some relief - June heralds winds of change for Tamil Nadu

Does June herald winds of change for Tamilnadu ?

The weather in Chennai is mostly hot, irrespective of the months and in Summer, it scorches even when closer to the Bay of Bengal.  The availability of quality and reliable power is critical for economic development of the State.   Growth in power consumption is an indicator of  the industrial, agricultural and commercial growth  of a State.    The State has been reeling under power shortage for some years now.  It is stated that the demand is 11,500MW and generation  is lower than half of it.  The State  reeling under acute power shortage resorted  to long hours of unscheduled power cuts.   More was to follow when the situation worsened with some parts of the Districts facing outages over six hours and some power holidays were also scheduled.

Some reports do state that the intensity of summer has reduced in many parts of the State – but the City has not had any relief.  It continues to be hot and without power, people have been suffering.  Production units have been hit the most.  Some summer rains would bring relief to the suffering by cooling down the temperature.  There is some real good news for the power users ……….

From today, domestic consumers in Chennai will have to bear only one-hour load shedding and those in remaining parts of the State, three hours.  The scheme of power holiday for low-tension and high tension industrial establishments has been withdrawn completely. As part of it the State had been divided into six regions and industrial units in each region were required not to draw power on an assigned day apart from Sundays.  The  Chief Minister Jayalalithaa  has issued a statement issued on Friday [1/6/12] announcing  substantial improvement in supply position in the last few weeks owing to the availability of more wind power.  She expressed the hope that several thermal power projects and the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project would be commissioned shortly. “The present restriction and control measures will be gradually relaxed. Appropriate steps will be taken after holding a review of the situation next month.”  Ms. Jayalalithaa issued the statement after chairing a high-level meeting attended by senior officials.

Four units of the 840 MW Mettur Thermal Power Station, which was badly affected by a fire early in May, have resumed generation to their capacity.  In recent weeks, the State has been getting, on an average, 2,000 MW through windmills.  A  report in Times of India states that out of installed energy capacity of 7094 MW wind mills have been providing 2767, 2869,3469, 2654 & 2821 MW in the past 5 days from May 28th till June 1st.

That kindles greater hopes of better times in sight on the power front.  It was torrid time and the State has endured a  sweltering summer, the present news is a great relief for people in Tamil Nadu.

Board officials  are quoted as stating that various factors contributed to allow them to reduce the total hours of scheduled power cuts in the state. The stoppage of outage will reduce dependence on limited fuel sources like diesel and ease the pressure and cost for the industries.  The wind situation  is expected to remain good  till the end of September.

The onset of the southwest monsoon in neighbouring Kerala will ease the situation further  as cooler weather will mean less consumption of energy.  Happy days are here again !!

With regards – S. Sampathkumar. 

Remembering [Triplicane] Cheenu and Galla - tragic demise in 1985

Remembering Cheenu and Galla  - tragic demise in 1985

All partings are sad – and this snatching away of life of two persons at their prime youth is more regrettable.  Those who lived in Triplicane and wandered in the streets of Triplicane in mid 1980s would ever remember them.

Today 1st June is a Saturday and this morning occurred the purappadu of Lord Varadharajar in Garuda Vahanam.   A grand Brahmothsavam is taking place in Thirukachi [Kanchipuram] too.  27 years ago,  it was a similar day – Saturday – the 3rd day of Brahmothsavam of Devathirajar -  Garuda Sevai

On that fateful day vehicle no. TMQ 3142  Yezdi collided with a State Transport Corporation bus near Vedal in the early hours – the man driving and the other in the pillion were injured severely and succumbed to their injuries in few minutes.  They had been returning to Chennai after having darshan of Lord Varadhar on Garuda Sevai at Kanchipuram.

Unlike the modern day youngsters who spend most of their time on Computers,  youth were different in 1980s and earlier.  Their pastime included meetings  and speaking to friends more.  Most street corners would be occupied by groups of youths who used to speak on varied topics including Cinema, girls of the locality, politics, sports, education, life and more.  Triplicane was always famous for the detailed technical post-match analysis of Cricket matches – not necessarily Tests &  One dayers – even of – Palayampatti shield [first division matches], Buchi Babu tournament, Hindu Trophy, Ranji, Duleep and Deodhar trophies. 

