in an attempt to retrieve the Mona Lisa.  

Having interrogated all of the Louvre's permanent staff, the National Gendarmerie began to interview extraneous workers including bricklayers, decorators, and staff hired for short periods or for specific jobs in September 1911. During this period, officers visited Peruggia's apartment and questioned him twice about his possible involvement; he was not considered a primary suspect.  It was only after Peruggia had failed to come to the police station twice that the police went to his apartment, where the painting was hidden. The detective failed to see it and believed Peruggia's explanations !!  Peruggia had left a thumbprint on the glass securing the painting, and his fingerprints and photo were in police files as he had been arrested before. The police also knew that he had helped make the protective glass for the painting and that he was not working at the time of the robbery. All the museum employees had their fingerprints taken but not Peruggia, and the police forgot to add his name to the list of fingerprints to check against police records. 

                   Days after the theft, speculations began and a newspaper wrote an article imagining to interview Mona Lisa, while others speculated that the theft was a "crime of passion", joked that Arsène Lupin was involved, and movies and songs poked fun at the turn of events. Knowing that a story could sell millions of copies, newspapers offered financial rewards for information, and for over two years, hundreds of false leads were sent to the police and the press.   

After keeping the painting hidden in a trunk in his apartment for two years, Peruggia returned to Italy with it by train, after he saw adverts by antique dealers in an Italian newspaper.  He kept it in his apartment in Florence for some time. Peruggia eventually grew impatient and was finally caught when he contacted Alfredo Geri, the owner of an art gallery in Florence, using the name Leonardo V. After its recovery, the painting was exhibited all over Italy with banner headlines rejoicing its return. The Mona Lisa was then returned to the Louvre in 1913. While the painting was famous before the theft, the notoriety it received from the newspaper headlines and the large scale police investigation helped the artwork become one of the best known in the world,  gaining considerable public interest.  

The thief, Peruggia was released from jail after a short time and served in the Italian army during World War I. During the war, he was captured by Austria-Hungary and held as a prisoner of war for two years until the war ended and he was released. He later married Annunciata Rossi, had one daughter named Celestina, returned to France, and continued to work as a painter decorator using his birth name Pietro Peruggia.  He died from a heart attack in  1925 (his 44th birthday).  

Seen by millions of people each year, and  considered to be the crown jewel of the Louvre’s collection, an iconic work of the Renaissance, and a painting that is impossible to value because it is seen as being priceless. It has also been the target of theft and vandalism on several occasions. Since the start of the 20th century, the painting, which was acquired by France in 1797, has had spray paint and a teacup thrown at it. In 2022, it was caked, and in 2024, soup was splashed across it. In 1956 alone, two vandals tried to use a razor blade and a rock to defile it on separate occasions. Each time, the Mona Lisa has emerged without damage.   

Interesting !

Regards – S Sampathkumar
21.8.2025