Kingfisher - அற்ற குளத்தின் அறுநீர்ப் பறவை

 

Kingfisher - அற்ற குளத்தின் அறுநீர்ப் பறவை 

 

In the 1800s these birds were hunted for their bright feathers that were used to adorn hats.It is the State bird of West Bengal.  .. .. easy, King Fisher -  a family, the Alcedinidae, of small to medium-sized, brightly colored birds in the order Coraciiformes.

 

உங்கள் நண்பர்கள் யார் !  பள்ளி பருவத்து, உங்கள் குழந்தை பருவத்து தோழர்களுடன்  இன்னமும் தொடர்பில் உள்ளீர்களா ?  - நம் நண்பர்கள் சிலர் சமுதாய தகுதி பார்த்தே பழகுகின்றனர். சில நண்பர்கள், நமக்கு தெரிந்த பணக்காரர்கள், புது அறிமுகங்களிடம் தங்கள் சிறந்த முகத்தை காட்ட முயலுகின்றனர்.  அவ்வமயத்தில், பாலமாக இருந்த நம்மையும் புறந்தள்ளி, தம்மை உயர்த்தி, நம்மை தாழ்த்தி வார்த்தை ஜாலங்களில் ஈடுபடுவதை அனுபவித்து இருக்கிறீர்களா ? 

நாம் என்ன செய்கிறோம்? ஒரு சிலரோடு பழகுகிறோம்; அவர்களின் நிலை எந்த விதத்திலாவது தாழுமானால் அவர்களின் பழக்கத்தையே தவிர்க்கிறோம். பார்த்தாலும் தெரியாதவர் போல தூரப் போகிறோம். இது மிகப் பெரிய பண்பின்மை.  மக்களில் உருவில் மனிதர்களைப் போல தோற்றம் அளித்துக் கொண்டு உணர்விலும் குணத்திலும் மிருகங்களும், கொடிய உயிரினங்களும் ஆக இருப்பவர் பல பேர். நன்மை செய்தவர்களுக்கே நஞ்சை ஊட்டும் பாம்புகள் சிலர் இருக்கிறார்கள். உதவி செய்தவனையே ஆற்றில் தள்ளும் கரடிகள் இருக்கிறார்கள்.   பொதுவாக வளங்கள் தீர்ந்தபின்னர் விலகுவது உலக நியதி ஆகி வருகிறது வருத்தமே !!  

இதையே மூதுரையில் அவ்வை பாட்டி :

அற்ற குளத்தின் அறுநீர்ப் பறவைபோல்

உற்றுழித் தீர்வார் உறவல்லர்-அக்குளத்திற்

கொட்டியும் ஆம்பலும் நெய்தலும் போலவே

ஒட்டி யுறுவார் உறவு.

நீர் அற்றுப்போன குளத்தை விட்டு நீர்ப்பறவைகள் நீங்கிவிடும். அதுபோலத் துன்பம் வந்த காலத்திலில் விலகிப் போய்விடுபவர் உறவினர் ஆகமாட்டார். நீர் அற்றுப்போனாலும் அந்தக் குளத்தில் கொட்டி, ஆம்பல், நெய்தல் போன்ற பூக்கொடிகள் ஒட்டிக்கொண்டே இருப்பது போலத் துன்பம் வந்த காலத்திலும் துணைநின்று உதவுபவரே உறவுக்காரர் ஆவார். 

மீன்கொத்திப் பறவை, மீன்கள் உள்ள நீர்நிலைகளில் சிறகுகள் நீரில் படும் அளவில் தாழப் பறந்து கொண்டே செல்லுமாம்! மீன் அகப்படுமானால் மீனைக் கொத்திக் கொண்டு உறவாடிய நீரைச் சிறகினால் உதறிவிட்டு உயரப் பறந்து விடுமாம்!  இது குணக்கேடாக கூறப்பட்டாலும், பறவைக்கு அதுவே இயல்பு.  பறக்கும் பறவை, நீரில் மூழ்கி, அங்கேயே வாழ இயலாது !! 

