Meet Vatta seyalalar Vandu Murugan !! (Vadivelu)

 

 

தாவரவியலில் வண்டு தெரியாதவர்கள் கூட இருக்கலாம் ! 

வட்ட செயலாளர் வக்கீல் வண்டு முருகனை தெரியாத தமிழன் இருக்க முடியாது ! 

Cryptocephalus, a genus of leaf beetle

Mind your own business !!

 

minding one's business !

Don't sleep ... please do not sleep !!

 

What to say when one meets a lazy Tiger  :   https://youtu.be/wFJIXxEsAV8

 

Remembering Triplicane (late) Mr Nagarajan

 

Repost of this day 2021 - நம்மிடையே எளிமையின் வடிவமாக வாழ்ந்து மறைந்த ஒரு நல்ல மனிதர்    (Jewels  of Triplicane)

 

Triplicane mourns the death of another good person. Mr P Nagarajan who had been Ward Councillor multiple times excelled with his sincerity, honesty and simplicity. The man in his mid 80s would walk his way, wish people with a nice smile. During his tenure as a Councillor in Chennai Corporation he did commendable work, helping people resolve civic issues.

 

He was a simple man who was associated with SEva Dal and Congress since pre-Independence days - One liked by everyone.

 

He was one of the key persons behind ‘Friends Association’ which actively put up arches on 4 sides leading to Sri Parthasarathi Temple, the Geethacharyan tableau on the walls of Temple, playing of Sreevishnu sahasranamam on the eastern arch and in bringing Thiruvallikkeni Post office in North Tank Sq.

 

In his passing away this morning Triplicane is missing another jewel known for his simplicity and good nature. Pray for strength to his family to bear this loss. Deep condolences !!

வெத்தல வெத்தல வெத்தலையோ

 

Nice betel leaves : (taken at Charminar)

வெத்தல வெத்தல வெத்தலையோ

கொழுந்து வெத்தலையோ

 

முந்திரிக் கொட்டை

 

 

The cashew, known botanically as Anacardium occidentale, is the seed of a tropical evergreen shrub related to mango, pistachio and poison ivy.

துடுக்குத் தனமாகவோ அல்லது முந்திக் கொண்டோ செய்பவர்களை முந்திரிக் கொட்டை என்று திட்டுவார்கள். அதற்குக் காரணம்  !!!

summer ............... scorching ......... fan !!

 

கத்திரி வெய்யில் கலங்க அடித்தால் கை தான் பேன்

Sssssssssmile please !!!

 

Purpose of life is accomplished when we make others happy and smiling !

Photographers are quite adept doing that !!!

Triplicane Gangaikondan market and perhaps you know him well !!!

SYMA in news !!!

 

SYMA has been in the forefront of social service since 1977 and SYMA  Medical Centre is into its 25th year .... here is an article in Today's The Hindu - Downtown..

(Special thanks to Mr SR Ragunathan, KV Srinivasan , Ms Liffy Thomas & Mr M Srinath)

 

Hindu Downtown Triplicane – this day 2014

 

 

 

Sunset !! ~ பூக்கள் விடும் தூது !!!

 

Sunset is among the most attractive phenomenon of nature. 

Nakhakshathangal (transl. Bruises of Finger Nails)   Malayalam-language film directed by Hariharan, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair and starring Monisha, Vineeth, and Saleema hit the screens in 1986.    The film was a blockbuster and is more noted for its songs. It was remade in Tamil as Pookkal Vidum Thudhu in 1987, with Monisha reprising her role 

Capturing Sun is difficult – very difficult to see direct !!  - in the evenings the Red Hot Ball goes down in the horizon.  Captured here is the Sun – on the middle of the kalasam of Rajagopuram of Sri Parthasarathi swami thirukkovil, Triplicane, seemingly hanging on the bulb holder, below the light !! 

