Kanchipuram is a Temple city, a vibrant city of Silk weavers and
shops –
Sri
Varadharaja Perumal Vaikasi Brahmothsavam
is
not simply an annual event – it is emotion of devotees.
Random picture taken in front of a Silk shop as employees came
out to have darshan of Devathirajar Venugopala thirukkolam purappadu on
2.6.2026
Heard of Battle of Hafrsfjord ?
A proud day for the Nation
– once a tongue-twister of a name R.
Praggnanandhaa... is most written name now.
The chess world and fans have gotten used to it as the Indian
Grandmaster just keeps winning titles and accolades.
It is indeed a fairy-tale finish at Oslo. Praggnanandhaa said conscious effort to play faster helped in Norway Chess 2026 title win. After two losses midway through the tournament and being relegated to last place on the leaderboard, Praggnanandhaa staged a remarkable turnaround to win the title. He defeated Germany's Vincent Keymer in the 10th and final round of the classical event, securing the top prize of $100,000. On his way to the title, Praggnanandhaa also registered impressive wins over World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and compatriot D Gukesh.
Oslo is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. During the Viking Age, the area was part of Viken. Oslo was founded as a city at the end of the Viking Age in 1040 under the name Ánslo, and established as a kaupstad or trading place in 1048 by Harald Hardrada. After being destroyed by a fire in 1624, during the reign of King Christian IV, a new city was built closer to Akershus Fortress and named Christiania in honour of the king. In 1925, the city, after incorporating the village retaining its former name, was renamed 'Oslo'.
Defeating Magnus Carlsen to the title in
his own backyard, in a tournament he has dominated, is no mean feat, and he did
it in style, winning four classical games in a row to storm to the top. “... Winning this is more special, and Magnus
was there. Also winning four in a row,” Praggnanandhaa told the Indian media
after beating Germany’s Vincent Keymer in the 10th and final round to register
a historic maiden triumph in Norway Chess 2026 at Deichman Bjorvika on Friday
night. It may or may not be the biggest title of his career thus far, but his
history-making victory was a hugely popular one. He was swarmed by fans but managed
to please them with autographs and pictures.
Norway Chess 2026 was the 14th edition of the annual chess tournament, held for the first time in Oslo, started on 25th May and ended on 5th June 2026. The field of six players featured world number one Magnus Carlsen, world champion Gukesh Dommaraju, Vincent Keymer, Alireza Firouzja, Wesley So and R Praggnanandhaa. The third edition of the Norway Chess Women was also held simultaneously, featuring women's world champion Ju Wenjun. Carlsen and Anna Muzychuk were the defending champions. The Open Section was won by R Praggnanandhaa; Bibisara Assaubayeva won the women's section with a round to spare.
The tournament was a Six player, double round-robin tournaments, meaning there were 10 rounds with each player facing the others twice in classical chess. Like in previous editions, Norway Chess 2026 featured a unique system wherein players played an armageddon game in case the classical game was drawn. The time control for the classical games was 120 minutes for the entire game, with an increment of 10 seconds starting from move 41.
Norway Chess tweeted : Rameshbabu
Praggnanandhaa is the Champion. An
unforgettable edition of Norway Chess comes to a close! Praggnanandhaa clinched the title with a
crucial final-round classical victory over Vincent Keymer, while Bibisara
Assaubayeva secured the Norway Chess Women crown with one round to spare. Congratulations to all players for an
incredible tournament!
However, his journey in the tournament was
far from smooth, as he found himself at the bottom of the points table at one
stage. After starting with a win against Wesley So, Praggnanandhaa suffered
defeats against Alireza Firouzja and Gukesh. Despite the setbacks, Pragg kept
his composure and scripted a remarkable comeback to clinch the title in style.
After beating Keymer in the final round, Praggnanandhaa revealed that his
mother, Nagalakshmi, had made a striking prediction on June 1.
Bibisara Assaubayeva) is a Kazakhstani chess grandmaster. She is the reigning three-time Women's World Blitz Chess Champion. At the 2025 Sharjah Masters tournament, Assaubayeva qualified for the grandmaster title.
