Summer planner for this Kodambakkam apartment

By Sahil Hussain

As summer peaks and water supply is a challenge, people living in apartments are looking at the water issue.

Take the case of Shera Square Apartments in Kodambakkam. Three bore wells which are about 200-300 feet deep provide its residents with ground water.

But this season, one of the bore well has failed to provide water. And the team which manages the affairs of this apartment is working out ways to address the water supply issue.

The campus also has an old water pump which is used during an emergency; it has come in handy when power is off for long hours or when the area is flooded and civic problems arise.

Residents in the apartments are now asked to fix  the leaks  in their taps as soon as possible.

Wherever necessary, they are asked to  use water from a jug or bucket and rather not from running the water in the taps.

This complex has implemented rain water harvesting system and people here say this has helped.

They have put up circulars in the notice boards urging  people not to waste water and use water judiciously .

May Day celebrations in Royapettah zone

By Deepthi Parthasarathy 

May Day celebrations were held in different areas of the city.

In Srinivasapuram , the celebrations were by the auto drivers at a local stand; they hoisted their union flag at 7:00 am and distributed buttermilk and Rasna. 

Driver M. Karunakaran (59) said that May Day has been celebrated for 10 years in that stand. 7 members of the auto stand gather every year for the celebrations.

The situation was not too different on Besant Road's auto stand .

Driver Umar (50) said that May Day has been celebrated for the  past 20 years and the automen do not take a holiday but work hard.

He also complained that business was bad due to companies like 'Ola' cropping up in this age.

On Avvai Shanmugham Road, United Commercial Bank (UCO)  Employees Union held its 45th state level  annual  general council meeting.

The association was started in 1953.

250 members from all over the state attended the meeting .

Vijayan, the president of this Union said that a few resolutions were passed including  protest against the central government's move for privatisation of public sector banks and the move for merger of banks

Final classroom lecture for Group of 2017

Day 10 was the final day of the 2017 Journalism Course.

The group looked at the assignments they had enjoyed doing, new lessons learnt.

A number of students said that they had learnt how to better observe things around them and take down notes mentally or physically.

There were others who said that they learnt skills at meeting strangers in the public, seeking interviews and having useful conversations and getting information.

The team was encouraged to continue reporting over the next few days. And those in Mylapore could work alongside the Mylapore Times newspaper team.

Day 9: summertime stories, issues of water supply and civic sense. And on making short videos.

Day 9 at the Journalism Course led from one topic to another. First based on looking at photos the class had clicked over the past 24 hours. Teacher Vincent D Souza showed a photo shared by Mylapore Times photographer Madhan - jackfruits on a tree in Alwarpet.

The discussion turned to Katri season and agninatchatram; photos and stories that can be based on the season.

Then the topic turned to water and civic issues that all of us need to understand and learn about.

Classmate Ananth read a story in the Hindu about chromium pollution in the groundwater in Pallavaram area. The class discussed issues on this subject that could prevail in their own areas.

Finally, the class watched a short video done by Mylapore Times on the state of the drying tank of Sri Kapali Temple in Mylapore. ( here is the video at www.youtube.com/mylaporetv )

We were told how the class could try making such newsy multi-media products and launch on their own.

Apartment residents set up badminton court and play every morning

By Sahil Hussain

Its something new for everyone in this Kodambakkam apartment.

Playing badminton early every morning to keep fit.

Of late, the residents of Shera Square apartment have been waking up early in the morning at 5:00am to start off their day with a game of badminton before leaving for work. 

This game seems to have brought together everyone in the apartment block. People of all ages play the game.

They say the game is a stress buster as it helps them focus a lot and they are learning  how to control their emotions too.

Customised wedding cards made here

By Sahil Hussain

If you are looking for something different among wedding cards, you may want to go to Menaka Card in Kodambakkam.

This business was established in 1980 and is now a leading manufacturer and supplier of invitation cards in India.

Nehelan, manager of Menaka Cards showed us cards made through laser cutting. These cards are made through machines which are of high quality and made using metallic boards.

Laser cards' price starts from Rs.50 and goes ago Rs.100 per card  

Foils on wedding cards can even be made with gold foils - those are not really .gold but in gold color. 

Customised wedding cards take at least 15 days to prepare 

Nehelan says that 80% of the sales are from the standard wedding

The beggars outside Sai Baba Temple, Mylapore

By Vyjayanthi Sriram

Beggars dot the road where the Sai Baba Temple stands in Venkateswara Agraharam in Mylapore.

They sit here in a row. Unperturbed by the police threats and the harsh weather they remain on the road in wait for devotees who offer food and money.

“We have been often relocated to a government run Home, but we come back here for the food and the freedom”, says Taj(58), who claims to be a destitute.

On any day, there are some 15 beggars seeking alms: only 3 or 4 are women. 