 

பூக்கள் விடும் தூது (Pookkal Vidum Thudhu) 1987ல் வெளிவந்தது.   ஸ்ரீதர் ராஜன் தயாரித்து இயக்கியிருந்தார். இத்திரைப்படத்தின் திரைக்கதை, இசையமைப்பு    டி. ராஜேந்தர்.  இது மலையாளத்தில் வெளிவந்த நகக்ஷதங்கள் திரைப்படத்தின் மறுஆக்கம். இதில் மோனிசா உன்னி, ஸ்ரீவித்யா, ஹரிஹரன் ஆகியோர் நடித்திருந்தனர்.  

இப்படத்தில் ஒரு இனிய பாடல் -  "கதிரவனைப் பார்த்து பூக்கள் விடும் தூது" -  டி. ராஜேந்தர் இசையமைத்து, கே.ஜே. ஜேசுதாஸ் பாடிய பாடல் கதிரவனைப் பார்த்து பூக்கள் விடும் தூது...வண்டுகளைப் பார்த்து பூக்கள் விடும் தூது...பூபாள ராகம்... பூ பாடும் நேரம்...தாகம் கொண்ட ஓடை... தாளம் போடும் வேளை. இந்தப் பாடல் வரிகள் இயற்கை, மலர்கள் மற்றும் கதிரவனின் கதிர்வீச்சு ஆகியவற்றின் அழகை வர்ணிப்பதாக அமைந்து இருந்தது..

 
Look forward to your comments on the photo !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
13.4.2026

old chathiram in Kumbakonam near Mahamahakulam

 

Adumanai Raman Chettiyar annadhana chathiram 1887 @ Kumbakonam

Building stands new renovated – photo edited with software !

Chepauk turning yellow hour before CSK DC match

 

Yelloweee fans of CSK that has won title 5 times seeking their first win in 2026

: https://youtu.be/w2c7LfWTqiM

Shaurya Diwas ~ salute the indomitable courage of CRPF

Today is a day of great significance for the Nation ~  Shaurya Diwas.

 

The Rann of Kutch spans 27,454 km2 (10,600 sq mi) and is located mostly in the Kutch district of the Indian state of Gujarat with a portion extending into the Pakistani province of Sindh.  The Battle of Sardar Post occurred this day in 1965.   

On this day, Nation salutes the indomitable courage and sacrifice of our brave hearts on CRPF. Heartfelt tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives for the honor and security of nation.

 

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is India's largest Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), operating under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is primarily tasked with assisting State and Union Territory governments in maintaining law and order, counter-insurgency, and providing internal security. It was originally raised as the Crown Representative's Police on July 27, 1939, to help protect the British Crown's interests and was renamed the Central Reserve Police Force after the enactment of the CRPF Act on December 28, 1949. 

Today April 9 celebrated as ‘Shaurya Diwas’ is valour day commemorating the 1965 battle at Sardar post in Rann of Kutch where a small CRPF contingent famously repulsed a massive attack by the Pakistani army.   

 

On April 9, 1965, two companies of the 2nd Battalion CRPF valiantly defended the Sardar Post in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, fighting off a Pakistani brigade attack, killing 34 enemy soldiers, and capturing four. In the battle, the CRPF lost 6-7 personnel but displayed unparalleled bravery and dedication to duty. Despite being outnumbered by roughly 3,500 soldiers, CRPF personnel held their ground, killing 34 Pakistani soldiers and capturing 4 alive, making it a proud chapter in Indian paramilitary history.  

