பூம் பூம் பூம் மாட்டுக்காரன், தெருவில் வந்தான்டி

 

Heard this song !! – here is a Boomboom maadu and a very different vari maadu (striped cow)

பூம் பூம் பூம் மாட்டுக்காரன், தெருவில் வந்தான்டி;

டும் டும் டும் மேளம் கொட்டி, சேதி சொன்னான்டி;

அரிசி போட வெளியே வந்த, பொண்ண பார்த்தாண்டி;

அடுத்த மாதம் கல்யாணத்துக்கு, தேதி சொன்னாண்டி".

 

முன்பெல்லாம் தெருக்களில் அடிக்கடி காணும் காட்சி !  மாட்டினை வண்ணத் துணிகளால் அலங்காரம் செய்து மாட்டின் கொம்பில் கலர் துணி சுற்றி மாட்டின் கழுத்தில் பித்தளை சலங்கை கட்டி, மாட்டின் கால்களில் சிறு சலங்கை கட்டியபடி அழைத்து வருவார்கள். சில மாடுகளுக்கு பெரிய திமில் இருக்கும்.  மாட்டின் உரிமையாளர் கருநிற கோட்டு அணிந்து, முண்டாசு கட்டி, அடர்ந்த மீசை கொண்டு கம்பீரத்தோற்றத்துடன் சிறு மேளம் தட்டியபடி வீதி வீதியாக வலம் வருவார்கள். ஒவ்வொரு வீடுகளுக்காக சென்று நல்ல குறி சொல்லி அரிசி, நெல், காசு, பழைய துணிகள் வாங்கி செல்வார்கள்.   

கோவில் விழாக்கள், மக்கள் கூடுமிடங்களுக்குச் சென்று அல்லது வீடு வீடாகச் சென்று, அலங்கரிக்கப்பட்ட மாட்டிடம் குறி சொல்பவர் கேள்வி கேட்பதும், அக்கேள்விகளுக்கு ஆம் அல்லது இல்லை என்பது போல மாடு தலை ஆட்டுவதைக் கொண்டு குறி பலன்களைச் சொல்லி, அதன் மூலம் கிடைக்கும் பணத்தைக் கொண்டு   பூம் பூம் மாட்டுக்காரர்கள்  இருந்தார்கள்.  நவீனக் கணினி மற்றும் இணையத் தொழில்நுட்பம் வளர்ந்திருக்கும் இக்காலத்தில், பூம் பூம் மாடுகள் வழக்கொழிந்து விட்டன.    பூம்பூம் மாட்டுக்காரர்களின் வாழ்வாதாரம் பின்னடைந்துவிட்டது.  இனி, பூம் பூம் மாடுகளைப் பார்ப்பது அரிதாகிவிடும் என்பது மட்டும் உண்மை.

A rich family of brothers and a sister (Kanchana), takes care of a native doctor (vaithian )-cum-musician. On the day one of the brothers is to leave on a holiday with his wife (G. Sakunthala), the wife finds him hanging from the ceiling. He has been murdered, says top cop (‘Major’ Sundararajan). Later, there is a murder attempt on the widow too, but she escapes. However, the incident leaves her mentally disturbed. 

The song at the start is from movei ‘Adhey Kangal’ (same eyes)

அதே கண்கள் 1967ம் ஆண்டு வெளிவந்த தமிழ்த் திரைப்படம். ஏ. சி. திருலோகச்சந்தர் இயக்கத்தில் வெளிவந்த இத்திரைப்படத்தில் ரவிச்சந்திரன், காஞ்சனா மற்றும் பலரும் நடித்திருந்தனர். 

Athey Kangal (literally - The Same Eyes)   mystery thriller film written and directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar was released in 1967. The film starred Ravichandran and Kanchana.  It focused  on a girl's family being stalked by a masked murderer, and her lover's attempts to apprehend him. The movie was produced by A. V. Meiyappan under Balasubramanian & Co, a subsidiary of his company AVM Productions. It was simultaneously filmed in Telugu as Ave Kallu, with Kanchana reprising her role.   

