Best of the pocket cartoons published in Tamil daily dinamalar's Ulkuthu column
January 22, 2014
Best cartoons of Dinamalar Ulkuthu
Best of the pocket cartoons published in Tamil daily dinamalar's Ulkuthu column
January 19, 2014
January 17, 2014
Indian cartoons
Cartoon on AAP Kejriwal and the 2014 Indian elections
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June 08, 2009
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February 02, 2009
Microlocal: Thimmaiah Road
A school for miscreants. The sordid tale of Thimmaiah Road |
The government model school on Thimmaiah Road has become a 'model' for what can go wrong when civic authorities fail in their duties. From illegal sex to gambling, many illicit activities go on in the classrooms. Francis P Barclay and Veeramani A report. |
December 30, 2008
One in five patients who stay long likely to be hit; patients with burns at high risk |
Francis P Barclay. Bangalore |
| If you are being wheeled into any of the hospital wards or operation theatres in the city, be prepared to face one of the most lethal bacteria known to man. One in five patients who stays for long at any city hospital has chances of getting infected by the methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria. Burns patients are definitely more at risk. Babies too face the risk of getting meningitis and septicaemia caused by MRSA, said an expert Gayathri Arakere working with Sir Dorabji Tata Research Centre for Tropical Diseases which interacts with hospitals here and helps them in diagnostics. Arakere said about 40% to 50% of staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from the burn and trauma wards of two leading hospitals in Bangalore were found to be methicillin-resistant. In some of the city's hospitals, the prevalence was found to be higher. What causes concern is that Type-3 and 3A SCC MEC cassettes of MRSA are entrenched in hospitals. They show resistance to at least five to six classes of drugs. Public awareness of the bacteria is abysmally low. Most healthcare officials do not want to talk about it lest they be blamed for aiding its spread. All city hospitals have become breeding grounds of these 'cockroaches of the microbial world', said Dr H Srinivasa of the department of microbiology, St John's Medical College and Hospital. Also called staph, the bacteria thrive in hospitals which are old and overcrowded, and where hygiene standards are unsatisfactory. They mainly target ICUs and burns units and patients with chronic ailments and weakened immune systems become easy victims. While a recent study placed southern India in the high risk map on superbugs, a 1996 survey put Bangalore atop Indian metros that are most vulnerable to Staph. "Staph profusion is a harbinger of a larger antibiotic resistance pandemic. There are many such microbes that are developing resistance against antibiotics," said Dr Srinivasa, an expert on pathogens. The percentage of drug-resistant mutants in Staph is at least 30% in city hospitals. In some, the percentage is above 50%, he said.Dr Preeti Galagali, a consultant paediatrician of a city-based hospital, said mutant strains of the bacteria had evolved due to the misuse and overuse of antibiotics. "As doctors over-prescribe and patients abuse antibiotics, the bacteria gain immunity," she said. "A government policy that regulates prescription of drugs is needed. Movement of drugs across the counter too should be controlled," said Dr Savitha Nagaraj of St John's Medical College. Staph usually infects an operated area or open wound. To a patient, a secondary superbug infection means additional ailment, longer stay in hospital and additional costs. Understaffing in hospitals facilitates easy transmission of staph infections within the premises. Besides medical instruments, doctors and nurses too become carriers of Staph. A solution to this problem lies in appointing a hand-hygiene co-ordinator, arranging recorded messages urging people to wash their hands and installing ultra-violet light boxes to check washed hands for missed bacteria. It is alarming that MRSA has developed resistance against stronger drugs like vancomycin. But, as doctors say, it is something that needs more than adqequate attention today. |
September 01, 2008
Satyam stutters at box office
By Francis P Barclay
Published in The Hindu's Ergo, Chennai, on August 17, 2008
Satyam is rather a muddled composition of individual scenes than a movie, with strenuous but thoughtless efforts. For the first few minutes, you feel like you are watching Kaaka Kaaka again. Four cops are assigned an ‘encounter’ job and they dart out on their mission.
The hero is introduced, ACP Satyam, similar to ACP Anbuselvan. But there is a twist: he prevents his colleagues from carrying out the ‘encounter’. A series of punch dialogues follow, including a dig at Vikram’s Samy: “Naan porikki illa police,” the hero clarifies.
The racy action then paves way to the child stars and for a while you think you are watching a kids’ film. Deiva (Nayanthara), a reporter, becomes their sworn enemy. Vishal sheds the khaki robe and dons superhero costumes to dance with the kids.
In Home Alone style, the kids torment Deiva. Satyam and the heroine are portrayed as enemies for sometime. But suddenly you find out that they have become lovers.
Only, you don’t know when and how. Similar abrupt cuts in the storyline mar the flow of the movie, leaving you confused all the way. A sudden flow of punch dialogues and song sequences in the most unwarranted places add to the muddle.
In the intro, Nayan is said to be a television journalist. For a few moments, you find her around Satyam with a camcorder. Otherwise, she is an idler. Her role is not clearly portrayed, though her screen presence is overwhelming.
Vishal, too, looks stunning with his six-pack abs. He is attractive, and his stunts, though with explicit graphic intrusions, are appreciable. But again there is a volleyball stunt which closely resembles the one in the Rajinikanth-cropper Baba. It is evident that Vishal has put in a lot of effort but the script leaves a lot to be desired.
It seems Vishal liked to don the khaki robe and the film just fulfils his wish. The children and Nayan’s accomplice, Prem G. Amaran, manage to evoke laughter at some places but he could have been used a bit more. Upendra too.
The Kannada superstar makes his entry into Kollywood but under easy-to-forget circumstances. People could have at least kept this on their minds while etching his role. After a hyped introduction, the strength of his role wanes steadily.
Comedian Senthil reprises his role from Kamal Hassan blockbuster Indian as RTO Pannerselvam. Harris Jayaraj, in his 25th movie, ends up creating noise more than music. In short, Satyam fails to live up to the hype it generated.
Published in The Hindu's Ergo, Chennai, on August 17, 2008
Satyam is rather a muddled composition of individual scenes than a movie, with strenuous but thoughtless efforts. For the first few minutes, you feel like you are watching Kaaka Kaaka again. Four cops are assigned an ‘encounter’ job and they dart out on their mission.
The hero is introduced, ACP Satyam, similar to ACP Anbuselvan. But there is a twist: he prevents his colleagues from carrying out the ‘encounter’. A series of punch dialogues follow, including a dig at Vikram’s Samy: “Naan porikki illa police,” the hero clarifies.
The racy action then paves way to the child stars and for a while you think you are watching a kids’ film. Deiva (Nayanthara), a reporter, becomes their sworn enemy. Vishal sheds the khaki robe and dons superhero costumes to dance with the kids.
In Home Alone style, the kids torment Deiva. Satyam and the heroine are portrayed as enemies for sometime. But suddenly you find out that they have become lovers.
Only, you don’t know when and how. Similar abrupt cuts in the storyline mar the flow of the movie, leaving you confused all the way. A sudden flow of punch dialogues and song sequences in the most unwarranted places add to the muddle.
In the intro, Nayan is said to be a television journalist. For a few moments, you find her around Satyam with a camcorder. Otherwise, she is an idler. Her role is not clearly portrayed, though her screen presence is overwhelming.
Vishal, too, looks stunning with his six-pack abs. He is attractive, and his stunts, though with explicit graphic intrusions, are appreciable. But again there is a volleyball stunt which closely resembles the one in the Rajinikanth-cropper Baba. It is evident that Vishal has put in a lot of effort but the script leaves a lot to be desired.
It seems Vishal liked to don the khaki robe and the film just fulfils his wish. The children and Nayan’s accomplice, Prem G. Amaran, manage to evoke laughter at some places but he could have been used a bit more. Upendra too.
The Kannada superstar makes his entry into Kollywood but under easy-to-forget circumstances. People could have at least kept this on their minds while etching his role. After a hyped introduction, the strength of his role wanes steadily.
Comedian Senthil reprises his role from Kamal Hassan blockbuster Indian as RTO Pannerselvam. Harris Jayaraj, in his 25th movie, ends up creating noise more than music. In short, Satyam fails to live up to the hype it generated.
The debate over condom wrappers
By Francis P Barclay
Published in The Hindu's Ergo, Chennai, on July 31, 2008
While campaigns advertising the use of condoms are getting vigorous and animated, a recent PIL filed at the Madurai bench of Madras High Court raises an interesting debate: should obscenity be allowed on condom wrappers; and more importantly who decides the standards.In abusinessman from Madurai filed the PIL seeking a ban on obscene visuals on packages and advertisements of the condoms, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court ruled that condom manufacturers cannot market their products “indiscriminately” with obscene visuals.
His complaint is that obscene visuals on condom packages create a wrong impression about condoms, primarily medical products and not inducers of sexual desire. What is the strategy behind the use of such visuals on condom wrappers? Are they necessary or not?
“It is actually a tricky issue,” says sexologist G. Sampath Kumar, adding that the obscene visuals on condom wrappers act as a “stimulating factor” of sex. “Premarital sex has become a commonplace phenomenon and there are many factors that induce it,” he points out.
Another city-based sexologist points out: “Ladies, especially those sexually active, carry contraceptives with them. Levels of awareness on sex and related issues are also high among the IT professionals who lead lavish and swanky lifestyles.”
“Certainly when people are exposed to obscene visuals, they are tempted to have sex. Condoms come in myriad shapes, types, sizes and flavours claiming to enhance sexual pleasure. And pictures to suit each of them,” he says, adding that condom wrappers are disposed carelessly and they even land in the hands of children sometimes.
However, he agrees that condom promotion is crucial now and adds that instead of using those visuals on the wrapper, they can be used on the inner foil. “Condoms are used even by illiterates and the visuals attract them.”
Finding obscene visuals unnecessary on condom packages, Dr. Amudha Hari, gynaecologist and critic on sex-related issues, makes it clear that condoms are primarily contraceptives, a medical device. It is used to avoid spread of STD (sexually transmitted diseases) and pregnancy.
In fact, she adds, the naked pictures on the wrappers make people feel that condoms are rather sexual inducers and pleasure boosters. Due to this, the consumers are diffident to ask for it in shops. “Instead of using pictures of naked people on bed, they can use the space to create awareness on condoms and tell about the advantages of its use.”
Though the court noted that the right to carry on business is subject to reasonable restrictions that could be imposed in the interest of decency and morality, it said that it is difficult for the court to fix standards of decency and morality and the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), a self-regulatory voluntary organisation of the advertising industry, would be in a better position to deal with the issue.
But the Council told Ergo that it has not received any complaint on condom wrappers so far. “After a consumer lodges a complaint with us, we will place it before the Consumer Complaints Council for discussion,” said Alan Collaco, Secretary General, ASCI.
`Miffed’ Cheran spits venom
By Francis P Barclay
Published in The Hindu's Ergo, Chennai, on July 31, 2008
“I want to quit movies and return to my village,” director-actor Cheran exploded at an audio release function in Namma Chennai on Wednesday. Venting his ire against what he termed as “false and derogatory” reporting by a section of the vernacular media, Cheran lashed out on the stage of the audio release function of upcoming “Raman Thediya Seethai” at Santham Cinemas.
The function itself had proceeded on an acclamatory tone with several leading actors and directors praising the cast and crew for their offbeat cinema. But little did they realise what was to come from the “yathaartha nayagan” (the recent title of ‘realistic hero’ bestowed upon Cheran).
Referring to reports that he was in “friendly” terms with co-artist Padmapriya and that he had creative differences with the movie’s director Jaganath, who had once been his assistant, Cheran called the journalists “baadungala” (Tamil slang).
He continued his diatribe even as a section of the media voiced their dissent. “I am an honest person and I don’t know why people don’t like me to grow.”
Saying that Jaganath and he were in healthy terms, he said: “I am one of his well wishers and the difference between us was not over the screenplay of this movie as published. Instead of getting caught in these controversies, I would rather return to my village and breathe fresh air.”
Irked over his speech, the mediapersons prepared to leave when Jaganath was giving his address. Cheran returned to the mike again to apologise for his speech, making it clear that his condemnation was “an honest one against false media reports.” But the function ended there abruptly.
Earlier, president of Tamil Film Producers’ Council Ramanarayan released the audio CD and Kalaipuli S Dhanu received the first copy, following which three songs of the movie were played at the Santham theatre. Words of praises and wishes echoed through the auditorium as the guests were mouthing kudos to the music director.
Actors Prakashraj, Bharath, Srikant and Sibiraj were among the special invitees. There was also a huge contingent of directors: Balu Mahendran, K.S.Ravikumar, Ameer, Bhagyaraj and Vasanth.
Music director Vidyasagar, producers G. Dhananjayan of Moser Baer Entertainment and K. Ramesh of Global One studios and three of the five heroines of the movie were present at the function.
While Pasupathi and Nithin Sathya assume lead roles in the movies, Karthika, Vimala Raman, Ramya Nambeesan, Navya Nair and Gajala feature as heroines. Vidyasagar, who is famed for his dulcet melodies, has also sung a song for the movie.
Published in The Hindu's Ergo, Chennai, on July 31, 2008
“I want to quit movies and return to my village,” director-actor Cheran exploded at an audio release function in Namma Chennai on Wednesday. Venting his ire against what he termed as “false and derogatory” reporting by a section of the vernacular media, Cheran lashed out on the stage of the audio release function of upcoming “Raman Thediya Seethai” at Santham Cinemas.
The function itself had proceeded on an acclamatory tone with several leading actors and directors praising the cast and crew for their offbeat cinema. But little did they realise what was to come from the “yathaartha nayagan” (the recent title of ‘realistic hero’ bestowed upon Cheran).
Referring to reports that he was in “friendly” terms with co-artist Padmapriya and that he had creative differences with the movie’s director Jaganath, who had once been his assistant, Cheran called the journalists “baadungala” (Tamil slang).
