‘Neeyum bommai naanum bommai'

 

Bommai, in Tamil (meaning "doll") refers to traditional Indian figurines, most notably those used in the South Indian festival of Navaratri Golu. These dolls are crafted from materials like clay, paper-mache, and wood and are arranged on tiered steps (padis) to depict mythological stories, everyday village life, and divine presence. 

During Navarathiri golu festival, every day, people invite their near and dear.  People visit the houses of relatives, neighbours and friends for seeing the Bommai Golu and for exchanging pleasantries.  Gifts are also given to visitors ~ the famous being ‘blouse bit’ which could go in circulation around…… 

Saw this beautiful bommai made of earthen sand at MA  Narasimhan’s house – standing in the middle with many idols and others made of metals / wood /porcelain and more .. ..  this reportedly is more than 150 years antique and so any resemblance to a modern time Tamil State leader is not correct !!! 

Moving away, S Balachandar’s 1964 movie Bommai was a much acclaimed one.  The film was based on Alfred Hitchcock's 1936 British film Sabotage (an adaptation of Joseph Conrad's 1907 novel The Secret Agent).  Hitchcock has been a source of inspiration to many filmmakers in several parts of the world, including India. Influenced by his style of filmmaking and onscreen narration, S. Balachandar, the multifaceted Tamil filmmaker, adapted Sabotage in Tamil, suitably changing the storyline for the local market. His movie was titled Bommai, the reason being that, as in the original British movie, the central character is a baby doll which a terrorist uses to plant a bomb and sends it through a boy.  For the Tamil audiences, Balachandar had a walking baby doll in which the bomb was concealed. It was taken in a car and exploded, killing all the villains and saving the hero (Balachandar), for whom the bomb was intended. 

Balachandar wrote the story and screenplay, while the dialogue and lyrics were written by his close associate Vidwan Ve. Lakshmanan. Of course, the music was composed by Balachandar.  The background music for this movie was by DB Ramachandran, who lived in TP Kovil Street, Triplicane.    The song ‘Neeyum bommai naanum bommai',  filmed on an old roadside beggar was sung by K Jesudoss.  Bommai was  a box office hit, scoring the much-coveted hundred-day run in many cinemas, winning critical appreciation. Today it is treated as a classic in the rare genre of suspense movies in Tamil. 

Interesting Bommai !!!

Regards – S Sampathkumar
2.4.2026

 

RK Lakshman's common man

 

the common man on the streets

Beau Elephant of Triplicane !! - "மரத்தை மறைத்தது மாமத யானை"

 

"மரத்தை மறைத்தது மாமத யானை"

 

I love Elephants so much – a day back, I was rushing for Perumal purappadu and as I parked my scooter, this elephant (of the many many wonderful collections of MA Narasimhan) attracted me.    It was not a simple a wooden toy ! – it was majestic, massive and lively – reminding me of the very majestic Azhwan, the elephant that served Sri Parthasarathi till 1977.  

Elephants are the world's largest living land animals, known for their distinctive trunks, large ears, and tusks. They are highly intelligent, social creatures that live in matriarchal family groups.  Elephants are considered "ecosystem engineers" because of their vital role in shaping their environment. By creating pathways, digging waterholes, and spreading seeds, they maintain a balance in the ecosystem that benefits many other species. An elephant's trunk is an incredibly versatile tool, containing around 150,000 muscle units. They use it for breathing, smelling, drinking, and grabbing objects with impressive dexterity.  

The gigantic mammals can fail only one test – they cannot jump !!.   Their massive size and heavy legs make it physically impossible for them to get all four feet off the ground at once.  

You may be interested to know that the latest  synchronised elephant population estimation exercise has revealed Tamil Nadu is home to 3,170 wild elephants, an increase of 107 individuals from the 2024 count of 3,063.  The  survey was conducted in May 2025 across all five elephant reserves in Tamil Nadu, covering 8,989.63 sq.km. of effective elephant habitats.  

Miles away, a  female calf born to one of the oldest elephants serving the Assam Forest Department has been named Mayabini to honour Zubeen Garg, the Assamese cultural icon who died in Singapore on September 19. Kuwari, who has been with the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve for almost four decades, gave birth to Mayabini at the stroke of noon on October 4. The calf was her second offspring after Griharaj a few years ago.

ஒரு திறமைசாலியான மரத்தச்சன் மிக அழகாக ஒரு யானை செய்தான்.  வேடிக்கை பார்க்க வந்த மன்னனின் குழந்தை , யானையை பார்த்து பயந்து அலறியது.   தச்சன் இளவரசிடம் , “இது மரப் பொம்மைதான்; ஒன்றும் செய்யாது” என்று சொல்லிச் சமாதானம் செய்து அதையும் யானைக்குப் பக்கத்தில் அழைத்துப் போனான்.  