South Mada Street abuts Sri Parthasarathi Swami Temple and more than a bunch of youngsters used to meet daily there – there was a group who used to meet in front of the State Bank of India – Vivekananda House Branch – the house of Dr Parikh (the branch has moved out to Dr Besant Road subsequently)  - some of them were extremely intelligent persons – they used to play Chess, indulge in Crossword too.

I had my first initiation to Crossword : something like finding

- Plane Crash in Himalayas (5)  - being ‘Nepal’ – anagram of Plane and Nepal being located in Himalayas

Assembled, all after a girl (10) – ‘altogether’ - .. all to get her !!

.. and many more.

He was my childhood hero – he sported a nicely trimmed beard most times [hence called thadi cheenu], dress immaculately, had a two wheeler, worked for Indian Bank in their Kothawalchavadi branch, considered to be extremely intelligent person, strong in crossword, flair in language and stylish in speech.  He was a regular to the spot – would come almost all the days and most others too came in search of him – a great uniting factor in that group.

I was so drawn up that most of college days [during 1981 – 1984] would straight head for that spot and spend hours with him, admiring him.  He was K Srinivasan, lived in 104 Triplicane High Road, an old house close to Triplicane Post Office, infront of his house was the bus stop on TH Road.

Of the many who frequented there [actually he was not a regular there but used to roam more in Singarachari Street] – used to play in Beach regularly, lived in Nagoji Street was J Sridhar, famously known as Galla Sridhar.  He was the son of Jagannatha Iyengar, famous teacher of Hindu High School.  He was very charming and a great entertainer, who would keep on chattering and laugh very heavily, having the uncanny knock of pulling legs, not afraid of making fun on self too.. dark skinned and not very tall – a very jovial person indeed.

Those days, motor bikes were not to be seen in so many numbers and models.  There were the most majestic – Royal Enfield Bullets,  twin silencer having Jawas and Yezdis, Rajdoots and scooters of Lambretta, Vijay, Bajaj, VEspa …………. Those who had a two-wheeler were looked with respect and considered slightly above others …………….

Cheenu bought this Yezdi TMQ 3142 – second hand – there used to be so many such deals those days…….. [I had driven that vehicle a couple of times and have sat behind Cheenu so many times]  - he was not a religious person and probably for the heck of a long drive, planned that fateful trip to Kanchi. 

Cheenu & Galla left early in the morning, reached Kanchi, had darshan – but never returned and South Mada Street,- Triplicane, Me and many others missed them there after is a sad story indeed.

J Sridhar was the only son of Jagannathachar [Sridhar had 3 sister though].  Sure the death of son would have paralysed the parents badly – Jagannatha Iyengar was active in social service, did yeoman service for Brahmin Association after his retirement and passed away a couple of years ago.  The only solace was that both K Srinivasan and J Sridhar were unmarried at the time of their unnatural death.

Some stated that the vehicle was driven  by Sridhar at that time and in the early hours before 0600 am, it was a head on collision with bus on route no. 102 near Vedal.  Sridhar perhaps died on the spot – Srinivasan desperately asked for water and died a few minutes later - all from what was gathered [mostly hearsay………….]. the accident was ghastly and was most talked by the residents of Triplicane for very many years thereafter. Their passing sure affected their friends, who slowly stopped assembling at that particular point……….   Hundreds accompanied their bodies to the burial ground and many wept inconsolably.

A couple of months later me and another friend went to a mechanic shop [Ibrahim’s shed !] near Odeon theatre [opp the present day EA mall] – and the damaged vehicle involved in accident brought tears in our eyes.