He continued his diatribe even as a section of the media voiced their dissent. “I am an honest person and I don’t know why people don’t like me to grow.”
Saying that Jaganath and he were in healthy terms, he said: “I am one of his well wishers and the difference between us was not over the screenplay of this movie as published. Instead of getting caught in these controversies, I would rather return to my village and breathe fresh air.”
Irked over his speech, the mediapersons prepared to leave when Jaganath was giving his address. Cheran returned to the mike again to apologise for his speech, making it clear that his condemnation was “an honest one against false media reports.” But the function ended there abruptly.
Earlier, president of Tamil Film Producers’ Council Ramanarayan released the audio CD and Kalaipuli S Dhanu received the first copy, following which three songs of the movie were played at the Santham theatre. Words of praises and wishes echoed through the auditorium as the guests were mouthing kudos to the music director.
Actors Prakashraj, Bharath, Srikant and Sibiraj were among the special invitees. There was also a huge contingent of directors: Balu Mahendran, K.S.Ravikumar, Ameer, Bhagyaraj and Vasanth.
Music director Vidyasagar, producers G. Dhananjayan of Moser Baer Entertainment and K. Ramesh of Global One studios and three of the five heroines of the movie were present at the function.
While Pasupathi and Nithin Sathya assume lead roles in the movies, Karthika, Vimala Raman, Ramya Nambeesan, Navya Nair and Gajala feature as heroines. Vidyasagar, who is famed for his dulcet melodies, has also sung a song for the movie.
October 06, 2007
Ticklers
Intro: Swapna makes people laugh with her `myriad' cartoons and caricatures
Blurb: Her cartoons never hurt. Instead they bring out the humour in each subject.
Published in Weekend supplement of The New Indian Express, Coimbatore edition, dated 6 October, 2007
By Francis P Barclay
Four baffled little pups line up in the first frame. Puzzled looks centre on their spooky faces, as their gobs are fastened with red scarfs. The caption says ‘SH-SH-SH SILENCE.’ Laughing starts there and goes on and on till the last frame as you stop at each tickling art work in between. A broad-eared Gandhi frowns, Ganesha plays flute with his nose, while his playful rat competes with him nearby. Another upbeat Ganesha hops about on the next frame. A ‘non-stop storyteller’ keeps yacking on. Enlivened egg shells feature with eyes and nose. Then, vegetables and fruits .... Swapna Bafna’s cartoons and caricatures leave you in stitches. A student of the Lalit Kalakshetra and an aspiring cartoon animator pursuing Mass Communication, she says, at times, cartooning is fluky. ``Often, when I sit to draw someone, it would end up in a `cartoon'. Why shouldn't I cherish it,'' a blithe Swapna asked herself, and thus came her maiden exhibition on cartoons and caricatures, `Myriad,' under way at Jayam's Hall on the Race Course Road in Coimbatore. As the name suggests, the exhibition features a plethora of art works tried out with different motifs and media. Sachin, Kapil, the Big B, Amir, RK Narayan…everybody is there at the exhibition in satirical depiction. And every cartoon is special to her. Though a novice in cartooning, her fast strokes show maturity.Swapna, 21, who also teaches multimedia at a city-based college, has an extraneous feeling about whatever she sees. The best way to express those humorous feelings is cartoons, says she. The fervour for drawing cartoons has always been in her. But not until the characters of Disney's Finding Nemo inspired her, she took up cartooning seriously. A cartoon work with the characters of Finding Nemo is also on display at the exhibition.``I don't want to hurt or make anybody sad through my art works. It's the other way: I want to bring out the humour in everybody. I avoid politics in my cartoons,'' she says. Swapna draws her inspirations from whomever she encounters and finds amusing. She studies their facial proportions and does an instant portrait. She works on a single subject time and again, before taking it to the canvas.Cartooning seems a hard row even for the dab hands in art. Swapna agrees. But anyone can master the art through steady practice, she says. The exhibition has a collection of 40-odd hangings, from bitty stock cartoons to the flashy caricatures of personalities and she is ready to explain the nuances of this art.``To bring out humour through cartoons is an arduous task. One needs passion and creativity. I found them in abundance with Swapna and that's why I suggested her to take a plunge,'' said Raviraj, director of the Kalakshetra, where she had been learning cartooning for the past two years.``When it comes to cartooning, the medium isn't important. I have tried every medium to limn my cartoons,'' she says. Her collection includes waters, oil, acrylic, glass paint and transparent photo colours too. For her cartoon on Gandhi, she has employed cross-hatching method with pen. She has also ventured painting on sand. On display at the exhibition is one such painting, which has the Seven Wonders of the World portrayed.Swapna attributes her success to her family and Lalit Kalakshetra.To make the exhibition more interactive, Swapna has provided a set of simple expressions with eyes, nose and mouth, which the visitors can try out. ``It's easy,'' she says. The exhibition will be on till Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For further information call 0422-4368902 or 9842014569.
Blurb: Her cartoons never hurt. Instead they bring out the humour in each subject.
Published in Weekend supplement of The New Indian Express, Coimbatore edition, dated 6 October, 2007
By Francis P Barclay
Four baffled little pups line up in the first frame. Puzzled looks centre on their spooky faces, as their gobs are fastened with red scarfs. The caption says ‘SH-SH-SH SILENCE.’ Laughing starts there and goes on and on till the last frame as you stop at each tickling art work in between. A broad-eared Gandhi frowns, Ganesha plays flute with his nose, while his playful rat competes with him nearby. Another upbeat Ganesha hops about on the next frame. A ‘non-stop storyteller’ keeps yacking on. Enlivened egg shells feature with eyes and nose. Then, vegetables and fruits .... Swapna Bafna’s cartoons and caricatures leave you in stitches. A student of the Lalit Kalakshetra and an aspiring cartoon animator pursuing Mass Communication, she says, at times, cartooning is fluky. ``Often, when I sit to draw someone, it would end up in a `cartoon'. Why shouldn't I cherish it,'' a blithe Swapna asked herself, and thus came her maiden exhibition on cartoons and caricatures, `Myriad,' under way at Jayam's Hall on the Race Course Road in Coimbatore. As the name suggests, the exhibition features a plethora of art works tried out with different motifs and media. Sachin, Kapil, the Big B, Amir, RK Narayan…everybody is there at the exhibition in satirical depiction. And every cartoon is special to her. Though a novice in cartooning, her fast strokes show maturity.Swapna, 21, who also teaches multimedia at a city-based college, has an extraneous feeling about whatever she sees. The best way to express those humorous feelings is cartoons, says she. The fervour for drawing cartoons has always been in her. But not until the characters of Disney's Finding Nemo inspired her, she took up cartooning seriously. A cartoon work with the characters of Finding Nemo is also on display at the exhibition.``I don't want to hurt or make anybody sad through my art works. It's the other way: I want to bring out the humour in everybody. I avoid politics in my cartoons,'' she says. Swapna draws her inspirations from whomever she encounters and finds amusing. She studies their facial proportions and does an instant portrait. She works on a single subject time and again, before taking it to the canvas.Cartooning seems a hard row even for the dab hands in art. Swapna agrees. But anyone can master the art through steady practice, she says. The exhibition has a collection of 40-odd hangings, from bitty stock cartoons to the flashy caricatures of personalities and she is ready to explain the nuances of this art.``To bring out humour through cartoons is an arduous task. One needs passion and creativity. I found them in abundance with Swapna and that's why I suggested her to take a plunge,'' said Raviraj, director of the Kalakshetra, where she had been learning cartooning for the past two years.``When it comes to cartooning, the medium isn't important. I have tried every medium to limn my cartoons,'' she says. Her collection includes waters, oil, acrylic, glass paint and transparent photo colours too. For her cartoon on Gandhi, she has employed cross-hatching method with pen. She has also ventured painting on sand. On display at the exhibition is one such painting, which has the Seven Wonders of the World portrayed.Swapna attributes her success to her family and Lalit Kalakshetra.To make the exhibition more interactive, Swapna has provided a set of simple expressions with eyes, nose and mouth, which the visitors can try out. ``It's easy,'' she says. The exhibition will be on till Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For further information call 0422-4368902 or 9842014569.
April 21, 2007
`Paintings' sans paint
Published in supplement Weekend, Coimbatore edition
with The New Indian Express dated April 21, 2007
By Francis P Barclay
Paintings are the best to embellish bare walls; and if embellished with `paintings extraordinary' or `paintings' without paint, certain is the enhanced looks of the walls. But, where to go for paintings extraordinary? Drop in on Poompuhar in Coimbatore.
You may ask what's a painting without paint and how it will look like? It is a framed artwork made of things like wood, marble and gem stone powder. Although traditional styles are employed in making, this wall hanging can even adorn modern homes without altering their decor.
A showroom of handmade products, Poompuhar has an assorted collection of such artworks. The new ones to join this set of carved artworks are the five-foot tall `Krishna and Radha' portraits. In all the four portraits on the show, Krishna and Radha are composed in their garden.
To bring out different shades in the portraitures, the artist has used woods of different colour. About eight types of wood are used in each piece and for the central figure of Krishna and Radha, white plastic is used. ``Earlier, ivory was used, but after the government banned it, plastic is used,'' a showroom salesman says. The highly intricate and alluring artworks come from Mysore, he adds.
Making an art piece of this kind demands a lot of time and patience. Even for a branch of a tree or a small peacock in the background of the portrait, five types of woods are used to give necessary shades. Each piece of wood is carved finely and fixed into a groove dug in the main frame to give a three-dimentional effect. They are quoted at Rs 17,000. There are also smaller ones, priced from Rs 6,000.
In another set of artworks, wood is carved and embedded to limn the figures. They call it `inlay' work, where also shades are given by using different types of wood. Inlay works are also done on things like jewel boxes.
Another new arrival is carved marble clock, the price of which starts from Rs 750. Hand painting is done on it to add elegance.
Come to another corner of the showroom, there is a set of framed wall hangings that have powders of precious and semiprecious stones stuffed in between glass plates. Images are brought out by using different colour stones, like Amethyst for purple, Calcedony for white, Aventurine for green and Agate for yellow. This form of art is used to make decorative key holders, paper weights, jewel boxes and mobile stand too. Marble paintings have prices from Rs 550, while stone paintings are available even for Rs 50.
Another collection have 3D images brought out using ceramic, painted with metallic colours.
Now, it's time to make a purchase, for Poompuhar gives 10 to 25 percent discount on account of Tamil New Year. Showrooms at Salem, Erode and Ooty also offer discounts. The offer will end on April 28.
with The New Indian Express dated April 21, 2007
By Francis P Barclay
Paintings are the best to embellish bare walls; and if embellished with `paintings extraordinary' or `paintings' without paint, certain is the enhanced looks of the walls. But, where to go for paintings extraordinary? Drop in on Poompuhar in Coimbatore.
You may ask what's a painting without paint and how it will look like? It is a framed artwork made of things like wood, marble and gem stone powder. Although traditional styles are employed in making, this wall hanging can even adorn modern homes without altering their decor.
A showroom of handmade products, Poompuhar has an assorted collection of such artworks. The new ones to join this set of carved artworks are the five-foot tall `Krishna and Radha' portraits. In all the four portraits on the show, Krishna and Radha are composed in their garden.
To bring out different shades in the portraitures, the artist has used woods of different colour. About eight types of wood are used in each piece and for the central figure of Krishna and Radha, white plastic is used. ``Earlier, ivory was used, but after the government banned it, plastic is used,'' a showroom salesman says. The highly intricate and alluring artworks come from Mysore, he adds.
Making an art piece of this kind demands a lot of time and patience. Even for a branch of a tree or a small peacock in the background of the portrait, five types of woods are used to give necessary shades. Each piece of wood is carved finely and fixed into a groove dug in the main frame to give a three-dimentional effect. They are quoted at Rs 17,000. There are also smaller ones, priced from Rs 6,000.
In another set of artworks, wood is carved and embedded to limn the figures. They call it `inlay' work, where also shades are given by using different types of wood. Inlay works are also done on things like jewel boxes.
Another new arrival is carved marble clock, the price of which starts from Rs 750. Hand painting is done on it to add elegance.
Come to another corner of the showroom, there is a set of framed wall hangings that have powders of precious and semiprecious stones stuffed in between glass plates. Images are brought out by using different colour stones, like Amethyst for purple, Calcedony for white, Aventurine for green and Agate for yellow. This form of art is used to make decorative key holders, paper weights, jewel boxes and mobile stand too. Marble paintings have prices from Rs 550, while stone paintings are available even for Rs 50.
Another collection have 3D images brought out using ceramic, painted with metallic colours.
Now, it's time to make a purchase, for Poompuhar gives 10 to 25 percent discount on account of Tamil New Year. Showrooms at Salem, Erode and Ooty also offer discounts. The offer will end on April 28.
March 11, 2007
Kitchen to work place, eves prove their mettle
Blurb: Opportunities are galore for women and they enjoy equal rights with
men and achieve success in almost all fields. And with the opening of IT
sector, they enjoy maximum economic freedom
men and achieve success in almost all fields. And with the opening of IT
sector, they enjoy maximum economic freedom
By Francis P Barclay
ON March 8, as usual, sitting at one end of the Big Bazaar, near Town Hall, Mayamma sold vegetables and earned about Rs 100. After sundown, she rushed home, to attend to the chores that had been awaiting her. Aged about 60 and mother of three children, she is adamant - never depend on any one to eke out a living.
***
The same day, after cooking food for her husband, who is too weak to work, and finishing the household work, 58-year-old Thangamaniammal left for the canteen where she works in the evening shift. For preparing and serving food she gets Rs 50 a day. Like Mayamma, she is also self-supporting.
****
As role models of modern women, both Mayamma and Thangamaniammal have come a long way to claim their rights and privileges as members of the society. For example, so far, they have not failed to exercise their right to elect their representatives to the state Assembly or local body. But they are not aware of International Women's Day, and also that it is celebrated world over on March 8 with thrust on the need to treat women on a par with men.
