A cricketer by name Imliwati Lemtur playing for Nagaland !!

 

How much of Cricket do you follow !  - ever heard of a PT Teacher by name - Imliwati Lemtur

 

After that historic run chase against Australia scripted by Indian Women, the whole Nation would be glued to watching the finals of ICC Womens’ World Cup final against South Africa. 

Today, a spellbinding performance from Josh Hazlewood silenced an MCG crowd of 82,438 on a ground that appeared to be home ground of India.   His 3 for 13 from four overs bundled out  India for 125 despite a stunning lone hand from Abhishek Sharma, who made 68 off 37 balls to give Australia something to chase. Abhishek could not get much strike, facing 37 balls from a possible 111 before falling in the 19th over. Harshit Rana was the only one to stay with him, making a valuable 35 from 33 

Possibly you would have read the result of Ranji trophy elite group A match at Bengalure, where Tamil Nadu made a massive 512/3 !!  Gurjapneet Singh then took a hattrick in the 6^th over with wickets of Rupero, Chetri & Jonathan !! 

In mid 1990s, there was Debasish   Sarbeswar Mohanty with a very different action, capable of swinging the ball well. Yet he ended playing just 2 tests & 45  - he was a capable pinch hitter too, smothering huge sixers.

 

The Battle of Kohima was the turning point of the Japanese offensive into India in 1944 during the Second World War.  The battle is often referred to as the "Stalingrad of the East".  The place of occurrence,  Nagaland in North East India borders Assom,  Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Burma.   

Nagaland is bordered by the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and the Naga Self-Administered Zone of the Sagaing Region of Myanmar (Burma). Its capital city is Kohima and its largest city is the twin Chümoukedima–Dimapur.  Nagaland consists of 17 administrative districts, inhabited by 17 major tribes along with other sub-tribes. Each tribe is distinct in character from the other in terms of customs, language and dress.  In the 19th century, the British India forces began expanding their influence in Northeast India, including the Naga Hills. After India's independence in 1947, the question of the Naga Hills' political status emerged. Nagaland was a district in the State of Assam until 1957, known to others as "The Naga Hills".  .. .. and they too play Cricket !!   

After Pradosh Ranjan Paul’s unbeaten 200 and the hat-trick  - Nagaland were 9/3; then 31/4 !! Alongside 9 teams, Nagaland too got a member status from BCCI in 2018 and played   Vijay Hazare Trophy in Sep 2018.  At that time Nagaland did not had a cricket team but cricketers from clubs, trials were initiated 

A 26 Year old PT teacher from a school in Dimapur also gave trials and was shortlisted as an all-rounder, Slow left arm spinner and a lower order batsmen named Imliwati Lemtur.  It is stated that he applied for leave from his school and came without salary.  Now he has more than 100 Ranji wickets and is a centurion too !!   

At Bengaluru, Imliwati walked in at no 7 with Nagaland requiring another 203 to avoid follow on. His heroics ensured a drawn match, Nagaland scoring  446 with Imliwati last man out scoring 146.  His maiden First Class Hundred at the age of 33 

Tamil Nadu chief coach M Senthilnathan was disappointed that his team could not get full points  and blamed the surface. Even on the fourth day, we can't see a single mark on, a good mark or where the ball can turn. Nothing is happening, It's (ball) coming straight," he added. On this surface, Tamil Nadu sorely missed the services of Ajith Ram, who was injured and not part of the team 

For Nagaland the other hero was Dega Nischal who made 175.  Former India fast bowler and erstwhile national selector Debashish Mohanty is the current coach of Nagaland.   Debashish Mohanty  once took all 10 wickets in a single innings for East Zone against South Zone   in Agartala in January 2001. He achieved these figures of 10 wickets for 46 runs and his victims were :  Sridharan Sriram, Nand Kishore, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Vijay Bharadwaj, Thilak Naidu, Sunil Joshi, Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad.   