Regards – S Sampathkumar
15.1.2026

 

பொங்கலோ பொங்கல் !! இனிய மகர சங்கராந்தி வாழ்த்துகள்

 

பொங்கலோ பொங்கல் !  பொங்கலோ பொங்கல் !! 

இனிய மகர சங்கராந்தி வாழ்த்துகள்

 

The name Nelumbo nucifera may not exactly ring a bell ! –

ஆயிரம் தாமரை மொட்டுக்களே

  ஆனந்த கும்மிகள் கொட்டுங்களேன்

light at the end of the tunnel - Lonavala

 

There is always light at the end of the tunnel (at least that what we hope !) - the route from Pune to Mumbai near Lonavala, Khandalla have many tunnels .. here is Koyna Express seen leaving a smaller one !!

 

2019 repost

Triplicane personality - MA Srinivasan

 

 

A few decades – most teens sought after destination was Typewriting Institute – many lives were honed by the skills of TW/SH while few love too blossomed.

 

Respected MA Srinivasan, the man who has shaped the destiny of many Triplicanites [Srinivasa Institute] -  

 

this day 2019

mongoose !!!!

 

This photo was not taken in any Zoo or forest !! A mongoose is a small terrestrial carnivorous mammal belonging to the family Herpestidae.

 

Mongoose is a MongoDB object modeling tool designed to work in an asynchronous environment. Mongoose supports both promises and callbacks. !!!!!!

 

Repost of Jan 2021

 

அழகா நீ பேரழகா !!  ~  sighting stunning beauty

 

In Spain, a calf named Ferdinand lives with other bulls at Señor Moreno's "Casa del Toro", where they are trained for bullfighting. Ferdinand is a pacifist and loves flowers, causing his fellow calves Valiente, Guapo and Bones to mock him.  

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 !!   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, அந்த காளையை கண்டவுடன் !   காளைக்கு பசு நேசன் ராமராஜன் பாட்டா என கேட்பவர்கள்  - "ஜோடி காளை மாடு  நீயே" என்ற பாடலை ரசித்திருக்கலாம்.   ஆன வளர்த்திய வானம்பாடி என்பது 1959 ஆம் ஆண்டு வெளிவந்த இந்திய மலையாளத் திரைப்படம். பி. சுப்பிரமணியம் இயக்கத்தில் வெளிவந்த இத்திரைப்படத்தில் திக்குறிசி சுகுமாரன் நாயர், நம்பியார் மிஸ் குமாரி மற்றும் பலர் நடித்திருந்தனர்.  1959 ஆம் ஆண்டு - இதை தழுவி,  யானை வளர்த்த வானம்பாடி  தமிழில் வெளியானது. தமிழ்ப் பதிப்புக்கு சோமசுந்தரம் உரையாடல் எழுதினார்.  இந்த பாடலின் ஆசிரியர் - கம்பதாசன்; பாடியவர்: திருச்சி லோகநாதன். "ஜோடி காளை மாடு நீயே, துளி துள்ளி ஓடுவாய், சூரியச்சந்தம் போலே குற்றமற்று ஓடுவாய்" எனும் இந்த பாடல்,  காளையின் துள்ளலான, கம்பீரமான ஓட்டத்தை வர்ணிக்கிறது.

Massive, majestic, big, powerful, beautiful  Bulls drawing the cart of Sri Krishna Balabhadra – yatra of ISCKON at Triplicane yesterday evening.

Nawanagar was an Indian princely state in the  region of Kathiawar, located on the southern shores of the Gulf of Kutch. It was ruled by the Jadeja dynasty until 1948 when it became a part of newly formed India. The district is now known as Jamnagar.  Its rulers were the mighty  Hindu Rajputs.   The Rann of Kutch   is a large area of salt marshes that span the border between Pakistan and India. It is located mostly in Gujarat (primarily the Kutch district), India and in some parts of Sindh, Pakistan. It is divided into the Great Rann and Little Rann. The Rann of Kutch covers around 26,000 square kilometres (10,000 square miles  

The bulls in the image are  Kankrej breed, a large and distinctive Indian zebu cattle known for its prominent lyre-shaped horns.  The Kankrej is a classic  Indian breed of zebuine cattle. It originates from the arid region of the Rann of Kutch in the state of Gujarat, and in neighbouring Rajasthan.

