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

Chef Damu is no more !

2026-10-25T22:25:16.548+05:30

Chef Damu, passed away in Chennai today. He was 72. He became a household name among Tamil television viewers

Damodharan Kothandaraman, professionally known as Chef Damu, was a celebrity chef. He became popular by hosting numerous cooking shows and serving as a judge on popular Tamil language television programs, including Cook with Comali on Star Vijay.

He holds the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, achieved in 2010. In recognition of his contributions to the culinary arts, he was awarded the Padma Shri, in 2025. Damu was also known for being the first Indian chef to receive a Ph.D. in Hotel Management and Catering Technology, awarded by the University of Madras in 2004.

During Sri Parthasarathi Perumal Ekkadu thangal thiruvooral thirumbukal purappadu at Saidapet, near Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal, he would have darshan of Perumal regularly. Here is a photo taken in Jan 2023

Regards – S Sampathkumar
25.10.2026

respects to Ms Sachu madam ~ loves of Carmen !!!

2026-10-25T16:28:00.032+05:30

As the 80 year young Ms Sachu walked in with all grace and poise – modest, beautiful, smiling, pleasant, cynosure of all eyes – in the 60 year function of my classmate TA Sriram’s wife Mrs Kousalya Sriram - I greeted Ms Sachu madam, took her permission and as she smilingly obliged – was very happy in taking this photo, which I would cherish for long time.

This morning I saw the gruesome act of Crow carrying away the egg of Pigeon in its beak, felt a bit remorseful and agitated ! Slightly away, in History have read of abductions of young heir-apparent Prince to keep them away from dynasty succession and sometimes, they grew up elsewhere and return to rule !!!!

In Spain, during the early nineteenth century, Don Jose Lizarabengoa arrives in Seville to begin service as a corporal in the Spanish dragoons. He meets Carmen, a gypsy, who steals his watch, and becomes obsessed with her. Carmen slashes the face of a peasant woman who insults her. Jose is ordered to arrest Carmen but allows her to escape. For this Jose is demoted and confined to guard duty. Jose's commanding officer, the colonel, also falls in love with Carmen. A fortune teller warns Carmen she will be killed by a man she really loves. She goes to meet Jose, who is discovered by the colonel. The colonel challenges Jose to a duel during which Carmen trips the officer, causing him to fall on Jose's sword and die. Finally, Carmen and Jose die in each other's arms.

Saraswathi Sundaresan Iyer, professionally known as Sachu, is very famous having acted in more than 500 films in five different languages and a few television serials. She made her film début in 1952 in the film Rani at the age of 4, and has since been a prominent face on the silver screen. She started acting in television serials in 1995. Sachu was born into a large orthodox family of musicians, lawyers and teachers, and she teamed up with her sister, Maadi Lakshmi, for Bharatanatyam recitals, her film career forged ahead.

Sachu performed alongside Bhanumathi, Padmini, Anjali Devi, or Savithri. The evergreen Maya Bazaar was her first 100-day film, and in the film, she played the cherubic Kutti Vatsala (Junior Savithri). Her first film as heroine in Veera Thirumagan with C. R. Anandan, was released in 1961. She was offered the role of a comedian to act as Nagesh's pair in the film Kadhalikka Neramillai and after its roaring success, she was put in comedian's role opposite actors like Suruli Rajan, "Thengai" Srinivasan, Cho Ramaswamy, Thangavelu, M. R. Vasu and M. R. Radha in many films. She, Manorama and Jayalalithaa came together to act in 2 classic comedy films - Galata Kalyanam and Bommalattam. Her other notable films include Kalai Arasi, Delhi Mapillai, Thenmazhai, Sorgam, Ooty Varai Oravu, Thunaivan and Meenava Nanban. The late 1970s and 1980s saw her playing supporting roles in films alongside Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Chiranjeevi, and many others, while she has also played mother and grandmother roles to younger actors such as Vijay, Surya, Karthik, Sakthi Vasu and many others. She moved on to the small screen since 1995 and has starred in many serials

In 1992, she was conferred Kalaimamani Award by the Government of Tamil Nadu

In case, you are wondering the relevance of para 3 in Green – that was the storyline of “The Loves of Carmen” American adventure drama romance film directed by Charles Vidor released in 1948. The film starred Rita Hayworth as the gypsy Carmen and Glenn Ford as her doomed lover Don José. The movie was a dramatic adaptation of the novella Carmen by Prosper Mérimée and is otherwise unrelated to Georges Bizet's opera Carmen. It is a remake of the 1927 film of the same name.

A little princess named Ranjani is tattooed with the royal insignia as part of tradition, and on the same night, she is kidnapped by one of the members of the tattoo gang who brings her up as a gypsy girl renaming her Rani. Unaware of her royal lineage, she grows up hawking things on the street and getting into brawls with no punches pulled. She falls in love with a soldier and the story progresses with twists. After several hardships, she learns the truth and the story ends well for her.

That was Rani (transl. Queen) directed by L. V. Prasad, written by A. S. A. Sami and produced by Jupiter Pictures, released in 1952. The film, a Tamil-Hindi bilingual, starred P. Bhanumathi, S. Balachander in the Tamil version with Anoop Kumar replacing him in Hindi. Baby Sachu made her debut as Ranjani and this movie was based on the 1948 American film The Loves of Carmen

Interesting ! - thanks to Mr TA Sriram, Mrs Kousalya Sriram and .. .. of course Ms Sachu madam for the photo

Regards – S Sampathkumar
25.10.2026

அடிச்சி கூட கேப்பாங்க... அப்பவும் சொல்லிடாதீங்க... "

2026-10-25T15:37:28.365+05:30

What would this Cormorant tell the Egret ??

வடிவேலு : என்னடா குளத்துல தண்ணிக்கு உள்ளேயே நீச்சல் அடிச்சுண்டே வரே !

போண்டா மணி : அண்ணே "இப்ப என்னை துரத்திண்டு போலீஸ் வரும்... அவன் என்ன சொன்னான்னு கேப்பாங்க... எதையும் சொல்லிடாதீங்க... அடிச்சி கூட கேப்பாங்க... அப்பவும் சொல்லிடாதீங்க... "

Crow stealing Pigeon egg !! Sad !! ~ Mamathala thalli !!!!

2026-10-25T12:00:02.654+05:30

Imp Pre-script : A Crow stealing vada is elementary story but stealing a Pigeon egg is not !!

though a video has been made – it was some couple of hours of helpless horror as I watched the fight to save its progeny – one may call it cruel, cunning, daring, pathetic but it is nature – struggle for survival.

Squab : is the young baby bird, especially a pigeon, rook or dove. The word "squab" probably comes from Scandinavia; the Swedish word skvabb means "loose, fat flesh".

