"Sampath Speaking" - the thoughts of an Insurer from Thiruvallikkeni

Sssssssssmile please !!!

2026-04-13T22:49:00.001+05:30

Purpose of life is accomplished when we make others happy and smiling !

Photographers are quite adept doing that !!!

Triplicane Gangaikondan market and perhaps you know him well !!!

SYMA in news !!!

2026-04-13T14:30:17.009+05:30

SYMA has been in the forefront of social service since 1977 and SYMA Medical Centre is into its 25th year .... here is an article in Today's The Hindu - Downtown..

(Special thanks to Mr SR Ragunathan, KV Srinivasan , Ms Liffy Thomas & Mr M Srinath)

Hindu Downtown Triplicane – this day 2014

Sunset !! ~ பூக்கள் விடும் தூது !!!

2026-04-13T11:15:00.001+05:30

Sunset is among the most attractive phenomenon of nature.

Nakhakshathangal (transl. Bruises of Finger Nails) Malayalam-language film directed by Hariharan, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair and starring Monisha, Vineeth, and Saleema hit the screens in 1986. The film was a blockbuster and is more noted for its songs. It was remade in Tamil as Pookkal Vidum Thudhu in 1987, with Monisha reprising her role

Capturing Sun is difficult – very difficult to see direct !! - in the evenings the Red Hot Ball goes down in the horizon. Captured here is the Sun – on the middle of the kalasam of Rajagopuram of Sri Parthasarathi swami thirukkovil, Triplicane, seemingly hanging on the bulb holder, below the light !!

பூக்கள் விடும் தூது (Pookkal Vidum Thudhu) 1987ல் வெளிவந்தது. ஸ்ரீதர் ராஜன் தயாரித்து இயக்கியிருந்தார். இத்திரைப்படத்தின் திரைக்கதை, இசையமைப்பு டி. ராஜேந்தர். இது மலையாளத்தில் வெளிவந்த நகக்ஷதங்கள் திரைப்படத்தின் மறுஆக்கம். இதில் மோனிசா உன்னி, ஸ்ரீவித்யா, ஹரிஹரன் ஆகியோர் நடித்திருந்தனர்.

இப்படத்தில் ஒரு இனிய பாடல் - "கதிரவனைப் பார்த்து பூக்கள் விடும் தூது" - டி. ராஜேந்தர் இசையமைத்து, கே.ஜே. ஜேசுதாஸ் பாடிய பாடல் கதிரவனைப் பார்த்து பூக்கள் விடும் தூது...வண்டுகளைப் பார்த்து பூக்கள் விடும் தூது...பூபாள ராகம்... பூ பாடும் நேரம்...தாகம் கொண்ட ஓடை... தாளம் போடும் வேளை. இந்தப் பாடல் வரிகள் இயற்கை, மலர்கள் மற்றும் கதிரவனின் கதிர்வீச்சு ஆகியவற்றின் அழகை வர்ணிப்பதாக அமைந்து இருந்தது..

Look forward to your comments on the photo !

Regards – S Sampathkumar
13.4.2026

old chathiram in Kumbakonam near Mahamahakulam

2026-04-12T08:51:00.003+05:30

Adumanai Raman Chettiyar annadhana chathiram 1887 @ Kumbakonam

Building stands new renovated – photo edited with software !

Chepauk turning yellow hour before CSK DC match

2026-04-11T21:44:00.008+05:30

Yelloweee fans of CSK that has won title 5 times seeking their first win in 2026

: https://youtu.be/w2c7LfWTqiM

Shaurya Diwas ~ salute the indomitable courage of CRPF

2026-04-10T21:55:00.003+05:30

Today is a day of great significance for the Nation ~ Shaurya Diwas.

The Rann of Kutch spans 27,454 km2 (10,600 sq mi) and is located mostly in the Kutch district of the Indian state of Gujarat with a portion extending into the Pakistani province of Sindh. The Battle of Sardar Post occurred this day in 1965.

On this day, Nation salutes the indomitable courage and sacrifice of our brave hearts on CRPF. Heartfelt tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives for the honor and security of nation.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is India's largest Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), operating under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is primarily tasked with assisting State and Union Territory governments in maintaining law and order, counter-insurgency, and providing internal security. It was originally raised as the Crown Representative's Police on July 27, 1939, to help protect the British Crown's interests and was renamed the Central Reserve Police Force after the enactment of the CRPF Act on December 28, 1949.

Today April 9 celebrated as ‘Shaurya Diwas’ is valour day commemorating the 1965 battle at Sardar post in Rann of Kutch where a small CRPF contingent famously repulsed a massive attack by the Pakistani army.

On April 9, 1965, two companies of the 2nd Battalion CRPF valiantly defended the Sardar Post in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, fighting off a Pakistani brigade attack, killing 34 enemy soldiers, and capturing four. In the battle, the CRPF lost 6-7 personnel but displayed unparalleled bravery and dedication to duty. Despite being outnumbered by roughly 3,500 soldiers, CRPF personnel held their ground, killing 34 Pakistani soldiers and capturing 4 alive, making it a proud chapter in Indian paramilitary history.

Operation Desert Hawk was the codename of a military operation planned and executed by the Pakistan Army in the Rann of Kutch area, in the area which was under Indian control from the long-standing status quo. Pakistan planned to serve several purposes through this operation. First was to assess the response of the Indian government and military. In January 1965, Pakistan claimed the area of Rann of Kutch on the basis of the Sindh province. The region's terrain and communication network and logistics was favorable to Pakistan with all the approaches to the Rann of Kutch from the Indian side being more difficult than from Pakistan. The Pakistani railway station situated at Badin was 26 miles north of the Indian claim line and Karachi was 113 miles east from the Badin, where the Pakistan Army's 8 Division was based. Pakistan was able to move the troops quickly and easily along the border line. The nearest Indian railway station at Bhuj was located 110 miles from the border and the nearest Indian Army formation, 31 Infantry Brigade situated at Ahmedabad, was 160 miles east of Bhuj railway station. Pakistan launched a major offensive on the Sardar post comprising a brigade strength

The British Prime Minister Harold Wilson proposed a ceasefire on 28 April. Both countries signed an agreement to settle the disputed border through international arbitration by the International Court of Justice on 30 June 1965. The ceasefire became effective on 1 July 1965. India and Pakistan both agreed to demarcate the border by a three-member arbitration committee. The possibility of the armed conflict escalation was avoided by the active interventions of the British Prime Minister and the United Nation's Secretary-General. Despite India's repeated protests against the use of US-made weaponry by Pakistan against India, the President of the United States Lyndon B. Johnson took no effective action against Pakistan. Morarji Desai invited around 550 farmers, mostly Sikhs from Punjab, to settle and farm the land for border's safety and security.