Digging some my earlier posts – in 2017 there was this abysmal performance in the game of Cricket.   In BCCI’s U-19 women’s one-day super league match between Kerala and Nagaland was  shot out for just two runs with as many nine batters getting out for duck.

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
31.10.2025 

Indian Women enters finals of ICC WC 2025 - beat Australia

 

What a chase !!!  … .. what a match !!

 

Chasing a very imposing 339 -  Jemimah Rodrigues played an innings of character, innings of life time – scoring 127 off 134 anchoring the chase.  Harmanpreet Kaur made a good 89.  Good cameos from Deepti Sharma & Ri8cha Ghosh (2 sixers !) and .. .. Amanjot Kaur closed it with a quickfire 15 off 8. 

India beat a very strong Australia and are now in Finals of ICC Womens World Cup 2025

photographing a Crane - Kokku !!

 

To the uninformed like me  – almost all white-birds  are Crane (கொக்கு) - or could be a Heron too !!

 

– photo taken not in Vedanthangal or any sanctuary – not even marsh lands of pallikaranai but from the mottaimadi @ Thiruvallikkeni a couple of years ago ! 

Patiently standing alone gazing the sky, occasional spotting of a bird, and by the time you ready your camera, it is gone ! or even when seen in lens, camera would not adjust to lighting and may not click … .. at times, when you get a click – it is bliss !!

Deepavali Crackers !!!

 

   Deepavali  was grandly celebrated with sparklers and crackers !!

 

தெற்கு சீமையிலே என்ன பத்தி கேளு !

தூளு கெளப்புறவன் தூத்துக்குடி ஆளு

ராசா எட்டு வச்சா படபடக்கும் ஊரு

லேசா கண்ணடிச்சா வெடி வெடிக்கும் பாரு

 

தீபாவளி   தீபாவளி

Cyclone Montha !!! ~ காடெல்லாம் பிச்சிப் பூவூ

..  in front of Hindu High School in mid 1970s there would be a small handcart selling mango, goose berries (aria-nellikkai), puliyankai and more ..  and couple of ice carts – one was Rita and another … I remember to be ‘Magnolia’ !!!!

 

"காடெல்லாம் பிச்சிப் பூவூ , கரையெல்லாம் செண்பகப் பூவூ"  - படித்த உடனே உங்களது உதடும் சேர்ந்து பாடியிருந்தால் உங்களுக்கு 50 வயது இருக்கலாம்.  செண்பகமே செண்பகமே, தென்பொதிகை சந்தனமே - தேடி வரும் என் மனமே - ஆஷா போன்ஸ்லே பாடியது என உதிரி தகவலையும் தெரிந்தவராயின், நீங்கள் இசைஞானி இளையராஜாவின் பித்தர் !!

 

செண்பகப்பூ மணமான பூ ! - மதுரைக்கார ராமராஜன் எங்க ஊரு பாட்டுக்காரனில் அனைவரையும் மணக்க வைத்தான்.  “பிச்சிப்பூ” - என்ன பூ ?  - தெரியுமா? பார்த்து இருக்கீங்களா?  மதுரை-தூத்துக்குடி, தெக்கத்திப் பக்கம் பலருக்கும் தெரியும்! நமக்கு அறிமுகப்படுத்தியவர் மறுபடி இசைஞானி தான்.   உச்சி வகுந்தெடுத்துப், “பிச்சிப் பூ” வைச்ச கிளி… என்கிற காவியப் பாடலின் வாயிலாக ! - படம் 'ரோசாப்பூ ரவிக்கைக்காரி--  வாணி ஜெயராம் குரலில் என்னுள்ளில் எங்கோ ஏங்கும் கீதம் பட்டி தொட்டிகளில் எல்லாம் ஒலித்தது. 