The super hit movie “Babubali” opens amid chaos. Great depiction especially the opening by SS Rajamouli. A woman, later revealed to be Sivagami, is desperately trying to escape with a baby in her arms. She is injured and being pursued. The setting is a turbulent river beneath an enormous waterfall, with water rushing around her. As the current overwhelms her, Sivagami holds the baby aloft, refusing to let him drown even as she herself sinks beneath the water. She invokes the divine and declares that the child, Mahendra Baahubali, must live. Her own life is sacrificed for his survival. By now it has established the mystery at its heart: the baby has a royal identity, but he will grow up far away from the kingdom to which he belongs.

.. .. and you hear a very evocative - “Mamathala Thalli” sung by Satya Yamini, to the music of MM Keeravani, written by Shiva Shakthi Datta As the song progresses, the visuals expand beyond the river sequence to introduce the world of Mahishmati and the story surrounding Baahubali. There lay the most striking central paradox : the future of a mighty kingdom begins in the lap of a mother.

Pigeons and doves constitute the bird ‘clade Columbidae’ that include some 310 species. In general the terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably. In ornithological practice, there is a tendency for "dove" to be used for smaller species and "pigeon" for larger ones.

The song's appeal lies in its almost devotional quality: the mother figure, the kingdom, the child and the idea of a larger destiny all seem woven together.

Mamathala thalli, odi Baahubali

Laalana theli, shathadha varali

Mamathala conveys affection and tenderness; thalli means mother, and odi means lap or embrace.

The species commonly referred to just as "pigeon" is the Feral Rock Pigeon, common in many cities. They lay one or two eggs, and both parents care for the young, which leave the nest after 7 to 28 days. The birth of a pigeon is a fascinating little story of nature. From courtship and the formation of an egg to the hatching of a nearly naked chick, its feeding by its parents, the growth of feathers and finally its first flight, the entire process generally takes about six to eight weeks from egg-laying to fledging. The time can vary with breed, weather, nutrition and the individual bird.

The birth of a child brings immense joy to all concerned. Childbirth, also known as labour, parturition and delivery, is the completion of pregnancy and continuation of progeny. Every year millions are born globally, in developed countries, most deliveries occur in hospitals. There is nothing greater in life than being blessed with a baby and seeing it for the first time, as the Doctor shows the new born is the greatest ecstasy - newborns are traditionally whisked off to a bath within the first few hours of their birth.

In Feb24, a Pigeon laid an egg on my window still – I had to protect is providing shade and whatever, yet after 25 odd days, it simply abandoned the egg and went away. Some time later, another Pigeon laid an egg again in the gap between my window glass (it was open for airflow) and the wire mesh – I had to do the parenting – collected some twigs, dry leaves, some thread and what not, tried making a comfortable home for the egg and next day saw another egg. After many anxious days, two young squabs came out of eggs, they resided for a few more weeks, before taking wings is another story – today’s tale is not all that good !! but a melancholic one

A pigeon usually lays two white eggs per clutch, often with roughly 40–48 hours between them. Once the eggs are laid, the parents take turns sitting on them. This is called incubation. The usual incubation period is approximately 17–19 days, commonly about 18 days. Both the parents incubate and it not merely keeping the eggs warm. They also protect them from predators, rotate or adjust their position as needed, and maintain the conditions necessary for successful development.

In another apartment next to me – visible from my balcony and kitchen, Pigeons do build nests often. This time yesterday I saw a well built one with more than 100 leaves and few twigs and two anxious Pigeons .. .. this morning all the leaves/twigs – the set-up itself was gone, may pushed down by themselves but .. .. .. there were two little eggs.

Then I saw predatory attacks by Crows .. a couple of times one of the Pigeons chased them away .. .. and few minutes later, I saw one of the eggs on sunshade of the building taken away by a Crow. The cruel, cunning Crow was able to move it, holding the egg in its beak – Pigeons cannot hold their own eggs in beak nor hold between their legs – so sometimes, eggs do fall from the height and get destroyed. As we watched in horror, the Crow lifted the Pigeon egg and flew away – Nature ! ~ the other egg now stood abandoned by the Pigeon and a few minutes later, not found – either fallen down or taken by another predator.

Felt sad for the poor guileless Pigeon !! : https://youtu.be/0gw5cPqcYSY

Regards – S Sampathkumar

25.10.2026

Nepal ~ aerial photo

2026-10-25T09:51:32.078+05:30

Somewhere in mystic Nepal – taken from few years ago !!

Building reflection on Coovum river, Chennai

2026-10-24T21:23:08.165+05:30

A majestic Indian Coast Guard building and its reflection on the Thames of Chennai.

When the British established Fort St George in 1639, the geography of Madras was very different from what we see today. Two waterways were important to the settlement: North river / Elambore river & Triplicane river.

The Cooum, (Triplicane river as it is known now) originates near Cooum/Kesavaram in Tiruvallur district, west of Chennai, and runs roughly 65–72 km before reaching the Bay of Bengal south of Fort St. George, below Napier Bridge Its urban course passes through areas including Arumbakkam, Choolaimedu, Chetpet, Egmore, and Chintadripet.

Regards – S Sampathkumar
24.10.2026

Devotion !!

2026-10-23T17:22:21.456+05:30

Devotee ! …. T Nagar, near Pondy Bazaar (lane leading to Ratna fan house) !! Likely that Somasundaram park in T Nagar got its name from this temple ..

Om Arunachaleswaraya Namaha :

contrails of a Jet plane !!

2026-10-23T17:05:29.953+05:30

Contrails of a Jet-plane !! : https://youtu.be/1ZCxPhhLizs

Contrails or vapour trails are line-shaped clouds produced by aircraft engine exhaust or changes in air pressure, typically at aircraft cruising altitudes several kilometres/miles above the Earth's surface. They are composed primarily of water, in the form of ice crystals.

Homage to Mrs Jamuna Bhaskar

2026-10-21T21:07:41.459+05:30

Homage to Mrs Jamuna Bhaskar

Just received the shocking and sad news of the passing away of Mrs Jamuna Bhaskar following an illness. She was 67!

Tall, fair, with a great command of the English language, caring towards people and possessing immense knowledge without ever boasting about it — she had endeared herself to everyone during her Insurance career, first in PSU and later in Private. A couple of months ago, when I messaged her, she responded, saying that she had not been keeping well and was facing health issues. Yet, her demise today comes as a sudden and terrible shock.

My memories go back to 1986. I was then with Oriental Insurance at CBO 7, Kamala Arcade, controlled by DO 3 at VDS House, Cathedral Road. Tall, young, intelligent and friendly, Ms Jamuna joined Oriental as a Direct Recruit Officer and was posted to DO 3 as an AAO. Initially, she was looking after the Marine Department.

