vegetable market ... in your locality !!

 

Scene of a local  vegetable market  

 

Those used to buying groceries and vegetables in Super market will never get to admire these !!  

A bustling vegetable market pulses with life early each morning. Vendors artfully pile vibrant greens like Cabbage,  spinach and fenugreek, ruby tomatoes, sunny marigold carrots, and knobby potatoes into neat pyramids, their colors popping under the sun.

 

The air carries earthy scents of fresh soil and herbs mingling with shouts of "Fresh curry leaves, madam!" as shoppers haggle good-naturedly. It's a symphony of activity—baskets clinking, weighing scales creaking, and smiles exchanged over the day's best deals.

common man ......... ......... and news !!

 

ஹல்லோ !!!  சார் !  -  ஹோர்முஸ் ஜலசந்தி  எப்ப முழுசா திறப்பீங்க !!

 

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow channel, approximately 30 miles wide at the narrowest point, between the Omani Musandam Peninsula and Iran. It connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. The Strait is deep and relatively free of maritime hazards. Its depth is greatest near the Musandam Peninsula and tapers as you move north toward the Iranian shore.

 

there are 3 seen - one who reads print media, one who perhaps is looking at social media and another super dreamer who can blame everything and has fears in his mind - even on midday not awake to the reality. [i am only explaining my photo]

A goniometer – what ? பாகைமானி !!

 

A goniometer – what ?   பாகைமானி என்றால் என்னவென்று தெரியுமா ! 

We can measure Angles in Degrees.  There are 360 degrees in one Full Rotation (one complete circle around). Perhaps the first knowledge prize that we got in our school days was a Geometry box !  it was a set of basic equipment required for regular use in Schools in doing  diagram and graphs. The box usually consisted  of a compass, a 15cm ruler, a divider, 2 set squares and a protractor.  Protractors usually have two sets of numbers going in opposite directions. The outer scale starts from 0° and goes up to 180° in a clockwise direction, and the inner scale has the same range in the counterclockwise direction.  

பாகை என்பது கோணத்தை அளப்பதற்குரிய ஒரு அலகு ஆகும். இது 60 கலைக்குச் சமனானது ஆகும். இது ° என்னும் குறியீட்டினால் குறிக்கப்படுவது வழக்கம். 60° என எழுதும்போது அது 60 பாகை என்பதைக் குறிக்கும். ஒரு தளத்தில் அதிலுள்ள ஒரு புள்ளியை முழுவதுமாகக் சுற்றி அமையும் கோணம் 360 பாகை (360°) ஆகும்.  

வடிவவியலில், பாகைமானி அல்லது கோணமானி (Protractor) கோணங்களை அளவிடும், பொதுவாக ஊடுபுகக்கூடிய பேர்பெக்சாலான, ஒரு சதுர, வட்ட அல்லது அரை வட்டக் கருவியாகும்.  

A goniometer is an instrument that either measures an angle or allows an object to be rotated to a precise angular position. The term goniometry derives from two Greek words, γωνία (gōnía) 'angle' and μέτρον (métron) 'measure'.  Better known as the  protractor, it  is a commonly used type in the fields of mechanics, engineering, and geometry.   The first known description of a goniometer, based on the astrolabe, was by Gemma Frisius in 1538.

A protractor,  a measuring instrument, is  typically made of transparent plastic or glass, for measuring angles. Some protractors are simple half-discs or full circles. More advanced protractors, such as the bevel protractor, have one or two swinging arms, which can be used to help measure the angle.  Most protractors measure angles in degrees (°). Radian-scale protractors measure angles in radians. Most protractors are divided into 180 equal parts. Some precision protractors further divide degrees into arcminutes. A protractor divided in centiturns is normally called a "percentage protractor".

 

Interesting !

 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
28.3.2026

Kumbakonam Temple Elephant ~ Mangala !

கண்ணாரும் அருமணியைக், காரோணத் தாரமுதை

நண்ணாதார் புரமெரித்த, நான்மறையின் பொருளானைப் .. ..