The Battle of Hafrsfjord was a monumental naval engagement fought between 872 AD and 900 AD that resulted in the unification of Norway under its first sole monarch, King Harald Fairhair. Fought in a fjord near modern-day Stavanger, it stands as the most famous and definitive clash of the Norwegian Viking Age. Prior to the battle, Norway was a fragmented mosaic of competing petty kingdoms, tribal territories, and regional warlords. Norway's history is defined by its transition from the legendary Viking Age of expansion to a unified kingdom. The country was first unified by Harald Fairhair in 872 AD, and later saw several formidable rulers and conquerors shape its trajectory through the Middle Ages and into modern independence.
Pre-script:
this was made quite a few months ago ! – failed to post ... anyway,
better late than never – my tributs to Capt. Anuj Nayyar.
Indian Trains have Names besides the Numbers. As you would know, Trains now have 5 digit numbers – earlier they were 4 digits. Many a trains are named after Gods, rivers, important places in the origin or destination – ……. Some are named after personalities and some after traits too.. there are some luxurious trains too……. On August 15, 1977, a train woke up the people as it began its inaugural journey from the temple town of Madurai with 16 yellow and green livery coaches and a matching YDM4 diesel loco. Livery – heard or seen earlier ?
Locomotive nomenclature is a system of codes and names that classify locomotives by their track gauge, motive power, intended traffic type, and model/series, with each position in the code representing a specific characteristic, such as the letter 'W' for Broad Gauge or 'D' for Diesel in the Indian Railways system. For example, a WDM-2 locomotive is a Broad gauge, Diesel-powered, Mixed-use locomotive of the 2nd seriesIndian Railways names locomotives in two ways: a standard alphabetical/numerical classification system that indicates the locomotive's type (e.g., WAG-9 for Broad gauge, AC, Goods) or specific engines, a tribute system that inscribes the names of national heroes, such as war heroes and freedom fighters, to honor their sacrifices and contributions.
The Kargil War of 1999 is one of the most defining moments in India’s military history. The war was fought between India and Pakistan in the high-altitude terrain of Jammu and Kashmir. It was sparked by the infiltration of Pakistani military personnel across the Line of Control (LoC) into the Kargil District. It lasted for approximately two months, from May to July, and saw some of the most intense and heroic acts of bravery. Among the many gallant soldiers who rose to the occasion, Captain Anuj Nayyar of the 17 JAT Regiment remains a symbol of courage, selflessness, and sacrifice.
One of the most strategically important objectives was Point 4875, a heavily fortified position held by the enemy. In response, the 17 JAT was inducted into the valley on May 26, 1999, with the primary task of capturing vital features, including Pimple 1, Pimple 2, and Whale Back.
Citation: On 06 July 1999, Charlie Company was tasked to capture an objective, which was a part of the Pimple Complex on the Western Slopes of Point 4875, in the Mushkoh Valley. At the beginning of the attack, the Company Commander got injured and the command of the company devolved on Captain Anuj Nayyar. Captain Nayyar continued to command his leading platoon into the attack under heavy enemy artillery and mortar fire. As the platoon advanced, the leading section reported the location of 3 to 4 enemy positions. Captain Nayyar moved forward towards the first enemy position and fired a rocket launcher and lobbed grenades into it.
Thereafter, the section, along with Captain Nayyar, physically assaulted and cleared the position. The enemy, which was well entrenched, brought a heavy volume of automatic fire. Captain Anuj Nayyar, unmindful of his personal safety, motivated his men and cleared two more enemy positions. While clearing the fourth position an enemy rocket-propelled grenade hit the officer and martyred him on the spot. This action led by Captain Anuj Nayyar resulted in the killing of nine enemy soldiers and the destruction of three medium machine gun positions of the enemy. The success of this operation after a brief setback was largely due to the outstanding personal bravery and exemplary junior leadership of this daring officer. Captain Anuj Nayyar displayed indomitable resolve, grit, and determination and motivated his command by personal example acting beyond the call of duty and made the supreme sacrifice in true traditions of the Indian Army.
Anuj Nayyar was born and grew up in Delhi, India. His father, Satish Kumar Nayyar, worked as a visiting professor in Delhi School of Economics while his mother, Meena Nayyar, worked for the South Campus library of Delhi University. Nayyar received his high-school education from Army Public School, Dhaula Kuan (1993 batch). He graduated from the National Defence Academy and later was commissioned into the 17th battalion, Jat Regiment (17 Jat) in June 1997 from the Indian Military academy.