I remember attending her wedding with the handsome AV Bhaskar, an acclaimed still photographer and cinematographer. I also remember her attending my wedding in 1992.

At Oriental, she rose steadily and went on to become the Branch In-charge of the Guindy office. Those were the days when not many women occupied positions at the helm of affairs. In 2002, with private insurers entering the field, she was among the early colleagues to resign from Oriental and move on. She joined Bajaj and made a name for herself in the insurance domain, reaching the higher echelons of the industry.

Meanwhile, I joined RSIL and moved on in my own professional journey. Decades later, I had the golden opportunity to work with her again when I joined Future Generali in 2015. Mrs Jamuna Bhaskar was then in charge of the Tamil Nadu Zone.

She was the real hero of the office. She cared deeply for employees, particularly women colleagues, drove good insurance business and maintained excellent relationships with brokers and major clients. She was firm yet extremely friendly.

In September 2019, she retired happily. The office gave her a rousing farewell because everyone respected and regarded her as one of the most dependable personality to approach with their grievances and from whom they could seek solace. She championed the cause of employees, ensured appropriate ratings and rewards, and was always willing to listen whenever something was amiss.

My innings at Future Generali was memorable right from the interview until my retirement. The period during which I reported to Mrs Jamuna Bhaskar was particularly special — an association marked by mutual respect, cordiality and warmth. It was, indeed, a golden phase of my professional life.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, she was a deeply caring and considerate mother and a devoted family person. She took care of her siblings, parents, in-laws and everyone around her. Her daughter, a well-known model, married actor Nakhul, while her son, Danush Baskar, is a cinematographer, married. Mrs Jamuna was happily spending time with her grandsons.

I had heard that she was facing some health issues. Sadly, she passed away today. The obsequies are to be held at her residence near Thiruvidanthai tomorrow.

It is very sad to learn of her passing. The insurance fraternity has lost a fine professional, and those who knew her have lost a warm, caring and dependable human being.

We miss you, Mrs Jamuna Bhaskar.

With profound sadness,
S Sampathkumar
21.10.2026

“தனியானால் என்ன துணை இங்கே" - Parakeets

2026-10-21T13:10:25.822+05:30

There are moments in life when one feels alone and bit down !! but ~~ What strikes your mind on seeing the photo of a Parakeet carrying something for its love !!

ஆலோலம் பாடி.. அசைந்தாடும் காற்றே..

A moment of nature’s poetry — one parakeet takes flight, carrying its little morsel, while another watches from its perch. A flash of green against the soft blue sky, a gentle dance of wings, and a beautiful moment of togetherness…. and the mind thinks – one is not alone

“தனியானால் என்ன துணை இங்கே

நான் பாடும் பாட்டுண்டு…”

Even in the freedom of the open sky, there is a song, a companion, and a little joy in living.

ஆலோலம் பாடி.. அசைந்தாடும் காற்றே

அதைக் கேட்டு தூங்கும்.. ஆவாரம் பூவே

தனியானால் என்ன துணை இங்கே

நான் பாடும் பாட்டுண்டு

அமுதே என் கண்ணே பசும் பொன்னே

இனி துன்பம் ஏன் இங்கு...

Imagine sitting alone in green forest, hearing the song in the background – voice and music of Isaignani Illayaraja and lyrics of Gangai Amaran.

Not so well known 1992 movie - “Aavaram Poo” starring Nandini, Vineet .. this movie was a remake of 1979 Malayalam movie “Thakara” directed by Bharathan and written by Padmarajan. It starred Prathap Pothan, Surekha, Nedumudi Venu and K. G. Menon in pivotal roles. The film was a breakthrough in the career of Bharathan and Venu.

Interesting !

Regards – S Sampathkumar
21.10.2026

fashion statement ~ trendy Tshirt

2026-10-20T20:55:02.193+05:30

Deepavali is fast approaching .. .. in our school days – only a handful would buy two sets of dresses – mostly customary not trendy.

Here is one seen at a shop !! Youth trend !!.

I am out of sync - may be boomer uncle !!

SYMA Saraswathi Pooja 2026

2026-10-20T20:15:57.030+05:30

Saraswathi Pooja 2026 for SYMA Growth students @ NKT Boys High School

https://youtu.be/uFOql0Eismk @ 20.10.2026

Erumbu ~ the ant, in Tamil Cinema

2026-10-20T11:09:02.605+05:30

வாங்கின பூவும் பத்தாது ! வீசுற காத்தும் நிக்காது –

சின்ன ராசாவே சித்தெறும்பு என்ன கடிக்குது

கட்டிவெல்லம் நீயே ! கட்டெறும்பு நானே !!

தமிழ் சினிமா இலக்கியத்தில் எறும்பு !!

Chinmay Sutar's feat at Souvima !!

2026-10-19T15:39:31.902+05:30

Remember buying Sportstar in 1988 that had on its Greame Hick – reading : - Hick, Hick, Hick, Hick !! – decipher what ?

Sovima is an Angami Naga village located in the Chümoukedima district (near Dimapur) in Nagaland, India; the name translates to mean "good and respectable guests".

The Battle of Kohima was the turning point of the Japanese offensive into India in 1944 during the Second World War. The battle is often referred to as the "Stalingrad of the East". The place of occurrence, Nagaland in North East India borders Assom, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Burma. The state is inhabited by 16 tribes, each tribe is unique in character with its own distinct customs, language and dress. Nagaland is bordered by the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and the Naga Self-Administered Zone of the Sagaing Region of Myanmar (Burma). Its capital city is Kohima and its largest city is the twin Chümoukedima–Dimapur. In the 19th century, the British India forces began expanding their influence in Northeast India, including the Naga Hills. After India's independence in 1947, the question of the Naga Hills' political status emerged. Nagaland was a district in the State of Assam until 1957, known to others as "The Naga Hills".

Mizoram with Aizawl as its capital is a State that shares international borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar - has domestic borders with the Indian states of Assam, Manipur, and Tripura. One of the two official languages and most widely spoken tongue is Mizo,[b] which serves as a lingua franca among various ethnic communities who speak a variety of other Tibeto-Burman or Indo-Aryan languages

No History or Geography post but one on Cricket as these two are playing in Ranji trophy match today and a History was created. Mizoram batting first has declared at 581/9 !! ~ Chinmay Sutar has hit an unbeaten 400!!

Chinmay Sutar, the 29-year-old Mizoram batter, has become the second India player to hit a quadruple century in a first-class innings. Playing in only his second first-class fixture, Sutar surpassed Prithvi Shaw's 379 to achieve the second-highest score in Ranji Trophy history, finishing on an unbeaten 400*, against Nagaland in a plate league fixture in Sovima.