May be another, who lived in Triplicane in the late 1970s and early 1980s would recall the grief of the parting of dear Cheenu and Sridhar upon reading this post.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

Paul-Henri Mathieu (who) gives Isner a taste of his own medicine

‘taste of one’s own medicine’ – may taste bitter !  -  Immediately after the match, both players and the umpire were presented with a crystal bowl and champagne flutes by Tim Henman andAnn Haydon-Jones on behalf of the All England Club, as special recognition of the game. The players were then interviewed on court by John Inverdale, before a photocall for the press alongside one of the two Court 18 scoreboards showing the score.  Days later, the players were jointly awarded the 2010 ESPY Award for "Best Record-Breaking Performance", beating fellow nominees Roger Federer and Usain Bolt. Time magazine named this match one of the Top 10 Sports Moments of 2010.  Are you wondering what it was ? 

Paul-Henri Mathieu has not basked in glory earlier, the player aged 30,  a wild card ranked 261st, thrust both arms into the air, brought his hands to his head and walked forward for a handshake that turned into a partial embrace.  Mathieu was once  France’s brightest prospect and ranked as high as No. 12 in 2008, has had to fight back repeatedly from injuries, most recently from an arthritic left knee that required reconstructive surgery and kept him off tour for 15 months.  He first started hitting balls from a seated position, resumed light on-court training in August and returned to the tour in late January with no official ranking.  Steadfast resoluteness !

If one were to endure in tough times, it requires great mental strength and physical endurance and that is what exactly was on display at Roland Garros – that it came against a man who endured  a record 183 games was the highlight.  Talking about that epic match, the match started on the tournament's second day i.e., on 22.6.2010. After four sets, it was halted due to darkness, with the score at two sets each. Resuming on 23 June, it became the longest match ever. The match was suspended for a second time because of darkness on the evening of June 23 at 59–59 in the fifth set despite chants of "We want more, we want more" from the onlooking spectators.  The stage was Wimbledon and it was - John Robert Isner, who unlike other top Pros didn't decide that he wanted to play professional tennis until he was 21.

Isner–Mahut match at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships is the longest match in tennis history, measured both by time and number of games. In the Gentlemen's Singles tournament first round, the American 23rd seed John Isner defeated the French qualifier Nicolas Mahut after 11 hours, 5 minutes of play over three days, with a final score of 6–4, 3–6, 6–7(7–9), 7–6(7–3), 70–68 for a total of 183 games.

Now at Roland Garros,  Paul-Henri  Mathieu stayed out for five hours and 41 minutes to beat American John Isner 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 18-16 in the second round of the French Open.  That too with a broken toe. The Frenchman still cannot train for more than two hours and 30 minutes at a time after being sidelined for 15 months following major reconstructive leg surgery.

the tall Isner with Mathieu

photo courtesy : www.rolandgarros.com

He perhaps made Isner relaise that all marathons do not end the same way !!  - in a much shortened 76 game, that lasted five hour 41 minute test of endurance, Isner lost.  Mathieu was born in Strasbourg, France and reportedly  began playing tennis at age 3.  2002 was Mathieu's breakthrough year. He made the 4th round of the French Open, losing to Andre Agassi in 5 sets, despite having a 2 set lead.   In 2006, Mathieu, lost to eventual champion Rafael Nadal in a gruelling encounter which lasted 4 hours and 53 minutes, but amazingly only saw 42 games played (Nadal won the match 5–7, 6–4, 6–4, 6–4, with the first set lasting 93 minutes and each of the following sets longer than an hour)

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

the murder of a teacher in Chennai and the legal tangle

The newspapers carry so many news of Crime..  the report of an accidental death or a murder would impact the reader more, when one has either seen or could associate oneself with the victim in some manner.    After the crime, one feels the need for the offender to be punished harshly and severely.  Punishment should be meted out to the offender and also should serve as a deterrent, as a threat to others in the Society, deter people from offending.  Punishment cannot be construed as bad or as inflicting pain or harm – but an offender should not be allowed to go scot free.   From olden times, it is considered the responsibility of the rulers and Governors of the Society to ensure that the society is free from evils and crime and that punishment is inflicted on offenders.   Every law provides for infliction of punishment according to the nature of crime committed. The gravity of the wrong done would determine the nature and extent of penalty….