Some of you may still be looking for - Kingfisher Calendar that featured  models in swimsuits published by the Indian conglomerate United Breweries Group for 19 years from 2003 to 2021.    Atul Kasbekarr was the photographer behind these Kingfisher Calendar shoots.  He was also the honorary chairman of the Photographer's Guild of India.  

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
5.12.2025

 

Purple Swamphen !

 

Exotic  -  looks more like a Kozhi (Hen). !!  Porphyrio, also known as the swamphen or swamp hen, is a genus of semi-aquatic birds in the rail family Rallidae. 

The purple swamphen has been split into many  species, of which the  grey-headed swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) is a species of swamphen occurring from the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent to southern China and northern Thailand. It used to be considered a subspecies of the purple swamphen, but was elevated to full species status in 2015.   It is a large greyish-blue to greyish-purple wetland bird 43 cm long with a pale grey head, and a stout red bill. The wings are greenish, and the legs red.  

 

 Nature is paradoxes personified. While rain sustains life an abundance of it wrecks havoc.   The bird enthusiasts in the state are grinning from ear to ear after a study revealed a steady growth in the population of the purple swamphen (formerly known as purple moorhen) in the state. But the The farmers are frowning, becaue the birds are notorious for raiding crops.

Tributes to AVM Saravanan Sir !!

உயர்ந்த மனிதன் - சிவந்த நிறம், தீர்க்கமான கண்கள், நெற்றியில் துலங்கும் குங்குமம்  கனிவுப்பார்வை, வெண்ணிற உடை, கட்டிய கைகள், சற்று குனிந்து உதிர்க்கும் நிதானமான அன்பு வார்த்தைகள் - இவை தாம் திரு ஏவிஎம் சரவணன் சார். 

இன்றைய காலை செய்தி மிகுந்த மன வருத்தத்தை அளிக்கிறது. இந்திய சினிமா உலகின் முதுபெரும் தயாரிப்பாளரான திரு ஏவிஎம் சரவணன் வயது மூப்பு காரணமாக காலமானார். அவருக்கு 86 வயது.. இறுதி மரியாதைக்காக திரு  ஏவிஎம் சரவணனின் உடல் ஏவிஎம் ஸ்டூடியோவில் உள்ள 3வது தளத்தில் இன்று காலை 7.30 மணி முதல் வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

 

Thiru AVM Saravanan Sir is no more.  Very sad to know - His passing comes just a day after his 86th birthday – after some age-related illness. 

Nandhakumar, a Tamil movie, directed by Keshav Rao Dhaibar hit the screens in 1938, produced by A. V. Meiyappan.  The  mythological film starred T. P. Rajalakshmi, C. V. V. Panthulu, and T. S. Rajalakshmi. T. R. Mahalingam and T. R. Ramachandran making  their cinematic debuts.  It was reported that  Dhaibar and Meiyappan were disappointed with a song sung by the actress who portrayed Devaki's mother hence they both came up with an innovative idea to replace the soundtrack with another voice.  Mrs  Lalitha Venkatraman, prominent Carnatic vocalist in Mumbai was brought in to do the playback singing thus earned her the credit of being the first playback singer of Tamil cinema and also became the first Tamil film to introduce playback singing 

AVM Productions  has been a great name in film industry, the  production studio founded by A. V. Meiyappa Chettiar. It is the oldest film studio in India. The filming studios are located in Vadapalani, Chennai. It has produced over 300 films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi cinema. AVM has introduced numerous actors in Southern industries, some of the prominent actors are Superstar Sivaji Ganesan, Rajkumar, S. S. Rajendran, Vyjayanthimala, Kamal Haasan and many more. The AVM Studios besides the shooting floors, has recording, dubbing and a preview theatre. The complex also houses facilities for production and post production processing. 

The dawn of the talkie era (1931) inspired Meiyappan to start Saraswathi Sound Productions and he launched his maiden film venture, Alli Arjuna a Hindu mythology based film. The film was shot in Calcutta and proved a total flop as the one that followed named Ratnavali. At this point, an aspiring amateur actor and college graduate A. T. Krishnaswamy joined the unit as assistant director who was associated with Meiyappan for nearly a decade and wrote and directed the early AVM productions.   AVM made Nandakumar, Tamil version of a Marathi film launching it as a Pragati production.  