Sutar, who was unbeaten on 392 at tea, reached 400 in the 155th over before Mizoram declared on 581 for 9. By then, he had put together an unbroken 190 for the tenth wicket with Lalrempunia Chhakchhuak. Sutar was within touching distance for the all-time record for the tournament's highest-ever individual score, held by BB Nimbalkar, who hit 443* for Maharashtra against Kathiawar in 1948-49. Their partnership is the third highest for the last-wicket in Ranji history, 43 short of the all-time record for the highest last-wicket stand in Ranji history - 233 runs

Sutar represented Mumbai earlier this year during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the domestic 50-overs competition, following impressive returns in the local leagues. He featured for MSC Maratha Royals and made his Ranji Trophy debut for Mizoram in last week's season opener, hitting 35 and 99 in their narrow three-wicket loss to Manipur.

Nimbalkar’s name stand etched on Indian domestic cricket for his 443 not out for Maharashtra against Kathiawar in 1948-49. He never represented India in an official Test and played for the country only once - against the first Commonwealth team. In Dec 1948, Kathiawar were all out for 238 and Nimbalkar, who came in at No. 3, and KV Bhandarkar added 455 runs for the second wicket which stood as an Indian first-class record for 43 years. At 443, he was within striking distance of Don Bradman's then world record score of 452, made 19 years earlier when the Kathiawar captain, Thakore Sahib of Rajkot, decided to concede the match with the Maharashtra score 826 for 4. The match thus came to an abrupt end and Nimbalkar was deprived of a famous world record.

If you remember that first line - Graeme Ashley Hick MBE is a Zimbabwean-born former England cricketer who played 65 Test matches and 120 One Day Internationals for England. He was born in Rhodesia, and as a young man played international cricket for Zimbabwe. He played English county cricket for Worcestershire for his entire English domestic career, a period of well over twenty years.

In May 1988, at 21 years of age, against Somerset he set a County Championship record by scoring 405 runs in a single innings. Worcestershire were 132 for five at one stage with Botham walking for seven but Hick single-handedly saw them to victory with his 405 not out. In 555 minutes, he hit 11 sixes and 35 fours from 469 balls as Worcestershire declared on 628 for seven.

400 is big in any form of Cricket – remains to be seen whether Chinmay Sutar reaches bigger milestones and accomplishments in his career.

Regards – S Sampathkumar

19.10.2026

Sedan Scooter !!

2026-10-19T09:12:20.316+05:30

When it rains … and when there is heavy rain warning – one must be prepared!

A hatch-back two-wheeler. Human ingenuity in an area where it rains heavily and regularly

உறுதுயர் அலமரல் ! Navarathri Golu - Cow-calf bonding !

2026-10-18T21:59:25.969+05:30

Today is Aippaisi 1 – 7^th day of Navarathiri Uthsavam at Thiruvallikkeni. உறுதுயர் அலமரல் - என்றால் என்ன என்று தெரியுமா ?? Navrathiri is the time for ‘bommai golu’ at homes. At Thiruvallikkeni – display of dolls at Geethacharyan house, 7 South Mada Street, Triplicane, Chennai 600005 [by Dr Bhooma Venkatakrishnan] is famous for its beauty, traditional values and .. .. samprathayic concepts.

There is bonding between the mother and the new-born. Almost every animal take special care in nurturing their new borns, yet, not every animal species develops the same kind of maternal attachment. Mammals generally provide milk and varying degrees of parental care, whereas many reptiles and other animals rely more on eggs, instinctive behaviour and the young's own survival abilities.

The bond between a cow and its calf is indeed remarkable. A mother cow may lick her newborn for a long time, call out when it is separated from her, recognise its calls, and become restless when she cannot find it. There is a biological explanation for this attachment, but there is also something deeply moving about the way it expresses itself. What makes the cow–calf relationship especially noticeable is the combination of maternal behaviour, vocal communication, nursing, and the way we humans observe and relate to cows.

Yes, there is scientific evidence that cows can recognise their own calves and calves can recognise their own mothers. There has been a strong notion that a cow can invariably identify her calf among hundreds, and that the calf will always run straight to its biological mother!

Mullaippattu is one of the Ten Idylls (பத்துப்பாட்டு) of Sangam literature. Here is one from it.

சிறுதாம்பு தொடுத்த பசலைக் கன்றின்

உறுதுயர் அலமரல் நோக்கி ஆய்மகள்

நடுங்குசுவல் அசைத்த கையள் கைய

கொடுங்கோல் கோவலர் பின்நின்று உய்த்தர

இன்னே வருகுவர் தாயர் என்போள்.

A young calf, tied with a small rope, is suffering and restlessly yearning for its mother. Seeing its distress, a cowherd girl comforts it, assuring it that its mother will return shortly, following the cowherds who drive the cattle home.

The striking expression is “உறுதுயர் அலமரல்” — the calf's intense distress and restless agitation. Here the verse is not describing a dramatic reunion. The calf's distress at being away from its mother is enough to convey the attachment. There is also a lovely human parallel: in the same passage, an older woman uses the reassuring words spoken to the calf as an auspicious sign to comfort a woman who is anxiously awaiting her absent beloved.

ஆய்மகள் பச்சைக் கன்றுக்குட்டியைச் சிறிய தாம்புக் கயிற்றிலே தொடுத்து வைத்திருந்தாள். அது தாய்ப்பசுவை எண்ணித் தவித்துக்கொண்டிருந்தது. அந்தக் கன்றின் கழுத்தை அந்த ஆய்மகள் தன் கக்கத்திலே அணைத்துக்கொண்டு அதனைத் தேற்றும் சொற்களைப் பேசினாள். “கையில் வளைகோல் வைத்திருக்கும் கோவலர் பின்னிருந்து ஓட்டிக்கொண்டு வர உன் தாயர் (தாய்ப்பசு) இன்னே (இப்பொழுதே) வந்துவிடுவர்” என்றாள். [இந்த நல்ல சொற்கள் விரிச்சி கேட்டுக்கொண்டிருந்த பெண்களின் காதில் விழுந்தது. இதுவே அவர்கள் கேட்ட வரிச்சி]

பாடியவர்:- காவிரிப்பூம்பட்டினத்துப் பொன்வணிகனார் மகனார் நப்பூதனார்

பாடப்பட்டவன்:- தலையாலங்கானத்துச் செருவென்ற நெடுஞ்செழியன்

திணை:- முல்லைத்திணை

பாவகை:- அகவல்பா (ஆசிரியப்பா)

மொத்த அடிகள்:- 103

சங்கத் தமிழ் இலக்கியத்தில் பத்துப்பாட்டு என அழைக்கப்படும் தொகுதியின் ஒரு பகுதியே முல்லைப் பாட்டு. இத் தொகுதியுள் அடங்கியுள்ள நூல்களுள் மிகவும் சிறியது இதுவே. 103 அடிகளைக்கொண்ட ஆசிரியப்பா வகையில் இயற்றப்பட்டது.