The storyline at the start is that of – Ferdinand,  2017 American animated comedy film directed by Carlos Saldanha and written by Robert L. Baird, Tim Federle, and Brad Copeland, loosely based on Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson's 1936 children's book The Story of Ferdinand. Produced by Blue Sky Studios, the film features the voices of John Cena and Kate McKinnon.   The story follows a gentle pacifist bull named Ferdinand who refuses to participate in bullfighting but is forced back into the arena where his beliefs are challenged when he faces off against the world's greatest bullfighter.

Interesting !

Regards – S Sampathkumar
13.1.2026
 

 

Galah .... the bird !!

 

Pictured in a Bird park – it was somewhat a hybrid of Pigeon and the beak of a Parakeet !!  - web searches put them to be “Galah”

 

The galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), less commonly known as the pink and grey cockatoo, galah cockatoo or rose-breasted cockatoo,  is an Australian species of cockatoo and the only member of the genus Eolophus. The galah is adapted to a wide variety of modified and unmodified habitats and is one of Australia's most abundant and widespread bird species. The species is endemic to mainland Australia. It was introduced to Tasmania, where it is now widespread, in the mid-20th century and much more recently to New Zealand.

 

Living in captivity, galahs have been recorded reaching up to 72 years of age  when a good-quality diet is strictly followed. They socialise adequately and can engage playfully in entertainment activities to support the overall very intelligent nature of the bird. In their natural habitat, galahs are unlikely to reach the age of 20 years, falling victim to traffic, predators such as the little eagle and black and peregrine falcons, and human activities in some agricultural areas. Like most other cockatoos, galahs create strong, lifelong bonds with their partners.

 
Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
12/1/2026

Honesty is the best Policy proves Mrs Padma & Mr Subramani

 

the good autokaran and his real better half !! TRUE   HEROES !!

 

How much of GOLD you have – do you sulk at the increasing price of Gold …  The gold price in Chennai for 24-karat gold is approximately ₹14,199 per gram, and for 22-karat gold (916 purity), it is approximately ₹13,016 per gram  .. ..  .. and what will happen if you were to find 45 Sov or approx Rs. 50 lakhs worth Gold !!!  

Who is an activist ? – what are their qualifications ?? – and why should age come in between in crimes !!!  Ajmal Kasab was 21 when he committed those gruesome bombings ! .. .. ..   there has been so much of news surrounding release of two films in Tamil Nadu – one touted to be the last film of a political aspirant ……. But WHO IS THE REAL HERO !!

 

Back in Feb 2021, I had posted an incident of a REAL HERO from our own Triplicane, an Auto driver, struggling to make ends meet !!!  

That was a post on people  who are generally painted black but are good Samaritans too! – perhaps the Society finds no time to appreciate.. In the Ajit starrer ‘Attahasam’ – Karunas  is an auto-driver – Ajit & Co would pull the vehicle from backside, as the vehicle could not move –  help would be sought – first Ajit would adjust the mirror and allow the vehicle to move ~ next Ajit, would stop a way-side auto – adjust its mirror, then vehicle would move – confused Karuna would mumble on the logic  !! ….. in the super hit ‘Basha’ – Manikkam (Rajinikanth) is a humble auto driver who helps the needy. He also keeps away from unnecessary fights and quarrels. His ambition is to bring up his brother and sisters with flying colours ~ he has a past ….that was ‘Basha – Manik basha’.  

A trip to Chennai would never be complete without an encounter with them……… the ubiquitous three-wheelers painted yellow and called ‘auto-rickshaws’.  In the city so well connected by road, rail, sea and air.  - a drive  in this [the peculiar sitting posture of the driver, the cuts and turn-arounds of the vehicle – its capacity to turn at right angles and wade through milling crowds], the language of its drivers, the missing meters and the bargain – can all force mortal fear in you no ends.  