There have been many reported incidents of violent behaviour of students.  There were times when the teacher was the most respected and feared person and could mete out punishment as a right…….. no longer….  In Kolkatta, the Principal of La Martiniere for Boys, Calcutta and three others  were to be produced in front of the court on charges of abetment of suicide; when a  class 8 student committed suicide allegedly after being physically assaulted by a teacher.  The boy’s father filed an FIR against the principal and teachers of La Martiniere alleging extreme violence; the teachers and principal were  arrested under the Juvenile Justice Act.  

In Chennai it was a ghastly murder of a teacher, stabbed to death in the class room by a student.   Read my post made in Feb : http://sampspeak.blogspot.in/2012/02/very-sad-incident-of-teacher-stabbed-to.html.   Newspapers reported that the  15 year old boy was carrying a knife for 3 days after the teacher had made adverse remarks on his studies to his parents.  On the ill-fated day, when the teacher was alone in the classroom, the mongrel of boy stabbed his Hindi teacher in the neck, abdomen, and chest.  A pre-medidated cold blooded murder sending shockwaves everytime you read of this.  The 41 year old teacher  Mrs Uma Maheswari of St Mary’s Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School onArmenian Street in Parry’s Corner, bled to death.  What a gory end ?   One of the protesting teachers was quoted as remarking  “Now-a-days, parents only listen to their children’s version of the story and yell at the teacher. They don’t bother to find the truth from the teachers,” – which is largely true.   Many a parents do not care to watch or control their children but would blindly support all their actions.

Sad that a teacher lost her life for doing only service to society.  Now read this TOI report of date [1^st June 2012]  ‘ Madras HC stays trial against boy who murdered teacher’.  It states that the trial in the sensational murder of school teacher Uma Maheshwari, was stayed by the Madras high court on Thursday after the boy’s father alleged lapses in the juvenile justice board (JJB) proceedings.

“Vacation judge Justice Aruna Jagadeesan granted the interim stay till June 8 after the boy’s father sought transfer of trial to some other JJB or before some other presiding officer. Senior counsel R Shanmugasundaram, representing the boy’s father, told the court that the trial commenced without the boy being furnished the full set of chargesheet and other documents.  Shanmugasundaram submitted that mandatory requirements stipulated under Sections 207 and 208 of the Code of Criminal Procedure had been violated. Though the two sections require that the boy be given a copy of the police report, statements and other documents, the board furnished only portions of the chargesheet and other documents in two installments, he said.

It is contended that only a portion of chargesheet was given and the in-charge magistrate framed charges without even waiting for an advocate to appear to defend the boy. The date of commencement of trial being fixed as May 28 was also questioned  - further, another memo was filed before the board stating that evidence of witnesses had not been properly recorded and that there were several questionable additions and deletions in the statements.

Often we hear that ‘an innocent person should not be punished, even if some criminals were to get away’…………….. 

The following incident reported in Indian Express is totally unrelated to the above - 

Wearing a light green T-shirt and grey track bottoms, Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist from the November 26-29 attacks on Mumbai, stood with his hands down before Metropolitan Magistrate N N Shrimangle. Police produced India’s most high-profile prisoner before the court on Monday to seek extension of his remand.  Reporters were not allowed to view the court proceedings, taking place inside the Arthur Road jail premises. However, parts of a short conversation between the terrorist and the magistrate were audible. Kasab spoke in Hindi and Urdu throughout.

Shrimangle: What is your full name?

Kasab: Mohammed Ajmal Mohammed Ameer Kasab.

Shrimangle: Did you get the copy?  :  Kasab: No reply

Shrimangle: Chargesheet ka copy mila? (Did you get a copy of the chargesheet?)

Kasab: Haan mila. Par usmein jo likha hai who mere samajh ke bahar hai. Mujhe meri zabaan Urdu mein chahiye. (Yes, I got the chargesheet. But I can’t understand its contents. I want a copy in my own language, Urdu.)

Shrimangle: Copy mila na? (You got the copy, right?) (Turning to chief investigating officer Ashok Duraphe) Diya copy na? : Duraphe: Yes.

Kasab: Copy mein jo likha hai woh samjhta nahin hai. Urdu mein chahiye. (I don’t understand what is written in that copy. I want it in Urdu.) 

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.