 

செண்பகம்  (Magnolia champaca)  என்பது என்றும் பசுமையான பெரிய தாவரம் ஒன்றாகும். இது தெற்காசியா, தென்கிழக்காசியா, சீனாவின் சில பகுதிகள் என்பவற்றை உள்ளடக்கிய இந்தோமலாயா சூழலியல் வலயத்தைத் தாயகமாகக் கொண்டது. மிகுந்த நறுமணம் கொண்ட மஞ்சள் அல்லது வெண்ணிறப் பூக்களுக்காக இது வெகுவாக அறியப்படுகிறது.  'கரையெல்லாம் செண்பகப்பூ' ஆனந்த விகடனில் தொடர்கதையாக வெளியான சுஜாதா கதை - அக்காலங்களில் சுஜாதா எழுதும் தொடர்கதைகளுக்காகவே புத்தகங்கள் அதிகம் பிரதிகள் விற்றன. 

 

Magnolia is a premium brand owned and operated by the Ramar Foods* brand family. All Magnolia premium frozen food products are made to match the palate of Filipino families in the diaspora. Eat Magnolia prides itself to keep the culture alive through cultivating Filipino food culture among Filipino families all over the world.  

Away,  Magnolia is a large genus of   flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae.  Magnolias are evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs known for their large, fragrant, bowl- or star-shaped flowers with numerous spirally arranged reproductive parts, producing cone-like fruits in autumn that open to reveal seeds. The genus Magnolia was first named in 1703 by Charles Plumier, honoring Pierre Magnol, with early taxonomy refined by Linnaeus in the 18th century based on American and later Asian species.  

Cyclone Montha is a severe cyclonic storm currently active in the Bay of Bengal, and is expected to make landfall on the coast of Andhra Pradesh, India, on the evening or night of Tuesday, October 28, 2025. The name "Montha" (pronounced as Mōn-thā) was contributed by Thailand and means a "fragrant flower" in Thai.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a rainfall alert in many cities in Tamil Nadu, including Chennai and Tiruvallur, on Tuesday. The weather department has issued an ‘orange’ alert in coastal areas across Tamil Nadu as Cyclone Montha is set to transform into a severe cyclonic storm today.  “Cyclone Montha is expected to move north-north westerly and cross the coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada district in Andhra Pradesh as a severe cyclonic storm on the evening or the night of October 28,” Director of Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC)   said. The cyclone is expected to cross the coast of Tamil Nadu today,  authorities have said that no major damage is expected and all precautions are in place.

According to Weather Bulletin, the Cyclonic Storm “Montha” [Pronunciation: Mon-Tha] over westcentral Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 17 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 0230 hrs IST of today, the 28th October 2025, over the same region, near latitude 14.4°N & longitude 83.3°E, about 230 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 310 km south-southeast of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), 370 km south of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 570 km south-southwest of Gopalpur (Odisha). It is likely to move north-northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by morning of 28th October. Continuing to move further north-northwestwards, it is very likely to cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada during evening/night of 28th October as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph.

Following the IMD warning, flights from Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Rajahmundry to Chennai have been affected. The cancelled services include the IndiGo flight from Visakhapatnam scheduled at 9.45 am, the one from Rajahmundry at 1.35 pm, the Vijayawada–Chennai flight at 1.40 pm, and another Visakhapatnam–Chennai flight at 1.45 pm. Officials at Chennai airport said that flights from Chennai to various destinations in Andhra Pradesh may also be cancelled or delayed later in the day. A formal announcement regarding the same is expected soon.

Thai name for a fragrant flower is often Jasmine (Dok Mali), which is a national symbol of maternal love. Other fragrant flowers include Leelawadee (Frangipani), Pikun (Mimusops elengi), and Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata).  Montha is the Thai name for the Magnolia flower, specifically the Magnolia liliifera.

                  Ramar Foods*® International, claims to  bring the flavour  of the Philippines to people all over the world.  Founded in 1969, Ramar’s quest is to provide authentic, high-quality Filipino flavors to 1st and 2nd generation Filipino households and friends together with products that remind them of home. We believe that food has the power to connect people and create memories. From its roots in the San Jose, California swap meet, Ramar Foods® has grown to become a leading manufacturer of Filipino food, with a range of products that includes ice cream, meats, dim sum snacks, and more.  