Today Nation remembers the bravehearts of CRPF - Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other leaders paid tributes to the martyrs at various events, highlighting the force's role in India's internal security, as reported by PIB Delhi. [photos are from Home Minister’s post]

Jai Jawan !

Regards – S Sampathkumar
10.4.2026

kid - holding !!!

2026-04-10T18:55:00.001+05:30

What was your immediate thought ! on seeing this ?

I was a bit worried about a kid being carried – not so properly !!

epitome of Bakthi

2026-04-10T16:08:00.001+05:30

Bow to this bakth and his deep-rooted commitment in service to Emperuman.

Dasya Bhakthi - deep spiritual devotion, love, and participation in the divine

Photo taken at Chintadripet - Thiruther of Sri Adhi Kesava Perumal thirukkovil this morning (10.4.2026)

brain fade ! - man from Jhunjhunnu ... .. man from Texas !!

2026-04-10T14:13:00.001+05:30

Talent scouting ! – strategizing the last over !! - a few decades ago, in a limited overs match at Marina ground (30 overs a side - Hindu Trophy) – with 11 required off the last over (a very tough task those days!); someone shouted ____ to bowl – Captain in a confused mind, handed over the ball to that not so regular bowler and was thrashed the required runs in the 5^th ball !!

These days, especially in IPL with so many brains strategizing every team – almost everything is planned, schemed, rehearsed and still at the final stroke there are brain-fades. Was not able to immediately understand Ravi Shastri calling an Umpire – Man from Texas !! – yesterday there were so many web searches about Jhunjhunu !

Jhunjhunu is a city and municipal council in the state of Rajasthan. It is the biggest city of the Shekhawati region. Shekhawati derives its name from Maha Rao Shekha, a prominent Kachwaha Rajput chieftain who founded the region in the 15th century. The name is derived from the combination of "Shekha" (the name of the founder) and "wati," meaning "garden".

IPL is very entertaining providing many nail baiting thrillers with results decided in the last delivery !! yesterday match between KKR & LSG was another.

The score read 128 for 7, the target was 182, - there was an young batter, whom I had not heard of – he had Avesh Khan and potentially two more bowlers left as partners. Mukul Choudhary a wicket keeper batsman from Jhunjhunu – could not read Sunil Narine - three misses in four balls meant Choudhary had scored just two off six deliveries. The jumbotron in the stadium flashed "54 needed off 24".

Web searches revealed that he had impressive U23 level and had scored well in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 at a strike rate of 198.85, following which he was picked by Lucknow Super Giants at the IPL 2026 auction for INR 2.60 crore. In a match against Delhi, he hit 62* off just 26 balls with seven sixes for Rajasthan taking his side home in a chase of 176.

Mukul made some lusty hits of Green and every other bowler and farmed the strike literally not allowing Avesh to bat at all. Still it was anybody's game when LSG required 14 off the final over, with three wickets in hand. Avesh Khan got a single off the first ball, perhaps some loose fielding strategy by Ajinkya Rahane. Mukul monstered Vaibhav Arora over square leg for six. Arora responded with two dots, then with 7 required off 2 – a classic great shot for six over deep cover leveled the scores. The final delivery, Mukul moved, swung, missed – Avesh was already sprinting, Angrish Raghuvanshi with gloves could hit the stumps. A run – LSG had won and another new hero Mukul Choudhary was born !

In the last five overs, Mukul his seven sixers – each one an improvement than the previous. Choudhary finished unbeaten on 54 off 27 and LSG completed a win that had all but slipped away from them. In that unbroken 54-run partnership with Avesh Khan, Avesh faced just 3 balls and took that all important single off the first ball of 20^th over and the final bye !! LSG scouts can take reasonable pride in finding such a player and grabbing him for INR 2.6 crore.

Just a day earlier, in the 14^th match at Delhi – it was brain fade. GT made 210 and DC made a great chase. In over no. 19, Mohammad Siraj leaked 23 and 13 were required off the last. Gill tasked Prasidh Krishna to bowl the final over. He had leaked 41 in earlier 3. Vipraj Nigam was on strike – 1^st ball was swung clean for a 4 but got out in the 2^nd. DC now needed nine off four, Kuldeep deflected the first ball he faced for a single, bringing David Miller on strike. Then a length delivery was clobbered long long way by Miller. Now just 2 required off 2 !!! Miller hit the ball long but inexplicably refused a single to take it all upon himself to finish the deal. Prasidh bowled a slower one, Miller swiped and missed, Butler collecting could hit the stumps and Kuldeep was run out. If that single had been taken – scores would have tied and Kuldeep would have been free to swing the bat in whatever manner !! – poor thinking by Miller – a brain fade.

Recall that 1999 Cricket World Cup semi-final, Allan Donald involved in an infamous run-out against Australia. That day at Edgbaston, South Africa needed nine to win in the last over. Lance Klusener, was on strike against Damien Fleming. Klusener picked up boundaries off the first two balls of the over, the scores were now level but in the event of a tie, Australia would go through to the final on account of their higher finish in the Super Six. Steve Waugh brought the field in. Klusener hit the third ball of the over to Darren Lehmann but stayed put, while Donald set off. He survived as Lehmann’s direct hit missed the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Klusener hit the next ball to mid-on and set off. This time Donald did not run. Mark Waugh picked up the ball, but his throw missed the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Fleming gathered the ball and rolled it along the ground towards Adam Gilchrist. It beat Donald, who had finally started to run but had lost his bat in the process, by a considerable margin. Australia qualified. That earned SA the chokers tag !!