"மரத்தை மறைத்தது மாமத யானை" என்பது திருமூலர் அருளிய ஒரு திருமந்திரப் பாடலின் தொடக்கமாகும்.  

மரத்தை மறைத்தது மாமத யானை

மரத்தில் மறைந்தது மாமத யானை

பரத்தை மறைத்தன பார்முதல் பூதம்

பரத்தில் மறைந்தன பார்முதல் பூதமே  

 

இந்தப் பாடல், ஒரு சிறந்த மரத்தில் உருவாக்கப்பட்ட யானைச் சிற்பத்தை உதாரணமாகக் கொண்டு, நமது சிந்தனை மற்றும் பார்வையின் தன்மையை விளக்குகிறது. முதலில் மரத்தை மையமாகக் கொண்டு சிந்திக்கும்போது யானையின் உருவம் மறையும், பிறகு யானையை மையமாகக் கொண்டு சிந்திக்கும்போது மரத்தின் உருவம் மறையும் என்பது இதன் பொருள். திருமூலர் பெரிய யோகீசுவரர். பெரிய தத்துவங்களை லகுவாகச் சொல்லிவிடுவார்  செய்யுளின் அடுத்த இரண்டு அடிகளைப் பார்த்தால் அது புரியும்.  

பரத்தை மறைத்தது பார்முதல் பூதம் -  பரத்தில் மறைந்தது பார்முதல் பூதம்.  

யானை வேறு, மரம் வேறு இல்லை என்பதுபோல் பரமாத்மா வேறு, உலகம் வேறு இல்லை என்று இப்படித் திருஷ்டாந்தம் காட்டி விளக்குகிறார் திருமூலர். பரமாத்மா என்கிற மரத்தினாலேயே ஆனதுதான் இந்தப் பார் முதலிய பிரபஞ்சம் என்கிற பொம்மை. குழந்தைக்குப் பொம்மையில் மரம் தெரியாததுபோல், நமக்கு உலகத்தில் பரம் தெரிவதில்லை. நம் பார்வையில் பார் முதலான பஞ்சபூதங்கள் பரத்தை மறைத்துவிட்டன. ஞானிகளுக்கோ எல்லாம் பிரம்ம மயமாகவே தெரிகிறது. அவர்கள் விஷயத்தில், பார்முதற் பூதங்கள் மரத்தில் மறைந்துபோய் விடுகின்றன.

 

Leaving things aside, this intricately made Elephant is quite majestic and attractive.  Many  thanks to Mr  MA Narasimhan for showing and allowing photography

 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
8.10.2025

the Smiling beauty ! ~ stolen this day, 114 years ago !!!

How often do you Smile !  ~ and whom do you feel has the most beautiful smile ? – when in love, people tend to think that their partner is most beautiful, ever smiling, mild- mannered, not speaking harsh words, and cool in temperament.  Well, people learn in few days, months, years – especially after marriage !! 

 

For most, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, also known as La Gioconda, is considered to be  one of the most beloved artworks in the world.   Its creator, left numerous details that have been debated for centuries. Seen by millions of people each year, it is considered to be the crown jewel of the Louvre’s collection, an iconic work of the Renaissance, and a painting that is impossible to value because it is seen as being priceless.   

The smile of the Mona Lisa has puzzled experts for centuries. Art historian E.H. Gombrich in The Story of Art (1950) suggests its ambiguity is due to the "sfumato" technique, used by da Vinci to soften contours and create an optical illusion effect.   

The Louvre or the Louvre Museum   is the world's largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris, France. A central landmark of the city, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine.   Approximately 38,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century are exhibited over an area of 72,735 square metres.  The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, originally built as the Louvre castle in the late 12th to 13th century under Philip II. The museum opened on 10 August 1793 with an exhibition of 537 paintings, the majority of the works being royal and confiscated church property.  The collection was increased under Napoleon and the museum was renamed Musée Napoléon, but after Napoleon's abdication many works seized by his armies were returned to their original owners. 

Pic credit X page : Scott  @Havenlust  

One of the biggest enigmas is the identity of the woman portrayed. According to Giorgio Vasari in Lives of the Artists (1550), she might be Lisa Gherardini, the wife of merchant Francesco del Giocondo. However, other researchers, have suggested the face could be a Renaissance ideal rather than a real person. 

