Mangala Innisai ~ Nadaswaram & Thavil

மங்கள இன்னிசை 💐

திருவல்லிக்கேணி திருக்கோவில் வித்வான்கள்

திரு பிரகாஷ் நாதஸ்வரம் திரு சாய் சண்முகநாதன் தவில் 

: https://youtu.be/axylnz6d_fs

Respects to Hindu High School Master

 

During my recent trip to Kanchipuram for Sri Varadharajar Brahmothsavam – met Sri TC Rangaswamy – teacher for 6^th 7^th standards in Hindu High School, Triplicane  in mid 1970s.

 

He was not my class teacher (I studied under MR Varadharajan) – paid my respects to him and took photos of him.

 

Regards – S Sampathkumar

2.6.2026

Manav Suthar's day out ! an impressive debut !

 

India’s latest Cricketer – debutant – Cap no. 319 – moments of glory at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium at Chandigarh. 

Test match no. 2621 – India has thrashed  Afghanisthan by  an Innings & 300 runs defeat.   

In recent decade,  Spin was all Ravichandran Ashwin & Ravindra Jadeja – spinning out opponents, especially on home wickets.  When Ashwin suddenly retired,  Tanush Karunakar  Kotian, the Mumbai offspin-bowling allrounder, was  picked as R Ashwin's replacement in India's squad for the fourth and fifth Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests.  

 

The man of this post is MJ Suthar.  Even without Ashwin, there was no place for a fourth spinner   behind Jadeja, Kuldeep and Washington, if India continue to leave out Axar Patel.   With Ashwin now retired, Jadeja rested, and Axar Patel dropped for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, there was a rare opportunity for an India spinner to earn a Test cap. Remarkably, the last spinner to make his red-ball debut for India was Axar himself, back in 2021. 

At the time when I started watching Test  matches it was magic of Bishan Singh Bedi – read that there were Vinoo Mankad, Babu Nadkarni earlier.  Bedi was magical - Padmakar Shivalkar, Rajender Goel, Rajinder Singh Hans, B Vijayakrishna, S Vasudevan were unable to break into the National Team.   After him, so many left arm spinners have played for India - Dhiraj Parsanna,  Dilip Doshi, Raghuram Bhat, Maninder Singh, Ravi Shastri, WV Raman, Venkatapathi Raju, Sunil Joshi, Nilesh Kulkarni, Rahul Sanghvi, Murali Karthik, Pragyan Ojha, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadhav, Shabhaz Nadeem, Axar Patel   .. … 

So it was a toss between Vidarbha's Harsh Dubey &  Rajasthan's Manav Suthar  !  At this stage of their careers, they are as alike as two cricketers can probably be. Both  are 23-year-old left-arm spin-bowling allrounders, born within 11 days of each other. Dubey has played 27 first-class matches; Suthar 29. Dubey has 133 wickets, Suthar 129. Dubey has scored 1026 runs at 25.65; Suthar 945 at 25.54.   and both bat left-handed. 

Manav Suthar got his chance this time and grabbed it with both bands.  For Afghan, there was a debutant too - left-arm orthodox spinner, Nangeyalia Kharote.    

Manav Jagdusakumar Suthar bowling looked all different  in New Chandigarh. Showing lot of promise last afternoon, he plucked up three wickets, turned into a dream extended spell on day three. He finished with 6 for 33 as India bundled out Afghanistan for 152 and enforced the follow-on.   

Manav Suthar has etched his name in the history books by becoming the 10th Indian to take a five-wicket haul on his Test debut. After performing consistently in domestic cricket and adding wickets to his tally, the spin all-rounder had  outstanding figures of 6/33 from his 22 overs, which included 10 maidens.  In the second innings, he took one wicket only

 
Well done Manav Suthar
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
8.6.2026

சித்திர செவ்வானம் சிரிக்க கண்டேன். ~~ Pigeon dive

 

எதிர் ஜன்னலில் உட்கார்ந்து இருந்த அந்த அழகியை சில நிமிடங்கள் நின்று உற்று பார்த்தேன்.  அவள் அழகினில் மயங்கினேன்.  திடீரென அவள் என்னை நோக்கி பாய்ந்து வந்தாள்

 

இசைஞானி இளையராஜாவின் நூறு வயலின்கள் ரீங்கரிக்க பின்னணியில் இந்த பாடல் என் காதில் ஒலித்தது.

 

தைய்யார தைய்யா..... தைய்யார தைய்யா.....

தைய்யார தைய்யா..... தைய்யார தைய்யா.....

 

சித்திர செவ்வானம் சிரிக்க கண்டேன்..  தைய்யார தைய்யா.....(பின்னணி)

என் முத்தான முத்தம்மா.. என் கண்ணானக் கண்ணம்மா..

 

காற்றினிலே வரும் கீதம் படம்

பாடல் வரிகள் : பஞ்சு அருணாசலம்

பாடகர் : ஜெயச்சந்திரன்

இசை : இளையராஜா

 

இறக்கை பரபரக்க அவள் என்னை தாண்டி சென்ற போதும் அந்த நினைவாகவே மேலும் நின்றேன்.

 

வாழ்க்கையில் மற்றுமொரு இனிய நாள் !!!  கொஞ்சும் புறாவே !!

Pigeon in flight clicked by me

7.6.2026

Livonian survival story ~~~ Evika Siliņa !!!