Operation Desert Hawk was the codename of a military operation planned and executed by the Pakistan Army in the Rann of Kutch area, in the  area which was under Indian control from the long-standing status quo. Pakistan planned to serve several purposes through this operation. First was to assess the response of the Indian government and military.  In January 1965, Pakistan claimed the area of Rann of Kutch on the basis of the Sindh province. The region's terrain and communication network and logistics was favorable to Pakistan with all the approaches to the Rann of Kutch from the Indian side being more difficult than from Pakistan. The Pakistani railway station situated at Badin was 26 miles north of the Indian claim line and Karachi was 113 miles east from the Badin, where the Pakistan Army's 8 Division was based. Pakistan was able to move the troops quickly and easily along the border line. The nearest Indian railway station at Bhuj was located 110 miles from the border and the nearest Indian Army formation, 31 Infantry Brigade situated at Ahmedabad, was 160 miles east of Bhuj railway station.  Pakistan launched a major offensive on the Sardar post comprising a brigade strength   

The British Prime Minister Harold Wilson proposed a ceasefire on 28 April. Both countries signed an agreement to settle the disputed border through international arbitration by the International Court of Justice on 30 June 1965. The ceasefire became effective on 1 July 1965. India and Pakistan both agreed to demarcate the border by a three-member arbitration committee. The possibility of the armed conflict escalation was avoided by the active interventions of the British Prime Minister and the United Nation's Secretary-General. Despite India's repeated protests against the use of US-made weaponry by Pakistan against India, the President of the United States Lyndon B. Johnson took no effective action against Pakistan. Morarji Desai invited around 550 farmers, mostly Sikhs from Punjab, to settle and farm the land for border's safety and security.

 

Today Nation remembers the bravehearts of CRPF - Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other leaders paid tributes to the martyrs at various events, highlighting the force's role in India's internal security, as reported by PIB Delhi.  [photos are from Home Minister’s post]

Jai Jawan !

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
10.4.2026

 

  

kid - holding !!!

 

What was your immediate thought ! on seeing this ?

I was a bit worried about a kid being carried – not so properly !!

epitome of Bakthi

 

Bow to this bakth and his  deep-rooted commitment in service to Emperuman. 

Dasya Bhakthi -  deep spiritual devotion, love, and participation in the divine

 

Photo taken at Chintadripet - Thiruther of Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal thirukkovil   this morning (10.4.2026)

brain fade ! - man from Jhunjhunnu ... .. man from Texas !!

 

Talent scouting ! – strategizing the last over !!  - a few decades ago, in a limited overs match at Marina ground (30 overs a side - Hindu Trophy) – with 11 required off the last over (a very tough task those days!); someone shouted ____ to bowl – Captain in a confused mind, handed over the ball to that not so regular bowler and was thrashed the required runs in the 5^th ball !! 

These days, especially in IPL with so many brains strategizing every team – almost everything is planned, schemed, rehearsed and still at the final stroke there are brain-fades.  Was not able to immediately understand Ravi Shastri calling an Umpire – Man from Texas !! – yesterday there were so many web searches about Jhunjhunu !  

                                                    Jhunjhunu is a city and municipal council in the state of Rajasthan.  It is  the biggest city of the Shekhawati region. Shekhawati derives its name from Maha Rao Shekha, a prominent Kachwaha Rajput chieftain who founded the region in the 15th century. The name is derived from the combination of "Shekha" (the name of the founder) and "wati," meaning "garden". 

IPL is very entertaining providing many nail baiting thrillers with results decided in the last delivery !!  yesterday match between KKR & LSG was another.

 

The score read 128 for 7, the target was 182, - there was an young batter, whom I had not heard of –  he had Avesh Khan and potentially two more bowlers left as partners.  Mukul Choudhary a wicket keeper batsman from Jhunjhunu – could not read Sunil Narine - three misses in four balls  meant Choudhary had scored just two off six deliveries. The jumbotron in the stadium flashed "54 needed off 24". 

Web searches revealed that he had impressive U23 level and had scored well in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 at a strike rate of 198.85, following which he was picked by Lucknow Super Giants at the IPL 2026 auction for INR 2.60 crore.  In a match against Delhi, he hit  62* off just 26 balls with seven sixes for Rajasthan   taking his side home in a chase of 176.   