கண்ணகத்தே நின்று களிதரும் அரிய மணி போன்றவரும், திருக்குடந்தைக் காரோணத்தில் எழுந்தருளியிருக்கும் அமுதம் போன்றவரும், பகைவரின் முப்புரங்களை எரித்த நான்மறைகளின் பொருளாக விளங்குபவருமான - 

ஆதிகும்பேஸ்வரர் எழுந்தருளி இருக்கும் திருத்தலத்தில்,

புண்ணியம் செய்த மங்களா யானை

 

Profile pic of Sri Adhi Kumbeswarar temple (Kumbakonam) temple elephant *Mangala* - taken in 2023

face found on a city Auto-rickshaw

In Chennai city roads (as also in many other cities) there is this ubiquitous transport vehicle – Auto rickshaw.  The hero is an auto-driver in some movies (esp Rajini / Ajith).  In many autos, one can see the pictures of MGR, Rajinikanth, Ajith, as also some political leaders including Thiru. Annamalai. Never imagined that one auto could have this person’s picture on its front wind-shield glass !! No not this picture of Virat Kohli ….. it is  far, far different !!

 

North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is an East Asian country occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. It is a highly centralized totalitarian state  - its Supreme leader is - Kim Jong Un, a position he has held since the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, in December 2011. He is the third leader in the Kim dynasty, which has ruled the country since its founding by his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, in 1948.   Ri Sol-ju  is the First Lady of North Korea and the wife of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. Since 2018, she has held the official title of "Respected First Lady," a significant elevation in status compared to previous leaders' spouses.

 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has formally designated South Korea as the country’s “most hostile state,” marking a definitive legal and ideological break in inter-Korean relations. According to the North’s state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim codified a permanent state of enmity while signaling a “ready for any choice” posture toward the United States in his speech delivered on March 23 during the first session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA). The declaration represents the final institutionalization of the “two hostile states” doctrine Kim first introduced in late 2023. By addressing the rubber-stamp parliament, Kim effectively elevated the exclusion of South Korea from a partner for reconciliation to a matter of supreme state policy. 

Kim has cited the ongoing war in Iran as proof that North Korea's nuclear arsenal is necessary for military deterrence against the United States. He declared North Korea's nuclear status "irreversible".  Meantime,  Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Pyongyang on March 25, 2026, to sign a fundamental friendship treaty and expand cooperation in trade, agriculture, and healthcare.

 

Kim  was educated in Switzerland at a state school in Berne (1998–2001) before attending Kim Il Sung Military University in Pyongyang. He is married to Ri Sol-ju. In recent years, his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, has frequently appeared at official events, leading to speculation that she is being groomed as his successor. His sister, Kim Yo Jong, is also a high-ranking official.  

 

It’s quite a striking contrast to see a portrait of a North Korean leader on an autorickshaw, seen and photographed at Triplicane this evening.   It's not uncommon   for drivers to decorate their vehicles with images of   political figures, cine actors and Sports personalities but this particular choice is definitely strange.  When spoken to, the auto-driver simply said, he wanted to be different from the crowd and hence this photo.

 

Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
25.3.2026
  

3 Parakeets !! ~ கல்லிலும் இறைமை !! கிளிகளில் இயற்கை. !!

கல்லிலும் நாம் காண்பது இறைமை !!  கிளிகளில்  நிறைந்திருப்பது இயற்கை. !!

 

Parrots  are spiritual symbols.  They are epitome of energy, they  usually symbolize speech, repetition, desire, intelligence.  Parrots are associated with Kama (the god of love) and sometimes with romantic longing, beauty, and attraction. Because they repeat sounds, they can also symbolize: recitation, wisdom, mantra, oral tradition, or the power of spoken words !!   

 

At Kakinada, East Godavari – at Sri Bhavanarayana Swami temple, more than a decade ago, took this picture of three parrots sitting on the divinity, seeking solace in Lord.  While one perches above the head, one rests on the left hand and another on His right hand.  Together they seemingly suggest – Thought, Speech and Action.   

