Drama group to celebrate centenary with 100 programmes
The Tiruchi-based Rasika Ranjana Sabha, one of the oldest drama associations in Tamil Nadu that is active even today, is celebrating its centenary and has plans to host a hundred programmes over the year, starting this week.
The inaugural event was marked by programmes, speeches and release of a postage stamp and envelope to honour its founder F G Natesa Iyer (1880-1963) and his contribution to drama, art and culture.
Iyer, a former Indian Railways employee and Congress activist, is credited with introducing artists like D K Pattammal (film playback singer), M K Thiagaraja Bagavathar (film actor) and T R Mahalingam ( playback singer) to the southern Indian cinema, through performances at the R R Sabha.
The guests included Iyer’s daughter and other members of the board.
Artefacts found in Sivaganga
Archaeologists have unearthed a trove of artefacts in a coconut grove in Keeladi village in Sivaganga district that is thought to be proof of the 16th century Pandyan era settlements.
The excavation, led by a team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is part of an exploration that was started in 2013-14 along the Vaigai river valley.
The site at Keeladi, situated southeast of Madurai, is located at a strategic point on the ancient highway - modern national highway 49 - extending to Rameswaram.
The mound called Pallichandai Thidal that is being excavated could yield further evidence of Keeladi being an important trading town on the route connecting Madurai to the port of Alagankulam, an ASI official said.
Temple visitors die in floods
At least eight people died in flash floods caused by heavy rains while visiting two temples at the Sathuragiri reserve forest located on the border of Madurai and Virudhunagar districts last week.
The tragedy occurred when the devotees reportedly trespassed into the reserve forest range. They were swept away while taking bath in streams that had swollen due to rains. The district forest department evacuated the area and began searching for the survivors. The search continued through the week.
Heavy rains also caused the death of a newly-wed marine engineer when a tree fell on him while trekking in the Kodaikanal hill resort last week.
Writer on a literary mission
A former shipping executive is on a mission to show children that literature can be a substitute to gadgets. J K Sivan, 77, has written 11 books in two years. Sivan from Nanganallur in Chennai first wrote Tamil short stories that he e-mailed to friends.
Later, he began to translate his work into English, and now writes in both languages on subjects dealing with Indian history, religion and culture for a young readership.
Sivan prefers not to sell his books, and instead gives them away as gifts to children during social functions.
Short circuit causes fire at airport
An electrical short circuit led to a blaze at Chennai international airport’s air-conditioning unit, but the fire was quickly brought under control.
Police on Tuesday said smoke was noticed from the A/C plant located near Bay No.28 in the international terminal around 9.30pm and a fire broke out soon.
Three fire tenders stationed at the airport were able to extinguish the fire in half-an-hour. No injuries were reported.