The temple provides annadhaanam 3 times a day and they have their full here.

The owner of the eatery opposite the temple also provides food.

We saw a man limping by on crutches; he said he was a carpenter from Madhya Pradesh who lost his legs in an accident. 

One beggar claimed to be an engineer who once owned a workshop and was now on the streets when business went downhill. 

If we go by their stories, these beggars are a bizarre collection.

“We get about 100 rupees on normal days and more on Thursdays. But people distribute more food than money,” says a beggar. We saw devotees distributing many kinds of food items from biscuits to mangoes.

When the day ends, some of them walk to the Marina sands to sleep to the sound of the waves.

Day 8; On printing and marketing. On multi-media content

By Ananth Ram

The session on Day 8 of this course started off with the reading of a few reports from a couple of newspaper reports and critically analysing them. Both were on city crimes.

We then got to know about other departments in a newspaper - pre-press and post press, production and circulation, marketing and advertising.

After that, we were told about the importance of technology in journalism and how to be a multi-media person in whatever content or stories we did.

Day 6: On sub-editors and designers

By Deepthi Parthasarathy 

In today's class, we covered the following : 

- Newspaper sub-editors who work at the desk.

- The skills required for this job and the work they do.

- We also learnt about the jobs of photographers and designers

Three books on Sri Ramanuja released

   

  

By K. Shree Varshini

A book release function took place at Sri Vedantha Desigar Temple, Mylapore on Monday evening (May 1), the occasion of the 1000^th birthday of saint-philosopher Ramanujar. 

Three books, which included 'Sri Ramanuja Divyanagan' and 'Ramanuja Nutranthathi Matrum Pillaiyanthathi' were released by senior advocate and former Solicitor General of India, K. Parasaran  and received by Maha Shrinivasa Achari, both aged 90 and patrons of the temple. 

A talk on theme discussed by the books was given by Dr. K. Dayanidhi, HoD at the Dept. of Vaishanavism at Madras University. 

The attendance for the books release event was good; this was followed an all-night special puja for the deity

Did we remember the workers on May Day?

Photo and caption by Shree Varshini

May Day is nowadays more of a commercial holiday with new movies being released, TV channels putting out big programmes and stores offering discounts.

But the workers at construction sites in Mylapore went about their work in the hot sun the whole day. And they did not have any celebration.

Many of these people are from other states who have come here looking for opportunities.

Actor Ajith's fans celebrate star's birthday but at a low profile

By K. Shree Varshini

On May 1, fans of film actor Ajith fondly known as ‘Thala’ go into frenzy as it is his birthday. 

Every year his fans celebrate his birthday with  a lot of activities including distributing food packets to the poor and such goodwill activities. 

But this year it seemed these were quiet.

Only posters  wishing the actor were seen on the walls across the areas like in Mandaveli- posters wishing Ajith success in  new movie. This movie is titled Vivegam.

Rainwater Harvesting System laid in Vivekananda College campus

By Arjun Ram 

An extensive rainwater harvesting system (RWH) has been put in place in campus of Vivekananda College in Mylapore. This project was funded by Asian Paints Ltd, as part of its CSR ( corporate social responsibility).

It was executed by a community organization called Akash Ganga, which has its office in Mandavelipakkam.

This project was formally launched at an event in the Ramakrishnananda Hall inside the college premises on April 29. Sujath Ali, the joint director of the Doordarshan Kendra - Chennai did the formalities.

The principal of the college, Thirunavukkarasar addressed the audience first.  The key member of Akash Ganga, Sekhar Ragavan who versa this project also spoke.

He explained the features of this project. Sekhar said that the NGO and Asian Paints had joined hands to execute such projects in the city. The first RWH project was set up in Sri Ramakrishna Mutt and this was the 16th system.

This RWH system covers an area of about 2 acres. This system will harvest 49,37,130 ltrs in a year depending upon the rainfall. There are 16 wells constructed inside the campus and each well is 15 ft deep and 5ft in diameter.

Student volunteers help run Pulse Polio camps

By Gayathri Ganesan

The Mandaveli section of the city of the nationwide pulse polio campaign held on Sunday was to cover over 45000 children.

Mandaveli area covers Corporation ward 173 and had 12 centres assigned for this purpose.

K.S. Baby, a senior nurse at one centre said 750 children have been vaccinated at the 12 centres by 12 noon.

Most centres also saw young volunteers, from high school and college, helping out at the camps; this was voluntary work.

                                                                 

Polio vaccine drive; one young mom's story

By Vyjayanthi Sriram

On Sunday, the health post on C.P. Ramaswamy road, Alwarpet witnessed a steady stream of parents carrying toddlers. 

The state-wide polio campaign vaccinated thousands of children aged from 0 to 5 years, protecting them against the deadly disease. 