Perched at the top, it represents the mind: ideas, imagination, memory, and ego.

It sees first, but it can also wander first.  Close to the hand and heart-side, it can symbolize words: what we repeat, teach, gossip, pray, or sing.  The parrot on the right stands for deeds: what we actually do in the world.  

A sacred life is not just about worship carved in stone — it is about aligning:

•          What you think

•          What you say

•          What you do

When these three are in harmony, even ordinary life becomes holy. In short, these three parrots came to rest at the Temple after travelling many a miles !   

One said, “I know.”

One said, “I speak.”

One said, “I do.”

Lord remained silent observing them and by the  evening, the first had imagined many truths, the second had spoken many truths, but only the third had lived one.  

And together they understood :  “Wisdom begins in thought, shines in speech, but is proved in action.” 

Interesting …  AI aided wisdom story from Aasami sirippu sinthanaiyan

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
25.3.2026 

Happiness is !!!!!!!

 

ஓம் என்றோம் ! - உன் பாதம் பணிந்தோம்

Happiness is a state of mind !

twle of Two leagues and that of Two Nations ! Hail thy Nation.

 

After the euphoria of ICC T20WC 2026 win … comes the IPL extravaganza.  The tale of two leagues !!! IPL & PSL  !! [also tale of two Nations and the comfort that we enjoy in INDIA] 

Away from Nations completion, the Club game / Premier league is a different league by itself.  Much before the fever gripped Cricket, it was English Professional football featuring 20 clubs that caught the attention of the World.  Sooner, Indian fans understood that loyalty to a club transcends their area of living – that way teams like CSK, MI, KKR, RCB have a very huge fan base. 

The IPL 2026 extravaganza kicks off on March 28, 2026, featuring a mix of high-octane cricket, star-studded entertainment, and new tactical innovations like a proposed dual-coin toss (more on this in a separate post). With venues across India, the tournament promises intense action, including emotional, high-profile clashes. The IPL is known for combining cricket with Bollywood-style entertainment, fan parks for rural engagement, and massive, high-tech opening/mid-show spectacles. 

IPL is a big big money spinner.  The 2026 auction concluded with 10 franchises spending ₹215.45 crores to acquire 77 players, including 29 overseas, to boost their squads.  The league continues to be a massive commercial success, contributing significantly to the BCCI's revenue.  It not only BCCI but so many stake holders earning high values.  The upcoming IPL season is shaping up to be a landmark event for advertisers, with broadcasters and teams promising a host of new opportunities to engage fans and drive business outcomes.  

 

Right now it is pretty hot in Chennai yet yesterday fans gathered in huge no. for that promotion event showing their love for mercurial MS Dhoni – starting from 2008 and continuing grand now after 18 years.    On a scorching day, around 21,000 fans turned up at Chepauk, buying tickets ranging from INR 2000 to 30000, to see their Thala train in flesh and blood. MSD arrived in the city on February 28, and began training with the Chennai Super Kings squad behind closed doors from March 1. Chennai caught up with him through reels of his six-hitting and social-media videos of him watching Dhurandhar 2 at a popular theatre. 

Then there was this fan event, featuring performance from cine musician AR Rahman and actor  Sivakarthikeyan, but the biggest cheer was, of course, reserved for Dhoni. He raised the roof when he walked out to the middle at 4.30pm and engaged in some light warm-ups. The crowd went wild again when Dhoni kept wicket in fun match-ups, involving CSK OGs like Suresh Raina, Dwayne Bravo, Matthew Hayden, M Vijay, Ambati Rayudu and Muthiah Muralidaran. When he feigned to stump Bravo off Shreyas Gopal, the usually stoic Dhoni broke into a smile and gestured to his old team-mate that he had one-upped him. Twenty-one thousand fans appealed with Dhoni and celebrated with him.

 

Across the border the Pakistan Super League is scheduled to go ahead sans spectators, matches limited to Lahore and Karachi under austere drive reports Paki media dawn.com.    