Remember that historic Tied test at Chepauk in Sept 1986. Despite scoring a mammoth 574/7 dec in the first innings, thanks to a double hundred by Dean Jones and centuries by David Boon and skipper Allan Border, Australia was on the brink of defeat in a contest where there was no love lost between the sides. India conceded a 177-run lead at the end of the first innings, with captain Kapil Dev contributing with a hundred. Set a target of 348 in the final innings, India looked to be cruising at the midway point with the top order providing excellent support to veteran opener Sunil Gavaskar. After Gavaskar fell, with the score at 204, the visitor clawed its way back, sweeping through the lower order. At one point of time India needed to score 40 with 5 wickets in hand. Then wickets fell in a heap – when last man Maninder Singh came to bat – India needed 4 to win. Ravi Shastri took two of the first ball, then one off the second. Was he right in exposing Maninder and not closing the match by himself would remain a moot debate. Maninder had to score a solitary run !! he had 3 balls, with all fielders getting closer – he was adjudged LBW to Graig Matthews and it was a historic tie.

Years later, Ravi Shastri in a show, talking to Sunil Gavaskar said it was a well-thought decision, Maninder had actually played the ball but the Umpire had lifted his finger so swift as if he was ‘the man from Texas’ - referring a Western film starring James Craig as Tobias Simms, a notorious outlaw (often called "the El Paso Kid") who attempts to abandon his criminal life to live peacefully with his wife, Zee. But while the match made many a career, it ended that of Indian umpire V. Vikramraju, who had given Maninder out leg before.

Mukul does not look big and very powerful but, but, read his comment : "My body is a little powerful, and that has come to me naturally," he said of his six-hitting ability. "I also practise hitting 100-150 sixes every day, so the bat speed develops if you keep doing it. I have been practicing a lot for the last five to six months, so it has come into my game."

Well done … .. when it comes to the moment, not all brains remain agile.

Regards – S Sampathkumar
10.4.2026

crossing the road !! ~ need for speed !!

2026-04-10T12:25:00.004+05:30

Chennai City traffic could be frightening especially those coming from rural areas and for the first time ! It is a great challenge to cross road at places like Beach road where people drive mad at break-neck speeds.

For those having to cross - need ....for ... speed !!!

meesaikara nanba !!!

2026-04-10T12:23:00.002+05:30

Taken in a village few years ago !! attractive ! manly ..

~ focal length 34mm; ISO 800; Exp 1/125; F 7.1 ...

former Test Cricketer - CD Gopinath is no more !!

2026-04-09T22:35:00.002+05:30

In the melee of IPL 2026 – how much of Cricket do you follow, do you watch matches daily. Did you follow Ranji trophy -2025-26 – Jammu & Kashmir made history winning their maiden Ranji title defeating eight times champions Karnataka in the 91^st edition of the Indian (once) premier tournament

Sadly, Tamil Nadu concluded the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy season with a sixth-place finish in Elite Group A, failing to qualify for the knockout stages. After a difficult start that included an innings defeat to Jharkhand in their opening match, the team recorded its first victory of the season in the penultimate round by defeating Odisha.

Long ago, when Test matches were telecast live in Doordarshan, there would be Commentators and one Expert Commentator !! C: the ball has been hit to boundary and now the score is … .. .. – what do you think of that shot Sir ? EC (Lala Amarnath, CD Gopinath .. … ) – it was a good shot, shot in length, went on backfoot, square cut for four ! –

In the annals of Indian Cricket that Chennai test in Feb 1952 would remain a much remembered one. India recorded their first victory defeating England by an innings and 8 runs.

The sad news is : Former India cricketer C.D. Gopinath passed away peacefully in Chennai today. He was 96. Gopinath had been the last surviving member of India’s maiden Test win against England in 1952. He and his wife Comala, a former champion golfer, lived in Coonoor in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu.

In that Test India made five changes from their previous side. Manjrekar, Nayudu, Shinde, Joshi and Adhikari stood down for Mushtaq Ali, Amarnath, Gopinath, Divecha and Sen. As originally chosen the side included Adhikari and omitted Umrigar, but a wrist injury due to a fall gave Umrigar another opportunity which he seized splendidly. Carr led England for the first time, Howard standing down with pleurisy, this being the one change from the Kanpur side.

Born on March 1, 1930, Gopinath played eight Tests and 83 first-class matches for India and Madras. He made his Test debut against England at the Brabourne Stadium in 1951 and played his last match against Australia at Eden Gardens in 1960. The right handed batsman scored 50* and 42 on his Test debut against the England cricket team in 1951–52, batting at No.8 in both innings. He contributed a quick 35 in the final Test of that series when India recorded its first Test victory.

He toured England in 1952 but could not shine much. At home he played Tests against Pakistan in 1952–53 and Australia in 1959–60, and toured Pakistan in 1954–55. He was chosen in the team to the West Indies in 1952–53 but turned down the invitation. Gopinath captained Madras from 1955–56 to 1962–63, as well as South Zone in the Duleep Trophy. Later, he served as a national selector under Vijay Merchant and as the chairman, and managed the 1979 tour to England.

Tamil Nadu, then playing as Madras won Ranji Trophy for the 1st time in 1954-55. They beat Holkar by 46 runs in the finals. RB Alagannan was the Captain, Dl Chakravarthy (wk)- rest being S Balakrishna, M Suryanarayanan, AG Kripal Singh, CD Gopinath, MK Balakrishnan, J Ramakrishnan, BC Alva, AK Sarangapani & MK Murugesh. Holkar put Madras in and Madras made 478 with CD Gopinath making 133. Holkar were bowled out for 417. Madras made 311 in its second innings with Kripal Singh scoring 91. The victory margin was 46 runs.