 

An interesting Political post not of what is happening in Tamil Nadu  – believe me – She is not a fashion model but a Politician.  Thousands of miles away is Košrags,  a small village in Kolka Parish, Talsi Municipality, Latvia. It sits on the shore of the Irbe Strait of the Baltic Sea. It is one of twelve Livonian villages on Līvõd rānda (Livonian Coast).

 

One of the most fascinating Livonian stories is the legend of the two survivors after the plague – a tale of near-total extinction and miraculous renewal from the Livonian coast in northwestern Latvia. 

Latvia,  is a country in the Baltic region of northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia   and Belarus   and shares a maritime border with Sweden Latvia covers an area of 64,573 km2 (24,932 sq mi) with a population of 1.83 million which would compare to that of Thane in India, 7 times smaller than that of  Chennai !!   

The name Latvija is derived from the name of the ancient Latgalians, one of four Indo-European Baltic tribes (along with Curonians, Selonians and Semigallians), which formed the ethnic core of modern Latvians together with the Finnic Livonians 

The good looking women at the start is : Evika Siliņa  a Latvian lawyer and politician who served as prime minister of Latvia from 2023 to 2026.  Recently she had to resign following the collapse of her government coalition,  and remained in office as caretaker prime minister until her successor, Andris Kulbergs, was appointed two weeks later.

 

On 16 August 2023, after the resignation of Krišjānis Kariņš, the New Unity nominated Siliņa as a candidate for the post of prime minister.  The government coalition led by Siliņa won the confidence of the parliamentary majority in the Saeima on 15 September 2023, receiving 53 votes.  In her speech, the new Prime Minister emphasized the need to be more inclusive, which was interpreted as prioritizing gender equality and other progressive goals. For the Russian-speaking minority, inclusion assumes elimination of the "non-citizen" status and integration into the Latvian-based education system.   Siliņa was the second woman to become prime minister of Latvia, following Laimdota Straujuma in 2014–2016. 

On 14 May 2026, Siliņa announced her resignation as Prime Minister after the Progressives withdrew support from her government.  They did so after Siliņa fired Defence Minister Andris Spruds following the explosion of two drones in eastern Latvia during the Russo-Ukrainian war. Andris Kulbergs who serves as the president of the Latvian Authorised Automobile Dealers Association  is the new President now. 

Now that interesting  survival story :    

Before the plague, the Livonian people thrived in villages along Cape Kolka in northwestern Latvia—Melnsils, Kolka, Vaide, Saunags, Pitrags, Košrags, and Mazirbe. They were a Balto-Finnic people, speaking a language related to Finnish and Estonian, fishing in the Baltic Sea, and living peacefully together. Then the plague arrived. It swept through the villages like a silent wolf, killing everyone. One by one, families fell. Fishermen never returned. Children stopped playing. The wooden houses stood empty, and the Livonian language grew quiet.  

When the plague finally ended, only two people remained alive—one in Saunags, the other in Sīkrags.   

The survivor from Saunags woke days later and walked through the dead village, calling names no one answered. He searched for miles until, near Sīkrags, he saw fresh footsteps in the sand. Someone had walked here. Someone was alive. His heart exploded. He dropped to his knees and kissed the footsteps, pressing his lips to the sand where another human being had walked. He cried, tears mixing with the dust.  

From Sīkrags, the other survivor emerged. He had seen the footsteps too. And he, too, kissed them. The two men found each little more than souls from a world that had disappeared. They were the last Livonians in Cape Kolka.  

"We are alone," said the man from Saunags.

"No," replied the man from Sīkrags. "We are two."  

Years later, new people arrived—families from Saaremaa (Estonia) and Finland who sailed across the Baltic Sea for new land. Two brothers from Finland arrived in Košrags and built two wooden houses: Anduļu sēta and Žoki. Their descendants grew up. The names survived. The two Livonian survivors lived long enough to see their people begin again. They never forgot the plague. They never forgot the emptiness. But they remembered the footsteps. They remembered kissing the sand. And they remembered that even when everyone dies, if two people remain, the world is not yet lost. Today, the two houses still stand in Košrags. The Livonian people, though nearly erased, still exist. Their language whispers in the wind along Cape Kolka—a testament to survival after the plague.

 

Māris Štrombergs   is a Latvian former professional BMX racer. In the 2008 Summer Olympics he became the first Olympic champion in BMX cycling.   In 2012 he added to his Olympic title by winning the gold medal in the London Olympics.   In 2018 Māris Štrombergs announced his retirement.

 

Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
7.6.2026

 

Sri Devathi Rajar brahmothsavam 2026 - bakthi !!

 

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

 

 

Praggnanandhaa is Champion of Norway Chess 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 25^th May and ended on 5^th 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. 

Interesting !!   – hearty Congratulations to Champion R. Praggnanandhaa.
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
6.6.2026

 

Indian Railways honoured Martyr Capt Anuj Nayyar by naming Locomotive after him

 

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

 
Jai Hind, Salute Anuj Nayyar and the brave sons of India who defend our Nation.
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar

 

temple lights !! @ Triplicane

 

Thirukkurungudi Azhwan walks majestically

 

Candid photo taken this morning at Thiruvallikkeni Sri Parthasarathi swami temple  highlighting the Sunlight effect

  

fluffy tail of a Squirrel !!!

 

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.

 
Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
5.6.2026

A school hall - late evening !

 

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.

Kathipara Junction

 

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. 

Regards – S Sampathkumar
3.6.2026
PS : edited photo