``I do not know anything about International Women's Day, as I have not been told about it by anyone,'' Mayamma says.
They are also ignorant about women's liberation movement, and hence has no concern for its ill use either. The question, `is liberation perceived in the wrong sense' is thus irrelevant to them. In fact, they even fail to comprehend the question, and confusion reflects on their faces when asked whether women have not failed to draw their limits vis-a-vis their relation with men.
But ask R Chitra, a law student, what she thinks about man-woman relationship, in the light of the emancipation of women. ``Most women misconceive liberation and kill the virtues in them,'' she says.
Liza, another law student, feels that India is a land of myriad cultures, to which are infused Western concepts as well. In the jumble, a `liberated' woman fails to draw her limits. It is because they are suppressed too much
by the parents and when they come out, they are either rebellious or submissive.
``When liberated, they try to dominate others and see men as enemies. They forget they should respect men also. They hardly pick up the best of Western concepts,'' she adds.
Saradha, also a law student, says that even today women are suppressed. They neither know what is liberation nor aware of their basic rights. At the same time, those who call themselves as liberated blindly follow the West.
They wear modern outfits, go for discotheques and on dating and show no limit in socialising with people, wherein the integrity of Indian culture is lost. Only a few know about their rights and know what is equality and
respect their variants. When it comes to gender and equality, liberation is not a question at all, she says.
Asha R Rao, a gynaecologist at Rao Hospital in RS Puram, feels that a little bit of self-imposed restriction is necessary while enjoying the fruits of liberation. For example, she says that in countries like US and UK, girls start dating at the age of 10. But in India, a country rich in culture and tradition, it is not appreciated. ``Our concept is that a person should be mature enough and self-sustainable before taking advantage of this freedom,'' she points out.
Her advice to the youngsters is that while going through a cultural change, one should not forget the niceties of our ancient joint family system and should draw a limit for the change.
``Our Constitution guarantees women their due rights, from education and employment to equal payment. In fact, opportunities are also open to them, but the truth is that they are not fully grabbed by them. So, the call for things like hike in reservation for women is all but a claptrap,'' Saradha says.
Expressing concern over the rise in pre-marital sex, Liza says ``Certainly we don't want to emulate the life style of our mothers and grandmothers. But it does not mean that we should ape the West. Instead, we should use our freedom for claiming our due rights and use our talents for the cause of the society. The women who have gained eminence through social work should be taken as role models.''
Vanitha Rengaraj, chairperson of Sharanalayam, a home for destitutes, feels that economic freedom, which is attainable only through education, is the first and foremost necessity for women to claim their rights. At the same
time she sounds caution against the lifestyle of IT professionals. ``There are many girls in the IT sector who earn more than Rs 60,000 a month. But a fair chunk of them not only waste their money, but also spoil their life through late night parties, boozings and drugs. Is this what poet Subramania Bharathiyar once dreamt as `Pudhumai Penn'?'' she asks and adds that we should stick to our tradition and culture and earn name and fame.
A supporter to the IT professionals' lifestyle is Nandhini Rangaswamy, secretary, GRD Educational Institutions, who claims that for her, all days in a year are women's day. ``Opportunities are now galore for women and they
enjoy equal rights with men and achieve success in almost all fields. And with the opening of IT sector, they enjoy utmost economical support,'' she adds.
Shanmugapriya, Assisstant Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore East believes that women are empowered enough to achieve anything, though it is upto them to make use of their power. ``Women should be a terror to wrong-doers. She should always stick to ethical and moral values and should also know how to protect herself from abuse. Her personality and attitude will play a great role in her success for which parental care is very necessary,'' she sums up.
ON March 8, as usual, sitting at one end of the Big Bazaar, near Town Hall, Mayamma sold vegetables and earned about Rs 100. After sundown, she rushed home, to attend to the chores that had been awaiting her. Aged about 60 and mother of three children, she is adamant - never depend on any one to eke out a living.
***
The same day, after cooking food for her husband, who is too weak to work, and finishing the household work, 58-year-old Thangamaniammal left for the canteen where she works in the evening shift. For preparing and serving food she gets Rs 50 a day. Like Mayamma, she is also self-supporting.
****
As role models of modern women, both Mayamma and Thangamaniammal have come a long way to claim their rights and privileges as members of the society. For example, so far, they have not failed to exercise their right to elect their representatives to the state Assembly or local body. But they are not aware of International Women's Day, and also that it is celebrated world over on March 8 with thrust on the need to treat women on a par with men.
``I do not know anything about International Women's Day, as I have not been told about it by anyone,'' Mayamma says.
They are also ignorant about women's liberation movement, and hence has no concern for its ill use either. The question, `is liberation perceived in the wrong sense' is thus irrelevant to them. In fact, they even fail to comprehend the question, and confusion reflects on their faces when asked whether women have not failed to draw their limits vis-a-vis their relation with men.
But ask R Chitra, a law student, what she thinks about man-woman relationship, in the light of the emancipation of women. ``Most women misconceive liberation and kill the virtues in them,'' she says.
Liza, another law student, feels that India is a land of myriad cultures, to which are infused Western concepts as well. In the jumble, a `liberated' woman fails to draw her limits. It is because they are suppressed too much
by the parents and when they come out, they are either rebellious or submissive.
``When liberated, they try to dominate others and see men as enemies. They forget they should respect men also. They hardly pick up the best of Western concepts,'' she adds.
Saradha, also a law student, says that even today women are suppressed. They neither know what is liberation nor aware of their basic rights. At the same time, those who call themselves as liberated blindly follow the West.
They wear modern outfits, go for discotheques and on dating and show no limit in socialising with people, wherein the integrity of Indian culture is lost. Only a few know about their rights and know what is equality and
respect their variants. When it comes to gender and equality, liberation is not a question at all, she says.
Asha R Rao, a gynaecologist at Rao Hospital in RS Puram, feels that a little bit of self-imposed restriction is necessary while enjoying the fruits of liberation. For example, she says that in countries like US and UK, girls start dating at the age of 10. But in India, a country rich in culture and tradition, it is not appreciated. ``Our concept is that a person should be mature enough and self-sustainable before taking advantage of this freedom,'' she points out.
Her advice to the youngsters is that while going through a cultural change, one should not forget the niceties of our ancient joint family system and should draw a limit for the change.
``Our Constitution guarantees women their due rights, from education and employment to equal payment. In fact, opportunities are also open to them, but the truth is that they are not fully grabbed by them. So, the call for things like hike in reservation for women is all but a claptrap,'' Saradha says.
Expressing concern over the rise in pre-marital sex, Liza says ``Certainly we don't want to emulate the life style of our mothers and grandmothers. But it does not mean that we should ape the West. Instead, we should use our freedom for claiming our due rights and use our talents for the cause of the society. The women who have gained eminence through social work should be taken as role models.''
Vanitha Rengaraj, chairperson of Sharanalayam, a home for destitutes, feels that economic freedom, which is attainable only through education, is the first and foremost necessity for women to claim their rights. At the same
time she sounds caution against the lifestyle of IT professionals. ``There are many girls in the IT sector who earn more than Rs 60,000 a month. But a fair chunk of them not only waste their money, but also spoil their life through late night parties, boozings and drugs. Is this what poet Subramania Bharathiyar once dreamt as `Pudhumai Penn'?'' she asks and adds that we should stick to our tradition and culture and earn name and fame.
A supporter to the IT professionals' lifestyle is Nandhini Rangaswamy, secretary, GRD Educational Institutions, who claims that for her, all days in a year are women's day. ``Opportunities are now galore for women and they
enjoy equal rights with men and achieve success in almost all fields. And with the opening of IT sector, they enjoy utmost economical support,'' she adds.
Shanmugapriya, Assisstant Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore East believes that women are empowered enough to achieve anything, though it is upto them to make use of their power. ``Women should be a terror to wrong-doers. She should always stick to ethical and moral values and should also know how to protect herself from abuse. Her personality and attitude will play a great role in her success for which parental care is very necessary,'' she sums up.
March 05, 2007
Fusing nature with mankind
Published in supplement Weekend, Coimbatore edition
with The New Indian Express dated Feb 24, 2007
By Francis P Barclay
Art and femininity, by definition are indissoluble. It is with this intuition that the seven young lady artists have come to display their sundry art works, all bouncing with unchained gleam and gusto.
At the `Vaanavil thoorigaigal' (brushes of the rainbow), the ongoing painting exhibition, organised under the Eighth Growing Young Artists Series at the Kasthuri Sreenivasan Trust Art Gallery on the Avinashi Road in
Coimbatore, on display are a plethora of art pieces worked out on a medley of mediums from oil on canvas and water on `handmade' to pencil on velvet.
If the colours used are vibrant, the themes are pleasant. No antagonism, no harrow, no anguish. Most paintings prevail upon the thrill of still life.
The seven, Kavitha M, Nannai T, Kalaimani M, Lavanya N, Gayathri M, Thirupurasundari G and Rajalakshmi K are students of the Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai. They are among the 50-odd girl students of the college, in which about 900 students are studying.
The paintings are lush with bright hues. They blend nature with mankind in their paintings. A few paintings may seem to have only trees and landscapes, but a close look would help one find the structures of woman limned in them. But in Gayathri's `Human tree' the truth is explicit.
Rajalakshmi's `Thinking lady', `Playing boys' and the people `Dreaming' and `Dancing' on the canvases expose the tranquility of life.
Says Kalaimani: ``I wish to have art as my main occupation and keep on trying different styles, unlike most artists who choose a particular medium and become expert in it.''
Although novices in art, they give a ripe touch in whatever medium they work on or styles they adopt. Inventiveness is the thing, it seems.
Among the pieces on display are also spot paintings portraying day-to-day life. ``For an artist, the work place is spread across the world and life is the main theme. Essentials are from outside the room,'' says Thirupurasundari.
Is it thats why the parents hesitate to let girls pursue art? Nannai wonders. ``I had to insist my parents a lot before they gave their nod for me to participate in this exhibition. Even to join the BFA course, I had to do a lot to convince them, explaining about the myriad opportunities available for art learners. Many are unawares!'' she says.
But Thirupurasundari's case is different. Her father is a sculptor. In fact, it was his idea that she should join the fine arts college, which he yearned for and couldn't. He has been encouraging her in art right from her childhood.
Rajalakshmi discontinued her B.Com. course when she was in the first year, to join the Fine Arts course. She says opportunities are aplenty for artists. Art will be useful even in other areas which demand creativity like
visualising, animation and graphics.
``Art would always remain in its pure form in our lives. We would be doing paintings and exhibiting them. Our aim is to become world renowned artists and we would become one day,'' Gayathri says.
On the spot portrait and painting demonstrations are also done at the exhibition. Art works quoted at from Rs 200 are for sale.
The exhibition will be on till February 26 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For further details contact 0422-2574110
with The New Indian Express dated Feb 24, 2007
By Francis P Barclay
Art and femininity, by definition are indissoluble. It is with this intuition that the seven young lady artists have come to display their sundry art works, all bouncing with unchained gleam and gusto.
At the `Vaanavil thoorigaigal' (brushes of the rainbow), the ongoing painting exhibition, organised under the Eighth Growing Young Artists Series at the Kasthuri Sreenivasan Trust Art Gallery on the Avinashi Road in
Coimbatore, on display are a plethora of art pieces worked out on a medley of mediums from oil on canvas and water on `handmade' to pencil on velvet.
If the colours used are vibrant, the themes are pleasant. No antagonism, no harrow, no anguish. Most paintings prevail upon the thrill of still life.
The seven, Kavitha M, Nannai T, Kalaimani M, Lavanya N, Gayathri M, Thirupurasundari G and Rajalakshmi K are students of the Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai. They are among the 50-odd girl students of the college, in which about 900 students are studying.
The paintings are lush with bright hues. They blend nature with mankind in their paintings. A few paintings may seem to have only trees and landscapes, but a close look would help one find the structures of woman limned in them. But in Gayathri's `Human tree' the truth is explicit.
Rajalakshmi's `Thinking lady', `Playing boys' and the people `Dreaming' and `Dancing' on the canvases expose the tranquility of life.
Says Kalaimani: ``I wish to have art as my main occupation and keep on trying different styles, unlike most artists who choose a particular medium and become expert in it.''
Although novices in art, they give a ripe touch in whatever medium they work on or styles they adopt. Inventiveness is the thing, it seems.
Among the pieces on display are also spot paintings portraying day-to-day life. ``For an artist, the work place is spread across the world and life is the main theme. Essentials are from outside the room,'' says Thirupurasundari.
Is it thats why the parents hesitate to let girls pursue art? Nannai wonders. ``I had to insist my parents a lot before they gave their nod for me to participate in this exhibition. Even to join the BFA course, I had to do a lot to convince them, explaining about the myriad opportunities available for art learners. Many are unawares!'' she says.
But Thirupurasundari's case is different. Her father is a sculptor. In fact, it was his idea that she should join the fine arts college, which he yearned for and couldn't. He has been encouraging her in art right from her childhood.
Rajalakshmi discontinued her B.Com. course when she was in the first year, to join the Fine Arts course. She says opportunities are aplenty for artists. Art will be useful even in other areas which demand creativity like
visualising, animation and graphics.
``Art would always remain in its pure form in our lives. We would be doing paintings and exhibiting them. Our aim is to become world renowned artists and we would become one day,'' Gayathri says.
On the spot portrait and painting demonstrations are also done at the exhibition. Art works quoted at from Rs 200 are for sale.
The exhibition will be on till February 26 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For further details contact 0422-2574110
February 19, 2007
Pick your valentines
Published in The New Indian Express, Coimbatore edition
Weekend supplement dated February 10, 2007
By Francis P Barclay
You might have already opened your heart to your love and shown that you have a special room for him/her there inside. Yet, it will make a difference if you say how precious he/she is for you on the Valentine's Day. And the
best way to make your sweet heart feel happy is, no doubt, present him or her with a greeting card.