The painting measures 30.3 x 20.9 inches, an uncommon size for a portrait of the time. This may suggest that  da Vinci was aiming for more than just a simple representation: an artistic experiment.  Since the 16th century, there has been debate about why the Mona Lisa lacks eyebrows and eyelashes. Pascal Cotte, in an analysis using scanning technology reflected in Lumière on the Mona Lisa (2010), discovered that she originally did have eyebrows, but they disappeared due to wear or restoration attempts.  

In 1911, the painting was stolen from the Louvre Museum by  a former museum employee. According to Dianne Hales in Mona Lisa: A Life Discovered (2014), this theft turned the painting into a global celebrity, as its return generated unprecedented media attention. The theft occurred this day 114 years ago !!  

The Mona Lisa was stolen on August 21, 1911, from the Louvre Museum in Paris. The thief was Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian handyman who had previously worked at the Louvre. He hid in a broom closet overnight, then removed the painting from the wall, concealed it under his smock, and walked out. Peruggia claimed he stole the painting to return it to its native Italy.  The theft was discovered the next day when the museum reopened, causing a huge uproar and international investigation. The police were initially baffled, and the museum even briefly became a suspect.  

Vincenzo Peruggia ( 1881 –   1925) was an Italian decorator.  When Peruggia hid the painting, he was stuck in a locked service door. A plumber, thinking he was an employee (Peruggia had finished working for the Louvre), unlocked the door for him, and Peruggia successfully left the museum.  He then hid the painting in his apartment in Paris.  The theft was not discovered until the following day, when a painter who was about to do a copy of the Mona Lisa found it missing. The director, who was on holiday, had boasted "steal the Mona Lisa? That would be like thinking that someone could steal the towers of Notre Dame cathedral."  The arts minister was also away, having ordered "don't call me unless the Louvre burns down or the Joconde is stolen."  At least 60 policemen scoured the Louvre in search of clues, and the top officer in charge of the investigation sounded confident, as he stated: "The theft took place on closing day, we know who came in and out, this investigation will only take two to three days."  Two Germans, the poet Guillaume Apollinaire, and the painter Pablo Picasso were arrested, and all passengers of an ocean liner set to sail were also searched. In New York, the police searched another ship in an attempt to retrieve the Mona Lisa.  

Having interrogated all of the Louvre's permanent staff, the National Gendarmerie began to interview extraneous workers including bricklayers, decorators, and staff hired for short periods or for specific jobs in September 1911. During this period, officers visited Peruggia's apartment and questioned him twice about his possible involvement; he was not considered a primary suspect.  It was only after Peruggia had failed to come to the police station twice that the police went to his apartment, where the painting was hidden. The detective failed to see it and believed Peruggia's explanations !!  Peruggia had left a thumbprint on the glass securing the painting, and his fingerprints and photo were in police files as he had been arrested before. The police also knew that he had helped make the protective glass for the painting and that he was not working at the time of the robbery. All the museum employees had their fingerprints taken but not Peruggia, and the police forgot to add his name to the list of fingerprints to check against police records. 

                   Days after the theft, speculations began and a newspaper wrote an article imagining to interview Mona Lisa, while others speculated that the theft was a "crime of passion", joked that Arsène Lupin was involved, and movies and songs poked fun at the turn of events. Knowing that a story could sell millions of copies, newspapers offered financial rewards for information, and for over two years, hundreds of false leads were sent to the police and the press.   

After keeping the painting hidden in a trunk in his apartment for two years, Peruggia returned to Italy with it by train, after he saw adverts by antique dealers in an Italian newspaper.  He kept it in his apartment in Florence for some time. Peruggia eventually grew impatient and was finally caught when he contacted Alfredo Geri, the owner of an art gallery in Florence, using the name Leonardo V. After its recovery, the painting was exhibited all over Italy with banner headlines rejoicing its return. The Mona Lisa was then returned to the Louvre in 1913. While the painting was famous before the theft, the notoriety it received from the newspaper headlines and the large scale police investigation helped the artwork become one of the best known in the world,  gaining considerable public interest.  

The thief, Peruggia was released from jail after a short time and served in the Italian army during World War I. During the war, he was captured by Austria-Hungary and held as a prisoner of war for two years until the war ended and he was released. He later married Annunciata Rossi, had one daughter named Celestina, returned to France, and continued to work as a painter decorator using his birth name Pietro Peruggia.  He died from a heart attack in  1925 (his 44th birthday).  

Seen by millions of people each year, and  considered to be the crown jewel of the Louvre’s collection, an iconic work of the Renaissance, and a painting that is impossible to value because it is seen as being priceless. It has also been the target of theft and vandalism on several occasions. Since the start of the 20th century, the painting, which was acquired by France in 1797, has had spray paint and a teacup thrown at it. In 2022, it was caked, and in 2024, soup was splashed across it. In 1956 alone, two vandals tried to use a razor blade and a rock to defile it on separate occasions. Each time, the Mona Lisa has emerged without damage.   