Nayyar was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his bravery and leadership in combat. A School in Janakpuri area of Delhi, was named as "Shaheed Captain Anuj Nayyar Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya. A road in Janakpuri area of Delhi, was named as "Captain Anuj Nayyar Marg. and on the 76th Republic Day (26 Jan 2025), India paid tribute to Kargil hero as Southern Railway dedicated a locomotive in his name "Captain Anuj Nayyar”
The Kargil conflict was marked by examples of extraordinary valour
of men and officers of the Indian armed forces. Bravery was immortalised! As commemorating the
unparalleled valour and sacrifice of Maha Vir Chakra awardee Captain Anuj
Nayyar in the 1999 Kargil War, Indian Railways proudly dedicated the WAG-9 HC
locomotive to his memory at the Electric Loco Shed, Arakkonam. The brand-new
AJJ WAG-9 HC 38944 was dedicated to Captain Anuj Nayyar, Maha Vir Chakra, of
the JAT Regiment, honoring his bravery and supreme sacrifice in the 1999 Kargil
War.
His mother was to say on the occasion : “He was only 23 years old, and I have lived 25 years without him. It is not an easy journey, but I would like to thank everyone on Team Railway……He was a wonderful son, wonderful brother, and, moreover, a wonderful Soldier.” Anuj was only two months away from his wedding when tragedy struck. He was about to marry his school-time sweetheart, but the clothes for his wedding remained untouched, a symbol of the dreams that were left unfulfilled. When asked how this gesture would help keep her son’s legacy alive, Mrs. Nayyar said, “If something is done by the Government in the name of Captain Anuj, it will inspire the youth of this country.”
That reference to Independence Day of
1977 at the start - and the train is : the
iconic Vaigai Express embarking on its
inaugural journey. Flagged off from
Madurai Junction at 6:00 a.m., the legendary daytime express covered the 492 km
route to Madras Egmore in a record-breaking 7 hours and 15 minutes, matching the
speed of broad-gauge high-speed train
Thirukkurungudi
Azhwan walks majestically
Candid
photo taken this morning at Thiruvallikkeni Sri Parthasarathi swami temple highlighting the Sunlight effect
They are chirpy, extremely active, adorable ! - the Squirrels. Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae, a
family that includes small or medium-size rodents. Tails are appendages at the rear !!
In the greatest epic Ramayana, one interesting episode is that involving the little squirrel - it is a perfect example of not getting overawed by the situation nor by what others did, but contributing one’s mite towards fulfillment of the target. ~ and we know that Lord Sri Rama was so compassionate .. ..
The squirrel family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots (including woodchucks), flying squirrels, and prairie dogs amongst other rodents. Squirrels are indigenous to Asia, America, Eurasia, and Africa, and were introduced by humans to Australia. Squirrels get lots of attention from humans, but not always much appreciation. We tend to dwell on the stolen birdseed or the occupied attics, yet squirrels have a long, mostly harmless — and often entertaining — history of living in our midst.
A couple of interesting facts : A Squirrel’s front teeth never stop growing. They have to keep gnawing on nuts, bark, and hard objects to wear them down. Squirrels can find buried food even under a foot of snow by using their strong sense of smell.
Ever heard of this story of Ratatoskr from Norse mythology: a squirrel that runs up and down the world-tree Yggdrasil carrying insults and messages between an eagle at the top and a serpent at the roots. The story is less about heroism and more about how gossip can keep conflict alive.
A squirrel lived in the great tree between heaven and underworld. Every day it carried words from the eagle above to the serpent below, but it never carried them cleanly; it sharpened every message into an insult. Soon the eagle and serpent were consumed by anger, while the squirrel darted on, pleased by the chaos. The lesson is that a messenger who loves drama can turn small words into endless war. Another one from darkest Norse myths is the story of Baldr’s death, which feels like a prophecy of the world falling apart.
Baldr, the beloved son of Odin and Frigg, began to dream of his own death. Frigg, desperate to protect him, made everything in the world swear not to harm him: fire, iron, stones, animals, diseases, and every other thing she could think of. But she overlooked one harmless-looking thing, mistletoe, because it seemed too young and weak to matter.