New arrivals at the greeting card stores in Coimbatore are awaiting to make the day special. They include glittering cards that can sing and glitter with embedded `disco' lights in multiple colours and huge pop-up cards that even size 16 inches.
Murali, sales manager at a wholesale and retail greeting card shop in Raja Street, says ``We brought 250 packs (each pack has 10 cards) for Valentine's Day and sold about 200 packs so far. We have to place order for another 150 packs.''
Admitting that there is a minor slack in business as many are contended with sending an sms or e-card, Murali says most people prefer greeting cards, for they can be preserved for remembrance. Seasonal sales would pick
up from this weekend, although wholesale purchases started about 10 days ago, he adds.
``Last year, party activists staged protests in front of greeting card shops, saying that we should not sell Valentine's Day greeting cards. They burnt a bunch of cards in front of our shop,'' he recalls.
``Fearing such protests, we have ordered less cards,'' he adds.
Among the lot who present greeting cards many are school children.
Gift shops also record good sales during this period. Bouquets made of specially-designed artificial flowers are a big hit. Besides, there are ceramic and plastic gift articles that college students prefer to present.
Saying that sales are not encouraging when compared to Christmas and Deepavali seasons, a sales person in a gift shop in Big Bazaar Street says good business might be recorded in the first three days of next week.
Weekend supplement dated February 10, 2007
By Francis P Barclay
You might have already opened your heart to your love and shown that you have a special room for him/her there inside. Yet, it will make a difference if you say how precious he/she is for you on the Valentine's Day. And the
best way to make your sweet heart feel happy is, no doubt, present him or her with a greeting card.
New arrivals at the greeting card stores in Coimbatore are awaiting to make the day special. They include glittering cards that can sing and glitter with embedded `disco' lights in multiple colours and huge pop-up cards that even size 16 inches.
Murali, sales manager at a wholesale and retail greeting card shop in Raja Street, says ``We brought 250 packs (each pack has 10 cards) for Valentine's Day and sold about 200 packs so far. We have to place order for another 150 packs.''
Admitting that there is a minor slack in business as many are contended with sending an sms or e-card, Murali says most people prefer greeting cards, for they can be preserved for remembrance. Seasonal sales would pick
up from this weekend, although wholesale purchases started about 10 days ago, he adds.
``Last year, party activists staged protests in front of greeting card shops, saying that we should not sell Valentine's Day greeting cards. They burnt a bunch of cards in front of our shop,'' he recalls.
``Fearing such protests, we have ordered less cards,'' he adds.
Among the lot who present greeting cards many are school children.
Gift shops also record good sales during this period. Bouquets made of specially-designed artificial flowers are a big hit. Besides, there are ceramic and plastic gift articles that college students prefer to present.
Saying that sales are not encouraging when compared to Christmas and Deepavali seasons, a sales person in a gift shop in Big Bazaar Street says good business might be recorded in the first three days of next week.
January 13, 2007
Entering the fashion world
Published on Page 4 Weekend
with The New Indian Express
Coimbatore edition, dated January 13, 2007
By Francis P Barclay
Fashion designing is a virtuosity that demands a creative instinct for innovation, knowledge about the fashion world and a yearning for change. It seems, today's youth have all these in abundance. A testimony to this was
`Saffron', an expo-cum-sale presented by the final year design students of Sri Jayendra Saraswathy Maha Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore.
The three-day exhibition, which ended on Friday, was a sumptuous spread of apparels, meant for all gender and age, and accessories.
What was the motive behind the expo? Vinayagamurthi, Head of the Department of Costume Design and Fashion, had this to say: ``It was our maiden attempt to understand the customers' needs and preferences and we succeeded. In fact, we were overwhelmed by the sales volume and customers' response. We sold about 110 apparels on the first day itself.''
Of the 380-odd garments displayed by the 40 students, 180 were in assorted styles. An elated Vinayagamurthi said ``More such exhibitions will roll out from us.''
There were a few virgin styles that everybody did appreciate. Archana E, a student, said ``Change is recurrent in fashion. At present, apparels with embroidery and kundan works are in great demand. So, we have brought out
innovative designs.''
``Fashion had never been so important as now. Its monetary worth is also increasing, for the attire not only adds to the physical look, but also boosts the inner spirit. It is the outlook of the mind,'' she added.
Her contrasting work on a saree was alluring. A big rose that comes a little above the chest of the wearer and the branches running across the rest of the saree have made her work remarkable. The roses are painted with fabric colours and embellished with sequence and beed work.
The highlight of the show was that many garments were designed and created based on themes. For example, labelled as `Natural view', there was a skirt, blouse and handbag set, all made of jute and coconut fibres, with a little touch of sparkling paint.
Another was Mohanapriya's `Autograph', a saree with a mass of scribbles on it as design. An ordinary saree has been given a new look with sequence and 3D work.
Similarly, Tamarai Selvi dyed a white saree and made it more attractive with a design of small knots. She gave it a wonderful name also - `Tie `n' Dye'.
Meenambika's kundan and embroidery work on a cotton silk saree took one month to complete. A plain saree, that she had bought for Rs 300, carried a price tag of Rs 2,000 at the exhibition!
The accessories on display included ornaments of kundan work.
Fashion jewellery making is a profitable vocation, and anybody can learn it. ``I have made fashion jewels for my use. Now I make them for sale because they have great demand in the market,'' said Aathi Selvi, another student.
with The New Indian Express
Coimbatore edition, dated January 13, 2007
By Francis P Barclay
Fashion designing is a virtuosity that demands a creative instinct for innovation, knowledge about the fashion world and a yearning for change. It seems, today's youth have all these in abundance. A testimony to this was
`Saffron', an expo-cum-sale presented by the final year design students of Sri Jayendra Saraswathy Maha Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore.
The three-day exhibition, which ended on Friday, was a sumptuous spread of apparels, meant for all gender and age, and accessories.
What was the motive behind the expo? Vinayagamurthi, Head of the Department of Costume Design and Fashion, had this to say: ``It was our maiden attempt to understand the customers' needs and preferences and we succeeded. In fact, we were overwhelmed by the sales volume and customers' response. We sold about 110 apparels on the first day itself.''
Of the 380-odd garments displayed by the 40 students, 180 were in assorted styles. An elated Vinayagamurthi said ``More such exhibitions will roll out from us.''
There were a few virgin styles that everybody did appreciate. Archana E, a student, said ``Change is recurrent in fashion. At present, apparels with embroidery and kundan works are in great demand. So, we have brought out
innovative designs.''
``Fashion had never been so important as now. Its monetary worth is also increasing, for the attire not only adds to the physical look, but also boosts the inner spirit. It is the outlook of the mind,'' she added.
Her contrasting work on a saree was alluring. A big rose that comes a little above the chest of the wearer and the branches running across the rest of the saree have made her work remarkable. The roses are painted with fabric colours and embellished with sequence and beed work.
The highlight of the show was that many garments were designed and created based on themes. For example, labelled as `Natural view', there was a skirt, blouse and handbag set, all made of jute and coconut fibres, with a little touch of sparkling paint.
Another was Mohanapriya's `Autograph', a saree with a mass of scribbles on it as design. An ordinary saree has been given a new look with sequence and 3D work.
Similarly, Tamarai Selvi dyed a white saree and made it more attractive with a design of small knots. She gave it a wonderful name also - `Tie `n' Dye'.
Meenambika's kundan and embroidery work on a cotton silk saree took one month to complete. A plain saree, that she had bought for Rs 300, carried a price tag of Rs 2,000 at the exhibition!
The accessories on display included ornaments of kundan work.
Fashion jewellery making is a profitable vocation, and anybody can learn it. ``I have made fashion jewels for my use. Now I make them for sale because they have great demand in the market,'' said Aathi Selvi, another student.
January 11, 2007
Join politics to lead the nation, youth told
Published in The New Indian Express, Page 2
Coimbatore edition, dated January 9, 2007
By Francis Barclay
Coimbatore, Jan 9: Educated youth should step into politics to shape the country's future, said Karthik P Chidambaram, son of Union Finance minister P Chidambaram, during an interaction with students of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) here on Tuesday.
Youth should not shy away from politics on the pretext that it is highly corrupt. The responsibility of cleaning the muck rests with them, Karthik, one of the founders of Karuthu.com, told the session organised as part of
the two-day `Muthamizh Vizha.'
He lamented over the fact that the era of students' revolution appears to be over. Students hardly participate in public affairs.
Though campus elections are significant, many colleges and varsities fail to hold them. But in universities abroad, students councils are treated on par with Senate.
Politicians alone cannot be blamed for the fall in democratic values.
The political outlook of treating the Opposition as enemy should change in the State, he said.
Even while promoting Tamil language, English should be promoted in rural areas. It is a global language, and for economic prosperity, knowledge of English is mandatory, he reasoned.
He attacked the present system of education that focuses only on examinations and marks.
Box story
`Globalisation, a two-way street'
Coimbatore, Jan 9: Globalisation is like a two-way street where exports and imports flow fast. Jump in imports need not cause any fear since there will be a spurt in exports too, Karthik P Chidambaram said.
C Ramasamy, Vice-chancellor of the varsity, said in his presidential address that globalisation is bound to succeed as the country is now governed by eminent economists at the Centre. Students are being prepared
for the global markets now, he added.
In his advice to students, he stressed the need to set goals and read a lot. He also outlined the importance of higher education.
Organised by the Students' Club of the TNAU, the `Muthamizh Vizha' features debates, poem recitations, plays, etc., by students. Lyricist Yugabharathi, the `Kalakka povathu yaru' troupe of Vijay TV, Tamil movie director Vasantha Balan and renowned dramatist `Crazy' Mohan are presenting programmes. Poet Arivumathi will address the valedictory function tomorrow.
Coimbatore edition, dated January 9, 2007
By Francis Barclay
Coimbatore, Jan 9: Educated youth should step into politics to shape the country's future, said Karthik P Chidambaram, son of Union Finance minister P Chidambaram, during an interaction with students of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) here on Tuesday.
Youth should not shy away from politics on the pretext that it is highly corrupt. The responsibility of cleaning the muck rests with them, Karthik, one of the founders of Karuthu.com, told the session organised as part of
the two-day `Muthamizh Vizha.'
He lamented over the fact that the era of students' revolution appears to be over. Students hardly participate in public affairs.
Though campus elections are significant, many colleges and varsities fail to hold them. But in universities abroad, students councils are treated on par with Senate.
Politicians alone cannot be blamed for the fall in democratic values.
The political outlook of treating the Opposition as enemy should change in the State, he said.
Even while promoting Tamil language, English should be promoted in rural areas. It is a global language, and for economic prosperity, knowledge of English is mandatory, he reasoned.
He attacked the present system of education that focuses only on examinations and marks.
Box story
`Globalisation, a two-way street'
Coimbatore, Jan 9: Globalisation is like a two-way street where exports and imports flow fast. Jump in imports need not cause any fear since there will be a spurt in exports too, Karthik P Chidambaram said.
C Ramasamy, Vice-chancellor of the varsity, said in his presidential address that globalisation is bound to succeed as the country is now governed by eminent economists at the Centre. Students are being prepared
for the global markets now, he added.
In his advice to students, he stressed the need to set goals and read a lot. He also outlined the importance of higher education.
Organised by the Students' Club of the TNAU, the `Muthamizh Vizha' features debates, poem recitations, plays, etc., by students. Lyricist Yugabharathi, the `Kalakka povathu yaru' troupe of Vijay TV, Tamil movie director Vasantha Balan and renowned dramatist `Crazy' Mohan are presenting programmes. Poet Arivumathi will address the valedictory function tomorrow.
January 08, 2007
Portraying the secret of life
Published on Page 4 Weekend
with the New Indian Express dated Jan 6, 2007
By Francis P Barclay
The divine soul is wide awake in each one of us, yearning to enounce the secret of life. Be cool and close your eyes, it will slowly disclose the secret. It's what Manisha Raju, a representational artist, says about art as she believes that it is a means to reach the celestial inner self.
Born in 1969 at Nagpur in Maharashtra, Manisha has a few art exhibitions to her credit both at home and abroad. Her latest exhibition `Nostalgia' was held at the Kasthuri Sreenivasan Art Gallery on the Avinashi Road in Coimbatore. The 20-odd paintings, that were on display at the six-day exhibition which ended on January 1, were about meditation and introspection.
Although art was an inborn talent, all her initial interests were in studies and she got a doctorate in management besides many degrees. But not after she visited the Cholamandal artist village in Chennai, 10 years ago.
She settled there and art became her main vocation. She started with abstract art, but in 1999, she started doing figurative works in dry pastel medium. Although Cholamandal has got a grip in her, the influence of the
Bengal School of Art is evident in her paintings. ``That's because of the influence of Shantiniketan artist Satyavrat Deshmukh,'' she said.
Manisha's paintings reveal her belief that inner soul is always live and vibrant. The forms of people, from Lord Vishnu to Arthanareeswaran to a flower vendor are more or less similar and feminine. ``The difference in form is only with the outer self,'' she said.
She has her own style of drawing the face. ``The illuminating faces in my paintings are those of the inner self,'' she said.
Manisha doesn't fail to outline a flower in each of her paintings. ``I use flowers to reveal the freshness of the soul. The life span of a real flower is very less but the flowers in the paintings are always fresh,'' she said.
She added: ``The lotus which I have used in many of my paintings symbolises evolution. Lotus is a flower in which development is brisk and overt. Life is also like that.''
Indian mythology also has influence in her paintings. ``Mythology is a source of values, culture, tradition, conceptual ideologies and aesthetics. The forms have a traditional touch of Indian mythology. The colours are
lavish with dark backgrounds. My lyricism is an expression of mythological forms,'' she said.
The figures in her paintings have closed eyes. They are composite and tranquil with a divine aura. ``They are silently speaking with the supreme inside,'' Manisha explained.