A right-handed batter, Gopinath featured in eight Tests for India in the 1950s and scored 242 runs with a highest score of 50 not out. In an accomplished First-Class career, Gopinath played 83 games for Madras and accumulated 4259 runs at a healthy average of 42.16, including nine centuries and 23 half-centuries.

Back in 22^nd Nov 2023, Kapil Dev had been invited for a book launch at Hotel Savera, CD Gopinath walked into the function hall – Kapil spoke very respectfully to him - @ 93 he walked steadily with pride. Was fortunate to greet him, talk to him and took a couple of photos with him.

Rest in peace – CD Gopinath Sir

Regards – S Sampathkumar
9.4.2026

simple way of life !!!

2026-04-08T21:43:00.001+05:30

Another day – early morning at Thirukudanthai [Kumbakonam]

- nothing special about this - admired this man for his poise

~ in Metropolis, we do not get to see such simple things for decades now !!

Pic taken few years ago !!!

the feral dive !!!

2026-04-07T08:50:00.002+05:30

Life often is all about views and perceptions – we think that views differ from person to person – but they in fact change for the same person, viewing things differently.

In life missions – never hesitate, never vacillate, always be committed to the path of righteousness. Once you have decied - lean into the momentum and trust your wings. In life, keep your eyes on the goal, but let your experience handle the "balancing act" automatically.

Black-rumped flameback ~ மனம் கொத்திப் பறவை !!!

2026-04-06T08:21:00.003+05:30

Black-rumped flameback ~ மனம் கொத்திப் பறவை !!!

For long I could only differentiate between a ‘Crow and sparrow’ – now I am seeing Mynahs, Pigeons, Vultures, Parrots, Woodpeckers, and few other tiny tots on my terrace !!

Today something on Woodpeckers !! ~ It’s one of nature’s mysteries: How can woodpeckers, the smallest of which weigh less than an ounce, drill permanent holes into massive trees using only their tiny heads? New research shows that there’s much more at play, anatomically: When a woodpecker bores into wood, it uses not only its head but its entire body, as well as its breathing. Woodpeckers operate at an extreme level, boring through solid wood with forces more than 30 times their own weight and drilling up to 13 times a second. In most animals, the hyoid is a simple bone that anchors the tongue. In woodpeckers, it has evolved into a complex structure of bone and muscle that extends from the jaw, travels through the nostrils, and wraps entirely around the skull. By encircling the head like a high-tech racing harness, the tongue functions as a living shock absorber, cushioning the brain from lethal impacts.

மனம் கொத்திப் பறவை என்று ஒரு சினிமா வந்ததாக ஞாபகம் - தேடியதில், சிவகார்த்திகேயன், சூரி, ஆத்மியா ஆகியோர் நடித்த படம் என்று அறிகிறேன். இது மர வாழ் பறவை மரங்கொத்தி பற்றியது.

மிகவும் கூர்மையான, வலுவான அலகுகளைக் கொண்ட மரங்கொத்தி பறவைகளுக்குப் மரங்களிலும் வாழும் பூச்சிகளே முக்கிய உணவு. இந்தப் பறவையின் நாக்கு நீளமாகவும், பசைத் தன்மை கொண்டிருப்பதாலும் தன் அலகு செல்ல முடியாத மரப்பொந்துகளில், தன் நாக்கை நீட்டி, அங்குள்ள பூச்சிகளைப் பிடித்து உண்ணும். பூச்சிகள் தவிர, பழங்கள், பருப்புகள், பூவிலிருக்கும் தேன் ஆகியவையும் இவை விரும்பி உண்ணும். மரங்கொத்திகள் மரத்தில் துளையிட்டு அதில் தங்களது குஞ்சுகளை வளர்க்கும்.] மரத்தை இவை கொத்தும்போது ஏற்படும் ஒலியைத் தவிர, தன் இனத்தைச் சேர்ந்த இதர பறவைகளுடன் தொடர்புகொள்ள மரத்தைத் தன் அலகால் தட்டித் தட்டி ஒலி எழுப்பக்கூடியன.

Bird-sighting !! - Bird-watching, the observing of birds, is indeed interesting. You might spot an odd one with naked eye but more difficult to capture them with a camera. As you stand in the early hours of morning, there would be so much of interesting sounds of various birds that attract .. .. that is for common man.

Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the "methodological study and consequent knowledge of birds with all that relates to them." Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds. They study various aspects of bird life - evolution, behaviour, food habits, migration, mating patterns, and more.

Spotted here in the photo is not an ordinary wood pecker but “black-rumped flameback” (Dinopium benghalense), also known as the lesser golden-backed woodpecker found widely distributed in the Indian subcontinent. It has a characteristic rattling-whinnying call and an undulating flight. It is the only golden-backed woodpecker with a black throat and a black rump.

The black-rumped flameback is a large species at 26–29 cm in length. It has a typical woodpecker shape, and the golden yellow wing coverts are distinctive. The rump is black and not red as in the greater flameback. The underparts are white with dark chevron markings. The black throat finely marked with white immediately separates it from other golden backed woodpeckers in the Indian region. Like other woodpeckers, this species has a straight pointed bill, a stiff tail to provide support against tree trunks, and zygodactyl feet, with two toes pointing forward, and two backward.

They feed on insects mainly beetle larvae from under the bark, visit termite mounds and sometimes feed on nectar. The black-rumped flameback was described and illustrated by two pre-Linnaean English naturalists from a dried specimen that had been brought to London. It was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Picus benghalensis.

Interesting ! - this one came to my house terrace a couple of years ago, posed very briefly before flying away.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
6.4.2026

அவள் ஒரு மேனகை; என் அபிமான தாரகை

2026-04-05T10:37:00.001+05:30

Tinseldom, Cinema is a dream factory !! Everyday thousands dream to become a Hero or heroine, becoming famous overnight and earning crores.