Interesting !!

Regards – S Sampathkumar
28.10.2025 

Arulmigu Ellai Amman thirukkovil nadaswaram

 

அருள்மிகு எல்லையம்மன் திருக்கோவில் திருவல்லிக்கேணி

திரு கிஷோர் நாதஸ்வரம்

Deepavali lights 2025

 

Deepavali fire-works  2025 

Sky lights captured in camera !!

அழகி நீ பேரழகி, அழகான கண்ணழகி ~ Beauty lies in the eyes of beholder

Beautiful ! when we think of beauty, we relate it to a Peacock, Parrot, Elephant, Deer and .. ..   (that is what we say, the mind voice is well and truly known – if you are to spell out your college day beauty queens, perhaps lunch may be out of reach !).  Beauty is skin deep and is in the eyes of beholder !!  A beauty pageant is a competition that has traditionally focused on judging and ranking the physical attributes of the contestants. 

Beauty radiates not only in our spirits, but in our hearts and the way we conduct ourselves. Never permit someone to tell you that you are not valuable.'   "Beauty is transient and changes with time.  

மாடுகள் சிறப்பான அழகு கொண்டவை ! - அதிலும் கன்றுக்குட்டி மனசை கவரும்.  கங்கை அமரன் இயக்கத்தில் வெளி வந்த கிராமிய படம் - எங்க ஊரு பாட்டுக்காரன், தமிழ் திரையுலகை புரட்டி போட்டது.  மனோ, ராமராஜன், நிஷாந்தி அனைவருக்கும் மேலும் பல வாய்ப்புகளை பெற்று தந்தது.  அருமையான பாடல்கள்.  இசைஞானி இளயராஜாவின் உன்னத இசை மறுபடி மறுபடி கேட்க தூண்டியது. இத்திரைப்படம் பெரும் வெற்றி பெற்றது. 

ராமராஜன் ஒரு நீல நிற அரைக்கால் ட்ராயர் அணிந்து - பசுமாட்டை தழுவி செண்பகமே, செண்பகமே என்று பாடினார். பலமிக்க காளையை ஒரு பாட்டு பாடி மண்டியிட வைத்தார்.  கதாநாயகன் என்றால் ஒரு பாடலிலேயே  பல ஆடைகள்  அணிந்து கலக்குவார்கள் என்பதை உடைத்து, ராமராஜன் ட்ராயருடன் கலக்கிய 'எங்க ஊரு பாட்டுக்காரன்' - கங்கை அமரன் இயக்கத்தில்  1987ல் வெளியாகி நன்றாக ஓடியது.    இசைஞானி இளையராஜா   இசையில் -    செண்பகமே, செண்பகமே பட்டி தொட்டியெல்லாம் ஒலித்தது.  இப்படத்தின் மற்றுமொறு சிறந்த   இனிமையான  பாடல்.   - : 

அழகி நீ பேரழகி,  அழகான கண்ணழகி

அம்மா நீ காலழகி,   ஆத்தா நீ காதழகி  .. .. ..   

 வம்சா வழி அத்தனையும்    வழியை மறந்தது இல்ல

வளர்ப்புகளும் பொறுப்புகளும்  சொல்ல ஒரு வார்த்தை இல்ல

வீரன்களும் தீரன்களும்  .. .. .. விழுந்து இங்க போவதில்ல

என்று மனசு ராமராஜனை போல துள்ளியது, அவளை கண்டவுடன்.  Beautiful  buffalo coming running towards me !!