Interesting !

Regards – S Sampathkumar
21.8.2025

  

Inscribing One's name !! 'செப்பேடுகள்' ~ art of writing on Utensils

Inscribing  one’s name (not on  copper plate but on utensil!)

 

Epigraph – is a short phrase or sentence, etc. on a building or statue, or as an introduction to a book or a part of it.  The word epigraphy is derived from two Greek words viz., epi meaning on or upon and graphie meaning to write.  Epigraphy is the study of writings engraved on stone, metal and other materials lie wood, shell etc., known as ‘inscriptions’ or ‘epigraphs’.  A person who is engaged in the decipherment and interpretation of the epigraphs is called an epigraphist.  

India is rich in epigraphical wealth. It is estimated that so far more than one lakh inscriptions have been discovered from the length and breadth of the country, and still a large number of inscriptions have to be brought to light by conducting an intensive and systematic survey of our vast sub- continent.  Epigraphy forms one of the very important sources for understanding the history and culture of the Indian people.  

"தாமிரப் பட்டயம்"   is Copper Plate Inscription. It refers to an ancient document, usually a deed or grant, inscribed on copper plates, commonly used in ancient times to record royal grants, land ownership, and other important legal or historical information.  

பட்டயத்தில் பெயர் பொறித்தல் என்பதை ஆங்கிலத்தில் "engraving a name on a charter" அல்லது "inscribing a name on a charter" என்று கூறலாம். "Charter" என்பது பட்டயம் அல்லது அரசு ஆவணம் போன்றவற்றை குறிக்கும். "Engraving" அல்லது "inscribing" என்பது ஒரு பொருளின் மேற்பரப்பில் பொறிப்பது அல்லது எழுதுவது போன்ற செயல்களை குறிக்கும்.

நமக்கு வரலாற்றின் பல நினைவுகளை அளித்துள்ளவை 'செப்பேடுகள்'.  செப்பேடு என்பது பழங்காலத்தில் அரசர்களால் கோவில்களுக்கு கொடை அளித்ததையும், வம்சாவளியையும், போர்க்குறிப்புகளையும், மரபு வழிக்கதைகளையும் உலோகத் தகடுகளில் பொறித்து வைத்ததாகும். அவை தொல்லியல் சான்றுகளாகவும் பயன்படுகின்றன.  செப்பேடுகள் (Copper plates) என்பவை செம்பு, வெள்ளி அல்லது தங்கத் தகடுகளில் வெட்டப்பட்ட ஆவணங்கள்.  

தமிழகத்தின் வரலாற்றின் முக்கியமான பகுதியை வெளிப்படுத்திய செப்பேடுகள் திருவாலங்காட்டில் கிடைத்தன. ஒரு பெரிய வளையத்தில் சேர்த்து சோழ முத்திரையுடன் தமிழிலும், வடமொழியிலும் பொறிக்கப்பட்ட சாசனங்களுடன் கிடைத்த அந்த 22 செப்பேடுகள் சோழர்களின் வரலாற்றை நன்கு புலப்படுத்தின.  தொண்டை நாட்டுப் பாடல் பெற்ற தலங்களுள் காளியோடாடும் இரத்தினசபையான திருவாலங்காடு காரைக்கால் அம்மையார் முத்திப்பெற்ற திருத்தலமாகும். சோழர்கள் ஆட்சிக்காலத்தில் திருவாலங்காடு மிகுந்த சிறப்பினைப் பெற்றிருந்தது என்பதனை இக்கோயில் இறைவர்க்கு அரசர்கள் அளித்த கொடைக்கல்வெட்டுகள் மூலம் அறிய முடிகின்றது.  

          முதலாம் இராஜேந்திர சோழன் வழங்கிய இவ்வூருக்கான நிலதானம் பற்றிய ஆணையை திருவாலங்காடு செப்பேடு தெரிவிக்கின்றது. 1903-இல் இக்கோயில் திருப்பணியின் போது சில ஐம்பொன் சிலைகளுடன் 31 ஏடுகளைக் கொண்டு இச்செப்பேட்டுத் தொகுதி கண்டறியப்பட்டது. கோனேரின்மை கொண்டான் இராஜேந்திரன் முடிகொண்ட சோழபுரம் (பழயாறை) மாளிகையில் இருந்து வெளியிடப்பட்ட ஆணை. பழையனூர் கிராமத்தை பிரித்து திருவலாங்காடு கோவிலுக்கு தேவதானமாக அளித்ததை இந்த செப்பேடுகள் விவரிக்கின்றன.  