Am unable to understand how the heroes of 1970s still linger with hope of acting in one more film and overtly state that they still need more money – what happens to the crores earned during their half-century of career !!! Ever heard of a hero (rather a main actor) in a Tamil movie of 1980 involving a famous heroine ! – Hari Prasath !!

அவள் ஒரு மேனகை; என் அபிமான தாரகை; அவள் ஒரு மேனகை

கலையென்னும் மானிடை மின்னும் தேவதை

காவிய வடியோரு நடமாடும் பொன்மகள் - ரஞ்சனி சிவரஞ்சனி சிவரஞ்சனி

This song with music of Shankar Ganesh was a big hit – movie - Natchathiram (transl. Star) directed by Dasari Narayana Rao and starring Sripriya released in 1980. It starred Hariprasath, Mohan Babu and host of others in guest roles. It was a remake of the 1978 Telugu film Sivaranjani where the famous film actress was played by Jayasudha.

Nothing of the above has any relevance to the angel pictured by me today – with some background edit – a beautiful white Pigeon

Regards – S Sampathkumar
5.4.2026

Boom Boom ....... booooom BumraH !!

2026-04-04T09:29:00.001+05:30

This photo of what I had posted this day 2013 – popped up in FB now. No prize for guessing who it is !!

Jasprit Bumrah made his IPL debut on April 4, 2013, for the Mumbai Indians against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

He had been bought for 10 lakhs and was greeted with 3 boundary hits by King Kohli but his first wicket was that of Kohli and went on to finish that impressive debut at 3/32. Strangely, he played only 2 matches in the 2013 season. The Mumbai Indians purchased him again in the 2014 auction for INR 1.2 Crores. This year he was retained by MI at 18 Crores

He made his ODI debut in 2016 and has not looked back, becoming the lead bowler in all formats.

S. Sampathkumar
4.4.2026

the affable elephant of Triplicane temple ~ and a friendly Photographer

2026-04-04T08:42:00.004+05:30

A ‘B & W’ photo dating back to more than 50 odd years rekindles nostalgic memories, especially for Triplicane vasis. Elephants always attract me

Elephants are the largest land animals on Earth, and they are most attractive and unique-looking animals, too. With their characteristic long noses, or trunks; large, floppy ears; and wide, thick legs, there is no other animal with a similar physique. An adult African elephant's trunk is about seven feet (two meters) long! It's actually an elongated nose and upper lip. When an elephant drinks, it sucks as much as 2 gallons (7.5 liters) of water into its trunk at a time. Then it curls its trunk under, sticks the tip of its trunk into its mouth, and blows. Out comes the water, right down the elephant's throat. An elephant's trunk is a fusion of its upper lip and its nose. Filled with more than 100,000 muscles, this huge appendage is both powerful and extremely dexterous. An elephant can use its trunk to rip a limb from a tree or to pick up a single blade of grass. Elephants also use their trunks as snorkels when they wade in deep water.

The ancient kingdoms of South India had perennial rivers, monsoon forests and many elephants. Elephants played a great role in many wars and were treated as a great wealth for the Kingdom. The anthologies and epics of Sangam literature have given heroic admiration to elephants. Elephants are majestic – the special battalion of elephants was sought after … its thick hide would protect from injury ~ the high riding portion gave the rider a good view to attack…

Residents of Triplicane will ever remember the great majestic beautiful tusker named “Azhwan”. This was one who probably never misbehaved. This gigantic one would be bathed, decorated with thiruman on its forehead and would accompany perumal purappadu. At the end of the purappadu have seen Azhwar offering ‘saamaram’ to Perumal and would walk backwards. It used to carry sacred water (Thirumanjana kudam) from the temple tank, being taken in a procession every morning.

This extremely kind elephant was a favourite amongst children and grown up. I have spent hours standing and watching its activities. Have ascended a couple of times on it also as it went on procession before the Perumal during maada veedhi purappadu. The feeding of Azhwan at Triplicane was a much watched event. The mahout used to give it large round balls of rice cake with jaggery, made in the temple. When it came around in streets, people used to offer bananas, jaggery, and sugarcane – it would also eat branches of tree. There were other reports that it was tamed so much that it would happily drink coffee from nearby Vaitha hotel as also take things like kadalai urundai.

The passing away of affable Azhwar in 1977 (14th Feb 1977) was indeed a very sad event. Many of us wept. The mortal remains were kept for public viewing and thousands came to pay floral homage to it. Thousands accompanied the funeral cart – when it was taken in a lorry and buried at NKT Girls High school. Some months later (21st June 1977), a small male calf aged 3 at that time was presented to the temple – Mohan was a playful truant. All of us started enjoying its little pranks. As it grew up, it became violent and more than a couple of occasions, got wild, threw things on its way out violently and went running in narrow lanes of Triplicane, making people feel threatened.

Unfortunately, during that time there were more incidences of elephants turning violent and the then Govt. banned usage of elephants especially during the Iyappa processions and other public festivals. There were complaints from some quarters and the cumulative effect saw the sending away of Mohan to Guindy Park and then to Vandalur. Every time, I go to Vandalur and see a fully grown male elephant, I reminisce that it could be Mohan whom I saw as a small less than 3 ft child elephant.

The man sitting on the elephant is Mr Thanjai Moorthi, now in his mid 80s. A few decades ago, he ran a photo studio – ‘Thanjai Moorthi photo studio’ at kulakkarai – a very friendly person who gave people the face to remember (PP photos) – there was Maruti studio too, at Thiruther entrance (more about this later). The studio provided employment for some Triplicane youngsters too.

Recently spent sometime with Mr Thanjai Murthi listening to Triplicane old stories – he shared this photo of him on top of Triplicane temple elephant Azhwan [I remember Azhwan to be a tusker though !]