 

After Mr Meiyappan,  A.V.M. Saravanan, became the most well known  producer and managing force behind the iconic AVM Studios.    Saravanan Surya Mani more famously known as AVM Saravanan, was not simply a film producer, he was a great man, a great philanthropist. His production company - AVM Productions,  founded in 1945 by his father,   has been involved in hits such as Naanum Oru Penn, Samsaram Adhu Minsaram, Sivaji: The Boss, Vettaikaran, Minsara Kanavu, Leader and Ayan.   As a producer he won two Filmfare Awards South. He also served as the Sheriff of Madras in 1986.  Born in 1939, the producer took over his father AV Meiyappan's shoes along with his brother M Balasubramanian, and was involved in filmmaking since the late 1950's.  He had been under treatment for several months and breathed his last at 5.30 a.m. at his residence inside the AVM Studio premises in Chennai.  

Thiru Saravanan, the third son of legendary filmmaker A.V. Meiyappan Chettiar, took over the reins of AVM Productions in 1958 and went on to become one of the most influential figures in Tamil cinema.  Under his leadership, AVM produced several landmark films. Industry insiders often credit Saravanan for nurturing the early careers of superstars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, providing them with platforms that elevated them to national fame. Thiru M Saravanan is survived by his son MS Guhan, another producer. Guhan has twin daughters Aruna Guhan and Aparna Guhan. Aruna Guhan continues to share his legacy, along with AV Meiyappan's on her social media handles through various trivias. She is also a partner and Creative Director of AVM Productions.  

M Saravanan's mortal remains has been placed for public homage till 3:30 pm at AVM Studios, where friends, family, industry members, and well-wishers can pay their last respects.

 

Before Corona days, Thiru Saravanan was a regular early morning walker in Marina beach.  He would greet people with a smile and kindness.  We at SYMA have been recipient of his generosity over the years.  In our Educational Aid Program held on 4^th July 2010, Mr AVM Saravanan &  Mr TT Srinivasa Raghavan, MD, Sundaram Finance  were our Chief Guests. His foundation had been supporting SYMA with corpus fund of Rs.1,00,000/- for 8 years.  I have greeted and interacted with him many a times and would always remember as a great personality with golden heart.  

In his passing away – the State has lost a versatile genuine golden hearted personality.  We pray for sadgati to his atma.

 
With grief – S. Sampathkumar
Srinivas Youngmens’ Association [SYMA]
4.12.2025
  

புலி வருது !! புயல் வருது !!- ~ Cyclone Ditwah !!

 

வங்கக்கடலில் ஏற்பட்டுள்ள காற்றழுத்த தாழ்வு மண்டலம் ... .. புயலாக உருமாறி, ...... அருகே கடற்கரையை கடக்கலாம் .. .. பெருத்த ஓசையுடன் அதிவேகத்தில் நிலப்பகுதியை நெருங்கும் போது - நிறைய பொருட்சேதம் ஏற்படும் 

-used to be  the usual weather bulletin.  In recent times, we have too many people, announcing so many things and just like a Coin toss – by law of probability some may turn true !!  So in social media we keep hearing predictions on how the Cyclone is going to behave and how long it would rain  

 

In the past week or so, we have heard so much of  புலி வருது !! புயல் வருது !!-   "புலி வருது !! புலி வருது !!"  நீதிக்கதையில் "பொய் சொல்லும் சிறுவன்'  ஒரு நாள்  உண்மையைச் சொன்னாலும் மக்கள் நம்பவில்லை.    

Ditwah was just a ‘cyclonic storm’, the second weakest category. There are four categories of cyclones stronger than this, based on the wind speeds associated with them, and their damage potential.  But it devastated Sri Lanka – killing more than 450, displacing 1.5 million and causing economic loss estimated to be around $7 billion 

Social media threatened that it would hit our coast too .. for  the third straight day, winds from the remnants of Cyclone Ditwah battered Chennai and surrounding districts on Wednesday as the weakened weather system stalled unusually close to the Tamil Nadu coast, which meteorologists say has prolonged heavy rainfall across the region.  