Mukul made some lusty hits of Green and every other bowler and farmed the strike literally not allowing Avesh to bat at all.  Still it  was anybody's game when LSG required 14 off the final over, with three wickets in hand.   Avesh Khan got a single off the first ball, perhaps some loose fielding strategy by Ajinkya Rahane.  Mukul monstered Vaibhav Arora over square leg for six. Arora responded with two dots, then with 7 required off 2 – a classic great shot for six over deep cover leveled the scores.  The final delivery, Mukul moved, swung, missed – Avesh was already sprinting, Angrish Raghuvanshi with gloves could hit the stumps.  A run – LSG had won and another new hero Mukul Choudhary  was born ! 

In the last five overs, Mukul his seven sixers – each one an improvement than the previous.   Choudhary finished unbeaten on 54 off 27 and LSG completed a win that had all but slipped away from them.  In that  unbroken 54-run partnership with Avesh Khan,  Avesh faced just 3 balls and took that all important single off the first ball of 20^th over and the final bye !!  LSG scouts can take reasonable pride in finding such a player and grabbing him   for INR 2.6 crore. 

Just a day earlier, in the 14^th match at Delhi – it was brain fade.  GT made 210 and DC made a great chase.   In over no. 19, Mohammad Siraj leaked 23 and 13 were required off the last.   Gill tasked Prasidh Krishna to bowl the final over. He had leaked 41 in earlier 3.   Vipraj Nigam was on strike – 1^st ball was swung clean for a 4 but got out in the 2^nd.  DC now needed nine off four, Kuldeep deflected the first ball he faced for a single, bringing David Miller on strike.  Then a length delivery was clobbered long long way by Miller.  Now just 2 required off 2 !!!  Miller hit the ball  long but inexplicably refused a single to take it all upon himself to finish the deal.  Prasidh bowled a slower one, Miller swiped and missed, Butler collecting could hit the stumps and Kuldeep was run out.   If that single had been taken – scores would have tied and Kuldeep would have been free to swing the bat in whatever manner !! – poor thinking by Miller – a brain fade. 

Recall that 1999 Cricket World Cup semi-final, Allan Donald   involved in an infamous run-out against Australia.  That day at Edgbaston, South Africa needed nine to win in the last over. Lance Klusener,  was on strike against Damien Fleming. Klusener picked up boundaries off the first two balls of the over, the scores were now level but in the event of a tie, Australia would go through to the final on account of their higher finish in the Super Six. Steve Waugh brought the field in. Klusener hit the third ball of the over to Darren Lehmann but stayed put, while Donald set off. He survived as  Lehmann’s direct hit missed the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Klusener hit the next ball to mid-on and set off. This time Donald did not run. Mark Waugh picked up the ball, but his throw missed the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Fleming gathered the ball and rolled it along the ground towards Adam Gilchrist.  It beat Donald, who had finally started to run but had lost his bat in the process, by a considerable margin. Australia qualified. That earned SA the chokers tag !!    

Remember that historic Tied test at Chepauk in Sept 1986.  Despite scoring a mammoth 574/7 dec in the first innings, thanks  to a double hundred by Dean Jones and centuries by David Boon and skipper Allan Border, Australia was on the brink of defeat in a contest where there was no love lost between the sides. India conceded a 177-run lead at the end of the first innings, with captain Kapil Dev contributing with a hundred. Set a target of 348 in the final innings, India looked to be cruising at the midway point with the top order providing excellent support to veteran opener Sunil Gavaskar. After Gavaskar fell, with the score at 204, the visitor clawed its way back, sweeping through the lower order.   At one point of time India needed to score 40 with 5 wickets in hand.   Then wickets fell in a heap – when last man Maninder Singh came to bat – India needed 4 to win.  Ravi Shastri took two of the first ball, then one off the second.  Was he right in exposing Maninder and not closing the match by himself would remain a moot debate.  Maninder had to score a solitary run !!   he had 3 balls, with all fielders getting closer – he was adjudged LBW to Graig Matthews and it was a historic tie.    