A buffalo is a large, heavily built, cloven-hoofed mammal belonging to the Bovidae family, which includes cattle and antelopes. The water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is a large bovine native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, known for its powerful build and long horns. It exists as both a domesticated species, which is widespread globally, and an endangered wild species (Bubalus arnee).   Domesticated water buffalo descend from the wild water buffalo and have been used by humans for over 5,000 years. The global population of domestic water buffalo is approximately 208 million, with the majority found in Asia. 

Here is a beauty pictured at Musiri, near Trichy on a recent visit
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
24.10.2025 

Nature's Canvas

 

Nature's canvas blending superbly with man-made one !!

Appreciations to the artist.

கொண்டையில் தாழம்பூ .. .. ...... சுவையான பூ யாது ??

 

                   பால்காரரான சைக்கிள் ஓட்டும் அண்ணாமலை –  கொண்டையில் தாழம்பூ,  நெஞ்சிலே வாழைப்பூ !! (அது என்ன நெஞ்சிலே !!)  - படம் பார்ப்பவர்களை பார்த்து -  கூடையில் என்ன பூ  - என வினவுவார் ?  

இதற்கு உங்களுக்கு பதில் நன்றாக தெரிந்து இருக்கலாம் !!  - மதி மந்திரியிடம் மன்னன் வரிசையாக கேட்ட கேள்விகளில் ஒன்று - சுவையான பூ யாது ?? 

Cauliflower is a versatile cruciferous vegetable known for its dense head of white florets. A member of the mustard family, it is related to broccoli, cabbage, and kale and is valued for its nutritional benefits and ability to be used as a low-carb alternative in many recipes.

Brassica oleracea is a plant species – the one pictured is not a flower but a vegetable that consists of undeveloped white florets attached to a single stem that form a compact, cabbage-like head, called a curd. Roast it. Toss it with olive oil, salt, pepper, and any other desired seasonings and spread it out on a baking sheet without overcrowding it! Bake it at 425° for about 35 minutes. At this point it will get crispy on the underside and almost caramelize. It's the most addictive way to make it. 

 

How good were you in Mathematics in schools !  :   a²+b² = (a+b)² - 2ab  !!  - how much do you like Cabbage in your food ?  - the humble cabbage – encompasses several cultivars of Brassica oleracea, a leafy green, red (purple), or white (pale green) biennial plant grown as an annual vegetable crop for its dense-leaved heads.  The word “cabbage” comes from the French word caboche, which means “head.” That makes sense given the shape. And the metaphor exists in English, where we talk about a head of cabbage.

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
23.10.2025

Chasing dream Girl !! ~ மயிலே மயிலே உன் தோகை இங்கே !!

dream girl !! மயிலே மயிலே உன் தோகை இங்கே !!

தேவதையை கண்டேன் ! காதலில் விழுந்தேன் !! - அதுவும் ஸ்ரீரங்கத்து தேவதை !!

நீங்கள் 1970/80களில் மாணவரா !!  - உங்களுக்கு இந்த உணர்வுகள் புரியலாம்.  அப்போதெல்லாம் வெள்ளியன்று படங்கள் வெளிவர, மக்கள் தெரு மூலைகளில், போஸ்டர்களை நின்று படித்து, அது பற்றி விவாதிப்பார்கள். அப்படி ஒரு நாள் தேவி பாரடைஸில் பிரீமியம் Rs.2.90 டிக்கெட் வாங்கி சில பல விளம்பரங்களையும், டாக்குமெண்டரியும் பார்த்துவிட்டு வெள்ளித்திரையை கண் கொட்டாமல் பார்த்தால் .. ... ... 

SA ராஜ்கண்ணு அளிக்கும்,   என ஸ்ரீதேவி ஓடியாட, சப்பாணி, மயில், பரட்டை, குருவம்மா என பெயர்கள் ஓட இசைஞானி இளையராஜா தன் குரலில் 'சோளம் வெதைக்கையிலே .. ..' என மிரள வைக்க ரசிகர்கள்  ஆரவாரித்த படம் '16 வயதினிலே'

Peacock  - is something that is extremely attractive.   Peacocks are present in Madras (Chennai) and are associated with the city's history, mythology, and modern-day life, most notably in the Mylapore area. The name "Mylapore" itself comes from 'Mayil arparikkum oor', which means 'the land of the peacock screams'.  