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday that the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) would go ahead sans spectators while matches would be held only in Karachi and Lahore in line with the government’s austerity drive. The tournament, which is set to begin on March 26, will feature eight teams and 44 matches. It was initially scheduled to be held across six venues — Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Multan, Peshawar, and Faisalabad.  

Addressing a press conference in Lahore on Sunday, the PCB chairman said the board, after holding consultations with the government and security agencies, had decided that the tournament “will go ahead as scheduled [..] but a few difficult decisions had to be taken”. Noting the government’s austerity drive, which was launched in the wake of the global fuel crisis triggered by the US-Israel’s war on Iran and aimed at fuel saving measures, the PCB chairman said, “On one hand, 25,000 to 30,000 people will be gathering at stadiums and on the other hand, we are telling people to restrict their movement. “So until this crisis ends […] we will not allow crowds in the stadiums,” Naqvi said, adding that it was a “difficult decision” which had to be taken. He further announced the cancellation of the PSL’s opening ceremony in line with the government’s efforts to minimise expenses. He said that the “gate money” loss the franchises would face due to the absence of spectators would be “accommodated by the PCB”.  

He also took the opportunity to apologise to the fans in Peshawar, where matches were scheduled to be held.  In a later press release, the  Pak Cricket board said, “In consultation with the government of Pakistan, and in line with the officially announced national austerity and resource conservation measures, the PSL has introduced a revised operational plan for the 2026 edition of the tournament.”    

Two weeks ago, the government announced unprecedented austerity measures to cope with the fuel crisis triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran after hiking petroleum products’ prices earlier this month. The measures included a 50 per cent cut in fuel allowance for official vehicles and a four-day work week. It was also decided that 50pc of staff in the public sector would work from home; however, those providing essential services are exempt. On Thursday, the government had appealed to the public to adopt fuel-conservation measures to “avert the risk of petroleum products’ supply getting affected in the coming days”.  

Indian fans, understand how comfortable we live in this Nation – thank the Govt, thank our armed forces and thank everyone for this comfort.

 

Regards – S Sampathkumar
23.3.2026

Election analysis ! Seat sharing !!!

 

Election time : there are discussions in seat sharing...and many are vying for seats.

In life too, every one dreams of so many things.

It is not enough if there is a nice  Seat (sofa), it is also important - where it is placed 

Thought for the day  - Aasami Sirippu sinthanaiyan

Icarus Myth - Coincidental composition

 

Heard of Icarus Parallel !! 

Daily we see Birds of different species  … some big, some small – all attractive – then there is this big Aluminum bird .. .. Aeroplane -   sadly when  the biological and the mechanical collide,  there would be  disastrous results for both.

 

Pictured here is a Sichuan Airline and a blurred Pigeon. Sichuan Airlines (3U) is a major Chinese airline headquartered in Chengdu, Sichuan, known for its panda-themed branding and focus on Sichuan cuisine, including spicy chili sauce served on board.  This is just a ‘coincidental composition’ !!  capturing a fascinating dual perspective on flight – one of the mechanical and the other biological.    

There was a shallow depth of field that keeps Airline in sharp focus while the bird in foreground became a soft, dark silhouette.  The bird, naturally evolved for the sky, is blurred and almost ghostly, while the man-made machine—which requires immense engineering to stay aloft—is rendered  with some  detail.  Because the bird is so close to the lens, it appears nearly as large as the wide-body jet.   

The Icarus myth is the ultimate story of human ambition meeting its limits.  Icarus used wings made of wax and feathers—a literal attempt to mimic the birds.   The Airbus A330 is the modern "wax and feathers," a massive feat of engineering that allows humans  to inhabit a space where we don't naturally belong. The blurred bird in the foreground serves as a ghostly reminder of the original "blueprints" for flight that humanity spent centuries trying to copy.  The bird flies by instinct, bound by the laws of biology; the plane flies by defying gravity through sheer thrust and lift. There is a sense of "technological hubris" in the plane—it is heavy, metallic, and loud, yet it sits higher and clearer in the frame than the creature that actually owns the sky.