அவ்வாறு தனமாக அளிக்கப்பட இந்த கிராமம் அனைத்து வரிகளிலுமிருந்து விலக்கு அளிக்கப்படுகிறது.. ஏற்கனவே பிரம்மதேயமாக இருந்த இந்நிலத்தை தேவதானமாக மாற்றி வேளான் நிலமாக கோவிலுக்கு தானமாக வழங்கப்படுகிறது.தானமாக வழங்கப்பட்ட நிலத்தின் பரப்பளவை ஒரு பெண் யானையை அழைத்துச்சென்று நிலங்கள் அளிக்கப்பட்டதாக செப்பேடுகள் குறிப்பிடுகின்றன.  பெண் யானை நடந்து போன பாதையை துல்லியமாக அதிகாரிகள் அடையாளமிட்டு, இதற்குள் அடங்கிய நஞ்சை மற்றும் புஞ்சை வயல்கள், வீடுகள், தோட்டங்கள், ஆறுகள், வாய்க்கால், நீர் இல்லா தரிசு நிலங்கள், கன்று மேயுமிடம் , குளமும் கொட்டகமும் , புற்று , காடு , ஓடையும் உடைப்பும் , ஆறும் ஆற்று படுகையும் , மீன்பயில் பள்ளம் ,மேல் நோக்கி வளர்ந்த மரங்கள், கீழ் நோக்கி தோண்டிய கிணறுகள்,கிடங்கும் ஏரியும், உடும்பு ஓடி ஆமைகள் ஊர்ந்து செல்லும் பகுதி, இவை அனைத்தும் தேவதானமாக கோவிலுக்கு வழங்கப்பட்டது என இந்த செப்பேடுகள் சொல்லுகின்றன.  

Inscribing one’s name is very important.  A few decades ago, you would find talented people sitting in front of every shop selling Utensils.  Utensils when gifted at the time of marriage and on occasions, would bear the name of the Bride & groom or the name of donor.  This art is on the wane as the Sales are down and writing the names on its has been antiquated.  

In fact, 3 or 4 decades ago – the Dabara-tumblers in Hotels would have an inscription on them இது ...'_______' ஹோட்டலில் திருடப்பட்டது.   - the thought was – none would steal that property of the Hotel as the inscription would show them in poor light.

: -  https://youtube.com/shorts/3v31FCuFIVY  

Here is an artist inscribing the name on a Temple Bell – it actually is tough and the writing is very artistic.  

Regards – S Sampathkumar
19.8.2025

ஓடி ஓடி உழைக்கணும் ~ attention-seeking

வயுத்துக்காக மனுசன் இங்கே கயிற்றில் ஆடுறான் பாரு

ஆடி முடிச்சி இறங்கி வந்தா அப்புறம் தான்டா சோறு  !!  

சோம்பேறியாக இருந்து விட்டாக்கா சோறு கிடைக்காது தம்பி

சுருசுருப்பில்லாம தூங்கிட்டு இருந்தா துணியும் இருக்காது தம்பி

Hats-off to this artiste balancing deftly ! 

Moving away in to the world of social media – attention-seeking is everywhere !  Enjoying the attention of others is socially acceptable in some situations, and attention-seeking may be adaptive in some contexts like acting  or marketing. However, an excessive need for attention is often a symptom of an underlying personality disorder and can lead to difficulties in interpersonal relationships. One strategy often used by teachers and behavior analysts to counter attention-seeking behavior is planned or tactical ignoring.

Attention-seeking behavior is everywhere, and almost all of us have witnessed it at one time or another. You might be familiar with the friend who seems to way too much time on social media, constantly bragging with a seemingly endless need for personal validation. Or, you may have seen the child who has a meltdown while waiting in line at the grocery store, falling on the floor and kicking their legs.

The behaviors of people who seem to be seeking undue amounts of attention are apt to make us uncomfortable, irritated, and embarrassed. They are exactly the kinds of behaviors that seem poised to push our buttons. The question is: When is attention-seeking behavior something we can simply try to ignore, and when it is a problem that might need to be addressed in a more serious way?

