A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel from Kanyakumari district has entered the Guinness Book of World Records along with a group of other Indian magicians for continuous performance of magic tricks by a group.
The Indian Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM) broke the record set by 130 magicians in Italy, by peforming magic continuously for six hours in New Delhi on April 24 this year. The group performed various tricks, including the ribbon trick, rope trick, dove and rabbit vanishing tricks among others, to enter the book of records. The group of 162 magicians broke the record by performing the same task. They received their Guinness certification, recently.
B Ajithkumar, 41, of Arumananai Vilavankode, in Kanyakumari district said that he had always been interested in magic and pursued his passion even after he joined the CRPF at the of 22. He learned tricks from great magicians in Thiruvananthapuram and also Wilson Sambakulam in New Delhi, whom he considers his master.
Ajithkumar who is now serving in Assam, came down to his home town recently and showed the certificate to the Kanyakumari district collector, Sajjansingh R Chavan, who lauded him for his efforts. Ajithkumar’s daughter Sangeetha is also learning some tricks from her father.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Madurai / TNN / October 15th, 2016
Many meteorological observatories in the State and the country still use mercury-based measuring instruments to make weather observations and predictions.
In a bid to address the challenge of using dangerous metal, B. Amudha, Scientist-D, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, wrote a report assessing the factors preventing many developing countries to switch over to digital devices.
This won her the Prof. Dr. Vilho Vaisala award instituted by World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
She was the first Indian Meteorological Department official to receive the award for development of instruments and methods of observation in developing countries at a WMO conference in Madrid, Spain in September. The award was instituted in 1986 and carries a medal, diploma and a cash prize.
Ms. Amudha was nominated to the expert team of WMO. “It was decided during an convention that the mercury based devices must be replaced with digital ones by 2020. But, many developing countries did not initiate measures. My task was to submit a report on the status of alternatives to such instruments and assessing the factors limiting the countries from switching over to digital devices,” she said.
Ms. Amudha framed a questionnaire seeking 191 member countries to respond about the status of the use of mercury based instruments.
“Only 28 per cent of the developing countries responded. In Tamil Nadu, we are replacing mercury barometers used to measure atmospheric pressure in a phased manner. We now have digital barometers in 12 of the 18 observatories run by the department across the State. However, 24 part-time observatories are yet to get digital barometers,” she said.
Moreover, the department is still in the process of replacing mercury thermometers used to measure temperature across the country.
“My report was chosen for the award as it was considered useful to address the issue of enabling transition to digital instruments in developing countries and assist in policy decisions,” Ms. Amudha said.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai/ by Special Correspondent / Chennai – October 14th, 2016
Is colour just a pigment that is visually fascinating or is it the reflection of the hues of the mind. Do artists introspect about the various symbols that come into play or is it a spontaneous response. It is these nuances that the upcoming three-day festival Bani will explore.
The annual festival, curated by renowned Bharatanatyam dancer Alarmel Valli, looks at the idea of colours through the prism of the arts. Dance being a visual form, the use of colour is assumed feels the Padma Bhushan recipient.
“Colour is woven into the warp and weft of all art forms. There are different expressions, idioms and perceptions of it and different responses to it. It is widely used instinctively and deliberately, in an abstract as well as literal sense, yet it is often taken for granted. As an artist not many have the time to reflect and articulate these thoughts and so it was a good theme to deal with,” says Valli for whom the theme came together quite spontaneously as the subject has been there on her mind. The dancer for her is like a painter who fills the outline of the song using the body as medium, while the space is the canvas.
Through conversations, music and dance performances artists will be intrinsically bringing out the importance of colour during the festival which begins on October 14.
Bringing together, vocalists, filmmakers and dancers, the festival looks at use of colour in different artistic medias and challenges the audience to find their own meaning.
While singer T M Krishna and documentary filmmaker Arun Khopkar will set the tone of the festival with talks about interpreting and delineating the concept of colour, Carnatic vocalist Sanjay Subramanian, and Kathak exponent Kumudini Lakhia will be performing and subtly establish the concept using their respective repertoire.
Known for her ability to turn traditional grammar of dance into a deeply personal poetry, Valli has taken on the role of the curator for the past four years. “I like this process of exploring and taking an objective view of the creative process,” says Valli who feels that the metaphor of colour has helped her interpret lyrics and shades of characters.
The interaction on the first day will be at Amethyst Cafe and the performances will be at Kalakshetra.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City News> Chennai / TNN / October 14th, 2016
More than 100 bodybuilders from various gymnasiums participated in ‘Mr Madurai 2016’ competition conducted by the Madurai District Amateur Body Building Association.
S Vetrivelu from Cosmo Fitness Gym was selected as ‘Mr Madurai’.
Tamil Nadu minister for cooperation Sellur K Raju presided over the event and distributed prizes.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> Chennai News> Madurai / TNN / October 09th, 2016
Co-optex has launched a collection of Kanchipuram silk saris with traditional designs and colours.-Photo: M. Periasamy
The collection has saris in as many as 32 traditional designs and colour combinations
Silk saris woven at Kancheepuram in traditional colour combinations and having motifs such as Rudraksham, Yazhi, Arai Pogidi or Vanki on the saree borders is not so common now.
Reviving some of these designs and colours, Co-optex has introduced “Vintage Kanjeevaram” collection and the saris are available in Coimbatore at a couple of its outlets.
