KERALA FLOODS 2018

I have been covering Kerala floods for the last one week. I am disturbed with what I am seeing here. In this God's own country, people are struggling to find a place just to stand. There are thousands of people waiting to be rescued and reaching relief camp only to save their lives. Grief, pain, wail are the only sounds I hear here.

I interviewed a panchayat president in Kerala named Mini Eldhora. She is the president for Nedumabserry panchayat which includes Cochin airport. She says there were 35,000 people in her panchayat and she doesnt know whether are are safe. She broke down during the interview. I am amazed to see such a great humane politician. Love you Mini.

https://www.bbc.com/tamil/india-45219435

I spoke to Water Man o India: Rajendra Singh: He said water flowing through Kerala's rivers are not floods but tears of rivers that are encroached.
I will add information whenever I am possible to use internet.

Tamil Nadu - land of religious harmony

I was excited to cover the story of two friends whose names are etched in the history for religious harmony practised in Tamil Nadu many centuries ago.

Rameswaram is the land of Hindu God Rama has another interesting tale on Hindu Muslim friendship. Many mosques are built in Dravidian architecture style. Fascinating to document the friendship between Kizhavan Sethupathy king and his Finance minister Seethakathi had sown seeds for religious harmony. 

https://www.bbc.com/tamil/india-44930287

Reader turned publisher

This is a story on how a reader became a publisher.

Kala Subramaniam, friend of Tamil writer Pramil has published six volumes of his collected works. It took ten years for him to bring out this collection. 

https://www.bbc.com/tamil/arts-and-culture-44851677

இந்தியாவில் தொடரும் கொத்தடிமை அவலம்

இந்தியாவில் கொத்தடிமையாக வேலைசெய்யும் அவலம் இன்றும் தொடர்கிறது. 

சுதந்திரம் என்பது எல்லோருக்கும் கிடைக்கும் பரிசாக எப்போது மாறும்? 

வீடு கட்டுவதற்காக வாங்கிய கடனை அடைக்க கொத்தடிமையாக மாறிய ஒரு இளைஞனின் கதை இது. 

https://www.bbc.com/tamil/india-44795335

Manuscripts: Past and Present

When I stepped into Tamil Nadu Government Oriental Manuscripts Library housed in Anna Centenary Library at Kotturpuram last month, I was excited to find a treasure trove of manuscripts.

Librarian Mr.Chandramohan was very kind and explained to me in detail about the library even before I introduce myself as a journalist.

I found some youngsters visiting the library to read on traditional medicines, astrology,siddhar padalgal.

One of the founders of this library Colonel McKenzie protected a Tiruvasagam manuscript which is in a form of Siva lingam.

Many of the manuscripts are waiting to be read and published as books.

My friend Praveen Annamalai shot video form of the story with love. We spent three days asking every detail of the library.

TEXT : https://www.bbc.com/tamil/india-44533123
VIDEO: https://www.bbc.com/tamil/arts-and-culture-44620364

From Chennai streets to Moscow match

தெருவோரத்தில் வசிக்கும் குழந்தைகள் மாஸ்கோவில் நடக்கும் கால்பந்து போட்டியில் பங்குபெறுகிறார்கள். மகிழ்ச்சி! வாழ்த்துக்கள்

https://www.bbc.com/tamil/sport-4 4097908

Why lingayats are not Hindus? 

After Karnataka government agreed that Lingayats as separate religion and sent recommendation to the Central government to accept its plea, Lingayat religion, became a talking point in the social media and in the real world.  

I spoke to two professors who had deeply researched in religion and culture. Prof M N Mahadevappa  has sent me many notes and spoke to me in detail on rituals of Lingayats.
Prof Sarvanan who heads the Saiva Siddhantha department in the Madras University busted many myths.

Essence of what both of them said:
1)There is no separate religion called Hindu.
2)Saivism, Vaishavism, Gowmaram, Saktham, Ganapathiyam, Sowravam are six different religions which were later clubbed together as hinduism for political reasons and administration. 
2)Lingayats wear lingam in their chains but the linga that is seen in Saiva temple is different one. People often mix this fact
3)Lingayats are represented as sub caste in hinduism now whereas Basavanna who introduced this religion was very much against the caste system and varnasirma dharma.

Story link:
http://www.bbc.com/tamil/india-43489113