As you look into the paintings, you `hear' the errie sound of silence. It makes you feel the power and pleasure of introspection.
And what does the soul say? ``The secret of life. Gaining it is a long process. The ultimate secret of life is `nothing'.''
with the New Indian Express dated Jan 6, 2007
By Francis P Barclay
The divine soul is wide awake in each one of us, yearning to enounce the secret of life. Be cool and close your eyes, it will slowly disclose the secret. It's what Manisha Raju, a representational artist, says about art as she believes that it is a means to reach the celestial inner self.
Born in 1969 at Nagpur in Maharashtra, Manisha has a few art exhibitions to her credit both at home and abroad. Her latest exhibition `Nostalgia' was held at the Kasthuri Sreenivasan Art Gallery on the Avinashi Road in Coimbatore. The 20-odd paintings, that were on display at the six-day exhibition which ended on January 1, were about meditation and introspection.
Although art was an inborn talent, all her initial interests were in studies and she got a doctorate in management besides many degrees. But not after she visited the Cholamandal artist village in Chennai, 10 years ago.
She settled there and art became her main vocation. She started with abstract art, but in 1999, she started doing figurative works in dry pastel medium. Although Cholamandal has got a grip in her, the influence of the
Bengal School of Art is evident in her paintings. ``That's because of the influence of Shantiniketan artist Satyavrat Deshmukh,'' she said.
Manisha's paintings reveal her belief that inner soul is always live and vibrant. The forms of people, from Lord Vishnu to Arthanareeswaran to a flower vendor are more or less similar and feminine. ``The difference in form is only with the outer self,'' she said.
She has her own style of drawing the face. ``The illuminating faces in my paintings are those of the inner self,'' she said.
Manisha doesn't fail to outline a flower in each of her paintings. ``I use flowers to reveal the freshness of the soul. The life span of a real flower is very less but the flowers in the paintings are always fresh,'' she said.
She added: ``The lotus which I have used in many of my paintings symbolises evolution. Lotus is a flower in which development is brisk and overt. Life is also like that.''
Indian mythology also has influence in her paintings. ``Mythology is a source of values, culture, tradition, conceptual ideologies and aesthetics. The forms have a traditional touch of Indian mythology. The colours are
lavish with dark backgrounds. My lyricism is an expression of mythological forms,'' she said.
The figures in her paintings have closed eyes. They are composite and tranquil with a divine aura. ``They are silently speaking with the supreme inside,'' Manisha explained.
As you look into the paintings, you `hear' the errie sound of silence. It makes you feel the power and pleasure of introspection.
And what does the soul say? ``The secret of life. Gaining it is a long process. The ultimate secret of life is `nothing'.''
December 30, 2006
City all set for the party
Published on Page 2, The New Indian Express
Coimbatore city edition, Dated December 30, 2006
By Francis P Barclay
Coimbatore, Dec 29: As time nears to bid adieu to 2006 and ring in the New Year, the city feels the thrill tickling the stomach and gets ready for the grand finale. Merrymakers, stiffen your waist and buckle your shoes.
The night of revelry, how to take it in? Will it go without dance, music, carousal, party and merrymaking? Certainly not. The hotels in the city are offering special New Year packages. But each individual has his or her own way of celebration. Some sit with cellphones sending messages, while a few celebrate with stage shows and tea party with friends. Others go beyond. Those who can't afford parties and dances prefer to walk along the streets and be happy seeing people merrymaking. Junketing starts at about 8 p.m. and would last hours after midnight.
James, a resident of Podanur, says he and his friends would make an effigy, stuff it with straw and crackers and burst it at midnight. ``We would bring a music system and dance,'' he adds.
Even for students preparing for semester exams, celebration is there. Anugraha, a first year engineering student who stays in a college ladies hostel, says: ``We would enjoy the night with games and competitions. We have our hefty New Year cake too.''
For the rich, the Residency is offering a DJ night with dances, games and feast. Couples ready to shell out Rs 3,333 each could find a place there. For children, however, the entry fee is only Rs 1,111 while for singles, it
is Rs 2,222. The hotel offers a sumptuous spread of dishes and welcome drinks too.
If that proves too costly, plan the night at Black Thunder Resort. At the buffet dinner, amid the fast beats serving as background, about 40 dishes would be served. It's Rs 1,800 for a couple and Rs 1,000 for singles. Also
enjoy participating in a Jaya TV comedy programme.
Deepthi, working in a media firm, says she would have some stage shows and tea party. ``Anyway, I won't miss the TV programmes,'' she says.
Looking for another hangout in the city? CAG Pride arranges special programmes for revellers with DJ, cinematic dance and games. The entry fee is Rs 1,750 for couples.
Ishwarya, a student, wants to begin the year with a balsamic song.
``A new set of happenings is awaiting us. With the experiences we have had this year and yesteryears, make a better life next year,'' says Saranya, a student of Thiyagarajar College of Engineering.
Rajasimman, an employee with a software firm, says he will celebrate New Year with his friends. Vimal, his colleague, adds: ``Certainly, we won't stay at home and sleeping. We plan a place out.''
Shalu, a diploma student, says: ``We are 12 of a group and would go for a new release in the theatre.''
Any New Year resolutions? Nishad, working in media, has one. He wants to write a novel in the coming year. It was his dream project.
``New Year reminds that you have grown one year old, and you must do something bold. I will announce my resolution and, of course, wouldn't keep up,'' college student Yumnya Yongam says.
Nithya, an English literature student, says she plans to read more novels the coming year. ``I am also going to do some charity work,'' she adds.
Coimbatore city edition, Dated December 30, 2006
By Francis P Barclay
Coimbatore, Dec 29: As time nears to bid adieu to 2006 and ring in the New Year, the city feels the thrill tickling the stomach and gets ready for the grand finale. Merrymakers, stiffen your waist and buckle your shoes.
The night of revelry, how to take it in? Will it go without dance, music, carousal, party and merrymaking? Certainly not. The hotels in the city are offering special New Year packages. But each individual has his or her own way of celebration. Some sit with cellphones sending messages, while a few celebrate with stage shows and tea party with friends. Others go beyond. Those who can't afford parties and dances prefer to walk along the streets and be happy seeing people merrymaking. Junketing starts at about 8 p.m. and would last hours after midnight.
James, a resident of Podanur, says he and his friends would make an effigy, stuff it with straw and crackers and burst it at midnight. ``We would bring a music system and dance,'' he adds.
Even for students preparing for semester exams, celebration is there. Anugraha, a first year engineering student who stays in a college ladies hostel, says: ``We would enjoy the night with games and competitions. We have our hefty New Year cake too.''
For the rich, the Residency is offering a DJ night with dances, games and feast. Couples ready to shell out Rs 3,333 each could find a place there. For children, however, the entry fee is only Rs 1,111 while for singles, it
is Rs 2,222. The hotel offers a sumptuous spread of dishes and welcome drinks too.
If that proves too costly, plan the night at Black Thunder Resort. At the buffet dinner, amid the fast beats serving as background, about 40 dishes would be served. It's Rs 1,800 for a couple and Rs 1,000 for singles. Also
enjoy participating in a Jaya TV comedy programme.
Deepthi, working in a media firm, says she would have some stage shows and tea party. ``Anyway, I won't miss the TV programmes,'' she says.
Looking for another hangout in the city? CAG Pride arranges special programmes for revellers with DJ, cinematic dance and games. The entry fee is Rs 1,750 for couples.
Ishwarya, a student, wants to begin the year with a balsamic song.
``A new set of happenings is awaiting us. With the experiences we have had this year and yesteryears, make a better life next year,'' says Saranya, a student of Thiyagarajar College of Engineering.
Rajasimman, an employee with a software firm, says he will celebrate New Year with his friends. Vimal, his colleague, adds: ``Certainly, we won't stay at home and sleeping. We plan a place out.''
Shalu, a diploma student, says: ``We are 12 of a group and would go for a new release in the theatre.''
Any New Year resolutions? Nishad, working in media, has one. He wants to write a novel in the coming year. It was his dream project.
``New Year reminds that you have grown one year old, and you must do something bold. I will announce my resolution and, of course, wouldn't keep up,'' college student Yumnya Yongam says.
Nithya, an English literature student, says she plans to read more novels the coming year. ``I am also going to do some charity work,'' she adds.
December 23, 2006
Now, 425 to celebrate Xmas at FFC
Published on Page 1, Weekend, strip
Coimbatore Edition, dated December 23, 2006
Blurb: Oblivious to the realities of life, the children at FFC are waiting for
someone to come with gifts
By Francis P Barclay
They were 420, but 425 now; and they all will celebrate Christmas, for which preparations are on. And in the merriment on the day of revelry, they will try to sink their pangs of destitution; of course not all, because the latest to join the fest are just infants. Accepting them as Christmas gifts from God and also including them in its burly family, the FFC is all set to celebrate the day.
Special kids, orphans, destitute and people with disabilities are in the three houses of FFC - Families For Children - in Podanur near Coimbatore. The mission of each house now is `beat others in decoration'.
The five who joined them on the midnight of December 20 were Amudhan (born on October 21, 2006), Nandhini (March 25, 2006), Oviya (December 5, 2006), Swetha (December 17, 2006) and Madhuri (November 7, 2006) - all from Salem.
The inmates of FFC have sponsors from abroad apart from some local philanthropists as well wishers. A few kids have got new dress for Christmas while some got `new' old clothes. And, there are many who got nothing. Yet, they are waiting for the festival. They are making their own greeting cards to send them to their sponsors.
Each house is making a Christmas crib, decorating the rooms with streamers and lanterns. They hope Santa will come on the day and give them gifts.
A few may get special food from sponsors. Others will have to be happy with their usual meal.
Children, who get education in FFC's own pre-school, are sent to government schools. Students aspiring for higher education are sent to colleges also. After they are settled in life, they are given in marriage and they leave the home. In the case of special people and those with disabilities, they stay in the home for life.
Vocational training is given to all. They spin silk threads from the coocoon they buy at government auction and sell it to the Sericulture Department. They make greeting cards, purses and foot rugs using waste polythene bags.
They have a library and a computer lab, which is also open to the public. They also rear goats. The milk is given to the babes.
Sunbeam Viswanath, Administrator of the FFC, says local philanthropists render good help to the children. They sponsor meals, give clothes and gifts during special occasions.
Saravana Kumar and Naseer, who can neither speak nor hear, use their talents to make attractive greeting cards. Karthiga (17) and Sudha (18) make silk handbags.
Mood is upbeat among them, as only a few hours are left for Christmas. Oblivious to the realities of life, the children are waiting for someone to come with gifts. But, will anyone come?
Coimbatore Edition, dated December 23, 2006
Blurb: Oblivious to the realities of life, the children at FFC are waiting for
someone to come with gifts
By Francis P Barclay
They were 420, but 425 now; and they all will celebrate Christmas, for which preparations are on. And in the merriment on the day of revelry, they will try to sink their pangs of destitution; of course not all, because the latest to join the fest are just infants. Accepting them as Christmas gifts from God and also including them in its burly family, the FFC is all set to celebrate the day.
Special kids, orphans, destitute and people with disabilities are in the three houses of FFC - Families For Children - in Podanur near Coimbatore. The mission of each house now is `beat others in decoration'.
The five who joined them on the midnight of December 20 were Amudhan (born on October 21, 2006), Nandhini (March 25, 2006), Oviya (December 5, 2006), Swetha (December 17, 2006) and Madhuri (November 7, 2006) - all from Salem.
The inmates of FFC have sponsors from abroad apart from some local philanthropists as well wishers. A few kids have got new dress for Christmas while some got `new' old clothes. And, there are many who got nothing. Yet, they are waiting for the festival. They are making their own greeting cards to send them to their sponsors.
Each house is making a Christmas crib, decorating the rooms with streamers and lanterns. They hope Santa will come on the day and give them gifts.
A few may get special food from sponsors. Others will have to be happy with their usual meal.
Children, who get education in FFC's own pre-school, are sent to government schools. Students aspiring for higher education are sent to colleges also. After they are settled in life, they are given in marriage and they leave the home. In the case of special people and those with disabilities, they stay in the home for life.
Vocational training is given to all. They spin silk threads from the coocoon they buy at government auction and sell it to the Sericulture Department. They make greeting cards, purses and foot rugs using waste polythene bags.
They have a library and a computer lab, which is also open to the public. They also rear goats. The milk is given to the babes.
Sunbeam Viswanath, Administrator of the FFC, says local philanthropists render good help to the children. They sponsor meals, give clothes and gifts during special occasions.
Saravana Kumar and Naseer, who can neither speak nor hear, use their talents to make attractive greeting cards. Karthiga (17) and Sudha (18) make silk handbags.
Mood is upbeat among them, as only a few hours are left for Christmas. Oblivious to the realities of life, the children are waiting for someone to come with gifts. But, will anyone come?
December 20, 2006
City gets into the Christmas mood
Published in the New Indian Express, Page 3
Coimbatore Edition, dated December 20, 2006
By Francis P Barclay
Coimbatore, Dec 19: Wine pots are getting their final stir, pastries are ready and the cake dough is getting into the oven. The festival fever has gripped the city, which is now eagerly awaiting Santa's tap at the door.
``This is turning out to be a chilly Christmas. Like how it must have been when Jesus was born. This year's celebration involves much thought... focussing on the real meaning of the great day. Churches are aiming at
spreading the good news,'' Caroline Johanna, a plus-two student and a regular church-goer, says.
Take a late night stroll through Podanur, where the Anglo Indian and Christian population is high and there are myriad churches. Christmas carols are echoing through the wintry night air. Many homes are decorated with
streamers and lanterns to give the choristers a warm welcome. They all have the whitewashed look and Christmas stars are shining bright on rooftops.