The Gods soon turned Baldr’s invulnerability into a game. They threw spears and stones at him, laughing as every weapon glanced off without harm. Then Loki, cruel and clever, found the one thing that could kill him. He made a spear or arrow from mistletoe and gave it to Baldr’s blind brother Höðr, guiding his hand. The missile struck Baldr, and the god of light fell dead. The hall went silent. Grief swept through the Gods and men. Odin’s sorrow was not just for a son, but for the knowledge that even divine love cannot stop fate. The attempt to cheat destiny only made the loss more terrible. In Norse thought, this is one of the great warnings: doom comes even when you try to outrun it.
The myth becomes darker still because Baldr’s death is not just a tragedy by itself; it is a sign that Ragnarök is approaching, the final collapse worlds, and order. What makes it intense is the cold Norse feeling behind it: the universe is beautiful, but it is not safe, and sometimes the things that seem smallest can bring down what is greatest.
Ragnarök is the Norse end-of-the-world myth: a chain of disasters, betrayals, and battles that ends with gods, monsters, and much of the world destroyed. It is often described as the “doom” or “twilight” of the gods, and in some versions the world rises again afterward. The story usually begins with a brutal winter and social collapse, then moves into cosmic violence: wolves break free, seas rise, monsters attack, and the final war begins. What makes Ragnarök so intense is that the gods do not simply lose because they are weak; they lose because fate cannot be escaped. The myth feels fatalistic in a very Norse way: courage matters, but survival is never guaranteed.
A squirrel tail is
the large, bushy appendage at the end of a squirrel's body, which is essential
for the animal's survival and serves multiple critical functions beyond just
appearing fluffy. Squirrels can survive without their tails but
lose mobility, balance, and communication abilities, hopping like rabbits
instead of moving normally.
Light
is the lifeline and the very definition of photography—
You need light but just that of what
is required and nothing more. Without
light - there is no image, no story, no
emotion.
A picture taken sometime
back in late evening at a School hall –
low light, no flash photography ! -
likely you all know this place too.
For a first
time visitor to a Metropolis there are some things bemusing and some threatening, more so, if you are driving a vehicle,
looking out for directions .. .. when it reopened after changes in 2008, even
to Chennaite motorists it was puzzling to say the least !!
Kathipara Junction is one of the most critical, iconic transit hubs in Chennai, famously known for housing the largest cloverleaf flyover in South Asia. Located in Alandur, it sits right at the crucial intersection of major arterial lifelines: Grand Southern Trunk Road (NH 45), Inner Ring Road, Anna Salai, and Mount-Poonamallee Road. Over the last few years, the space directly beneath this massive architectural marvel has been transformed into a buzzing city hotspot.
Kathipara flyover is closer to Alandur Metro hub where two metro lines merge. Alandur is a place linked to development from a rural area to a modern city hub, influenced by 18th century Anglo-French wars, and the Bengali regiments stationed over there – to a market at MKN Road (Muthu Kumarasami Naicker !)
The main Kathipara flyover in Chennai was officially inaugurated and opened to the public on October 26, 2008. Before the brilliant and confusing - cloverleaf flyover was built, the junction was a large, signal-controlled roundabout – and there was a statue of Jawaharlal Nehru releasing a dove.
The Congress Party in Tamil Nadu must be appreciated for its pragmatism and not politicizing this ….. as the statue of Jawaharlal Nehru was removed from its place to give way for the flyover and now stands forlorn in the roundabout from airport towards Porur beneath the bridge. It has some added significance as on that fateful day in May 1991 –on a election campaign, Rajiv Gandhji landed up at Madras, met the press, stopped at Kathipara Junction at around 0915 pm to garland Jawaharlal Nehru’s statue …… reached Sriperumpudur, garlanded the statue of Indira Gandhi and took that fateful step at around 10.20 pm at Sriperumpudur… makes a sad reading.
பூவில்
வண்டு கூடும் கண்டு பூவும் கண்கள் மூடும் ! .. ..
ராகம்
ஜீவனாகும் நெஞ்சின் ஓசை தாளமாகும் !!
ராகதேவன் இளையராஜா கிறங்க அடித்த
(ஓடாத) காதல் ஓவியம் என்ற படப் பாடல்