According to regional manager of Co-optex R. Suresh Kumar, the collection has saris in as many as 32 traditional designs and colour combinations.
A press release from Co-optex says Kancheepuram silk saris are woven with Korvai and Petni techniques and the designs are inspirations from temple sculptures.
Usually, Kancheepuram saris are relatively heavier. Co-optex has developed the collection so that it could be a corporate wear too.
The press release added that Co-optex had organised ‘Vintage Kanjeevaram’ exhibitions in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai this year and this has boosted sales of Kancheepuram saris at its outlets.
Mr. Suresh Kumar said that the saris are in the price range of Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 62,000.
Outlets
Co-optex outlets have silk saris woven in Salem, Coimbatore, Arani, Thanjavur, and Kancheepuram. Coimbatore region registered sale of silk saris to the tune of Rs. 65 lakh last financial year and it is already reached Rs. 50 lakh this fiscal. The demand is high for silk saris this year and the festival season is expected to see higher sales of these saris.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Coimbatore / by Special Correspondent / Coimbatore – October 10th, 2016
Leading dermatologist and cosmetologist G.R. Ratnavel was declared brain-dead here on Sunday. He was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals in Tiruchi after he collapsed during a visit to the Rockfort temple here a couple of days ago.
Dr. Ratnavel (50), who headed the Department of Cosmetology at the Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai, was in Tiruchi to attend a conference of dermatologists.
Organ harvest
His family has given its consent to donate his organs, Ratnavel’s father-in-law Maha Krishnan, a senior dermatologist who was also in Tiruchi to attend the same conference, said.
Dr. Ratnavel is credited with having established the first cadaver skin bank at the Stanley Medical College and the Department of Cosmetology at the same institution.
He collapsed while worshipping at the Uchi Pillaiyar shrine atop the Rockfort on Friday morning. He was carried by a few people down and taken in an autorickshaw to a nearby private hospital. He was then shifted to Apollo Hospitals in Tiruchi as he was also a consultant with the hospital in Chennai.
Hospital sources said he was brought in an unconscious state and had suffered intracranial haemorrhage. Having got the consent of the family to retrieve the vital organs, the process of harvest of lung, kidneys, heart, cornea and skin would be done at the Apollo Hospitals here late on Sunday evening, sources said.
Barring the lungs and skin which would be sent to Fortis Malar Hospital at Chennai and Stanley Medical College respectively, the other organs would be sent to few private hospitals in Tiruchi, the sources added.
The post-mortem is expected to be done at the Government Hospital in Tiruchi on Monday. The funeral will take place at Chennai, his family circles said.
Dr. Ratnavel has trained many cosmetic surgeons, said Tiruchi-based senior dermatologist N. Balasubramanian.
Doctors at Government Stanley Medical College were shocked and grieved over the brain death of Dr. Ratnavel, who was the head of the cosmetology department and had served in the hospital for over a decade.
“It was Dr. Ratnavel who developed the cosmetology department — there is no other such department in any government hospital here,” said hospital dean Ponnambalam Namasivayam.
Cadaver skin bank
Dr. Ratnavel spearheaded the setting up of a cadaver skin bank at the hospital, the first of its kind in the government health system in the State. The skin bank, opened in August, stores harvested donor skin that can then be used on individuals as a temporary skin covering cases of burns or acute skin failure as a dressing.
“We have lost a very good colleague,” said V. Anandan, head of the dermatology department, who was with Dr. Ratnavel at the conference in Tiruchi. “He has done so much for the institution. This will be a huge loss to the hospital,” said K. Kannan, head of the cardiology department.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / R. Rajaram / Tiruchi-Chennai, October 10th, 2016
Befitting Tribute:Chief Justice of Madras High Court Sanjay Kishan Kaul (third from left) hands over the first copy of the book Law & Dharma to N.R. Madhava Menon, Chancellor, Central University, Chhattisgarh, on Sunday. —Photo: M. Vedhan
Eminent personalities drawn from various fields showered rich encomiums on one of the country’s well known legal luminaries and former Attorney-General of India K. Parasaran, who turned 90, at a function held here where a book was released in his honour.
Participating in the event, Madras High Court Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said, “We are living in troubled times. The process of evolution is on, which must take care to preserve our heritage and yet advance ours as a modern society. Eminence, scholastic ability and honesty of purpose above all has to be the hallmark of both a judge and a lawyer. Shri. Parasaran epitomises all these qualities. He can provide guidance and light to the younger members of the Bar and even to the Bench.”
The book Law & Dharma: A tribute to the Pitamaha of the Indian Bar was authored by three students of SASTRA University and was released in honour of Mr. Parasaran. Chief Justice Kaul released the book and the first copy was received by legal education expert and Chancellor of Central University in Chhattisgarh, N.R. Madhava Menon.
Mr. Menon said Mr. Parasaran was a combination of professionalism with humaneness and simplicity with spirituality.
Noted political commentator S. Gurumurthy, who is also research professor of Legal Anthropology at SASTRA University, recalled an anecdote of how Mr. Parasaran chose to withdraw from appearing for the Central government in 1980s when it refused to honour the orders of the courts in a particular case.
Mr. Parasaran, too, recalled several incidents in his life and in the life of his advocate father, and exhorted the need to remain conscious of dharma while taking decisions. Noting that capitation fee in educational institutions was an issue concerning the students, he said parents felt helpless while the government said it had no funds and there the dharma was lacking.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / Special Correspondent / Chennai – October 10th, 2016