At Geethacharyan house – this special painting on vitreous glassy material of ‘Calf drinking milk, while Cow showing deep affection and licking’ appears exceptionally grand and beautiful. Here is a close-up of the same and a photo of part of the grand bommai golu.

Regards – S Sampathkumar

18.10.2026

homage to - தேனிசைத்தென்றல் தேவா

2026-10-18T17:53:42.901+05:30

வெள்ளி நிலா வானத்திலே வெளிச்சம் தரும் நேரத்திலே

துள்ளி வரும் காவேரிப்போல் நடந்து வந்தாள் பாதையிலே!

நெஞ்சுக்குள்ளே நீ புகுந்து நேசத்துக்குள் என்னை வச்சு

கண்ணுக்குள்ளே உன்னை வச்சு காவல் காப்பேன் அத்த மகளே!

Heard this song !!

In the entertainment industry, he would not only be remembered for so many hit songs – more so for his character, his outwardly friendliness, his smile and helping tendency – very sad to know that Thenisai thenral Deva is no more!!!

ஓம் அருணாச்சலேஸ்வராய நம: போன்ற அற்புத பாடல்கள் இசையமைத்த, தமிழ், தெலுங்கு, மலையாளம், கன்னடம் என 25 வருடங்களுக்கு மேலாக முன்னணி இசையமைப்பாளராக திகழ்ந்த நல்ல மனிதர் திரு தேவா மறைவு வருத்தத்தை அளிக்கிறது. நெற்றி நிறைய விபூதிக் கீற்று, நடுவே குங்குமம், சின்ன கீற்றுக்கண்கள், நெடிய நாசி, பட்டை மீசை, முகத்தில் எப்போதும் அணிந்திருக்கும் அழகான சிரிப்பு. இவர் தான் இசையமைப்பாளர் தேனிசைத்தென்றல் தேவா.

Deva composed music for over 400 films across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada, including iconic blockbusters like Annamalai, Baashha, Aasai, Kadhal Kottai, Vaalee, and Kushi. He also composed Rajinikanth's famous title-card theme music. Though he is widely acclaimed as the "Godfather of Gaana" bringing Chennai's street-style gaana music into the mainstream of Tamil cinema, he has given many melodies worth hearing again and again. .

His son Srikanth Deva is also a music composer, as are his brothers, who have formed the duo Sabesh–Murali. Mr Deva died from a sudden cardiac arrest at Surya Hospital in Kodambakkam, Chennai on 17 October 2026 at the age of 75

Some of his evergreen hits would include the high energy - “Vanthenda Paalkaran” — Annamalai (1992; “Naan Autokaaran” — Baashha (1995); “Konja Naal Poru Thalaiva” — Aasai (1995); “Kavalai Padathey Sagothara” — Kadhal Kottai ; “Aval Varuvala” — Nerrukku Ner ; “Manam Virumbuthey” — Nerrukku Ner ; “Meenamma” — Arunachalam; “Salomiya” — Once More (1997); “Megam Karukkuthu” — Ninaithen Vandhai and more !!

The song at the start is from Mattukkara Mannaru which was his first movie. This movie was released in 1986, starred Chandrasekar, Aswini, Arunthathi, directed by Thenral Thiyagarajan who also wrote lyrics for this song. It was sung by legendary TM Soundararajan.

Deva Sir would ever remembered for his music, nice conduct, smiles, vibuthi in his forehead and overt friendliness. I have heard many of his songs again and again – sad on his departure !

Here is a picture taken with Mr Devanesan Chokkalingam, more popularly known as Deva, in 2023 at Hyderabad airport.

Regards – S Sampathkumar

GST road night view !!

2026-10-18T09:47:21.567+05:30

Grand Southern Trunk Road (GST Road), National Highway 45 (NH 45) – night view of a bridge, somewhere near Vikravandi

No flash photo taken around 10.15 pm. – from a moving vehicle

School days !! ஞாபகம் வருதே ஞாபகம் வருதே !!

2026-10-17T22:22:42.904+05:30

The school days of yesteryears offered unlimited charm –in front of the school would be a push cart that contained treasures – among them the cut mango with chillipowder topping was always a hit !!

ஞாபகம் வருதே ஞாபகம் வருதே !!

பொக்கிஷமாக நெஞ்சில் புதைந்த

நினைவுகள் எல்லாம் ஞாபகம் வருதே !!

முதல் முதலாக பழகிய நீச்சல்

முதல் முதலாக ஓட்டிய சைக்கிள்

முதல் வகுப்பெடுத்த மல்லிகா டீச்சா் .. ..

முதல் முதலாக வாங்கிய மாங்காய் பத்தை !!

count the chirpy little birds !!

2026-10-17T19:17:23.484+05:30

You may have seen them on parks or on trees (fig trees!) nearer you – chirpy – their robust tuk-tuk-tuk sound could be heard from quite a distance too. Small, green and beautifully marked, these birds are often heard before they are even seen. Their persistent metallic tuk-tuk-tuk call, reminiscent of a coppersmith hammering copper, is a familiar sound in our neighbourhoods. These little birds are also skilled excavators, carving nesting cavities in tree branches and feeding largely on fruits and berries.

Coppersmith Barbets (Psilopogon haemacephalus), a familiar but fascinating bird of Indian cities. The bright red forehead and throat, yellow facial markings, green plumage and streaked underside are characteristic of the species.

Its call resembles a metalworker repeatedly hammering copper: tuk… tuk… tuk… The fascinating part is that it can produce this repetitive sound with its beak closed, inflating and deflating the throat area as it calls. At roughly 15–17 cm long, it is a small, compact bird. Its green plumage blends into leafy surroundings, so you may hear its unmistakable call long before you spot the bird itself.

The birds' red foreheads and throat patches are the key identification marks. In this image taken a few years ago, when leaves were falling - the bare branches provide an excellent natural setting.

In Tamil, the Coppersmith Barbet is called செம்மார்புக் குக்குறுவான் (Semmārpuk Kukkuruvaan). Another name used in bird lists is கழுத்தறுப்பான். [sounds strange !!]