 
Interesting !  morning thoughts ! of Aasami sirippu sinthanaiyan
 
Regards – S. Sampathkumar
23.3.2026

3 Birds in One frame !! - missing shadow !?!?

 

Very happy with this picture of birds at Foreshore Estate .. ..there are three different species in distinct poses (standing, foraging and mid-flight) in the same frame !!   They are : 

•          Black-winged Stilt: A wader with distinctive long, slender red legs and black-and-white plumage, commonly found in Indian wetlands.

•          Black-tailed Godwit: A large migratory wader captured here in flight, characterized by its long bill and orange-brown breeding plumage.

•          Little Egret: A small, white heron with a black bill and legs, often seen wading in shallow water.

 

                      At first glance, it looks like the Black-tailed Godwit (the bird in flight) is "shadowless," while the Great Egret and Black-winged Stilt have clear reflections below them. 

However what we see directly beneath the white Egret and the Stilt are actually reflections, not shadows.

•          Reflections occur when light bounces off an object, hits the water, and travels to camera lens. They appear directly "attached" to the object if it is touching the water.

•          Shadows occur when an object blocks the sun's light from hitting a surface. Depending on where the sun is, the shadow might be cast far away from the bird. 

The Egret and the Stilt are standing in the water. Because they are in direct contact with the surface, their reflections are perfectly aligned and highly visible right beneath them.  The Godwit, however, is flying. Since the bird is higher up, its reflection would appear further down the "canvas" of the water from the specific camera angle. If the water were perfectly still and the frame wider,  we might see it lower down. Because the bird is moving and the water has small ripples, the light scattering makes it much harder to see a crisp reflection compared to the birds standing still.

Interesting inputs gotten from Google GeminiAI

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
22.3.2026
 

 

When Marina beach was closed ~ Social distancing .. Curfew !!

 

When Marina beach was  closed ~ Social distancing .. Curfew !! 

 

Visitors to homes in Triplicane are often lured to going to the pleasant Marina beach – but when they have paucity of time, and children cry to go – we would say ‘Marina is closed – locked, and would be opened only next morning !’. those days even in our wildest of dreams we did not imagine that Beach would be CLOSED .. .. and it did occur this day on year 2020 !! 

 

Imagine an alien creature floating in space. It doesn’t grow, communicate or move at all under its own steam. Without a home it is inert. We know very little about it, except that it will start reproducing when it enters the atmosphere of a planet that suits it. Is it living? Is it dangerous?

People have forgotten totally that somewhere in Jan 2020  or  prior, the virus that caused  the Covid-19 pandemic around the world was not known, at all, to science, perhaps to humanity.  In the months and weeks since, researchers learnt  as much as they can about this pathogen — and at breakneck speed. Scientists sequenced its genome and began to create vaccines in the hope of making people immune to it.   In between, there were social media Scientists busy in WA & FB dishing out newer rumours. 

On that tension filled time, Prime Minister urged citizens to follow the concept of  ‘Janta Curfew’ on 22 March, 2020 from 7 AM to 9 PM, wherein no one apart from those involved with essential services were supposed to venture out of home.       

Had heard this word ‘corniche’ in Gulf and thought it to be representing beach.  A corniche is a road on the side of a cliff or mountain, with the ground rising on one side and falling away on the other. The word has been absorbed into English from the French term route à corniche or "road on a ledge", originally derived from the Italian cornice, for "ledge". The Cornish people are a Celtic ethnic group native to, or associated with Cornwall and a recognised national minority in the United Kingdom, which can trace its roots to the ancient Britons who inhabited southern and central Great Britain before the Roman conquest.  

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever ~ and one such is ‘Marina beach’ known for its  pristine beautiful sandy shores - that runs from Fort St George to Besant Nagar. This beach has a long history.  This was conceived in 1884 and christened by Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant-Duff, the then governor of Madras – the beautiful beach  is famed for the  ambience and rich eco system though it  stands a lot polluted now.   On the road side, many stone statues, some of them installed during the Tamil World Conference adorn the area.  There are famous landmarks like Vivekanandar Illam, Presidency College, PWD building, University and more.  