Attention seeking behavior is to act in a way that is likely to elicit attention. Attention seeking behavior is defined in the DSM-5 [The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition]  as "engaging in behavior designed to attract notice and to make oneself the focus of others' attention and admiration". This definition does not ascribe a motivation to the behavior and assumes a human actor, although the term "attention seeking" sometimes also assumes a motive of seeking validation. People are thought to engage in both positive and negative attention seeking behavior independent of the actual benefit or harm to health. In line with much research and a dynamic self-regulatory processing model of narcissism, motivations for attention seeking are considered to be driven by self-consciousness and thus an externalization of personality rather than internal and self-motivated behavior.  Attention seeking is often caused by threats to one's self-concept and the need for social acceptance  

While everyone wants to be noticed to some extent, excessive or inappropriate attention-seeking is seeking validation from third parties which  can be a sign of underlying issues like low self-esteem, jealousy, loneliness, or even mental health conditions. In some ways, individuals,   with low self-esteem crave external validation to feel better about themselves. Attention-seeking can be a way of directing attention away from someone they are jealous of.  Seeking attention can be a desperate attempt to feel connected and alleviate feelings of isolation.  Attention-seeking can be a symptom of certain personality disorders or other mental health issues.

ஓடி ஓடி உழைக்கணும்; ஊருக்கெல்லாம் கொடுக்கணும்

ஆடி பாடி நடக்கணும்; அன்பை நாளும் வளர்க்கணும்

… ..   …வயுத்துக்காக மனுசன் இங்கே கயிற்றில் ஆடுறான் பாரு

ஆடி முடிச்சி இறங்கி வந்தா அப்புறம் தான்டா சோறு

ஓடி ஓடி உழைக்கணும்

படம்:நல்ல நேரம்

இசை: K.V.மகாதேவன்

பாடல் : வாலி

பாடியவர்: டி.எம். சௌந்தரராஜன்

Interesting !

Regards – S Sampathkumar
6.6.2025

  

Mithila's connection to the Indian Budget presented today !!

There was so much buzz as Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled her eighth consecutive Union Budget today.  The income tax rebates she announced have been the biggest talking point. Schemes for the MSME sector, women, farmers, the education sector, for boosting exports, etc. have also been announced.  The FM also announced a slate of regulatory reforms, including a High level committee to evaluate regulatory  reforms and an Investment Friendliness Index.

 

Elsewhere, Devi lives in the village of Ranti, in the State of Bihar, in India,  married at the age of thirteen, but returned to live with her family at the age of eighteen, after the death of her child. She did not receive any formal education,  -  what would have been a tragic life, turned out to be one of honour due to her grit, skills and the rightful recognition. She is also in news today !!

 

Dulari Devi (born 1968) is an Indian artist and illustrator, working in the Mithila art tradition. In 2021, she was a recipient of the Padma Shri, a civilian honour of  the Government of India, for her contributions to art. 

The Kingdom of the Videhas (also Mithila / Tirabhukti) was an ancient Indian kingdom in Late Vedic India which rose to prominence under King Janaka. Yes it was the place of Seethadevi consort of Lord Rama.  The ancient kingdom was located on the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, in what is today north-eastern Bihar of India and the eastern Terai of Nepal.  Mithila, the cultural region is  bounded by the Mahananda River, the holy Ganges, the Gandaki and the foothills of Himalayas.  The native language in Mithila is Maithili, and its speakers are referred to as Maithils.  The later day Mithila would comprise of  Tirhut, Darbhanga, Kosi, Purnia, Munger, Bhagalpur and SanthalPargana divisions[a] of India and some adjoining districts of Nepal.  The region is known for its special type of painting ‘mithila or madhubani painting’.

 

Madhubani art (also known as Mithila art) is a style of painting practiced in the Mithila region of India and Nepal. It is named after the Madhubani district of Bihar, India, which is where it originated.  Jitwarpur, Ranti and Rasidpur are the three most notable cities associated with the tradition and evolution of Madhubani art.   Madhubani artists, mostly  female,  create these paintings using a variety of mediums, including their own fingers, or twigs, brushes, nib-pens, and matchsticks. The paint is created using natural dyes and pigments such as ochre and lampblack are used for reddish brown and black respectively.  The paintings are characterized by their eye-catching geometrical patterns. There is ritual content for particular occasions, such as birth or marriage,  and festivals, such as Holi, Surya Shasti, Kali Puja, Upanayana, and Durga Puja. 

The paintings were traditionally done on freshly plastered mud walls and floors of huts, but now they are also done on cloth, handmade paper and canvas. Mithila paintings mostly depict people and their association with nature and scenes and deities from the ancient epics. Natural objects like the sun, the moon, and religious plants like tulsi are also widely painted. 

On the occasion of her historic eighth consecutive Union Budget presentation, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrived at Parliament donning a stunning saree that paid homage to India's rich cultural heritage. The off-white handloom silk saree, adorned with intricate Madhubani artwork, was a special gift from renowned artist and Padma Shri awardee Dulari Devi. The saree not only symbolized the timeless beauty of Madhubani art but also spotlighted the artistry and craftsmanship of Bihar’s Mithila region.