Ditwah emerged from a low-pressure system that had developed in the southwest Bay of Bengal around November 25. This area in the north Indian Ocean basin is not commonly known for cyclone formation, but two favourable conditions happened at the same time, making the emergence of Ditwah possible. The Intertropical Convergence Zone, a region near the equator where northeast and southwest trade winds converge, resulting in lots of clouds and thunderstorms, was quite active during that time. Simultaneously, a system of equatorial waves — disturbances in the atmosphere that happen periodically in this region — also developed. The interaction of these two systems provided the required fuel for the emergence of Ditwah on November 27.  

The system was about 90 km northwest of Batticaloa on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka. Winds associated with Ditwah ranged between 60 and 90km/hr, meaning that it was a low-intensity cyclone but its landfall caused devastation.  Once a deep depression, Ditwah has now weakened into a well-marked low-pressure area along the North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coastline. Despite this, its slow inland drift has kept rain bands rotating over Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and northern coastal districts, triggering repeated bursts of heavy rainfall since early Tuesday.  

Meteorologists say Ditwah’s stall, rather than its intensity, is what has made it impactful.  The movement speed of Cyclone Ditwah varied, but it generally moved slowly,   it experienced a "remarkable slowdown" at one point, moving as slowly as 2-3 km/h, which led to prolonged, heavy rains in the region, is what is stated now.

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
3.12.2025
The pic of White Tiger had its background changed with AI assistance.

 

Raising Day .... India's BORDER SECURITY FORCE [BSF]

 

Today is a very important day in the security of the Nation.  Today is the formation day of Border Security Force.

 

हम सीमा के प्रहरी हैं हम सीना तान खड़े

हम भारत के गौरव की बनके पहचान खड़े

भारत के हर प्रान्त से आये बहादुरों का दल

हम हैं, सीमा सुरक्षा बल हम हैं, सीमा सुरक्षा बल

 

“A force synonymous with fiery patriotism, the BSF has always upheld the honour of the nation and shielded the well-being of the citizens with Himalayan resolve and steely valour,” Mr Amit Shah wrote on social media platform X. The Home Minister greeted BSF personnel and their families on the occasion of the force’s raising day and stated that the undying flame of patriotism kept alight by the border guarding force with supreme sacrifice will continue to show the path to generations of Indians.  “Salutations to the brave hearts who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty,” Shah added. 

The BSF was officially established on December 1, 1965, and now has grown with time, currently having 193 battalions and a strength of around 2.7 lakh personnel.  Before 1965, India’s border security was managed by the State Armed Police Battalion. However, this arrangement proved inadequate when Pakistan launched an attack on Sardar Post, Chhar Bet and Beria Bet in Kutch on 9th April 1965. The attack exposed the limitations of the state police in handling armed aggression, highlighting the need for a centrally controlled, well-equipped and trained force to guard India’s international borders.

 

The Great Nation, Maha Bharat - shares borders with several sovereign countries; it shares land borders with China, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Myanmar. Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Pakistan share both land borders as well as maritime borders, while Sri Lanka shares only a maritime border through Ram Setu. India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand, Myanmar and Indonesia. 

India's total land border is 15,106.7 kilometers long and is shared with seven neighboring countries.  The longest land border is with Bangladesh, followed by China and Pakistan. The Border Security Force (BSF) is a central armed police force in India, under the Ministry of Home Affairs.  The BSF is the guardian of the country’s border with Pakistan and Bangladesh, apart from other internal roles in the country’s internal security.  It is empowered to arrest, search and seize under various laws including the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1973, the Passports Act of 1967, the Passport (Entry into India) Act of 1920 and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985. 

 

BSF took to social media and stated, “On the 61st BSF Day, the Seema Prahari reaffirm their unwavering commitment to securing the borders of Bharat and strengthening the nation-building mission.” 

Following the success of Operation Sindoor, the Border Security Force (BSF) is raising its first dedicated drone squadron to enhance surveillance and strike capabilities along the India–Pakistan border. The unit will operate from select Border Outposts (BoPs) and be directed by a central control room at the BSF’s Western Command in Chandigarh. Equipped with reconnaissance, surveillance, and attack UAVs, the squadron is a direct response to the surge in cross-border drone threats witnessed during and after Operation Sindoor.   