Early morning the famous Marina beach offers intriguing things.  There are young, old, fast, slow, and varied people indulging in chit-chatting, eating and drinking the various health drinks ! that are sold on pavements.  You can see people walking, fast-walking, jogging, sprinting, skipping, doing physical exercises, yoga, laughing out loud – more – all law unto themselves – thinking and spreading that these are the passport to good health.  For every visitor, Marina beach offers cool breeze and a serene atmosphere.. ..  

And on this day in 2020 - ‘Marina beach was  closed’ and was made out of bounds of people from 3 pm.  We must be thankful to God and to our Nation that we are alive after the turbulence that Covid caused.   

 

Jai Hind.

 

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

21.3.2026.

கதை கேளு, கதை கேளு - Yashica Camera கதை கேளு !!

 

The subject matter of this post is an item of 1968 – intend writing more about its gentle-mannered owner – gentleman of Triplicane @ 86 whom I met and heard intensely for an hour or so [more on that later !!] 

கதை கேளு, கதை கேளு - யாஷிகா கேமெரா கதை கேளு !! 

Dedicated to all our friends who imagine themselves to be a Photographer, whipping out fancy mobiles or hold DSLRs with varied lenses, trying to take photos !  life was far different for photographers half-a-century or so ago !! 

Those days only elite few owned Cameras; there were Photo studios in cities.  It was manual focusing, which demanded precision from the operator to ensure subjects were sharp, particularly when using wide apertures.  Unlike modern cameras that automatically adjust to light, photographers had to manually set the aperture and shutter speed.  One had to commit to one ISO (film speed) for the entire roll of film (12-36 shots), limiting flexibility when moving between, for example, bright daylight and dark interiors. Many 1960s cameras had maximum shutter speeds of only 1/500 sec, which is much lower than modern cameras, making fast action shots harder to capture. 

The one here was manufactured by a Company that was founded in Nagano, Japan.  Its eight employees originally manufactured components for electric clocks. Later, they began making camera components, and by June 1953 had introduced their first complete camera  -  Yashica, was founded in 1949 in Nagano, Japan, by brothers Yoshimasa Ushiyama and Jisaburo Ushiyama.  

 

The one pictured here is  “Yashica-Mat” -  a classic Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) medium format camera that was Yashica's first "crank-advance" model. Introduced in 1957, it was designed to compete with the high-end German Rolleiflex at a more accessible price point.  It featured an 80mm f/3.5 Yashinon (the lower lens).   The top lens (viewing one) was 80mm f/3.2 (or f/3.5 depending on the exact year). It had slightly wider aperture making  the viewfinder image brighter, helping  focus in dim light.  There was a Bayonet mount allowing attachment of filters, lens hoods.  The shutter was a Copal-MXV leaf shutter. Since it was a fully mechanical camera, there was no battery requirement.  

.. .. ..  and the original  Japanese Yashica (founded in 1949)  ceased to exist in 2005 after its parent company, Kyocera, pulled out of the camera market.  It was painful and was not overnight – a slow collapse that spread across   distinct stages. It’s a classic story of a company that was brilliant at mechanics but got cornered by the digital revolution. In the early 1980s, the camera world shifted from manual focus to autofocus (AF).   Yashica struggled to keep up. By 1975, Yashica was already struggling financially due to aggressive expansion and high overhead.  In 1983, the Japanese ceramics giant Kyocera stepped in and bought Yashica to save it from total bankruptcy. For a while, that worked but when photography moved from film to digital – the company  Kyocera made the corporate decision to abandon the camera market entirely. 

Interesting ! – sure would follow with posts on the owner of this 1968 model, a Triplicane vasi.

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
21.3.2026
 

 

Triplicane divine photographers !!

 

A yardstick is called so, for it measures exactly one yard—3 feet or 36 inches long.  The term combines "yard," an old English unit from Proto-Germanic roots meaning rod or staff (once roughly the distance from King Henry I's nose to his thumb), with "stick" for the straight wooden tool. 