செம்மார்புக் குக்குறுவான் (Coppersmith Barbet) — செந்நிறத் தலையும் மார்பும் கொண்ட அழகிய சிறு பறவை. The Tamil name கழுத்தறுப்பான் is better understood as a folk or humorous name, not the standard ornithological Tamil name for the coppersmith barbet. Literally, it means “one who cuts the throat”; idiomatically, கழுத்தறு can also mean to vex or irritate someone intensely. The bird makes a loud, monotonous, metallic “tuk… tuk… tuk” call, often repeated for long periods resembling a coppersmith hammering copper sheet

Interesting !

Regards – S Sampathkumar

17.10.2026

the Pigeon story ! ~ do not measure your life !!

2026-10-16T08:25:45.506+05:30

This pigeon was perched on tree and as I waited patiently, it did land on the terrace ! – and started asking me Qs – so here is me telling you all a kutti stori !!

A little Zen story about freedom, comparison, and being oneself

One spring morning, a young Pigeon sat on a branch and watched an eagle soaring high above the mountains.

“How fortunate the eagle is!” sighed the Pigeon. “He can fly so high, see distant lands, and touch the sky. What am I but a tiny bird, hopping from branch to branch?”

An old crane, standing quietly beside a pond, heard the sparrow's words. “Why do you wish to be an eagle?” asked the crane. “Because he can fly higher than anyone else.” The crane smiled. “Have you ever seen an eagle complain that he cannot swim like a fish?”

“No,” replied the Pigeon. “Have you ever seen a fish complain that it cannot sing like a nightingale?” “No.” “Then why,” asked the crane gently, “do you spend your days wishing to be another bird?” The Pigeon fell silent.

Just then, a strong wind swept through the trees. A little nest, hidden among the branches, began to shake. Two young chicks cried out in fear. Without thinking, the Pigeon flew towards the nest. He darted between the branches, found a sheltered place beside the chicks, and spread his tiny wings to protect them from the wind. When the storm passed, the chicks were safe.

The eagle, circling high above, had not even noticed the little nest. That evening, the Pigeon sat on his branch again. The eagle was returning to his distant mountain home, his wings glowing in the golden sunset. For the first time, the Pigeon watched him without envy. He looked down at the little nest. The chicks were sleeping peacefully. And the Pigeon smiled.

He had not flown as high as the eagle. He had not travelled across mountains. He had not touched the clouds. Yet, that day, he had done something that only he could do.

The old crane, watching from the pond, nodded quietly. “Now you understand,” he said. “Understand what?” asked the Pigeon ? The crane replied, “The sky is wide enough for every bird. You need not borrow another bird's wings to find your place in it.” And with that, the old crane closed his eyes, while the evening breeze carried the songs of a hundred different birds across the forest.

The lesson : Do not measure your life by another person's height, speed, or achievements. The eagle has his sky. The Pigeon has his branch. The crane has his stillness.

Wisdom begins when we stop asking, “Why am I not like them?” and begin discovering, “What can I do with the life and gifts that are mine?”

Like the birds, we need not all fly at the same height to belong to the same sky.

Regards – S Sampatkumar
16.10.2026

Nobel Prize in Economics 2026

2026-10-13T16:14:33.924+05:30

Nobel Prize in Economics 2026

In School curriculum, we read and memorized formulae : PNR/100; Area of circle - pi r^2 – elementary - mathematical formula is a rule, relationship or expression that shows how quantities are connected, often allowing us to calculate one quantity from others. Ever read this : [ Y = C + I + G + (X-M) \] – more so, if you claim to have read Economics at College [I did BA Economics]

There was JM Keynes. The Great Depression of the 1930s was the defining economic crisis behind Keynes's work. Businesses failed, production collapsed and millions lost their jobs. Keynes argued that waiting for the economy to correct itself could prolong the suffering. In 1936, he published his landmark book, The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money, which challenged important assumptions of classical economics.

Long ago, people lived in villages – they were self-sufficient, their wants were limited – slowly Trade progressed – humans started consuming more – boundaries opened up ! people started travelling from place to place and sometimes shifted their pastures. Immigration is the international movement of people to a destination country of which they are not natives or where they do not possess citizenship in order to settle as permanent residents or naturalized citizens.

As for economic effects, research suggests that migration is beneficial both to the receiving and sending countries. Research, with few exceptions, finds that immigration on average has positive economic effects on the native population, but is mixed as to whether low-skilled immigration adversely affects low-skilled natives. .. .. How does immigration affect pay and employment levels? How does a longer education affect someone’s future income? These questions are difficult to answer because we have nothing to use as a comparison. We do not know what would have happened if there had been less immigration or if that person had not continued studying.

As it was with most subjects at College, Economics bemused and always tested our understanding ! ~ there was Micro Economics and Macro Economics. To put simply, Micro is the study of economic behavior of a particular individual, firm, or household, i.e. it studies a particular unit. Macro economics is the study of the economy as a whole i.e., not a single unit but the combination of all. Microeconomics is the study of particular markets, and segments of the economy. It looks at issues such as consumer behaviour, individual labour markets, and the theory of firms. Macro economics is the study of the whole economy. It looks at ‘aggregate’ variables, such as aggregate demand, national output and inflation.

Then there were noted Economists like – Adam Smith, a Scottish economist, philosopher, moral philosopher, a pioneer of political economy and a key figure during the Scottish Enlightenment. Smith is best known for two classic works, The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759) and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776). The latter, usually abbreviated as The Wealth of Nations, is considered his magnum opus and the first modern work of economics. Smith laid the foundations of classical free market economic theory.

John Maynard Keynes was a British economist whose ideas transformed modern economic policy. He argued that governments have an important role in stabilising the economy, particularly during recessions, when businesses cut investment and unemployment rises. Keynes's central argument was that an economy does not always automatically recover from a recession quickly enough to ensure full employment. Before Keynes, many classical economists believed that market forces, including adjustments in wages and prices, would tend to restore economic balance. Keynes challenged the assumption that this adjustment would always happen quickly or smoothly. He argued that when people and businesses reduce their spending, the economy can become trapped in a prolonged period of low demand, low production and high unemployment. His proposed solution was for the government to step in when private-sector demand was insufficient.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2026 to:

Robert E. Hall, Stanford University, CA, USA.

Michael Woodford, Columbia University, New York, USA.

“for microeconomic foundations of macroeconomic stabilisation”

The Nobel Press release reads : these laureates have helped us smooth out the economy’s peaks and troughs. This year’s laureates in the economic sciences, Robert E. Hall and Michael Woodford, have developed new macroeconomic models that have significantly improved our ability to implement effective stabilisation policy. On the basis of these models, well-timed fiscal and monetary policy measures can reduce the economy’s peaks and troughs.