With Christmas round the corner, people here have begun preparing their saccharine pastries. Christmas sweets are something especial and most Christians see to it that the traditional ones are made. Kal Kal, Dhol Dhol,
a pastry made of Black Puttu rice which is bought from Chennai, plum cakes, seed cakes, diamond cuts, Biblique, a pastry made of raw rice, sweet coconut puffs and ginger biscuits are part of them.
``We have prepared all of them,'' Kenneth Thomas, a resident of Podanur, says.
Rose cookies is also a Christmas sweetmeat. A few prepare murkoos too.
Usually, pastry preparation ends two or three days before Christmas. Cakes are baked at the last. Wine, which is fermented for 30 to 40 days depending on the way people want it strong or sweet, gets its final stir now. It is ready to get served for Christmas and the New Year. Very few prepare wine and others buy it for them. Plum cake and wine are the hit of the season.
Despite the exams, children are ecstatic as they have got their Christmas dresses. But a few are yet to purchase new apparels. They are those who go in for ready-mades.
Christmas shoppers are thronging the Big Bazaar Street and the Five Corner area, where outlets selling decorative items are aplenty. Shopping complexes are glittering with colourful starts and balloons to lure customers. New collections have arrived.
A few bake cakes at their homes while others prefer the easy way of buying it from bakeries. Churches and a few houses build their Christmas crib and tree. A few like Colleen Thomas want X-mas cakes to be home-made. Says she: ``Making our own cakes always excites us and Christmas comes once in a year. How can we miss it?''
Maud Jones, a septuagenarian, recalls how in those days Christmas used to be. ``We were 13 children in our family. We used to go for Christmas shopping a month before the festival. The Christmas fervour would start
months before it and we would be awaiting the festival as we would get new things. Nowadays, things have changed, but yet the festival remains still auspicious,'' she says.
Christmas is a day to relish, rich or poor.
``A star and angels announced the birth of Jesus Christ that day, we also have our star and would get and give gifts as the three kings did that day. It is a day for hymns, to learn about Jesus and be good people,'' Mohana
Priya, a school student, says.
Santa Claus is ready with his bag of gifts. The geese are getting fat. Yes, the day to invite friends and relatives and share happiness is coming closer.
Coimbatore Edition, dated December 20, 2006
By Francis P Barclay
Coimbatore, Dec 19: Wine pots are getting their final stir, pastries are ready and the cake dough is getting into the oven. The festival fever has gripped the city, which is now eagerly awaiting Santa's tap at the door.
``This is turning out to be a chilly Christmas. Like how it must have been when Jesus was born. This year's celebration involves much thought... focussing on the real meaning of the great day. Churches are aiming at
spreading the good news,'' Caroline Johanna, a plus-two student and a regular church-goer, says.
Take a late night stroll through Podanur, where the Anglo Indian and Christian population is high and there are myriad churches. Christmas carols are echoing through the wintry night air. Many homes are decorated with
streamers and lanterns to give the choristers a warm welcome. They all have the whitewashed look and Christmas stars are shining bright on rooftops.
With Christmas round the corner, people here have begun preparing their saccharine pastries. Christmas sweets are something especial and most Christians see to it that the traditional ones are made. Kal Kal, Dhol Dhol,
a pastry made of Black Puttu rice which is bought from Chennai, plum cakes, seed cakes, diamond cuts, Biblique, a pastry made of raw rice, sweet coconut puffs and ginger biscuits are part of them.
``We have prepared all of them,'' Kenneth Thomas, a resident of Podanur, says.
Rose cookies is also a Christmas sweetmeat. A few prepare murkoos too.
Usually, pastry preparation ends two or three days before Christmas. Cakes are baked at the last. Wine, which is fermented for 30 to 40 days depending on the way people want it strong or sweet, gets its final stir now. It is ready to get served for Christmas and the New Year. Very few prepare wine and others buy it for them. Plum cake and wine are the hit of the season.
Despite the exams, children are ecstatic as they have got their Christmas dresses. But a few are yet to purchase new apparels. They are those who go in for ready-mades.
Christmas shoppers are thronging the Big Bazaar Street and the Five Corner area, where outlets selling decorative items are aplenty. Shopping complexes are glittering with colourful starts and balloons to lure customers. New collections have arrived.
A few bake cakes at their homes while others prefer the easy way of buying it from bakeries. Churches and a few houses build their Christmas crib and tree. A few like Colleen Thomas want X-mas cakes to be home-made. Says she: ``Making our own cakes always excites us and Christmas comes once in a year. How can we miss it?''
Maud Jones, a septuagenarian, recalls how in those days Christmas used to be. ``We were 13 children in our family. We used to go for Christmas shopping a month before the festival. The Christmas fervour would start
months before it and we would be awaiting the festival as we would get new things. Nowadays, things have changed, but yet the festival remains still auspicious,'' she says.
Christmas is a day to relish, rich or poor.
``A star and angels announced the birth of Jesus Christ that day, we also have our star and would get and give gifts as the three kings did that day. It is a day for hymns, to learn about Jesus and be good people,'' Mohana
Priya, a school student, says.
Santa Claus is ready with his bag of gifts. The geese are getting fat. Yes, the day to invite friends and relatives and share happiness is coming closer.
December 19, 2006
Join politics to make a difference, youth told
Published in the New Indian Express, Page 3
Coimbatore Edition, dated December 19, 2006
It's the need of the hour, says Tharoor
By Francis P Barclay &
Haripriya V
Coimbatore, Dec 18: Politics, for Shashi Tharoor, is an entirely different art. Though he is yet to try his hand as a politician, indications are that he may do so in the near future.
The United Nations Under Secretary General for Communications and Public Relation was in the city for a `Face to Face' interactive session with students of various colleges.
During a lively session at the Assembly Hall of the PSG College of Technology, jointly organised by PSG Institute of Management and Rotary Club of Coimbatore Texcity, Tharoor said he is yet to give a thought on whether to venture into politics. But he called upon educated youth to enter politics so as to make a difference. It is the need of the hour, he said.
Asked whether he was disappointed when he withdrew, midway, from the race for the UN Secretary General's post, Tharoor quipped, "actually not."
``But learning the very fact that Indians were disappointed, disappointed me, but no regrets,'' he added.
On the possibility of India getting a permanent seat in the UN, he said it is unlikely in the near future.
But will a permanent seat change the way countries look at India?
``It's like putting the cart before the horse. First, India should make a difference, permanent seat would come in search of the country.''
Anyway, he said, the UN is planning for semipermanent seats, under which countries like India would be included. On the Volcker Report, he said the UN officials were not to be blamed as it was the middlemen and the Saddam Hussain Regime, responsible for it. ``But certainly there was mismanagement in the oil-for-food scam and the irregularities must have been spotted earlier.''
People have to give more thought to individual welfare, he replied to another question. Individual growth would contribute to the growth of a nation. A nation succeeds when its citizens succeed. ``But sometimes a larger social good would be more fruitful than the collective individual good,'' he pointed out.
On tourism potential of the country, he said India has still a long way to go. ``India, with its mosaic of culture, tradition and people, is not able to attract more tourists like a small country, Singapore."
India has invented more things long before Western countries thought about it. But the disgusting fact is that it failed to get the due recognition.
The UN diplomat, who is author of several books including `The Great Indian Novel', said writing was his passion since his childhood. He did not have any other leisure activities other than reading and writing.
``I started writing at the age of six and got my work printed at ten.''
So his favourite book?: "Dictionary."
Tharoor released a Rotary poster for a `Polio free world' on the occasion. Rotary former district governor K A Kuriachan, R Nandagopal, director, PSGIM, and G Rangaswamy, managing trustee, PSG Institutions, attended.
Coimbatore Edition, dated December 19, 2006
It's the need of the hour, says Tharoor
By Francis P Barclay &
Haripriya V
Coimbatore, Dec 18: Politics, for Shashi Tharoor, is an entirely different art. Though he is yet to try his hand as a politician, indications are that he may do so in the near future.
The United Nations Under Secretary General for Communications and Public Relation was in the city for a `Face to Face' interactive session with students of various colleges.
During a lively session at the Assembly Hall of the PSG College of Technology, jointly organised by PSG Institute of Management and Rotary Club of Coimbatore Texcity, Tharoor said he is yet to give a thought on whether to venture into politics. But he called upon educated youth to enter politics so as to make a difference. It is the need of the hour, he said.
Asked whether he was disappointed when he withdrew, midway, from the race for the UN Secretary General's post, Tharoor quipped, "actually not."
``But learning the very fact that Indians were disappointed, disappointed me, but no regrets,'' he added.
On the possibility of India getting a permanent seat in the UN, he said it is unlikely in the near future.
But will a permanent seat change the way countries look at India?
``It's like putting the cart before the horse. First, India should make a difference, permanent seat would come in search of the country.''
Anyway, he said, the UN is planning for semipermanent seats, under which countries like India would be included. On the Volcker Report, he said the UN officials were not to be blamed as it was the middlemen and the Saddam Hussain Regime, responsible for it. ``But certainly there was mismanagement in the oil-for-food scam and the irregularities must have been spotted earlier.''
People have to give more thought to individual welfare, he replied to another question. Individual growth would contribute to the growth of a nation. A nation succeeds when its citizens succeed. ``But sometimes a larger social good would be more fruitful than the collective individual good,'' he pointed out.
On tourism potential of the country, he said India has still a long way to go. ``India, with its mosaic of culture, tradition and people, is not able to attract more tourists like a small country, Singapore."
India has invented more things long before Western countries thought about it. But the disgusting fact is that it failed to get the due recognition.
The UN diplomat, who is author of several books including `The Great Indian Novel', said writing was his passion since his childhood. He did not have any other leisure activities other than reading and writing.
``I started writing at the age of six and got my work printed at ten.''
So his favourite book?: "Dictionary."
Tharoor released a Rotary poster for a `Polio free world' on the occasion. Rotary former district governor K A Kuriachan, R Nandagopal, director, PSGIM, and G Rangaswamy, managing trustee, PSG Institutions, attended.
December 17, 2006
The Dialogue of Two Cities
Published in Weekend, The New Indian Express,
Coimbatore Edition, Page 4 Blitz, on December 16, 2006
By Francis P Barclay
Benares, an otherworldly town with the tranquil Ganges, steep shrines and palmers, has a lot to contribute to the creative consummation of artists and thinkers. But what George K's lens has found there interesting is something
at odds - the modesty and senses of habitual life. In high contrast, he reveals the danger and destruction behind the still edifices of Srinagar in shots with touches of paint.
A self-taught artist and photographer, Chennai-based George presents contrasting moods complimenting each other at the `A tale of two cities - Benares and Srinagar,' a five-day exhibition of photographs organised by Vibe, a lifestyle store in Coimbatore, and the HSBC which ended on December 13.
The photographs of Srinagar radiate a wave of silence behind the touches of silver or ash, fiery red, gold, ivory white, yellow and blue. The structures are worn-out. A spray of paint like barb wire on the photographs give a
sense of danger behind it. The photographs, mostly of low contrast and with the touches of dull colours, aren't refreshing to eyes. Yet, they demand a second look. It is for their contradictory foreground and background, which give the art pieces a new meaning.
And for the elements of composition. The ravaged walls, made of mud coloured bricks, are artistic in appearance with their irregular dark crevices. Colours are played well in the pictures. The monochromatic colouring with touches of red reflects the looming sadness of the region. Srinagar is deserted and lifeless.
Whereas Benares is bright with red, orange and chrome yellow. The theme seems to be simple - portrayal of routine life. But it instills a billow of mysticism. His scenes hover on the banks, capturing interesting moments,
like a dog yawning under a huge umbrella and the windless expression of a man when the shaving blade is drifting along his throat.
According to the 57-year-old artiste, photography is a visual inspiration portraying reality. The pilgrimage city has a medley of populace and also contributes a comely background that is different from a cramped city. Another reason for him choosing the city is the high vibrancy of life there. People come there in search of peace and salvation, washing their sins in the sacred river. Some find it in death, yet they receive it joyfully and without fuss. In the photograph `Dare to dream', a middle-aged man is seen slanted on a pillar in an unruffled state. ``He has come there to die and is awaiting his death. He eats what is given to him and doesn't ask why if not given,'' he says.
These scenes, though ordinary, are with the astounding meaning of life, he adds.
Like the German artist Gerhard Richter, he combines two different modes of representation, the abstract and the realistic to create a visually stimulating effect.
Although a sense of death and stillness reverberates in the photographs of both the cities, the portrayal and perspectives vary. The dialogue between the two cities is explicit.
Coimbatore Edition, Page 4 Blitz, on December 16, 2006
By Francis P Barclay
Benares, an otherworldly town with the tranquil Ganges, steep shrines and palmers, has a lot to contribute to the creative consummation of artists and thinkers. But what George K's lens has found there interesting is something
at odds - the modesty and senses of habitual life. In high contrast, he reveals the danger and destruction behind the still edifices of Srinagar in shots with touches of paint.
A self-taught artist and photographer, Chennai-based George presents contrasting moods complimenting each other at the `A tale of two cities - Benares and Srinagar,' a five-day exhibition of photographs organised by Vibe, a lifestyle store in Coimbatore, and the HSBC which ended on December 13.
The photographs of Srinagar radiate a wave of silence behind the touches of silver or ash, fiery red, gold, ivory white, yellow and blue. The structures are worn-out. A spray of paint like barb wire on the photographs give a
sense of danger behind it. The photographs, mostly of low contrast and with the touches of dull colours, aren't refreshing to eyes. Yet, they demand a second look. It is for their contradictory foreground and background, which give the art pieces a new meaning.
And for the elements of composition. The ravaged walls, made of mud coloured bricks, are artistic in appearance with their irregular dark crevices. Colours are played well in the pictures. The monochromatic colouring with touches of red reflects the looming sadness of the region. Srinagar is deserted and lifeless.
Whereas Benares is bright with red, orange and chrome yellow. The theme seems to be simple - portrayal of routine life. But it instills a billow of mysticism. His scenes hover on the banks, capturing interesting moments,
like a dog yawning under a huge umbrella and the windless expression of a man when the shaving blade is drifting along his throat.