Elephant loving Triplicane resident – S. Sampathkumar.
4.4.2026

Jumping Napoleon Mastiff at Zambazaar

2026-04-03T14:12:00.006+05:30

I saw that big monster jumping playfully over the head of a man ! On a busy Zambazaar area, Triplicane, it was unusual sight, to say the least ! - when asked a nearby person whispered – it is “Napolean Mastiff” – standing on its hindlegs, it was around 6 ft or so tall !!! This dog has heavy "flews" (hanging upper lips) and noticeable folds on the forehead and dewlap (the skin under the throat).

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog ! Cryin' all the time

Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit

And you ain't no friend of mine

Well, they said you was high-classed; Well, that was just a lie

Yeah, they said you was high-classed; Well, that was just a lie

Yeah, you ain't never caught a rabbit ~ And you ain't no friend of mine

The Mastiff is a giant dog breed known for its colossal size and exceptionally gentle, "couch potato" temperament. While they were historically used as formidable war and guard dogs, modern Mastiffs are beloved family companions often described as "gentle giants" due to their patient and affectionate nature.

Making web searches, I realized that Napoleon, the fighter was not associated with dog. Some dogs are historically or fictional associated with the name Napoleon, most notably a famous 19th-century circus Newfoundland named "Napoleon the Wonder Dog," and the bloodhound character in Disney's The Aristocats. While Napoleon Bonaparte himself was initially indifferent to dogs.

You don’t have to speak a word of Italian to understand opera. With a universality that transcends spoken word, its arias plunge a listener into the depths of our most primal human emotions – love and hate, jealousy and revenge. You also don’t need to know anything about dogs to register the similarly strong emotions evoked by the sight of a Neapolitan Mastiff. From their thick, rope-like facial wrinkles to their tree-trunk-sized limbs, this is a dog of unadulterated power and primitivism. In their elastic, lumbering gait, which belongs more to a big cat than a mere canine, there is a sheer bestiality that summons archetypes older than civilization itself.

This is no “Napoleon” – but a Neapolitan Mastiff - called so, because it originated in Naples, Italy. The name "Neapolitan" is the adjective form for the city of Naples. The breed's history is deeply rooted in this region: - Mastino Napoletano!! They descend from the massive Molossian war dogs used by the Roman army. After the Roman era, these dogs were selectively bred by farmers and estate owners in southern Italy—specifically around Naples—to be formidable guardians of homes and livestock.

A few years ago, the Government of India moved to prohibit the import, breeding, and sale of the Neapolitan Mastiff, classifying it among 23 "ferocious" and dangerous dog breeds – not sure whether such dogs are there in large nos. in India – this picture was taken on the streets in 2015.

Moving away, the reference of a dog in Napoleon's life comes when he married Josephine. She had a little Pug dog named Fortune. Although Pugs have a reputation for being rather mild in their temperament, Fortune spent most of his time in Josephine's apartments and became quite possessive and hostile toward men when they were around his mistress.

The lyrics at the start are of - "Hound Dog" is song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Recorded originally by Big Mama Thornton in 1952, in Los Angeles and released by Peacock Records, "Hound Dog" was Thornton's only hit record, selling over 500,000 copies, spending 14 weeks in the R&B charts, including seven weeks at number one. "Hound Dog" has been recorded more than 250 times. The best-known version is the 1956 recording by Elvis Presley, which ranked number 19 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004, but was excluded from the revised list in 2021 in favor of Thornton's version. Elvis Presley's version, which sold about 10 million copies globally, was his best-selling song and "an emblem of the rock 'n' roll revolution". "Hound Dog" has been at the center of controversies and several lawsuits, including disputes over authorship, royalties, and copyright infringement by the many answer songs.

Interesting !?! – fearsome to those, who do not like dogs.

Regards – S Sampathkumar
3.4.2026

‘Neeyum bommai naanum bommai'

2026-04-02T21:33:00.001+05:30

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

free-time !! leisure !! - relaxing !!!

2026-04-02T08:12:00.002+05:30

Situationist International proposes that leisure does not evolve from free time, and free-time is an illusory concept that is rarely fully "free"; economic and social forces appropriate free time from the individual and sell it back to them as the commodity known as "leisure". ..

.. why to be so complicated - simply idle and relax !! – “Summa irukkarathu”!!

getting under the train - escape without a scratch ... cellphone speaking !!

2026-04-01T22:50:00.002+05:30

Volumes are being written on the ‘cell phone speaking’ madness of people – while on road, walking, driving and unconcerned of whatever is happening around them. The other day, the vehicle driver halted hurriedly as a man with ears plugged crossed the road unmindful of the passing vehicles. More than couple yelled and shouted expletives in anger – yet, the man crossed unhurriedly virtually not knowing that he was the centre of distraction ! – such things are not rare and are becoming daily routine in many places. Worse is the railway crossings at suburbs – people cross the track not caring to look before you cross, engrossed in talking or listening to music. There have been accidents, some have lost their lives too….yet, nobody listens.

The other day, when a biker almost rammed on to a girl crossing the road speaking on a telephone – she replied – ‘it was an important call, and I had to take’ !! In July 2011 I had posted the luck of a young software professional who went under a suburban train – despite six compartment rakes passing over her at Saidapet, she escaped without bruises. It was reported that in noon, at the the platform, her bag fell on the floor and in bending to pick up with one hand (with the other she was till talking on mobile), she slipped and fell on the track – Tambaram bound EMU ran over her – but she could lie flatly on the track and escaped unhurt. Seemingly unbelievable but true story…..

Now a very similar one – this time off an Italian teen ager as reported in mail online on 14^th Oct 2014. If you've ever wondered whether you can lie beneath a train and let it rumble over you, here is your answer. An Italian teenager filmed himself lying down between the rails of tracks in Perugia, Umbria, as a diesel train hurtled over him at high speed. He then stood up and, clearly in the throes of an adrenaline rush, raised both arms in triumph and punched the air.