In recent times, a lone Peacock is reported to be roaming in Triplicane area, pictured by some ace photographers ! BUT – I was not able to see it nor take a picture – hence longing to picture it, have been travelling, chasing Mayilu, my dream !! 

Di Goldene Pave refers to a mythical golden peacock and is a common symbol in Yiddish poetry.  The golden peacock is a popular symbol in Yiddish culture. Yiddish poet Itzik Manger's golden peacock symbolized Jewish resilience and optimism. In one poem, Manger explains [like the stateless Jew], the golden peacock has no country but is alive wherever Yiddish is spoken. The golden peacock is a rare bird.

The IFFI Best Film Award (officially known as the Golden Peacock for the Best Feature Film) is the main prize of the International Film Festival of India presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in India.  It is one of several awards presented for feature films and awarded with the Golden Peacock a representation of the Peacock, India’s national bird.   

Only seasoned Cinema buffs would know that a movie by name ‘Mayil’ starring Rajesh, Rupa Devi hit the screens in 1981 and bombed in box-office.  

For the youth of 1970s / 1980s – Mayilu was the dream girl !!  ~  have you heard this song !!  SPB  “மயிலே மயிலே உன் தோகை எங்கே ?” என்று ஆரம்பிக்க மிருதங்கம் தொடங்கிவிடும். ஜென்சி பாடும் பல்லவி சிறிது வித்தியாசமாக இருக்கும்.  படம்  : கடவுள் அமைத்த மேடை - வரிகள் - வாலி; இசைஞானி இளையராஜாவின் இன்னிசையில்   எஸ்.பி.பி, ஜென்சி பாடிய பாடல்.  கர்நாடக ஹம்சத்வனி ராகத்தில் அமைந்துள்ளது.

மயிலே மயிலே உன் தோகை இங்கே; ஒயிலே ஒயிலே உன் ஊஞ்சல் இங்கே

குளிர் காலமல்லவோ தனிமையில் விடலாமோ

தளிர் உடல் தொடலாமோ; மயிலே மயிலே…மயிலே மயிலே

இரட்டை வேடங்களில் ஹீரோ நடித்த படங்கள் ஏராளம்ஆனால், நாயகி இரட்டை வேடமிட்டு நடித்த படங்கள்  குறைவு.   ‘கடவுள் அமைத்த மேடை’  திரைப்படத்தில் சுமித்ரா இரட்டை வேடங்களில் நடித்திருந்தார்.

Here is the Mayilu, my dream girl, I have been chasing – pictured at Musiri, near Trichy, on the banks of Cauvery

Regards – S Sampathkumar
23.10.2025

 

 

 

Delhi traffic near Karol Bagh !!

Vehicles finding their way – evening scene  near Jhandewalan Metro station, Delhi

                            Amidst automobiles – cycle rickshaw too wading its way !! 

Deepavali celebrations ! NASA photo

 

Deepavali was celebrated on 20.10.2025 very grandly all over India. In Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam, the purappadu of Sri Parthasarathi with Acharyar Sri Manavala mamunigal took more than 3 hours as there were dazzling varieties of fireworks on mada streets.  

In the past few years pictures purported to be ‘Diwali India’ photos  taken from space by 'NASA', get circulated – mostly fake images making  people skeptical …

 

Here is an image of India posted by - Paolo Nespoli, the 60-year-old Italian astronaut shared a photo of India, taken from space on Oct 19, 2017.

Crow, Vada & Fox !! - Cartoon of Mahakavi Bharathiyar 1909

How well do you know Indian History ! – can you identify (the missing name in the following)  1st Marquess ______   of Kedleston – post related to a cartoon published by Mahakavi Subramaniya Bharathiyar on 27^th Mar 1909  (pictured from the book – collection of MA Narasimhan, Triplicane) !! 