According to the 57-year-old artiste, photography is a visual inspiration portraying reality. The pilgrimage city has a medley of populace and also contributes a comely background that is different from a cramped city. Another reason for him choosing the city is the high vibrancy of life there. People come there in search of peace and salvation, washing their sins in the sacred river. Some find it in death, yet they receive it joyfully and without fuss. In the photograph `Dare to dream', a middle-aged man is seen slanted on a pillar in an unruffled state. ``He has come there to die and is awaiting his death. He eats what is given to him and doesn't ask why if not given,'' he says.
These scenes, though ordinary, are with the astounding meaning of life, he adds.
Like the German artist Gerhard Richter, he combines two different modes of representation, the abstract and the realistic to create a visually stimulating effect.
Although a sense of death and stillness reverberates in the photographs of both the cities, the portrayal and perspectives vary. The dialogue between the two cities is explicit.
December 12, 2006
Ghost voice that launched a thousand calls
Published in The New Indian Express, Coimbatore edition
Dated December 12, 2006
By Francis P Barclay
Coimbatore, Dec 11: The public booth in Mettur near Podanur was unusually crowded at 11 am. They all had one exiting mission: talk to the ghost.
As each caller took the phone tremulously and dialled 09388882007, the ghost, in a girl's voice, answered in Malayalam: "Hello, hello, who's this? Your name? Mine? I will tell later. First tell me yours. Can't hear you. Tell me who you are, no, sorry, bye." The ghost hung up. The story began to spread. A newcomer came running to the booth. He was breathless. Is it really a ghost? He never had time to think. He was overwhelmed by curiosity. He took the number and dialled.
She spoke for about a minute and hung up. Then a voice said: ``The voice mail box is full''. Then only, the caller realised it was a prank and that nobody was speaking from the other end. It was just a recorded voice. He lost only Rs 4.
But another man cried: ``I lost Rs 7 in the morning.''
Among those who indulged in this ghost talk were some school students. A Standard VIII boy of a private school nearby said: ``Many of us got this number and tried in vain.''
``Actually, somebody has recorded the voice and the owner of the number must have stored it in the voice mail. So when people call, they hear the voice speak and get fooled that somebody is speaking from the other end,''
James, a resident of the area, said.
He said phone is for communication and people using it to play pranks like this should be punished.
Meanwhile, another person came with a different number. His friends had given it to him saying a girl will speak to him in a sweet voice. The number -- 09388338388 -- had the same recording.
``There is another number in which an eunuch talks for about one-and-a-half minute in abusive language,'' he added.
For callers, it was a day of disappointment, but booth owners had reason to cheer.
Dated December 12, 2006
By Francis P Barclay
Coimbatore, Dec 11: The public booth in Mettur near Podanur was unusually crowded at 11 am. They all had one exiting mission: talk to the ghost.
As each caller took the phone tremulously and dialled 09388882007, the ghost, in a girl's voice, answered in Malayalam: "Hello, hello, who's this? Your name? Mine? I will tell later. First tell me yours. Can't hear you. Tell me who you are, no, sorry, bye." The ghost hung up. The story began to spread. A newcomer came running to the booth. He was breathless. Is it really a ghost? He never had time to think. He was overwhelmed by curiosity. He took the number and dialled.
She spoke for about a minute and hung up. Then a voice said: ``The voice mail box is full''. Then only, the caller realised it was a prank and that nobody was speaking from the other end. It was just a recorded voice. He lost only Rs 4.
But another man cried: ``I lost Rs 7 in the morning.''
Among those who indulged in this ghost talk were some school students. A Standard VIII boy of a private school nearby said: ``Many of us got this number and tried in vain.''
``Actually, somebody has recorded the voice and the owner of the number must have stored it in the voice mail. So when people call, they hear the voice speak and get fooled that somebody is speaking from the other end,''
James, a resident of the area, said.
He said phone is for communication and people using it to play pranks like this should be punished.
Meanwhile, another person came with a different number. His friends had given it to him saying a girl will speak to him in a sweet voice. The number -- 09388338388 -- had the same recording.
``There is another number in which an eunuch talks for about one-and-a-half minute in abusive language,'' he added.
For callers, it was a day of disappointment, but booth owners had reason to cheer.
December 10, 2006
Drive against graft starts yielding results
Published in The New Indian Express, Coimbatore edition,
dated July 19, 2006
By Francis P Barclay
Coimbatore, July 19: The Right to Information Act (RTI) 2005 has started showing results, indicating how it has armed the common man to take on corruption, bribery and red tapism.
Taking recourse to the Act, the Anti-Corruption Movement (ACM), with nine branches in Coimbatore district, has already started fighting irregularities in government organisations.
The Act entitles the common man to get any information regarding the functioning of the government departments and organisations, quasi-government bodies and public sector undertakings.
N K Velu, retired additional superintendent of police and secretary of the district unit of the ACM, says that the agricultural engineering department in the district, entrusted with the duty of providing subsidy for the setting up of drip irrigation facility, was granted substantial amount for implementing the scheme. But complaints reached the ACM saying that subsidies were granted to some fictitious beneficiaries also. The ACM approached the designated public information officer for information pertaining to the subsidy disbursal, but in vain. Then an appeal was made to the chief information commissioner, who, in turn, directed the authorities concerned to furnish the information, after conducting an inquiry. At last, the ACM got the necessary information. It is now planning the next course of action.
The same order of the chief information commissioner also directed the secretary of the agriculture department to instruct all the officials in the department to learn how RTI is enforced.
In a similar case, the ACM asked the district supply officer to furnish him information on the number of ration rice smuggling cases detected, quantity of commodities seized and the action taken. As the official was dilly-dallying, the chief information commissioner's help was sought. The information then provided revealed that in 2004-06, 270 PDS commodities smuggling cases were detected by the civil supply CID sleuths. But only in one case, chargesheet was filed and the accused convicted. In the 269 cases, the accused were let go after slapping a meagre fine on them, though the commodities seized were of high value.
In another case, the ACM received a tip-off that contractors and officials were trying to embezzle a lion's share in the construction of a culvert near Perur. After the movement sought information on the outlay of the project
and its specifications and started inspecting the work, the contractor abandoned the work. Another contractor took up the work and completed it.
In a few more cases, through the information received, irregularities were detected and criminal action initiated.
Now the ACM is urging youth to curb corruption. It organises meetings and workshops in higher educational institutions where students are taught about the evils of corruption and are trained to fight it. The movement enrols students without any subscription.
For any person, who intends to fight corruption, the Act is a knife-edged device.
dated July 19, 2006
By Francis P Barclay
Coimbatore, July 19: The Right to Information Act (RTI) 2005 has started showing results, indicating how it has armed the common man to take on corruption, bribery and red tapism.
Taking recourse to the Act, the Anti-Corruption Movement (ACM), with nine branches in Coimbatore district, has already started fighting irregularities in government organisations.
The Act entitles the common man to get any information regarding the functioning of the government departments and organisations, quasi-government bodies and public sector undertakings.
N K Velu, retired additional superintendent of police and secretary of the district unit of the ACM, says that the agricultural engineering department in the district, entrusted with the duty of providing subsidy for the setting up of drip irrigation facility, was granted substantial amount for implementing the scheme. But complaints reached the ACM saying that subsidies were granted to some fictitious beneficiaries also. The ACM approached the designated public information officer for information pertaining to the subsidy disbursal, but in vain. Then an appeal was made to the chief information commissioner, who, in turn, directed the authorities concerned to furnish the information, after conducting an inquiry. At last, the ACM got the necessary information. It is now planning the next course of action.
The same order of the chief information commissioner also directed the secretary of the agriculture department to instruct all the officials in the department to learn how RTI is enforced.
In a similar case, the ACM asked the district supply officer to furnish him information on the number of ration rice smuggling cases detected, quantity of commodities seized and the action taken. As the official was dilly-dallying, the chief information commissioner's help was sought. The information then provided revealed that in 2004-06, 270 PDS commodities smuggling cases were detected by the civil supply CID sleuths. But only in one case, chargesheet was filed and the accused convicted. In the 269 cases, the accused were let go after slapping a meagre fine on them, though the commodities seized were of high value.
In another case, the ACM received a tip-off that contractors and officials were trying to embezzle a lion's share in the construction of a culvert near Perur. After the movement sought information on the outlay of the project
and its specifications and started inspecting the work, the contractor abandoned the work. Another contractor took up the work and completed it.
In a few more cases, through the information received, irregularities were detected and criminal action initiated.
Now the ACM is urging youth to curb corruption. It organises meetings and workshops in higher educational institutions where students are taught about the evils of corruption and are trained to fight it. The movement enrols students without any subscription.
For any person, who intends to fight corruption, the Act is a knife-edged device.
`Alagana Kovai' gets a boost as one more residential assn goes for it
Published on Page 1, TNIE, Coimbatore
Dated August 6, 2006
By Francis P Barclay
Coimbatore, Aug 6: From home to neck of the woods, it's the duty of the indwellers to see to it that everything is spic and span. Propagating this, the residents of Sivanandha Colony have come together to clean up their
locality.
Holding ``self help'' as their core principle, these indwellers, in association with the Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore (RAAC), launched the `Alagana Kovai' project in their area today.
`Alagana Kovai' is aimed at encouraging the people to keep their environment clean. It was first started on April 30 in Bharathy Colony. With the help of RAAC the residents of the colony made a wonderful change in their locality, thus tempting 12 colonies in the city to follow suit them.
Today, as the 13th colony to emulate Bharathy Colony, the 150 families of Sivananda Colony came up to clean their locality. Members of the RAAC and the NCC volunteers of Gopal Naidu School joined them in their endeaour, and they all worked for about three hours.
Under the `Alagana Kovai' initiative, the residents would meet on the third Sunday of every month and clear garbage and bush on either side of the roads, fill potholes and desilt the drains.
Each household will be provided with two garbage bins - one for biodegradable waste and the other for non-biodegradable waste like plastic.
Ramasamy, who is the secretary of the Sivananda Colony Residents' Welfare Association, which was started in 2002, said ``We have heard about the success story of the residents of Bharathy Colony and wanted to emulate
them. So, first we distributed pamphlets in our colony to create awareness on clean and green environment, and today, we launched the `Alagana Kovai' project.''
He added ``It is the responsibility of the people to keep their premises clean especially when the Corporation is understaffed.''
Sivalingam, president of the association and Soundararajan, vice-president of the RAAC and Devaraj, president of the Ramalingam Colony Residents Welfare Association were present during the launch of the project.
Soudararajan said ``A nominal amount will be collected from the residents to bring tractors and dozers to remove garbage. At least one member from each family should participate in this drive. People should realise that
it is their duty to keep their environment clean. We would soon make all the people of Coimbatore realise this and make the city neat and clean.''
Dated August 6, 2006
By Francis P Barclay
Coimbatore, Aug 6: From home to neck of the woods, it's the duty of the indwellers to see to it that everything is spic and span. Propagating this, the residents of Sivanandha Colony have come together to clean up their
locality.
Holding ``self help'' as their core principle, these indwellers, in association with the Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore (RAAC), launched the `Alagana Kovai' project in their area today.
`Alagana Kovai' is aimed at encouraging the people to keep their environment clean. It was first started on April 30 in Bharathy Colony. With the help of RAAC the residents of the colony made a wonderful change in their locality, thus tempting 12 colonies in the city to follow suit them.
Today, as the 13th colony to emulate Bharathy Colony, the 150 families of Sivananda Colony came up to clean their locality. Members of the RAAC and the NCC volunteers of Gopal Naidu School joined them in their endeaour, and they all worked for about three hours.
Under the `Alagana Kovai' initiative, the residents would meet on the third Sunday of every month and clear garbage and bush on either side of the roads, fill potholes and desilt the drains.
Each household will be provided with two garbage bins - one for biodegradable waste and the other for non-biodegradable waste like plastic.
Ramasamy, who is the secretary of the Sivananda Colony Residents' Welfare Association, which was started in 2002, said ``We have heard about the success story of the residents of Bharathy Colony and wanted to emulate
them. So, first we distributed pamphlets in our colony to create awareness on clean and green environment, and today, we launched the `Alagana Kovai' project.''
He added ``It is the responsibility of the people to keep their premises clean especially when the Corporation is understaffed.''
Sivalingam, president of the association and Soundararajan, vice-president of the RAAC and Devaraj, president of the Ramalingam Colony Residents Welfare Association were present during the launch of the project.
Soudararajan said ``A nominal amount will be collected from the residents to bring tractors and dozers to remove garbage. At least one member from each family should participate in this drive. People should realise that
it is their duty to keep their environment clean. We would soon make all the people of Coimbatore realise this and make the city neat and clean.''
Rhythm of ecstasy
Published in Weekend, 2006
By Francis P Barclay
Born in 1951 in Udmalpet, Manickavachagam did his schooling in Poolavadi village. His father, a goldsmith, was his first art teacher. He used to make sculptures and clay models and teach him. He had also played miruthangam and harmonium and his house was filled with music every night.
Though Manickavachagam has not learnt music, he has a fervour for it. That's why he never misses music concerts and classical dance programmes.
Even while working in the telephone department (he worked there for 16 years) he was conducting art exhibitions. He took BFA and post-graduate diploma in fine arts at the age of 30 and joined the Regional Engineering College (now National Institute of Technology), Trichy as a lecturer.
A recipient of several awards, he has conducted about 19 exhibitions so far and his collections are scattered across the world.
Are dance and music the ways to vent ecstasy? P Manickavachagam, lecturer in the Department of Architecture of the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchy will say `yes'. They are also the languages of joy, he will add.
That he is right will be the first reaction of a person who goes around the Kasthuri Sreenivasan Trust Art Gallery, watching the beauty of a set of tranquil expressions - `mudras' or the hand movements and `adavus' or the
leg movements of the traditional Indian dance styles - on the canvas. The rhythm of ecstasy, he calls them.