The teenager's name is not known, and it is not known if he faced any consequences for his plainly illegal stunt. His brazen attitude towards the potential lethal situation is remarkable. It was not even an accident as it is reported that he laid down on the track mere seconds before the train hurtled past, flicking his hands in a 'come on' gesture. What do you say of such people ? – misplaced adventurism !!

In another incident an incredible moment was captured at the Grand National Cross Country event in Ohio – when a man who was about to be struck by crashing motocross rider jumped over bike and carried on talking on his cellphone like nothing happened. Footage of the event posted on Facebook showed the driver making a jump and then landing on the other side of a creek bank, where they begin to slide on the wet mud. The busy man was shown stumbling after the jump but quickly putting himself together and continuing to talk on the phone without so much as a 'phew'.

Strange are the ways of people

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

cattle menace in Triplicane, Mylapore and ... UK too........

2026-04-01T22:50:00.000+05:30

At Thiruvallikkeni it is a common scene – cattle freely roaming in the narrow streets – cows being more aggressive – while buffaloes are docile. As they roam freely, residents find it difficult ….roads are nasty, animals many a times threaten the old people….there are cases of cattle causing grievous injuries to walkers, cyclists and two wheeler riders… their formidable presence is feared - the mortal fear imposed by the animal chasing people carrying bags checking on green leafs, vegetables and other eatables. Perhaps Triplicane is not alone …..

A recent TOI report mentions ‘Cows, dogs taking over Chepauk MRTS station’ – this is a station situate closer to famous Chepauk stadium and benefits Govt employees of Ezhilagam and Madras University. The news items says - Women employees deployed to scrub the floor and remove garbage from Chepauk MRTS railway station are seen patrolling the station armed with sticks these days. It is not just washing floors or picking up discarded plastic but also chasing away stray cows and dogs that stroll inside the station complex. Public want the Railways to do something to keep stray dogs and cows the station. There are four women employed on contract basis at the station to clean the complex. The cleaning women complain that walking around with a bucket and removing cow dung at regular intervals have become part of their daily routine.

Miles away in UK – the cows were handled very differently – we may feel it too inhumane though ! …….. the report appearing in Daily Mail of 12^th Oct 14 state that Police snipers shot dead two cows which had escaped from a nature reserve after going on a five-hour rampage. A helicopter and armed police were deployed to mobilise the cattle, which had escaped from Marston Marsh in Norwich, Norfolk, before running amok and two of the animals were shot in the 'interests of public safety' while a third managed to escape.

Officers from Norfolk Police were forced to close roads around the city, including the busy A140 Ipswich Road, in a bid to air their search - causing traffic chaos. Search attempts were hampered by a severe lightning storm but after five-hours the third cow, which police described as 'very angry', was found dead in nearby woodland just after midnight.

The cattle are believed to have escaped while being loaded onto a lorry by their owner.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

13^th Oct 2014.

Queen Corgis - fading their way out !!!

2026-04-01T22:49:00.003+05:30

Dogs are considered man’s best ally and among the most sought after pets ~ to some they bring endless joy and fun. For some they are too scary…. There are hundreds of breeds ~ Afghan Hound, American Blue Lacy, Bearded Collie, Beauceron, Berger Picard, Border Collie, Corgis, Fila Brasileiro, Koolie, Mountain Cur, Norwegian Elkhound, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Rottweiler, Swedish Vallhund, Texas Heeler, Tibetan Spaniel ~ some names out of a group – can you identify what ?

Some from the list of ‘Shepherds’ – German Shepherd [Alsatians !] is perhaps better known to us. They are herding dogs - a type of pastoral dog that either has been trained in herding or belongs to breeds developed for herding. Their ability to be trained to act on the sound of a whistle or word of command is renowned throughout the world. Among them, the Welsh corgi is a small type of herding dog that originated in Wales. Two distinct breeds are recognized: the Pembroke Welsh corgi and the Cardigan Welsh corgi, with the Pembroke being the more common. Cardigans are the larger of the two breeds. Pembrokes feature pointed ears, and are somewhat smaller in stature than the Cardigan. Considered a practical dog, they are low-set, intelligent, strong and sturdy with stamina sufficient to work a day on the farm.

Corgis perform their herding duties by nipping at the heels of cattle; the dog's low height allows it to avoid being kicked in the process. As herding dogs, corgis work livestock differently than other breeds. Instead of gathering the cattle the way a collie would, by running around the livestock, corgis drive the herd forward by nipping at their heels and working them from behind in semicircles. They are also one of the few breeds able to herd geese.

Corgis often compete in dog agility trials, obedience, showmanship, flyball, tracking, and herding events. Corgis are very active and energetic. Outside Wales, corgis have been made popular by Queen Elizabeth II who has at least four in her retinue at all times. Her first corgi was called Susan. She currently keeps two corgis and two Dorgis (corgi/dachshund cross). Queen Elizabeth's corgis are the Welsh Corgi dogs – fond of corgis since she was a small child, Elizabeth II has owned more than 30 corgis since she became Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms in 1952.

The Queen Mother introduced a disciplined regimen for the dogs; each was to have its own wicker basket, meals were served for each dog in its own dish, the diet approved by veterinary experts with no titbits from the royal table. The corgis thus enjoy a privileged life at Buckingham Palace. The royal corgis are known all across the world and have been portrayed in many ways such as statues and works of art.

All this would become a thing of the past as now the Queen - who is known to be inseparable from her beloved Corgis - has decided against introducing any new dogs to Buckingham Palace. It is reported that she no longer replaces the pets as they die and, as she gets older, she is worried about tripping over the small dogs.

The Queen's Corgis have been a regular sight during her rule even on tours but she has ruled out introducing any new dogs. MailOnline reports that the Queen declined the offer of two puppies from her granddaughter Princess Beatrice. A senior courtier told the Daily Express: 'The Queen thought it was a lovely offer but she politely declined. 'The fact is she worries about too many dogs around her feet and the danger she will trip up and hurt herself badly. She is after all 88 and not getting any younger. Her corgis are getting on a bit and move along at a sedate speed but a young dog would obviously be very lively and much more active. Her main fear is that if she fell and broke her arm or even a leg she would not be able to perform her duties for many weeks if not months, and that would upset her greatly.'