In School History book, we read about ‘Minto-Morley’ reforms passed in 1909, when the UK Parliament passed the Indian Councils Act 1909. Named after Viceroy Lord Minto and Morley, the act introduced elections to legislative councils and admitted Indians to councils of the Secretary of State for India, the viceroy, and to the executive councils of Bombay Presidency and Madras Presidency. The act introduced limited constitutional changes in response to growing nationalist demands, and that way was a landmark event. 

When we go to hotels  - breakfast generally start with Idli & Vada.  Vadai is savoury fried snacks native to India. Vadas can be described variously as fritters, cutlets, or dumplings – and for sure, we grew reading and listening ‘Crow stealing Vada from old lady and Fox cheating it’ – here is the English version. 

One bright morning as the Fox was following his sharp nose through the wood in search of a bite to eat, he saw a Crow on the limb of a tree overhead.  What caught his attention  was that the lucky Crow held a bit of cheese in her beak. 

The  sly Master Fox thought - . "Here is a dainty bite for my breakfast." Up he trotted to the foot of the tree in which the Crow was sitting, and looking up admiringly, he cried, "Good-morning, beautiful creature!" 

The Crow, her head cocked on one side, watched the Fox suspiciously. But she kept her beak tightly closed on the cheese and did not return his greeting. 

"What a charming creature she is!" said the Fox. "How her feathers shine! What a beautiful form and what splendid wings! Such a wonderful Bird should have a very lovely voice, since everything else about her is so perfect. Could she sing just one song, I know I should hail her Queen of Birds." 

Listening to these flattering words, the Crow forgot all her suspicion, and also her breakfast. She wanted very much to be called Queen of Birds. So she opened her beak wide to utter her loudest caw, and down fell the cheese straight into the Fox's open mouth. 

"Thank you," said Master Fox sweetly, as he walked off. "Though it is cracked, you have a voice sure enough. But where are your wits?" 

Moral :  The flatterer lives at the expense of those who will listen to him.  Move away, see this cartoon of Mahakavi.

 

 

In 1909, John Morley, the Secretary of State for India, and Lord Curzon, the former Viceroy, represented opposing viewpoints on India's administration following the 1905 partition of Bengal. Morley, alongside Viceroy Lord Minto, introduced reforms aimed at addressing the unrest that Curzon's policies had created. 

George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, known as Lord Curzon was Conservative politician, explorer and writer who served as Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905 and Foreign Secretary from 1919 to 1924. 

In January 1899 Curzon was appointed as Viceroy of India. He was created a baron in the peerage of Ireland as Baron Curzon of Kedleston, in the County of Derby.  Reaching India shortly after the suppression of the frontier risings of 1897–98, he paid special attention to the independent tribes of the north-west frontier, inaugurated a new province called the North West Frontier Province, and pursued a policy of forceful control mingled with conciliation. In response to what he called "a number of murderous attacks upon Englishmen and Europeans", Curzon advocated at the Quetta Durbar extremely draconian punishments which he believed would stop what he viewed as such especially abominable crimes. 

During his regime there was a major famine coincided  in which reportedly 4.5 million people died.  In Late Victorian Holocausts, the historian Mike Davis criticised Curzon for cutting back rations and raising relief eligibility. In 1908, Curzon was elected an Irish representative peer, and thus relinquished any idea of returning to the House of Commons. In 1909–1910 he took an active part in opposing the Liberal government's  proposal to abolish the legislative veto of the House of Lords, as also Minto-Morley reforms. 

John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn, OM, PC, FRS, FBA   was a British Liberal statesman, writer and newspaper editor. Initially a journalist in the North of England and then editor of the newly Liberal-leaning Pall Mall Gazette,   he was elected a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Liberal Party in 1883. He was Chief Secretary for Ireland in 1886 and  Secretary of State for India between 1905 and 1910 and again in 1911; and Lord President of the Council between 1910 and 1914. 