Somehow there is lot of negativism attached to it – most users blame and would immediately tell their tale of woe. If you are a regular reader of Tamil magazines, a decade or more - ‘joke on soodu meter’ hogged the limelight. Those days, auto drivers used to turn on the meter with a twinging sound ~ there were stories of faulty meters [tampering colloquially called ‘soodu’] – which would show much higher that what they should be.. some used to say that it worked on the system of toothed pinion wheels and some abrasion would make it jump thereby increasing it manifold….. now magazines no longer carry such jokes….  Slowly such jokes vanished …. not because system became perfect but because the meters went out of way.  Before one reads any further, it must be admitted that there are some honest and good Samaritans – and the auto-rickshaw drivers are the ones who readily come to help the victims of an accident and many a times seen regulating chaotic traffic.

 

Even in case you have a different opinion thus far, do appreciate people like Subramani. An autorickshaw driver was on Monday rewarded by police commissioner Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal after he handed over a bag containing Rs 1.7lakh he found on a road off Marina Beach to police. The autorickshaw driver identified as L Subramani, 56, a resident of Triplicane, who spotted the bag left unattended on the road close to Queen Mary’s College on Kamarajar Salai around 10am on February 12. He collected the bag and informed the traffic police personnel nearby.

They found cash inside the bag, and asked him to go to Marina police station where he handed over the bag to the cops on duty there. Police collected the autorickshaw driver’s contact details. Police are yet to receive a complaint from the person the bag belongs to. Police informed the commissioner about Subramani’s honesty. Following this, the commissioner's office invited Subramani where he was awarded with a shield and a reward appreciating him. 

Mr Subramani, is a known person  in Triplicane and  earlier was a regular Sripadhamthangi at Thiruvallikkeni Sri Parthasarathi swami temple.  

 

Today a few minutes back saw this Video on Polimer news appreciating the honest act of Mrs Padma, a Sanitary worker who found a bag of gold ornaments … nothing small gentlemen, it was 45 Soverign approx Rs.50 lakhs in worth !!!!!  

 

Mrs Padma found them on Maharajapuram Santhanam salai, T Nagar, did not even wink an eye – went to her Office, accompanied by her husband Mr Subramani and other officials went to Pondy Bazaar Police Station and handed over the bounty.   As could be heard – in a plain and simple language, she tells – it is not my money and it is my duty to ensure its return to the rightful owner – same sentiments which her husband had earlier practised.

 

When the media person asked – did you ever thought of keeping the money to yourself – Subramani and Padma say – it is not our money, we will never be able to eat peacefully usurping others wealth … .. he adds – not sure for what difficulty they had kept and was so happy to see the brightness and happiness of those who had lost !!  

HATS OFF TO the couple Mrs Padma & Mr Subramani  ~  really NOBLE HEROES and you stand TALL.  Mr Subramani, is a known figure in Triplicane and earlier was a regular Sripadhamthangi at Thiruvallikkeni Sri Parthasarathi swami temple.

 Honesty

Upon seeing this video called Mr Subramani and appreciated him – he simply said that Police, CM, Mayor are honouring them for this act and said he felt happy that people call him and appreciate …

 

Proud to know this HONEST GENTLEMAN.

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
12.1.2026
 
My earlier post link :  https://www.sampspeak.in/2021/02/the-good-autokaran-nice-people-are.html
 
Polimer FB video link :  https://www.facebook.com/reel/1615800176450415

Lambretta !!! scooter

 

Old Lambretta ! ~ ever owned one or driven one ?? (your age would get revealed !!!) - stylu, style thaan !!!

 

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..     

Getting back to the vehicle on road – Lamby scooter .. is from Lambretta,   initially manufactured in Milan, Italy, by Innocenti. The name is derived from the word Lambrate, the suburb of Milan named after the river which flows through the area, and where the factory was located. Lambretta was the name of a mythical water-sprite associated with the river which runs adjacent to the former production site. 