There are different ‘Yardsticks’ – here is two from Triplicane, loved by devotees for providing quality darshan of Emperuman 

Triplicane Temple photographers !!

Coins !!! ஒண்ணும் பெரிதில்லை !! சில்லறை தட்டுப்பாடு !!!

 

ஒண்ணும் பெரிதில்லை !!  சில்லறை தட்டுப்பாடு

 

Was your child age – one of shortage or of aplenty !! (it is not about wealth or resources!!)  The medium of exchange is Currency and the Indian currency is Rupee.  The Rupee is further subdivided into 100 units called ‘paise’ and other than the paper currency – Rupee notes, coins are also in circulation and are legal tenders.  

In recent times, we are not seeing – Re. 1/ Rs. 2 / Rs. 5 notes these days – Rs.10 circulating in the market are old, faded, shredded,  soiled; there seemingly is shortage for Rs.20 notes as well – Rs.50 are available 

A few decades ago, most personal usage was Coins .. ..  India faces ongoing small coin shortages, especially ₹1, ₹2, and ₹5 in semi-urban/rural spots. Coins below 50 paise were demonetized years ago, but even valid ones like 50 paise circulate poorly due to hoarding.   In the modern World, there are no rules for spending ~ one need not have anything to spend – not even Credit cards (plastic money) ! – people are wary of carrying coins – yet the Rs.10 coin created so much of buzz as it was accepted in some places !!!  

As World moves on, due to inflation and change in spending styles, Small change coins often disappear from circulation due to hoarding, high production costs exceeding their face value, and a shift to digital payments. In India, where shortages of coins like 50 paise or ₹1 are common, people stash them in piggy banks or jars rather than spending them.  Minting low-denomination coins costs more than their value due to metal prices and inflation, leading governments like RBI to mint fewer.  

Central banks phase out low-denomination coins by ceasing minting when production costs exceed face value or usage drops, followed by official withdrawal via government notification that ends their legal tender status. This process often includes public announcements, grace periods for exchange at banks, and rounding rules for transactions.  

 

The Indian Coinage Act, 1906,  enacted during British rule, is the primary legislation governing the minting, standards, and legal tender status of coins in India. The  Government of India has the sole right to mint coins.   Coins are minted at the four India Government Mints at Mumbai, Alipore(Kolkata), Saifabad(Hyderabad), Cherlapally (Hyderabad) and NOIDA (UP). The coins are issued for circulation only through the Reserve Bank in terms of the RBI Act.  

Coinage of India, issued by imperial dynasties and middle kingdoms - Cowry shells was first used in India as commodity money.  Metal currency was minted in India  during the famed  Mauryan Empire.    Coins of the Indian rupee were first minted in 1950. New coins have been produced annually since then and they make up a valuable aspect of the Indian currency system.  After Indian independence, British Indian coins were in use as a frozen currency until India became a republic in 1950.  

The first rupee coins of the Republic of India were minted in 1950. These included 1/2 rupee, 1/4 rupee, 2 anna, 1 anna, 1/2 anna & 1 pice coins, and are referred to as the anna series or pre-decimal coinage. Under the anna series, one rupee was divided into 16 annas or 64 pice, with each anna equal to 4 pice. In 1957, India shifted to the decimal system, though for a short period of time, both decimal and non-decimal coins were in circulation.     

Not sure, how many of you still carry small change (in coins) and do you remember naya paisa ? – I remember 1 paisa, 2 paisa, 3, 5, 10, 20, 25, 1 rupee, 2 rupee & 10 rupee coins – also remember having seen Rs. 20, 50 & 100 coins !!  

Now we don’t see Rs.2000 notes too.  Introduced on November 8, 2016, during demonetization to meet urgent cash needs, printing stopped after FY 2018-19 once other denominations stabilized.  The highest Valued currency ever printed in India is ₹10,000. The highest denomination   note was first introduced in 1938.

 

Here is a photo of my collection of coins, [not valid now]  – which I proudly used during my school days.

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
20.3.2026