The BSF's Eastern Command on Monday said it apprehended 10,263 Bangladeshis over the past year while they were attempting to infiltrate or exfiltrate through the border, underscoring heightened vigilance along the sensitive Indo-Bangla frontier, a paramilitary force said in a statement. The force said the scale of detentions reflected intensified anti-infiltration measures, particularly during the unrest in Bangladesh, when BSF troops "burnt their midnight oil" to prevent illegal migrants from entering India.

 

BSF Camel Contingent is a specialised battalion-size Camelry Unit which has its roots in Bikaner Camel Corps. The primary purpose of this unit is to patrol the desert section of the border with Pakistan. This unit has a strength of 1,200 camels and 800 riders.  However, with force modernisation pacing up, BSF has equipped its formation across the western border with All-Terrain Vehicles and other specialised apparatus.  

The Hindi version at the start is the lyrics for the "BSF theme song": "Hum seema ke prahari hain, hum seena taan khade / Hum Bharat ke gaurav ki ban ke pehchaan khade / Bharat ke har praant se aaye bahaduron ka dal / Hum hain, Seema Suraksha Bal, hum hain, Seema Suraksha Bal". The lyrics in English are: "We are the sentinels of the border, we stand with our chests out / We stand as the identity of India's pride / It is the team of brave men from every state of India / We are the Border Security Force, we are the Border Security Force".  

On BSF Raising Day, my greetings to all their personnel. BSF symbolises India’s unwavering resolve and utmost professionalism. Their sense of duty is exemplary. They serve in some of the most challenging terrains. Alongside their valour, their humanitarian spirit is also exceptional. My best wishes to the force in their pursuit of serving and protecting our nation, tweeted our Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji.  

Jai Jawan, Jai Hind, Jai Border Security Force

 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
1/12/2025

Cyclone Ditwah - some interesting details !!!

A wet morning in  Chennai – it is raining, raining albeit not heavily … .. everywhere Chennaites are saying ‘Ditwah’ ! 

The name "Ditwah" means "lagoon" and was suggested by Yemen as part of the cyclone naming convention. The name specifically refers to the Detwah Lagoon on Socotra Island, Yemen, known for its unique and distinct coastal ecosystem. 

To some who say that it is weak just like Fengal .. .. No. Cyclone Ditwah made landfall on 28 Nov 2025  before moving back over the Bay of Bengal, triggering some of the most severe flooding Sri Lanka has seen since the early 2000s. Going by the media reports, it caused devastation in Sri Lanka killing more than 300 and a similar no is stated missing.  A large number of fatalities were reported  from Badulla, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Matale districts, home to some of Sri Lanka’s most economically marginalised communities. Visuals from the affected areas showed colonial-era line rooms housing Malaiyaha Tamils — descendants of labourers that the British brought down from south India to work in plantations two centuries ago — collapsing and being buried under soil, as the hillsides above them gave way.

 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for several coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall on Monday, December 1, as a low-pressure system over the southwest Bay of Bengal intensifies. The Tamil Nadu government has declared a holiday for all educational institutions in a preemptive move to ensure public safety after Cyclone Ditwah triggered intense rainfall and severe waterlogging. 

The IMD report reads :  the Deep Depression (Remnant of Cyclonic Storm Ditwah) over southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts  moved northwards with the speed of 10 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 2330 hrs IST of yesterday, the 30th  November 2025 over the same region, near latitude 12.3°N and longitude 80.6°E, about 90 km south-southeast of Chennai (India), 90 km east-southeast of Puducherry (India), 110 km east-northeast of Cuddalore (India), 180 km north-northeast of Karaikal (India). The minimum distance of the centre of the deep depression from north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts is about 50 km. It is very likely to move nearly northwards parallel to North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts and weaken gradually further into a depression by noon of today, the 01st December. The system will be centered over southwest Bay of Bengal within a minimum distance of 30 km by morning of today, the 01st December 2025.

 

Here are couple of photos of how our Chennai looks on a cloudy day – aerial photo taken sometime back.

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
1.12.2025