In 1972, the Indian government bought the machinery of the Milanese factory, creating Scooters India Limited (SIL) in order to produce the Lambro three-wheeler under the name Vikram for the domestic market. Lambretta scooters were also manufactured under licence by Fenwick in France, API in India, Pasco in Brazil, Auteco in Colombia and Siambretta in Argentina and in a few other places. 

Now the scooter market segment is totally different – for all those models were eliminated as source of pollution and we saw gearless Honda Activas, TVS Jupiters & Suzuki scooters dominating the roads and now perhaps the age of e-vehicles.

 
Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
12/1/2026

Aeroplane landing !!

 

~ the precise moment of landing (if you zoom, you can observe that the front wheel is yet to touch the ground !!) [Nikon D3400 - 70 mm - Exp 1/640 ; F 8; ISO 100 - broad daylight

 

lamp on a vehicle !!!

 

Remember well that a few decades ago ! - oil lamp in bicycles after 6 pm was mandatory .. .. this one is on a vintage car

Cat look ......... Cat walk !!!

 

என்ன பார்வை உந்தன்  பார்வை !! ~ cat walk and looks !

அல்லிக்கேணி வாழ்க்கை .. ! ~ ஆவினம் எங்கள் அன்புத்தாய்

 

அல்லிக்கேணி வாழ்க்கை .. ! ~ ஆவினம் எங்கள் அன்புத்தாய்

the lone sincere guardian !!

 

Sincere Guardian !!

the art of living together !!

The art of living together !!

Pigeons flocking ! - herd mentality !!

 

நித்தம் புதுக்காலை - கவலையற்ற வாழ்க்கை ! 

அறிவார்ந்த மனித இனம் - மந்தைகள் என்பது ஆடுகளின் கூட்டத்தை ! 

புறாக்கள், இன்ன பிற பறவைகள் தாம் கூட்டமாக கவலையின்றி திரிகின்றனவாம்

மனிதர்கள்  - சண்டை சச்சரவுகள் இடையே உழல்கின்றனர். 

learning the art of photography !!

 

Photography skills !!

Expertise is gotten by efforts ! – Excellence comes by practice !!

Marina beach corn seller !!

 

Corn seller at Marina beach  taken at  7 pm, a few years ago !!

 

 ~ no enhancements: Nikon D 3400 : No flash used ~ 75 mm F6,3; Exp 0.0125s; ISO 12800 ..

toys .......... attract !!!!!!!!

 

So colourful – so attractive … toys often bring in happiness !! 

 

 

Believe Me …. One need not be a kid to be attracted and buy a toy !   Adults purchasing children’s toys have become more normalized post-pandemic after the lonely quarantine, where we replaced human relationships with stuffed animals and figurines.  

 

What was your favourite toy !!  -  when we grew up, toys were considered luxury, and the odd one would be kept in shelf saying – don’t break by touching !!   Life has changed ……… …….. for gen Z kids !

 

A picture taken at V House terminus when toy sellers invaded it !!

 

S. Sampathkumar

5.1.2026

மயிலே மயிலே உன் தோகை இங்கே; ஒயிலே ஒயிலே ! Peacock in flight !!

 

dream girl !! மயிலே மயிலே

 

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.  

A peacock is the male of the peafowl species, famous for its incredibly vibrant, iridescent blue/green feathers with eye-spots, which it fans out in a spectacular display to attract mates, while females (peahens) are duller; they are ground-dwelling birds in forests, known for their loud calls, and are the national bird of India, symbolizing immortality and pride.

Dec. 31 was a landmark day for Peacock. The streaming service has been the home of WWE's library for five years, but that agreement was set to expire on New Year's Eve.  According to Fightful Select, the WWE library will be moving to YouTube. “WWE sources say that they believe most of the library will be slowly rolled out on WWE’s YouTube channels.  