 

Dulari Devi met Nirmala Sitharaman during a credit outreach program at the Mithila Art Institute in Madhubani, where they discussed the importance of preserving Madhubani art and supporting its artisans. As a token of appreciation, Devi gifted the hand-painted saree to Sitharaman, urging her to wear it for the Budget Day. Sitharaman, known for using her attire to reflect India's diverse cultural fabric, embraced the gift, choosing it to make a strong statement on the national stage. 

Interesting !

Regards – S Sampathkumar
1.2.2025 

Is Life a modern Art ??

 

IS Life a Modern Art ? – in the sense, not only you find it difficult to understand but you wonder whether you are looking at it rightly ?

 

Picasso altered the concept of genres such as painting and sculpture;  Marcel Duchamp transformed the concept of art itself, by questioning taken-for-granted ideologies and the underlying systems of everyday life.

 

The most valuable kind of experience is when, either within an art museum or outside it, you find something that makes you curious, something that speaks to you, and you cherish it.  It is  not important that you understand every single work on display in a museum or everything in life.

 

It is important that  you to find something — even one thing — that you feel relates to a problem in your own life.

 

Life’s lessons !!
 
Regards S.Sampathkumar
21.11.2024

Croc tears !! ~ beautiful, fragrant Crocodiles !!

May not be the best of attractions – pictured are two of the same specie – a Mugger and a Ghariyal .. heard of its tears ! – and when would we say they are beautiful, fragrant !?!?

 

May not be best attraction ~ Crocodiles are large reptiles found in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. They are members of the order Crocodilia, which also includes caimans, gharials and alligators.  There are 13 species of crocodiles, so there are many different sizes of crocodile. The smallest crocodile is the dwarf crocodile. The largest crocodile is the saltwater crocodile. The largest one ever found was 20.24 feet (6.17 m) long. They can weigh up to 2,000 pounds (907 kg). Crocodiles, are   generally large, ponderous, amphibious animals of lizard-like appearance and carnivorous habit.  Crocodiles have powerful jaws with many conical teeth and short legs with clawed webbed toes. They share a unique body form that allows the eyes, ears, and nostrils to be above the water surface while most of the animal is hidden below. The tail is long and massive, and the skin is thick and plated.  

          Mugger crocodiles, also known as Indian crocodiles, are generally larger than gharials. Mugger crocodiles can grow to be up to 20 feet in length and weigh up to 1000 pounds, while gharials typically reach lengths of only about 15 feet and weigh around 500 pounds.  Gharials, sometimes called gavials, are a type of Asian crocodilian distinguished by their long, thin snouts.  The first thing most people notice about gharials is their long, narrow snout. A gharial will sweep its slender snout sideways to catch fish with its sharp teeth.  

We have all read this parable in our school days…. The story of ‘a crocodile and a monkey’ …………….. 0n the banks of river Ganga, there lived a clever monkey…….there also lived couple of croc families….. the male crocodile which used to remain idle on the sandy banks befriended the monkey… and they discussed various things on earth. There were so many fruit-laden trees – monkeys were happy eating juicy fruits of various trees and living merrily.  

The wife of the croc felt that the monkey which is feeding on good fruits should taste sweet and started pestering the male to bring home its friend monkey – so that they could feast on the monkey. The male croc was averse to the idea of cheating its friend but (as happens everywhere else) had to budge to the wishes of its spouse.  

They hatched a plan… crocodile explained to the monkey of the various juicy fruit bearing trees on the other bank and how they could taste most sweet…. Monkey in its native wisdom remarked that the river was far too vast for monkeys to cross. Croc offered to take it on its back to the other side of the river.  Monkey also agreed. Midway, Croc tried to immerse and told the monkey of the subversive plan…..  sensing its end – monkey pondered and told the croc that its heart which is the sweetest part is not with it and is on the trees and promised to be back with its heart  …………… the foolish croc took it back to the shore ~ monkey hopped out, climbed the trees – not to return for ever……….. greedy and foolish crocodile !

 

The expression "crocodile tears" refers to insincere sorrow or remorse. Crocodile tears, or superficial sympathy, is a false, insincere display of emotion such as a hypocrite crying fake tears of grief. The phrase “crocodile tears” stems from the belief that crocodiles shed tears when attacking and eating their victims. Folklore has it that crocs cry to lure their prey, or to express remorse for their violent actions.  When crocs spend time out of the water, their eyes must produce extra moisture to stay lubricated. When crocodiles eat prey out of the water, their eyes may “cry.” But it is highly unlikely the tears are an expression of remorse.