While she has a reputation for being rather firm and fierce in other matters, the Queen is ridiculously soppy over her corgis. Over the years, the Royal Family seem to have embraced dogs as their favoured pets. Formal portraits from the 17th century onwards show them posing with dogs, from pugs to greyhounds, King Charles Spaniels to Corgis. Corgis were first introduced to the royal circle by King George VI in 1933 when he bought a Corgi called Dookie from a local kennels. For her eighteenth birthday, The Queen was given a Corgi named Susan. She became the matriarch of the royal Corgi line and it was the beginning of a 70-year love affair. Some Corgis were mated with dachsunds to create 'Dorgis', two of which, Candy and Vulcan, still survive, along with the two Corgis Willow and Holly.

The Corgis have hit the headlines before - in 2004 one had to be put down after being savaged by an English bull terrier owned by Princess Anne when they ran out to greet her as she arrived at Sandringham for Christmas. The Corgis have enjoyed life as Britain's most privileged pets. They live in palaces and castles, travel in chauffeur-driven limousines, fly by private plane or helicopter and are carried down aircraft steps by aides.

So, things change ~ old order changeth, yielding place to new !

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

3^rd Feb 2015.

Send e-mails - communicate through telepathy...

2026-04-01T22:49:00.001+05:30

There are often things, which you wonder whether ‘can happen’ ? Iyer the Great released in 1990 in Malayalam, directed by Bhadran and starring Mammootty, Geetha was an interesting movie. The hero, Vaikundam Soorya Narayana Iyer (Mammootty), a normal business executive leads a normal family life along with Veni Geetha, his wife and his mother Sukumari. One day, up on climbing a tall tree in order to capture an escaped pet parrot, Iyer undergoes (fear of heights) giving him the power of ‘clairvoyance’. His mind undergoes severe strain after this opening a new revelation. He is able to predict many things which taken him to stardom and makes him famous …

One similar thing is Telepathy – (tele meaning "distant" and pathos meaning "feeling, perception, passion, affliction, experience") - the purported transmission of information from one person to another without using any of our known sensory channels or physical interaction. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Frederic W. H. Myers and has remained more popular than the earlier expression thought-transference. Telepathy is a common theme in modern fiction and science fiction, with many extraterrestrials, superheroes and supervillains having telepathic ability.

It is not in fiction in movies alone – as proved by these researchers. With a blindfold covering his eyes, and earplugs cancelling out almost all sound, Dr Michel Berg sat in a state-of-the-art laboratory at the University of Strasbourg in north-eastern France, and began to think. Nearly 5,000 miles away, at a research facility in the Indian city of Kerala, a young Spanish man called Dr Alejandro Riera pulled on a tightly fitting hat, placed a laptop computer on a white table, and also began to think. The two men aimed to send a simple message between each other, across the continents, without using any of the five senses that human beings — and indeed animals — have for millennia used to communicate. They instead hoped to achieve what scientists call ‘mind-to-mind direct technological communication’ — and the rest of us would recognise by a single, tantalising word: telepathy.

The experiment in speaking via ‘thought’ happened in conditions of absolute secrecy. Until recently, only a small team numbering a dozen researchers (including Dr Berg and Dr Riera) were even aware of its existence. That all changed a few days ago (in Aug 2014) when PLOS ONE, a website little known outside academia, published a peer-reviewed scientific paper detailing its outcome. Daily Mail reports that the report is lengthy and jargon-ridden. But to a layman, its findings seem little short of sensational. For on that afternoon in March, Dr Berg and Dr Riera were indeed able to achieve ‘conscious brain-to-brain communication’.

With Scientists being able to transmit message into the mind of a colleague 5,000 miles away using brain waves – perhaps a day would soon come when we can send even emails 'telepathically'? The Scientists used EEG headsets to record electrical activity in the brain and it is reported that electrical activity from words ‘hola’ and ‘ciao’ were converted into binary. The greeting was sent from Thiruvananthapuram, India to Strasbourg. A computer translated the message and then used electrical stimulation to implant it in the receiver’s mind, appearing as specific flashes of light. According to the researchers, this is the first time humans have sent a message almost directly into each other’s brains.

Brain-wave sensing machines have been used to ‘telepathically’ control everything from real-life helicopters to characters in a computer game. Now the technology has gone a step further by allowing someone in India to send an email to his colleague in France using nothing but the power of his mind. The researchers used electroencephalography (EEG) headsets to record electrical activity from neurons firing in the brain, and convert the words ‘hola’ and ‘ciao’ into binary. In EEG, electrical currents in the brain are linked with different thoughts that are then fed into a computer interface.

There, a computer translated the message and then used electrical stimulation to implant it in the receiver’s mind. This message appeared as flashes of light in the corner of their vision. In France, a computer translated the message and then used electrical stimulation to implant it in the receiver’s mind that appeared as flashes of light in the corner of their vision. The light appeared in sequences that allowed the receiver to decode the information in the message. Researchers then conducted a similar experiment in which thoughts were successfully transmitted from two participants, one in Spain and one in France.

The human brain is made up of billions of active neurons that have around 105,600 miles (170,000 km) of combined length. Every time you have a thought, your brain produces weak but distinct electrical signals corresponding to it. The electrical impulse is generated by the chemical reaction between neurons, which can be measured. According to the researchers, this is the first time humans have sent a message ‘almost directly’ into each other’s brains. The evolution of civilization points to a progressive increase of the interrelations between human minds, where by “mind” we mean a set of processes carried out by the brain. The computer-mediated brain-to-brain transmission from Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala state, India) (BCI side) to Strasbourg, France (CBI) was realized using internet-linked EEG and TMS technologies respectively. The power of mind and the Scientific research is amazing indeed.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

4^th Nov. 2014.