The economy is characterised by alternating downturns and upturns. Ever since the economist John Maynard Keynes launched his theories almost a century ago, stabilisation policy has been important for tackling these fluctuations. During recessions, the economy is boosted by reducing interest rates and increasing the budget deficit, while the opposite should be done to slow a booming economy.

However, during the oil crises of the 1970s, it seemed that the Keynesian models that govern when and how measures should be implemented no longer worked. They did not reduce unemployment, but led to uncontrolled inflation instead. The West experienced a decade of low growth, high unemployment and high inflation. Many people believed that stabilisation policy had done more harm than good and that it should be retired.

Robert E. Hall and Michael Woodford are awarded this year’s prize in economic sciences for demonstrating how economic models could be reconstructed to revitalise stabilisation policy. Rather than basing the models on statistical links between macroeconomic variables, such as inflation, production and consumption, they chose to build them on a microeconomic foundation. This encompasses an understanding for how the total mass of individual households and businesses affect the economy through their actions.

A central component in these models is that households and businesses are forward looking when making decisions about savings or product prices. When governments and central banks communicate their plans for economic policy, they can influence this view of the future and move the economy in the right direction. Since the new models’ introduction, they have been extremely helpful in dealing with the economic downturns that have affected us.

“The laureates’ work has provided us with a stable theoretical foundation for the models that are now used by central banks and governments around the world. With them, we are better equipped to deal with shocks in the economy, such as energy crises or sudden changes in how much households consume,” says John Hassler, Chair of the Committee for the Prize in Economic Sciences.

Here is something more on the coveted award : An endowment "in perpetuity" from Sveriges Riksbank pays the Nobel Foundation's administrative expenses associated with the prize and funds the monetary component of the award. The Prize in Economics is not one of the Nobel Prizes, which were endowed by Alfred Nobel in his will. However, the nomination process, selection criteria, and awards presentation of the Prize in Economic Sciences are performed in a manner similar to that of the Nobel Prizes. The prize was established in 1968 by a donation from Sweden's central bank Sveriges Riksbank to the Nobel Foundation to commemorate the bank's 300^th anniversary. Laureates are announced with the Nobel Prize laureates, and receive the award at the same ceremony. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awards the prize "in accordance with the rules governing the award of the Nobel Prizes instituted through his [Alfred Nobel's] will.

As with the Nobel Prizes, no more than three people can share the prize for a given year; they must still be living at the time of the Prize announcement in October; and information about Prize nominations cannot be disclosed publicly for 50 years. Like the Nobel laureates in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, and literature, each laureate in Economics receives a diploma, gold medal, and monetary grant award document from the King of Sweden at the annual Nobel Prize Award Ceremony in Stockholm, on the anniversary of Nobel's death (December 10).

The Nobel Laureates in Economics in 2026 jointly are :

Robert E. Hall, born 1943 in Palo Alto, CA, USA. PhD 1967 from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA. Professor at Stanford University, CA, USA.

Michael Woodford, born 1955 in Chicopee, MA, USA. PhD 1983 from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA. Professor at Columbia University, New York, USA.

In case you still remember that formula at the start : Keynesian economics often uses this equation to explain aggregate demand:

[ Y = C + I + G + (X-M) \]

Where:

• \(Y\) = total national output or income

• \(C\) = household consumption

• \(I\) = private investment

• \(G\) = government expenditure

• \(X-M\) = exports minus imports

The logic is straightforward: if households cut consumption and businesses reduce investment, the government may increase its expenditure to offset the decline in demand. The connection is particularly interesting: the 2026 Nobel Prize in Economics recognises research that builds on, refines and modernises the economic stabilisation ideas associated with John Maynard Keynes.

The prize was announced on 12 October 2026, and the two laureates are Robert E. Hall and Michael Woodford. The official citation is “for microeconomic foundations of macroeconomic stabilisation.”

Robert E. Hall, Stanford University, USA: His research examined how households make consumption decisions, including how their expectations about future income influence spending. This helps economists understand how changes in consumption affect the wider economy.

Michael Woodford, Columbia University, USA - His work developed modern macroeconomic models explaining how interest rates, inflation expectations and central-bank decisions influence economic activity.

Their research helped lay the foundations for the New Keynesian models used by central banks and finance ministries to analyse economic fluctuations and formulate policy

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences is worth 12 million Swedish kronor (SEK), shared equally by the two laureates. In INR it would be roughly 13 Cr. JM Keynes helped establish why economic stabilisation matters; Hall and Woodford helped develop more rigorous tools for analysing how stabilisation policies work.

Interesting !

Regards – S Sampathkumar
13.10.2026

Citations : various websites including : https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/economic-sciences/2026/press-release/ Attributions ”© Johan Jarnestad/The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NobelPrize1.jpg

Where Eagles dare !! ~ raptor on road !

2026-10-12T15:04:38.352+05:30

What do you see normally on a city road ! ~ People – vehicles of varied sorts – Bus, Truck, Cars, Motor cycles, Scooters, Mopeds, Cycles, Tricycles, Auto-rickshaw, Tata Ace .. .. and some more modified vehicles jostling for space. Ever imagined a raptor on the road !?!

During World War II, MI6 officers Colonel Turner and Admiral Rolland assemble a commando team to rescue American Brigadier General George Carnaby, a chief planner for the Western Front, who is a prisoner at Schloß Adler, an alpine mountaintop fortress in Bavaria, accessible only by cable car. Disguised as German soldiers, they parachute into an area near the castle. Harrod is found dead with a broken neck, and Smith deduces that he was murdered. Smith secretly meets with his lover, British agent Mary Ellison, but keeps her involvement from his men. In a tavern in the nearby village, Smith meets undercover agent Heidi Schmidt, who has arranged for Mary to work inside the castle. Smith tells Mary that Carnaby is an imposter, US Corporal Cartwright Jones, and that the British staged his capture. Later, Smith discovers MacPherson dead. When a German colonel arrives in the tavern with soldiers ostensibly searching for deserters, Smith realises that the colonel is really searching for his team and surrenders to avoid an unwinnable fight. Thomas, Berkeley, and Christiansen are taken to the castle, while Smith and Schaffer escape and infiltrate the castle via cable car. Inside, they reunite with Mary and observe General Rosemeyer and Colonel Kramer interrogate Carnaby. Thomas, Berkeley, and Christiansen arrive and are revealed to be German double agents.

We are used to seeing Black Kites, Vultures, Eagles – soar high in the air !! In Tamil, பருந்து (Parunthu) is a general name commonly used for a hawk-like or large bird of prey. In everyday speech, people may call several soaring raptors parunthu, but the word does not correspond exclusively to one English species. The one seen here is a Black Kite (கள்ளப் பருந்து). Its long wings, brown plumage and dark, forked-looking tail are consistent with that of a kite.