                                                             Good Morning.   – welcome to my Photo story – today of Crocodile, the moral of unholy alliance and wrong perception of attacker being good to victim !! pictured here is a beautiful piece of art – made in sandalwood depicting two crocodiles underlying tree filled with birds – attractive and fragrant (from the art gallery of MA Narasimhan) dating back to a century or more

 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
24.8.2024 

Poikkal Kuthirai .. - .. Marriage made in Saloon

This photo triggered some thoughts and became the subject matter of this post ! – ‘Poikkal Kuthirai’ literally would mean false-legged horse ! but this not about prosthetics or any similar thing on a horse, more about humans and entertainment ! ~ a couple of decades ago,  people went to halls for watching dramas and there was this ‘Marriage made in Saloon’ –a comedy drama from the stables of Crazy Mohan, all about a person who bets on everything and wins too !!

 

The horse family that  includes horses, zebras, and donkeys, is more than 50 million years old. During its early years, members of this group were the size of dogs and had three toes. Over time, they became the large, one-toed animals we know today. But it was not such a simple story. The rich fossil record of the horse family shows that there were many offshoots along the way that are now extinct. Scientific researches reveals that there was one-toed stilt-legged horses too !!     

During the ice ages, there were two groups of horses that roamed North America. One group had broad foot bones, very much like the horses that are alive today. The other group, the stilt-legged horses, had much more slender foot bones. 

Moving away as a form of entertainment, people walk on Stilts or  stand on wooden legs with forms of Horses, Tigers and the like and dance around.  Stilts are poles, posts or pillars that allow a person or structure to stand at a height above the ground.  

தமிழ்நாடு நாட்டுப்புறக் கலை வடிவங்களில் பொய்க்கால் குதிரை ஆட்டம் சிறப்பானது. . கரகம், காவடியைப் போல வழிபாட்டுக் கலையாக அல்லாமல்   பொய்க்கால் குதிரை ஆட்டம் கேளிக்கையாகவும் உள்ளது.  இந்து கோவில் விழாக்களில் முக்கியமாக கிராமாந்தர விழாக்களில் பொய்க்கால் குதிரை ஆட்டம் சிறப்பாக நடைபெறுகிறது.  

 

குதிரைக் கூடு அணிந்து அதன் மேல் சவாரி செய்வது போல் பாசாங்கு செய்து ஆடப்படும் ஆட்டம் பொய்க்கால் குதிரை.  இது  தஞ்சாவூரில் தோன்றியதாகக் கூறப்படுகிறது.  ஆணும் பெண்ணும் இராசா இராணி போன்று வேடமிட்டு ஆடுவதுண்டு.  பொய்யான குதிரைக் கூட்டைச் சுமந்து கொண்டு மரக்காலில் நின்று ஆடும் ஆட்டம் என்பதால் பொய்க் கால் குதிரை ஆட்டம்!! இந்த ஆட்டம், ஒரிசாவில் சைத்திகோடா அல்லது கெயுதா என்றும், ஆந்திராவில் திலுகுர்ரம் என்றும், ராஜஸ்தானில் கச்சிகொடி என்றும், கேரளத்தில் குதிரைக்களி என்றும் அழைக்கப்படுகிறது.  

கி.பி. இரண்டாம் நூற்றாண்டில் தோன்றிய காப்பியமான சிலப்பதிகாரத்தில்    மாதவி ஆடிய பதினொரு வகை ஆடல்களில், முன்பு துர்க்கை ஆடிய மரக்காலாடல் ஒன்றாகும். : மாயவ ளாடிய மரக்காலாடலும் (கடலாடு காதை, அடி 59) என்று சிலப்பதிகாரம் குறிப்பிடுகிறது.  பொய்க்கால் குதிரையாட்டத்திற்குக் கோந்தளம் எனப்படும் இரட்டை முகத்தோல் கருவி பக்க இசையாகப் பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டது.  . மேலும் இரு தவில்கள், இரு நாகசுரங்கள், போன்றைவையும் இசைக்க பெறுகின்றன.

 

கே பாலசந்தர் இயக்கத்தில் விஜி, ரவீந்திரன், ராமகிருஷ்ணா, கவிஞர் வாலி நடிக்க 1983ல் வெளிவந்த படம் -  பொய்க்கால் குதிரை (Poikkal Kudhirai)  இந்தப் படம் கிரேசி மோகன்' எழுதிய "மேரேஜ் மேட் இன் சலூன்" என்ற நாடகத்தை அடிப்படையாக கொண்டு தமிழில் எடுக்கப்பட்டது.

 

Interesting !
 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
21.8.2024