The site adds that WWE most likely has a favorable deal with Google, since WWE has a rather large footprint on the platform. Some of these official WWE YouTube channels include WWE, WWE NXT, WCW, and the WWE Vault.   The extensive WWE archival content deal with Peacock ended on December 31, 2025; however, a limited amount of content remains, including NXT Premium Live Events until March 2026 and Saturday Night's Main Event through 2029. The rest of the content has moved to other platforms.

For the youth of 1970s / 1980s – Mayilu (Sridevi of 16 vayathinile) 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  Thirunaraiyur Nachiyar Koil, near Kumbakonam.   My photo with background altered by ChatGPT.

Peacocks  are capable of flight, though they are primarily ground-dwelling birds that only fly for short durations.  A male peacock's tail may help him attract mates, but does it also make him an easy meal?  Scientists have long believed that these birds had to sacrifice some mobility in order to sport such dramatic decorative plumage, which accounts for 60% of their length.  Recent researches say – it is not so.   Peacocks can fly. They just do it very rarely (and very poorly). These birds fly for only around two percent of their entire lifetime. Even for the two percent of time that they do fly; they’re not flying very long distances. If and when they do fly, they kind of just take off. Their time in the sky is more of a leap or a gliding jump as opposed to an actual flight.

Regards – S Sampathkumar
4.1.2026

play school - crow school

 

ஸ்கூல் உண்டு ! .. .. .. கிடையாது !! - அப்போ   ஆல்-பாஸ்  !!!!!

 

There are batches in School/ Colleges and .. .. then there was this ‘Corona – batch’ – not sure how they are performing at job market !!

“அகழி” ~ the moat around Fort St George

An attractive landmark in Chennai is Fort St George now housing Tamil Nadu Assembly.  This pic was taken recently and one can find water !! – this is “அகழி”

 

அகழி என்பது கோட்டைகள், அரண்மனைகளைச் சுற்றிப் பகைவர்கள் நுழையாமல் தடுக்கத் தோண்டப்படும் ஆழமான, நீர் நிறைந்த பள்ளமாகும் (Moat), மேலும் இது கடலில் உள்ள ஆழ்கடல் பள்ளங்கள் (Trench) அல்லது மழைநீர் சேமிப்பு அமைப்புகளையும் குறிக்கும்; இது பழங்காலப் பாதுகாப்பிற்காகவும், பாசனத்திற்காகவும் பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டது.  

கோட்டை அகழி: அரசர்கள் தங்கள் கோட்டைகளைப் பாதுகாக்க, சுவர்களைச் சுற்றி தோண்டப்படும் ஆழமான நீர்நிலைகள். இதில் முதலைகள், பாம்புகள் போன்ற கொடிய விலங்குகள் வளர்க்கப்படும்.  மேலும்  அதில் முட்களையும் நச்சுக் கொடிகளையும் வளர்த்து பகைவர் அண்டாவண்ணம் அமைத்து வந்தனர். 

A moat is a deep, wide trench, often filled with water, surrounding a castle or fort, acting as a primary defensive barrier to stop attackers from reaching the walls with siege engines or infantry, slowing assaults and creating a significant obstacle, though some moats could also serve for drainage, sanitation, or even as a source of fish. They were a crucial part of medieval fortifications, making it difficult to undermine walls, and could be dry ditches or complex water features, with materials from digging often used to build the ramparts.  

Fort St. George (historically, White Town) is a fortress at the coastal city of Chennai - founded in 1639, it was the first British fortress in India.  The construction of the fort provided the impetus for further settlements and trading activity, in what was originally an uninhabited land. The fort currently houses the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly and other official buildings.  

Fort St. George in Chennai features a historic 2.3 km long moat, originally a defensive wet ditch fed by the Cooum River, built in the 1760s after French attacks, but became heavily polluted with sewage over time, though plans by ASI and the government aimed to restore it as a dry channel for rainwater collection.  Reportedly,  water for the moat came from the river and later the Buckingham Canal but it is no longer the way.  The part before the entrance does hold some water all the time, with weeds and other vegetation attracting some bird life.

Interesting !

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
3.1.2026