The drops were administered in public health centers and mobile health posts. This health post had a list of 80 children to be vaccinated, out of which about 50 had turned up before noon.

Holding her 4-year-old son by the hand and carrying her one-year-old daughter, V. Vetrichelvi walked into the health post in the sweltering sun. The health worker and the young mother coaxed the children to swallow the medicine.

Said this young mother, “I am aware of this vaccine's availability and my son has been given the vaccine 3 times in 3 years and this is the first polio vaccine for my daughter.”

This young mother has memory of an unfortunate victim of this disease. Hailing from Dharmapuri district she has been vaccinated in her childhood in the local camp there. ” Children from two villages around would be vaccinated at the local health center in Dharmapuri," she said.

"My two friends who had not taken this vaccine regularly had become victims. When they were in Std. 7 both developed flu and later were afflicted with polio. One died a few years later while the other is bound to his wheelchair for life. I will never want the same for my kids.”

Polio Pulse camp in Thousand Lights

By Deepthi Parthasarathy

The nationwide pulse polio immunisation camp held in Thousand Lights  for children of this area, drew very few people by noontime.

This camp was in ward number 1 in zone 9.

The camp started at 7:00 am and went on  till 4:30 pm.

Suchitra, a UPHC (Urban Primary Heath Centre) worker said that out of the 563 children  identified in the whole area, 85 had turned up till 12:00 pm.

She said that 4 people had been assigned to administer the polio vaccine in each of the camps of this area.

Suchitra said that those who did not turn up at these camps would be administered the vaccine during the next campaign.

She said that the publicity for the polio camps was done on Saturday using autos.

Gopalapuram ration shop also serves family of police staff

Deepthi Parthasarathy

The Amudham fair price shop located opposite the Corporation playground in Gopalapuram has been around since the 1970s.

Vigneshwar, the supervisor at the shop says they offer many products such as raw rice, boiled rice, variety of dals and oils, wheat, sugar and tea and many other food products.

Customers mostly prefer rice and wheat, he says.

The shop caters to ration card holders of various categories. It also caters to the family of police staff who live in the colony nearby.

 

Ramanujar 1000th birth anniversary celebrations

By Ananth Ram

Sri Kothanda Ramaswamy Udaiyavar Devasthanam temple which is run by the Bashyakara Religious Trust, celebrated Sri Ramanujar's 1000th birth anniversary on May 1.

The ceremonies have been going on from April 22. This is the 157th year the temple is celebrating Sri Ramanujar's birth anniversary.

On May 1, the priests performed poojas, abishekams and alankaras for Sri 

Ramanujar in the morning.

Sri Ramanujar is a well-known saint-philosopher.

The poojas started at 10 am and went on upto 1:45 p.m. Prasadams were given to all those who attended the ceremony. Prasadam included fruit salad, sweet pongal, tamarind rice, sambar rice and curd rice.

Many people from the locality attended the ceremony. 

A Ramanujar vaialli sevai was scheduled at 6p.m. and a thiruveethi purappadu and then a saatrumurai utsavam.

On May 2, Ramanujar gandhapodi utsavam is set to take place, which will signify the end of this festival, said the secretary of the Bashyakara Trust.

This temple is at No. 68, Beemanna Mudali 2nd sreet, Alwarpet, Chennai - 600008, which is off C.V.Raman road and Dr. Ranga Road.

Day 5 of Course / Art of Interviewing

Day Five started with the reading daily newspaper reports. It was a session to learn the format in which news reports are being written, with special emphasis on the use of info from sources/ and of witnesses in news reporting.

Next up, was a session on the importance of Interviewing and the skills of a good interview. 

- Filed by Gayathri Ganesan

Cricket camp on now at St. Bede's playground

By Arjun Ram

The summer cricket camp of Chennai-St. Bede’s Sports Foundation is now on at the St Bede's playground in Mylapore. 

This Foundation has been offering summer camps for many years. They have many categories varying from under-10 to under-19.

This summer camp is of two sessions in the morning : 5:30am - 8:00am and in the evening, 3:30pm – 6:00pm. 

This coaching ends on May 31. 

There are currently 250 children participating in this camp and in different age groups. There are 25 coaches to help their students says Vijayakumar a Foundation member and coach.

Connemara Library displays rare, unique books

By Ananth Ram

Connemara Library, wherein lies some of the most rare books and unique collections in the country, celebrated World Book Day (23.4.2017) by hosting a book exhibition at the old building, from April 23 to 29.

A variety of books were kept for display  for the public - ranging from philosophy and arts to law and fiction.

All the books had great heritage value. 

Some examples - a copy of Constitution of India and a collection of Scientific American magazines published in 1899. Also, a rare book on Leonardo Da Vinci's complete collections. 