 

Years later, Ravi Shastri in a show, talking to Sunil Gavaskar said it was a well-thought decision, Maninder had actually played the ball but the Umpire had lifted his finger so swift as if he was ‘the man from Texas’ -  referring a Western film    starring James Craig as Tobias Simms, a notorious outlaw (often called "the El Paso Kid") who attempts to abandon his criminal life to live peacefully with his wife, Zee.  But while the match made many a career, it ended that of Indian umpire V. Vikramraju, who had given Maninder out leg before.  

Mukul does not look big and very powerful but, but, read his comment :  "My body is a little powerful, and that has come to me naturally," he said of his six-hitting ability. "I also practise hitting 100-150 sixes every day, so the bat speed develops if you keep doing it. I have been practicing a lot for the last five to six months, so it has come into my game." 

Well done … .. when it comes to the moment, not all brains remain agile.

 

Regards – S Sampathkumar
10.4.2026

crossing the road !! ~ need for speed !!

 

Chennai City traffic could be frightening especially those coming from rural areas and for the first time ! It is a great challenge to cross road at places like Beach road where people drive mad at break-neck speeds. 

For those having to cross - need ....for ... speed !!!

meesaikara nanba !!!

 

 

 Taken in a village few years ago !!  attractive ! manly ..

~ focal length 34mm; ISO 800; Exp 1/125; F 7.1 ...

former Test Cricketer - CD Gopinath is no more !!

In the melee of IPL 2026 – how much of Cricket do you follow, do you watch matches daily.  Did you follow Ranji trophy -2025-26 – Jammu & Kashmir made history winning their maiden Ranji title defeating eight times champions Karnataka in the 91^st edition of the Indian (once) premier tournament   

Sadly,  Tamil Nadu concluded the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy season with a sixth-place finish in Elite Group A, failing to qualify for the knockout stages. After a difficult start that included an innings defeat to Jharkhand in their opening match, the team recorded its first victory of the season in the penultimate round by defeating Odisha.   

Long ago, when Test matches were telecast live in Doordarshan, there would be Commentators and one Expert Commentator !!      C: the ball has been hit to boundary and now the score is … .. .. – what do you think of that shot Sir ?  EC (Lala Amarnath, CD Gopinath .. … ) – it was a good shot, shot in length, went on backfoot, square cut for four ! –   

In the annals of Indian Cricket that Chennai test in Feb 1952 would remain a much remembered one.  India recorded their first victory defeating England by an innings and 8 runs. 

 

The sad news is :  Former India cricketer C.D. Gopinath passed away peacefully in Chennai today.  He was 96. Gopinath had been the last surviving member of India’s maiden Test win against England in 1952. He and his wife Comala, a former champion golfer, lived in Coonoor in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu. 

 

In that Test India made five changes from their previous side. Manjrekar, Nayudu, Shinde, Joshi and Adhikari stood down for Mushtaq Ali, Amarnath, Gopinath, Divecha and Sen. As originally chosen the side included Adhikari and omitted Umrigar, but a wrist injury due to a fall gave Umrigar another opportunity which he seized splendidly. Carr led England for the first time, Howard standing down with pleurisy, this being the one change from the Kanpur side. 

Born on March 1, 1930, Gopinath played eight Tests and 83 first-class matches for India and Madras. He made his Test debut against England at the Brabourne Stadium in 1951 and played his last match against Australia at Eden Gardens in 1960.  The right handed batsman scored 50* and 42 on his Test debut against the England cricket team in 1951–52, batting at No.8 in both innings.  He contributed a quick 35 in the final Test of that series when India recorded its first Test victory. 

He toured England in 1952 but could not shine much. At home he played Tests against Pakistan in 1952–53 and Australia in 1959–60, and toured Pakistan in 1954–55. He was chosen in the team to the West Indies in 1952–53 but turned down the invitation. Gopinath captained Madras from 1955–56 to 1962–63, as well as South Zone in the Duleep Trophy.  Later, he served as a national selector under Vijay Merchant and  as the chairman, and managed the 1979 tour to England. 

