VSK TN
A book speaks of decline of the river bank civilization of Chennai
It was not a just book release function though a book titled ‘THE GODS OF THE HOLY COOVUM’ was released last week in Chennai. The book traces the tragic history of how a 72 km river that bifurcates Chennai metro lost scores of Shaivite and Vaishavite temples along its banks over the centuries. Today Coovum River is reduced to stinking drainage. The relics of the temples give ample evidence to the water management capabilities of our forefathers as well as desilting techniques adopted in those ages. Priya Bhaskaran who has authored the book is the editor of an e-magazine ‘Aalayam Kanden’ (I had darshan of temples). It is worth mentioning that Venkatesh Ramakrishnan who had mapped Coovum River also participated in the function.
Yunus, the Chennai Champion of Yoga
Vivekananda Vidyalaya, Ambattur is one of the over 30 educational institutions inspired by RSS in and around Chennai. Recently, Mohammed Yunus, class 9 student of the School participated in an all India Yoga Competition in Salem organized by CBSE and emerged the topper. He was declared ‘Champion of Champions’. The school focuses on nurturing Yoga and with that end in view got together scores of schools in neighbourhood for a yoga festival wherein puranic episodes like Markandeya’s devotion for Lord Shiva was depicted through a combination of popular yogasanas demonstrated by school children.
From Burma via Tamilnadu to Kerala
Thoothukudi, a port city in the Southern Tamilnadu witnessed an influx of Muslims from Myanmar a couple of years ago. It was claimed that they were looking for jobs after being driven out of their country. Today these Rohingya Muslims make a beeline to Kerala where there is a recent spurt in Jihadi outfits. Some of the outfits are systematically carrying out propaganda to accommodate the Burmese Muslims. This has rung alarm bells in the security set up of the country. The Centre has promptly alerted Kerala Government of this new migration pattern.