             Morley is best known for his writings and for his "reputation as the last of the great nineteenth-century Liberals".He opposed imperialism and the Second Boer War. He supported Home Rule for Ireland. His opposition to British entry into the First World War as an ally of Russia led him to leave the government in August 1914. 

There were frequent clashes between Morley and Curzon as Curzon was seen as preventing the liberalization and granting of some benefits to India by the Council of Morley.  As a Liberal, Morley favored a strategy of limited concession and assimilation. He sought to co-opt moderate nationalists and appease certain communities, like Muslims, with reforms. However, he was fundamentally opposed to full self-government for India. Curzon, as  a Conservative,  represented a more autocratic and repressive style of imperial rule. His policies deepened the political and communal divides, which, paradoxically, strengthened the nationalist movement he sought to contain. The unrest caused by his actions became the very problem Morley and Minto later attempted to address with the 1909 reforms.   

The cartoon of Mahakavi depicts Curzon as the wily fox trying to stall away the benefits that Morley was trying to offer !!

 

Indian History was soaked with blood of martyrs; treachery  and cruelty of rulers; mild political opposition and more – however, we read that freedom was obtained without bloodshed and Gandhi & Nehru forced Britishers to free India.  

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
21.10.2025 

Birth Centenary celebrations of Shri R Jagannatha Iyengar

 

Birth centenary of Shri R Jagannatha Iyengar was celebrated grandly by their family at Triplicane Yadugiri Yathiraja Mutt on 12.10.2025.

Shri R Jagannatha Iyengar was reverred teacher in Hindu High School (1952-1986); he was a renowned Scouts Master and was active in Cooperative Society of the school too.  He was a director in century old TUCS too. After retirement he was actively involved in TAMBRAS activities serving as President for few years.  During his school days, he was a great coordinator and organized many tours including trips to Badrinath.

He lived in Nagoji Rao Street, Triplicane.  Many of you may know his J Sridhar – an ebullient person, Cricketer and extremely friendly to all person.  It was extremely unfortunate that he along with K Srinivasan died in May 1985 in a tragic road accident. 

The function started with ‘Om Namo Narayana chanting’.  Remember that a few decades ago, Govt had arranged for chanting in all temples in the evening and Sri RJN pioneered ‘Om Namo Narayana’ chanting at Sri Parthasarathi Swami thirukkovil.

At 4.30 it was religious discourse by Thirukkudanthai Doctor U.Ve. Venkatesh on ‘nallathoar kudumbam’.  By 6 pm – people from various walks of life, shared their thoughts and experience with RJN.

The function was compered by Yours Truly – there was good representation from the Hindu High School.  First it was Thiru SK Seshan, Botany Teacher and HM (Retd); Mr Balasubramaniam (Scout Master); Mr Venkatraman (Drawing Master); Mr D Mani (Lakshmi Narasimhan) (Maths master); Mr Jagannathan (Present Head Master); Mr Murugan (representing School Alumni association).  There were various other speakers including  Madapusi Vasu, famous tour operator of Triplicane and ex-student of Hindu High school.

Many people from Triplicane also spoke.  A cheque was presented to TAMBRAS, Triplicane Unit by the daughters of RJN.

A memento was presented on behalf School Alumni Association and a poem penned by Mr T Vipranarayanan was also read out.  Here are some photos of the event.

Events video coverage  available on YOutube : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLssTVLarLV-Mm8ju27hMF4kq77ZgjIc3Q&jct=RAFOqdahi0V52bsMj4lbXQ 

Regards – S Sampathkumar.

Mr SK Seshan being honoured 

Mr Venkatraman being honoured 

Mr Balasubramanian being honoured 

Mr D Mani  being honoured 

Mr G Jeganathan, present HM,  being honoured 

Mr K Murugan, Secretary  of Alumni Association speaking

Tour Vasu Mama being honoured