Tamil Nadu, then playing as Madras won Ranji Trophy for the 1st time in 1954-55.  They beat Holkar by 46 runs in the finals.  RB Alagannan was the Captain, Dl Chakravarthy (wk)- rest being S Balakrishna, M Suryanarayanan, AG Kripal Singh, CD Gopinath, MK Balakrishnan, J Ramakrishnan, BC Alva, AK Sarangapani & MK Murugesh.  Holkar put Madras in and Madras made 478 with CD Gopinath making 133.  Holkar were bowled out for 417.  Madras made 311 in its second innings with Kripal Singh scoring 91.   The victory margin was 46 runs. 

A right-handed batter, Gopinath featured in eight Tests for India in the 1950s and scored 242 runs with a highest score of 50 not out. In an accomplished First-Class career, Gopinath played 83 games for Madras and accumulated 4259 runs at a healthy average of 42.16, including nine centuries and 23 half-centuries.

 

Back in 22^nd Nov 2023, Kapil Dev had been invited for a book launch at Hotel Savera, CD Gopinath walked into the function hall – Kapil spoke very respectfully to him - @ 93 he walked steadily with pride.  Was fortunate to greet him, talk to him and took a couple of photos with him.

 

Rest in peace – CD Gopinath Sir

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
9.4.2026      

simple way of life !!!

 

 

Another day – early morning at Thirukudanthai [Kumbakonam]

- nothing special about this - admired this man for his poise

~ in  Metropolis, we do not get to see such simple things for decades now !!

Pic taken few years ago !!!

 

 

the feral dive !!!

 

  

Life often is all about views and perceptions –  we think that views differ from person to person – but they in fact change for the same person, viewing things differently.

 

In life missions – never hesitate, never vacillate, always be committed to the path of righteousness.  Once you have decied -     lean into the momentum and trust your wings.  In life, keep your eyes on the goal, but let your experience handle the "balancing act" automatically.

Black-rumped flameback ~ மனம் கொத்திப் பறவை !!!

 

Black-rumped flameback  ~   மனம் கொத்திப் பறவை  !!!

For long I could only differentiate between a ‘Crow and sparrow’ – now I am seeing Mynahs, Pigeons, Vultures, Parrots, Woodpeckers, and few other tiny tots on my terrace !!  

Today something on Woodpeckers !!  ~  It’s one of nature’s mysteries: How can woodpeckers, the smallest of which weigh less than an ounce, drill permanent holes into massive trees using only their tiny heads? New research shows that there’s much more at play, anatomically: When a woodpecker bores into wood, it uses not only its head but its entire body, as well as its breathing.  Woodpeckers operate at an extreme level, boring through solid wood with forces more than 30 times their own weight and drilling up to 13 times a second.  In most animals, the hyoid is a simple bone that anchors the tongue. In woodpeckers, it has evolved into a complex structure of bone and muscle that extends from the jaw, travels through the nostrils, and wraps entirely around the skull. By encircling the head like a high-tech racing harness, the tongue functions as a living shock absorber, cushioning the brain from lethal impacts.

மனம் கொத்திப் பறவை என்று ஒரு சினிமா வந்ததாக ஞாபகம் - தேடியதில், சிவகார்த்திகேயன், சூரி,   ஆத்மியா ஆகியோர் நடித்த படம் என்று அறிகிறேன்.  இது மர வாழ் பறவை மரங்கொத்தி பற்றியது. 