Also on display, were the Sahitya Akademi award-winning books in Tamil.

Connemara Library is at Pantheon Road, Egmore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu - 600008.

20 varieties of puffs at this popular eatery

By Arjun Ram


Senthil Softy Zone on Kutchery Road is one of the popular hang-outs for youth. But it also serves some yummy snacks.
Started in the year 1987 in Mylapore, it serves 23 varieties of vegetarian puffs and  all varieties of cakes, including one with a photo of yourself on the top!

It also offers chaats, burgers, juices, milkshakes, breads and ice creams.  
In the evenings and on weekends, young people head here for a bite and chat.

 It has already has a branch in P. S. Sivaswamy Salai  and in the middle of May it will open a new outlet in North Mada Street in Mylapore, says P. Muralidharan the owner of the shop.

Kodai Nataka Vizha; play on marriage alliances today

By Ananth Ram

Kartik Fine Arts hosts the Kodai Nataka Vizha which takes place annually. Started in the year 1990, it promotes new dramas and theatre. 

This year's edition is currently on at Narada Gana Sabha, Alwarpet. It ends on May 3.

Plays are held every evening and they are open to all.

On Friday, Vivahamalai.com, written by P.Muthukumaran was staged.

It runs for two hours and focuses on two marriages. One between an engineer and a woman who supports feminism and the other between the engineer's friend and the woman's relative. 

It talked about the different conditions put forward by women when alliances are discussed. The alliances come through via a matrimonial website, Vivahamalai.com.

There are many twists in the play.

The play was crafted very well. The audience were able to connect with the different characters of the play. It was filled with humor and the audience couldn't stop laughing. 

At the end of the 12-day drama fest,  prizes are awarded to the best play, best director, best actor and best story, says the sabha secretary, R. Venkatasubramanian. 

This year, the fest is dedicated to Cho Ramaswamy, the well known playwright and commentator.

The best reviews from the audience are also awarded prizes.

Praying for rain

Praying for rain

By Vyjayanthi Sriram

The Maharanyam Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji Kainkarya Sabha organised a mass prayer for the welfare and prosperity of people.

This was held at the Vanniyar Mandapam, Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore.

The Aganta Varuna Jabam, a 12-hour long prayer was conducted from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 27.

The ritual was lead by the disciples of Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji and was attended by many local residents.

The sabha is involved in holding Veda parayanams and  religious poojas.

Food was distributed to those assembled once the jabam ended.

S. Sridhar, a trustee of this sabha says, "We have faith in the gods and  hope for some relief from this scorching summer. A pamphlet with the prayers is being distributed  so that the slokas  can be recited by everyone to attain prosperity.”

For more information , contact S.Brahmanand (trustee) at 9940322117

Banners at ration shops highlight digitization of system

Banners at ration shops highlight digitization of system

By Vyjayanthi Sriram

The ration shop on C. P. Ramaswamy Road, Alwarpet has a series of notices which feature the new schemes and digitisation of the Public Distribution System (PDS) operations.

The schemes include -rice provided as per  size of family, wheat as substitute for rice for poorer households.

The government has launched an TNPDS mobile app which offers information and services of PDS.  

Along with the smart cards that are being issued, messaging services have been initiated.

There is a web site that also guides you on how to get a ration card and related issues.

Mohan, a  staff at this ration shop says, “These initiatives are for making the system more transparent and user-friendly.”

He once sold kerosene, now sells tender coconuts

By Ananth Ram 

Summer is the season of tender coconut water. And the tender coconut sellers are all over the place. 

P. Annamalai, who lives in Kabali Thottam, Mylapore, has been selling tender coconut water for 20 years now.

He says he used to sell kerosene before and the 56 year-old switched to selling "elaneer". 

He sells them in a corner of the C.V.Raman Road - Ashoka Street junction under the shade of the tree here. He prices the coconuts at Rs.30 and Rs.40 depending on the size of the coconut.

This season, the sales have not been quite strong, says he, but he added that he is expecting good sales in the coming months. 

He also door delivers the coconuts in this area. Contact him at 9941227922.

Water bowls for birds

By Ananth Ram 

It is summer time - not only for man but also for birds and animals. 

Some people have begun to leave water bowls on pavements or on walls. This picture was taken outside Ashvita Bistro on Bava Road, Alwarpet.

Thaneer pandal on Dr. Ranga Road

By  Arjun Ram


A thaneer pandal ( drinking water point) on Dr. Ranga Road in Mylapore has two pots full of water and cups. 

It serves auto-drivers, pedestrians and hawkers.

Kooteshwaran, a auto rickshaw driver said that he often stops here to have a drink. Jagan, a LPG-cylinder-delivery boy says that this pandal is useful in summer.

The pot is refilled by the residents of a building behind the pandal, says Mani the watchman of an apartment here.