Manickavachagam calls his paintings a fusion of visual and performing art. ``Whatever may be the concept, an artiste will feel elated while presenting it in a sequence. An artist, too, will get the same ecstasy while portraying
the movements of hands and legs in canvas,'' he explains.
Though his paintings are in contemporary style, they are about the traditional Indian dance and music. He has contemplated on the cubic and surrealistic art styles in his paintings and experimented them with varied colour schemes.
His keen observation of the performers is portrayed in lines and expressive faces. ``Man would have started expressing joy through body movements and voice. Later, when these movements were coordinated and a grammar was laid down they turned out to be different forms of dance or music,'' he says.
It is a pleasure to fill the canvas with colours, but what makes it a absolute work is the balance, colour scheme, spatial arrangement and the rhythm. Manickavachagam's paintings speak a lot about them. Significantly, earthen colour schemes are incessant in his paintings.
The twisted torsos, broken limbs and the eloquent faces scattered in his paintings instill a sense of movement and rhythm.
The paintings are offered for sale.
The exhibition will be on till Monday from 10 am to 7 pm. For further details call 0422-2574110.
By Francis P Barclay
Born in 1951 in Udmalpet, Manickavachagam did his schooling in Poolavadi village. His father, a goldsmith, was his first art teacher. He used to make sculptures and clay models and teach him. He had also played miruthangam and harmonium and his house was filled with music every night.
Though Manickavachagam has not learnt music, he has a fervour for it. That's why he never misses music concerts and classical dance programmes.
Even while working in the telephone department (he worked there for 16 years) he was conducting art exhibitions. He took BFA and post-graduate diploma in fine arts at the age of 30 and joined the Regional Engineering College (now National Institute of Technology), Trichy as a lecturer.
A recipient of several awards, he has conducted about 19 exhibitions so far and his collections are scattered across the world.
Are dance and music the ways to vent ecstasy? P Manickavachagam, lecturer in the Department of Architecture of the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchy will say `yes'. They are also the languages of joy, he will add.
That he is right will be the first reaction of a person who goes around the Kasthuri Sreenivasan Trust Art Gallery, watching the beauty of a set of tranquil expressions - `mudras' or the hand movements and `adavus' or the
leg movements of the traditional Indian dance styles - on the canvas. The rhythm of ecstasy, he calls them.
Manickavachagam calls his paintings a fusion of visual and performing art. ``Whatever may be the concept, an artiste will feel elated while presenting it in a sequence. An artist, too, will get the same ecstasy while portraying
the movements of hands and legs in canvas,'' he explains.
Though his paintings are in contemporary style, they are about the traditional Indian dance and music. He has contemplated on the cubic and surrealistic art styles in his paintings and experimented them with varied colour schemes.
His keen observation of the performers is portrayed in lines and expressive faces. ``Man would have started expressing joy through body movements and voice. Later, when these movements were coordinated and a grammar was laid down they turned out to be different forms of dance or music,'' he says.
It is a pleasure to fill the canvas with colours, but what makes it a absolute work is the balance, colour scheme, spatial arrangement and the rhythm. Manickavachagam's paintings speak a lot about them. Significantly, earthen colour schemes are incessant in his paintings.
The twisted torsos, broken limbs and the eloquent faces scattered in his paintings instill a sense of movement and rhythm.
The paintings are offered for sale.
The exhibition will be on till Monday from 10 am to 7 pm. For further details call 0422-2574110.
The taste of Maharashtra
Published in Weekend, 2006
By Francis P. Barclay
It was all about making the eyes bigger than the stomach at the ninth Kitchen Carnival of the VLB Janakiammal College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, which completed its 10 years stint in hospitality education.
This time the Coimbatoreans had the opening to taste from a ritzy spread of Maharashtrian dishes under the title `Mumbai Mirchi', and as the name suggested the event was h-o-t and hotter than ever.
It was Sunday, March 19, and the sun was trying to veil itself in the billows of the west, when the gourmets of the city flocked to the college grounds. To welcome them were the students of the Department of Hotel Management and Catering Science of the college, all dressed in black `n' black with a picture of red chilly stuck on their shirts.
By 6.30 the venue was jam-packed. The students were busy bringing and placing the dishes in the stalls, which ran from one end to the other.
The function was formally launched with the lighting of the kuthuvilakku by M Krishnan, chairman of the Sri Krishna Sweets Pvt. Ltd., Coimbatore. The dias was full with bigwigs in the profession from across the country as Ajeet Kumar Lal Mohan, Head, Department of Hotel Management, welcomed them.
The crowd could not sit patiently to hear the 38-odd dignitaries speak. Soon they scurried to the stalls to taste the sundry dishes. The students had prepared 35 dishes in Maharashtrian style and placed them in separate stalls for families, couples, singles, staff and parents.
Every year, a state is selected and its cuisine is prepared and placed for the Coimbatoreans to taste. This year it was Maharashtra, and the food items included Chawal Ka Mirchi - a spicy stuff made of rice and capsicum and
flavoured with Maharashtrian masala, Ajwain Ka Pulao - rice flavoured with omam and garnished with crispy fried onions, Murgh Kolhapuri Briyani, Romali Roti, Gobi Batata Bhaji and so on from Tossed Salad, Aloo Chaat and Papad to Murgh Makhanwala (butter chicken) and Doodh Peda.
On the other side, a Chennai-based troupe shook their legs for some latest tunes, which relished the crowd even as they were pelting with the plates. Tambola and other games organised for the couples, parents of the college
students and the participants added fizz to the fiesta.
While the college boys, dressed in black and with a red chilly on their shirt, branded well the event, the girls, all in the pink of joy, were galavanting in the crowd.
Sanjay Sharma, general manager, Le Meridien, Kochi, felicitated and presented gold medal to the Best Academic Performance Award in memory of the late Shri N K Mahadeva Iyer, founder of the Sri Krishna Sweets while Joseph Graham, regional manager of HR, Taj Coromandel, Chennai, released the department magazine.
The dignitaries, all from the leading hotels across the country, who participated in the fest include Neeraj Chadha, general manager of Goa Marriott International, Kannan, executive chef of Taj Madras Flight Kitchen, Chennai, Pradeep Shinde, director of the HR, Hyatt Regency, Mumbai, and Sandeep Shenava, HR manager, The Leela Palace, Bangalore.
By Francis P. Barclay
It was all about making the eyes bigger than the stomach at the ninth Kitchen Carnival of the VLB Janakiammal College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, which completed its 10 years stint in hospitality education.
This time the Coimbatoreans had the opening to taste from a ritzy spread of Maharashtrian dishes under the title `Mumbai Mirchi', and as the name suggested the event was h-o-t and hotter than ever.
It was Sunday, March 19, and the sun was trying to veil itself in the billows of the west, when the gourmets of the city flocked to the college grounds. To welcome them were the students of the Department of Hotel Management and Catering Science of the college, all dressed in black `n' black with a picture of red chilly stuck on their shirts.
By 6.30 the venue was jam-packed. The students were busy bringing and placing the dishes in the stalls, which ran from one end to the other.
The function was formally launched with the lighting of the kuthuvilakku by M Krishnan, chairman of the Sri Krishna Sweets Pvt. Ltd., Coimbatore. The dias was full with bigwigs in the profession from across the country as Ajeet Kumar Lal Mohan, Head, Department of Hotel Management, welcomed them.
The crowd could not sit patiently to hear the 38-odd dignitaries speak. Soon they scurried to the stalls to taste the sundry dishes. The students had prepared 35 dishes in Maharashtrian style and placed them in separate stalls for families, couples, singles, staff and parents.
Every year, a state is selected and its cuisine is prepared and placed for the Coimbatoreans to taste. This year it was Maharashtra, and the food items included Chawal Ka Mirchi - a spicy stuff made of rice and capsicum and
flavoured with Maharashtrian masala, Ajwain Ka Pulao - rice flavoured with omam and garnished with crispy fried onions, Murgh Kolhapuri Briyani, Romali Roti, Gobi Batata Bhaji and so on from Tossed Salad, Aloo Chaat and Papad to Murgh Makhanwala (butter chicken) and Doodh Peda.
On the other side, a Chennai-based troupe shook their legs for some latest tunes, which relished the crowd even as they were pelting with the plates. Tambola and other games organised for the couples, parents of the college
students and the participants added fizz to the fiesta.
While the college boys, dressed in black and with a red chilly on their shirt, branded well the event, the girls, all in the pink of joy, were galavanting in the crowd.
Sanjay Sharma, general manager, Le Meridien, Kochi, felicitated and presented gold medal to the Best Academic Performance Award in memory of the late Shri N K Mahadeva Iyer, founder of the Sri Krishna Sweets while Joseph Graham, regional manager of HR, Taj Coromandel, Chennai, released the department magazine.
The dignitaries, all from the leading hotels across the country, who participated in the fest include Neeraj Chadha, general manager of Goa Marriott International, Kannan, executive chef of Taj Madras Flight Kitchen, Chennai, Pradeep Shinde, director of the HR, Hyatt Regency, Mumbai, and Sandeep Shenava, HR manager, The Leela Palace, Bangalore.
Shining cool & bright
Published in the Express Properties, a special supplement, 2006
By Francis P Barclay
GONE are the days of giant and pricey chandeliers that enjoyed an imperative place in every opulent household. Now people are looking for futuristic lighting. Interior lighting has taken a new shape in the contemporary lifestyle.
When it comes to lighting, people look beyond its primary purpose and there are sufficient outlets in Coimbatore that can provide them what they yearn for.
In olden days, the size of the chandeliers was considered to be the mark of royalty. But that trend is no more prevalent. A few more aspects are also looked into decorative lighting.
Chandeliers come in a plethora of shapes and sizes. From expensive metals to precious stones to equally sparkling glass, different materials are used to make chandeliers. Modern chandeliers are sleek and ornate with abstract designs. Although they are not found in a mass scale, chandeliers still continue to adorn modern homes. The shapes and sizes of chandeliers have adapted to the looks of the modern interiors.
Structurally, chandeliers are much heavier than other ceiling light fixtures. Some even need special attachments to the ceiling and specially reinforced ceilings.
The manager of a showroom on the Avinashi Road says: ``Most of the decorative lightings for the city come from countries like Austria and Egypt.''
Earlier, brass was used to make lighting fixtures but the metal soon turned dull. Manufacturers now prefer aluminium and its alloys.
He feels that plenary awareness on lighting is still lacking among the Coimbatoreans when compared to residents in metros.
Modern chandeliers are two to three feet tall and do not need a high ceiling to get them fixed. Customers like Raghuram come asking for lighting fixtures that are the latest and unique in style. Indeed, the trend is changing and lighting is an area where innovations could be endless. But many others have clear views about the shapes and designs of lamps they want to go in for.
Most people go in for cost-effective lighting and restrict it to open bulbs and tubes and there are good Indian brands available. It is a general notion that decorative lighting is expensive and people tend to generally spend
less on it. The showroom manager rejects this notion. He says that if they are ready to spare just one percent of what they spend on building their house, that meagre share would enrich the look of their houses in toto.
People mostly prefer embedded fixtures or the chic and futuristic lightings to huge ones. Yet when the room is filled with antiques, one is naturally tempted to go in for traditional models.
A noted city-based environmentalist says she uses concealed and embedded fixtures to light up her home. She uses energy savers too, i.e. low watt bulbs, and dimmers, to save power.
Chandeliers are quoted at from Rs 4,000, while the price of table lamps starts from Rs 500. Ceiling and wall fixtures are much cheaper.
By Francis P Barclay
GONE are the days of giant and pricey chandeliers that enjoyed an imperative place in every opulent household. Now people are looking for futuristic lighting. Interior lighting has taken a new shape in the contemporary lifestyle.
When it comes to lighting, people look beyond its primary purpose and there are sufficient outlets in Coimbatore that can provide them what they yearn for.
In olden days, the size of the chandeliers was considered to be the mark of royalty. But that trend is no more prevalent. A few more aspects are also looked into decorative lighting.
Chandeliers come in a plethora of shapes and sizes. From expensive metals to precious stones to equally sparkling glass, different materials are used to make chandeliers. Modern chandeliers are sleek and ornate with abstract designs. Although they are not found in a mass scale, chandeliers still continue to adorn modern homes. The shapes and sizes of chandeliers have adapted to the looks of the modern interiors.
Structurally, chandeliers are much heavier than other ceiling light fixtures. Some even need special attachments to the ceiling and specially reinforced ceilings.
The manager of a showroom on the Avinashi Road says: ``Most of the decorative lightings for the city come from countries like Austria and Egypt.''
Earlier, brass was used to make lighting fixtures but the metal soon turned dull. Manufacturers now prefer aluminium and its alloys.
He feels that plenary awareness on lighting is still lacking among the Coimbatoreans when compared to residents in metros.
Modern chandeliers are two to three feet tall and do not need a high ceiling to get them fixed. Customers like Raghuram come asking for lighting fixtures that are the latest and unique in style. Indeed, the trend is changing and lighting is an area where innovations could be endless. But many others have clear views about the shapes and designs of lamps they want to go in for.
Most people go in for cost-effective lighting and restrict it to open bulbs and tubes and there are good Indian brands available. It is a general notion that decorative lighting is expensive and people tend to generally spend
less on it. The showroom manager rejects this notion. He says that if they are ready to spare just one percent of what they spend on building their house, that meagre share would enrich the look of their houses in toto.
People mostly prefer embedded fixtures or the chic and futuristic lightings to huge ones. Yet when the room is filled with antiques, one is naturally tempted to go in for traditional models.
A noted city-based environmentalist says she uses concealed and embedded fixtures to light up her home. She uses energy savers too, i.e. low watt bulbs, and dimmers, to save power.
Chandeliers are quoted at from Rs 4,000, while the price of table lamps starts from Rs 500. Ceiling and wall fixtures are much cheaper.
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