மிகவும் கூர்மையான, வலுவான அலகுகளைக் கொண்ட மரங்கொத்தி  பறவைகளுக்குப் மரங்களிலும் வாழும் பூச்சிகளே முக்கிய உணவு. இந்தப் பறவையின் நாக்கு நீளமாகவும், பசைத் தன்மை கொண்டிருப்பதாலும் தன் அலகு செல்ல முடியாத மரப்பொந்துகளில், தன் நாக்கை நீட்டி, அங்குள்ள பூச்சிகளைப் பிடித்து உண்ணும். பூச்சிகள் தவிர, பழங்கள், பருப்புகள், பூவிலிருக்கும் தேன் ஆகியவையும் இவை விரும்பி உண்ணும். மரங்கொத்திகள் மரத்தில் துளையிட்டு அதில் தங்களது குஞ்சுகளை வளர்க்கும்.] மரத்தை இவை கொத்தும்போது ஏற்படும் ஒலியைத் தவிர, தன் இனத்தைச் சேர்ந்த இதர பறவைகளுடன் தொடர்புகொள்ள மரத்தைத் தன் அலகால் தட்டித் தட்டி ஒலி எழுப்பக்கூடியன.  

Bird-sighting !!  - Bird-watching,  the observing of birds,  is indeed interesting. You might spot an odd one with naked eye but more difficult to capture them with a camera.  As you stand in the early hours of morning, there would be so much of interesting sounds of various birds that attract .. ..  that is for common man. 

Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the "methodological study and consequent knowledge of birds with all that relates to them." Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds. They study various aspects of bird life - evolution, behaviour, food habits, migration, mating patterns, and more. 

Spotted here in the photo is not an ordinary wood pecker but “black-rumped flameback” (Dinopium benghalense), also known as the lesser golden-backed woodpecker found widely distributed in the Indian subcontinent. It has a characteristic rattling-whinnying call and an undulating flight. It is the only golden-backed woodpecker with a black throat and a black rump.

The black-rumped flameback is a large species at 26–29 cm in length. It has a typical woodpecker shape, and the golden yellow wing coverts are distinctive. The rump is black and not red as in the greater flameback. The underparts are white with dark chevron markings. The black throat finely marked with white immediately separates it from other golden backed woodpeckers in the Indian region. Like other woodpeckers, this species has a straight pointed bill, a stiff tail to provide support against tree trunks, and zygodactyl feet, with two toes pointing forward, and two backward.  

      They feed on insects mainly beetle larvae from under the bark, visit termite mounds and sometimes feed on nectar.   The black-rumped flameback was described and illustrated by two pre-Linnaean English naturalists from a dried specimen that had been brought to London. It  was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Picus benghalensis.   

Interesting !  - this one came to my house terrace a couple of years ago,  posed very briefly before flying away.  

 
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
6.4.2026
  

அவள் ஒரு மேனகை; என் அபிமான தாரகை

 

Tinseldom, Cinema is a dream factory !!  Everyday thousands dream to become a Hero or heroine, becoming famous overnight and earning crores. 

Am unable to understand how the heroes of 1970s still linger with hope of acting in one more film and overtly state that they still need more money – what happens to the crores earned during their half-century of career !!!  Ever heard of a hero (rather a main actor) in a Tamil movie of 1980 involving a famous heroine ! – Hari Prasath !! 

அவள் ஒரு மேனகை; என் அபிமான தாரகை;  அவள் ஒரு மேனகை

 

கலையென்னும் மானிடை மின்னும் தேவதை

காவிய வடியோரு நடமாடும் பொன்மகள் - ரஞ்சனி சிவரஞ்சனி சிவரஞ்சனி 

 

This song with music of Shankar Ganesh was a big hit – movie - Natchathiram (transl. Star) directed by Dasari Narayana Rao and starring Sripriya released in 1980.  It starred Hariprasath, Mohan Babu and host of others in guest roles. It was a remake of the 1978 Telugu film Sivaranjani where the famous film actress was played by Jayasudha.  

 

Nothing of the above has any relevance to the angel pictured by me today – with some background edit – a beautiful white Pigeon

 

Regards – S Sampathkumar
5.4.2026