But it is not soaring high, and in fact, is flying too low below the parapet !!

The second para describes the plot of “Where Eagles Dare” a 1968 action adventure war film directed by Brian G. Hutton, starring Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood and Mary Ure. It follows a World War II British Special Operations Executive team charged with saving a captured American general from a fortress known as Schloß Adler (Castle of the Eagles), as their mission takes several unexpected turns. It was filmed in Panavision using the Metrocolor process, and was distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Alistair MacLean wrote the screenplay, his first, while he was writing the novel of the same name. Both became commercial successes.

Interesting !

Regards – S Sampathkumar

12.10.2026

Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji inaugurates Poonamallee - Vadapalani Metro line

2026-10-11T21:36:10.549+05:30

Chennai Metro: Another Landmark in the City's Journey!

11 October 2026 — A landmark day for Chennai

Today, 11 October 2026, is a landmark day for the residents of Chennai. More than a decade ago, on 29 June 2015, Chennai residents got their first feel of Metro rail in their own city. Today, another significant chapter has been added to the city's evolving public transport network.

One common feature of every major city is its bustling traffic, and Chennai is no exception. The metropolis is growing rapidly, and traffic volumes on its roads have been increasing enormously. The need for efficient, reliable and comfortable public transport has never been greater.

From Electric Trains to Metro Rail

The history of Chennai's electric railways dates back to nearly a century ago. Way back in 1930, the first consignment of 25 electric carriages arrived from England, heralding a transformation in the life of Madras, as Chennai was then known. The first electrically operated suburban rail service in Madras commenced on 2 April 1931, between Madras Beach and Tambaram, inaugurated by Sir George Fredrick Stanley, the then Governor of Madras. The service was opened to the general public shortly thereafter.

Chennai has a fairly extensive suburban railway network, popularly known as the Electric Trains. These are Electrical Multiple Units (EMUs), operating on alternating current (AC) drawn from overhead cables. As of 2013, the suburban railway network reportedly operated 580 services, including 250 on the Beach–Tambaram section, 240 on the Central–Tiruvallur section, and 90 on the Central–Gummidipoondi section.

The Chennai Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS), popularly known as the Parakkum Rail, entered the scene much later. Built at a cost of ₹11,710 million, the line runs from Chennai Beach to Velachery, covering a distance of 19.34 km.

Though it promised much, the MRTS initially struggled to attract passengers. When the first phase, between Beach and Chepauk, opened in November 1995, patronage was disappointing. Passenger numbers improved somewhat when the line was extended towards Mylapore.

From my home, we could literally watch trains running almost empty, carrying little more than the people required to operate them! Happily, things have changed for the better over the years, and the MRTS has become an important part of Chennai's transport system.

Chennai Metro: A New Era of Commuting

Metro Rail has been a boon to Chennai. The Blue and Green Lines have attracted considerable patronage and made travel across the city much easier. For visitors arriving from towns and villages, the Metro is often a marvel in itself — a modern, convenient and comfortable way of travelling through a bustling metropolis.

The Blue Line connects Wimco Nagar with Chennai Airport, while the Green Line connects Chennai Airport with Puratchi Thalaivar Dr M.G. Ramachandran Central Metro station. Together, these lines have transformed the way many people move around Chennai, connecting several important residential, commercial and transport hubs.

Another Milestone: The Yellow Line Opens

Today, yet another stretch of the Chennai Metro has been inaugurated — the 15-km Poonamallee–Vadapalani section of Corridor 4, forming part of the larger Lighthouse–Poonamallee corridor.

Our Hon'ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modiji, inaugurated the new stretch today and travelled on the Metro along with the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Mr C. Joseph Vijay.

The newly operational section of Phase II's Corridor 4 has 11 stations open to passengers, including Poonamallee, Karayanchavadi, Kumananchavadi, Kattupakkam, Iyyappanthangal and Porur, before reaching Vadapalani.

Initially, train services on this stretch are scheduled to operate from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM. This limited operating window allows construction work to continue at night at six intermediate stations — Alapakkam, Karambakkam, Valasaravakkam, Alwarthirunagar, Saligramam Warehouse and Saligramam — before they are opened to the public.

Once fully completed, Corridor 4 will have 27 stations, comprising nine underground and 18 elevated stations, connecting Poonamallee with Lighthouse. The route will serve several important localities, including Kutchery Road, Thirumylai, Alwarpet, Nandanam, Panagal Park and Kodambakkam.

An interchange with Corridor 3 and the MRTS at Thirumylai will be particularly significant, offering commuters greater flexibility in planning their journeys.

The underground portion of Corridor 4 is another fascinating aspect of this ambitious project. The approximately 10-km underground stretch, extending from Lighthouse towards the Kodambakkam Flyover, involves tunnelling beneath some of Chennai's historically dense neighbourhoods and busy arterial roads.

Working beneath established neighbourhoods, without disrupting the life of the city above, is a formidable engineering challenge. This underground section is among the technically demanding components of Chennai Metro's Phase II project.

According to reports issued a few months ago, the complex 1.98-km twin-tunnel drive between Lighthouse and Thirumayilai had been completed — a significant achievement in the construction of the network.

Metro Rail has undoubtedly changed the way people commute in Chennai. What was once seen as a modern transport experiment has steadily become an essential part of the city's daily life.

From the electric trains of 1931, through the MRTS and the first Metro services in 2015, to today's expansion of Phase II, Chennai's public transport story reflects the growth and changing aspirations of the metropolis.

Today, Chennai celebrates another milestone in this journey, as the city welcomes the inauguration of the new Metro stretch by our Hon'ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modiji.

May Chennai continue to grow, with better connectivity, easier commuting and a more comfortable travel experience for its residents!

Regards,

S. Sampathkumar

11.10.2026

The magnificent Parakeet

2026-10-11T10:58:11.209+05:30

“The magnificent Parakeet — a flash of emerald green, crimson and rose-pink”

No ordinary one this – you can notice its thick, curved red bill is noticeably heavier than that of the Rose-ringed Parakeet. Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria).

The bright green plumage, large red beak, pinkish-red shoulder patch and dark neck band are characteristic of a male Alexandrine Parakeet. It is a particularly attractive bird to photograph because of its contrasting colours. It is one of Asia's largest parakeets, measuring approximately 53–58 cm from head to tail, much of that length coming from its long tail

Keeping a native Alexandrine Parakeet as a pet is generally illegal in India, because it is a protected wild bird under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The photo here is taken with the bird in its natural surroundings— the best way to enjoy its beauty without disturbing its freedom.

Regards – S Sampathkumar

11.10.2026