Auto & Accessories Expo - 2010, Chennai.

No doubt Saturdays and Sundays are for the lighter part of our lives and to rejuvenate ourselves to bang the office on Monday. Watching the engineering marvels, be it aircrafts, cars, motor bikes takes us to the world of excitement. With all that in mind I visited the “Auto & Accessories Expo” held at Auto & Accessories Expo - YMCA Grounds, Royapettah, Chennai.. As the hall mark of every auto expo “Harley Davidson” was the Lion among the bikes attracting both the sex equally. I was awed by the comments made by the fairer sex on this bike. Cool dude……… women do love bikes!! The thunderous noise arising from the Blue macho is still ringing in the ears. Interestingly in the year 2007, India agreed to swap importing this bike for the exotic Indian mangoes. The price range is 4 Lakhs to 14 Lakhs. Who said India is a poor country??

Mercedes Benz C & E class were in display. Good part is the promoters allowed us to get into the vehicle and feel it. Its like hugging the softest Iranian carpet, both in comfort and pride. Price starts from 32 Lakhs. Its the German Engineering and their flawless design which makes this beauty a head turner!

The royal looking Cadillac Escalade with a Dubai registration standing tall at the entrance can never miss any body’s eyes. The massive machine is a beast in its segment.

Maruthi had displayed the Ritz, SX4, Swift, Astar and other vehicles are in display.

There is considerable number of used cars from “T S Mahalingam & Sons” as well.

On the scooters, both Mahindra and Honda had stalls. Mahindra’s Flyte, Rodeo and Duro were in display. Mahindra has taken over Kynetic and has done some ergonomic and design changes to suit the current needs. Though there are concerns regarding the low number of service stations, it may take time to prove unlike Honda. From the Honda side Activa, Aviator, Dio etc., were in display.

Interestingly there were couple of stores which offered interesting and novel car and bike accessories. Though the Expo size is too small when compared to the other Expos across the world, its worth watching these stuff!

The Expo is open for the public between 10am and 7pm.

Chennai Marathon - 2010

The name Marathon comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek messenger. The legend states that he was sent from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon (in which he had just fought), which took place in August or September, 490 BC. It is said that he ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into the assembly, exclaiming “Νενικήκαμεν” (Nenikékamen, ‘We have won.’) before collapsing and dying. The marathon is a long-distance foot race with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres (26 miles and 385 yards), that is usually run as a road race.

With this historic back ground running behind my mind, Supervalu Project Manager Murali invited me to join the Chennai Marathon 2010. The word Marathon brought butterflies in me as I can never imagine running a 42.195 KM. Murali gave me a peace mind stating that we are participating in the 5Km Corporate Run. Now I could relax!

Woke up at 4am Sunday morning and reached the Marina Beach. My first impression was; Wow! Chennai’s spirit is here!! From kids to elders, one could find people from all walks of life and all parts of the Tamil Nadu state were there. For me, standing in the middle of the beach road in itself was a joy to hold. Otherwise who will allow me to run free in this VIP road.

Supervalu team associates had a festive time, I should say. Around 30 associates participated. Each posing against one another for photographs and yelling with joy. One could witness the joy and josh bubbling out. This team seem to be a crowd puller!! Their DGM Samir went on for a half marathon. He is a regular runner and seem to be a fitness freak.

The Sports authority of Tamil Nadu had organized it in a nice manner with NCC, Police and Medical fraternity giving the supporting hand. So, how was my run? I rather walked and occasionally ran. Still I completed my 5Km run. Good right??

Kenya’s Augustine Ronoh claimed the top honours clocking 2 hours 14 minutes and 5 seconds.

Thanks to Murali and SPORTS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF TAMIL NADU for giving this opportunity to run and get awed by the spirit of humanity!!

Sure, I’m going to be participating in much more events of this nature!

Thirunelveli

A lunch conversation in the office prompted me to ink this article. The question from my colleague was, “How people from Thirunelveli District are very brilliant, hard working and occupying very high position in government and private sector?” This was a surprise for me as I had known my district only for the wrong reasons. To top it up I’m neither Intelligent nor occupying any high position!!   Having born and brought up in this district during my formative days, I have witnessed, Racism (Casteism), religious fanaticism, abject poverty, Music, Literature, Festivals, Kabbadi, Silambaattam, world class sculptures, Falls, largest temples, Tiger Reserve, World class Educational institutions  etc.,

 

It is a mixed feeling! I don’t know whether I should feel proud or ashamed for having born in this district. Thirunevli is most civilized on one side and the most barbaric on the other. The food and festivals on one side makes this place a heaven but unemployment and racism gives it a low score. My music classes with Mani Bhagwathar in the serene atmosphere are still a nostalgic feeling. Coconut palms and paddy fields surround the house while the quite Thamiraparani flows on the west. Tambura and harmonium giving the right scale, I fondly sang “Vilayaada Ithu Neerama” on lord Murugan! On the other side, because we as students were educating the peasants in the nearby village, we were warned not to bath at the other side of Thamiraparani where mostly the land lords and racists lived.  Untouchability  was evidenced.

 

The Iron Age settlements in and around the district tells us how historic this place is and how Tamil Language and Shivaism developed in this area.  Nellaiappar and Kaanthimathi amman temple in this historic town is a beauty to adore. Muthu Swamy Dixithar’s Sri Kanthimathim in “Hemavathi” Pann pays tribute to this temple deity.  For all those “Falls Lovers” Thirunelveli has the “Kuttraalam” falls which is thoroughly appreciated across the country.  Lush green Paddy fields in and around the perennial Thamaraparani river is a treat to the eyes. I need not even metion the Thirunelveli Halwa which is the Queen of Sweets!

 

Apart from Hinduism, Christianity and Islam have a considerable presence for several centuries in this district. One beauty about Christians and Muslims from these areas is that except for the change in name of the God they live and flourish as every other Thirunelveli Tamil is. Culturally there is hardly any differentiator unlike the city based folks.

 

This district also has the fame of housing all the four types of land as per Tamil grammar. Kurinchi, Mullai, Neythal and Paalai. Tamil Language has its rich heritage in this district, with foreigners like Caldwell, Fr. Beschi, Bartholomaeus, Miron, Julian, Hilko to name a few, devoted their life time studying and the contributing towards the classical language.

 

Historically, no foreign ruler reached this part of the country. Even the Mughals could not reach Thiruneveli which is in the extreme south. It is the British during 1800 took control over this area as a foreign government. Prior to that Nayaks(Telugu) ruled this part of the country.   Along with the British came world class educational institutions and their governance. Palayamcottai which is in the other side of Thamiraparani is fondly called as “The Oxford of Southern India” with its numerous schools and colleges.  After a troubled rule by the Nayaks, the natives had a relatively calm environment during the British rule. During the Nayaks rule, Tamil language and literature took a back seat. Till then Thirunelveli was the epitome of Tamil literature and culture with very less outside influence.  As a matter of policy British never interfered in the local customs and religion. (I confirmed this with the Thirukurungudi Temple priest who has met the British during his childhood days). This encouraged casteism and it thrived thoroughly in this area.  British never wanted to bring social reforms as their vested interest was to make quick money rather than to see any progress in the colonial country.  One could see violence around caste and creed still happening in this district. This is highly deplorable.

 

Due to the official negligence since the Indian Independence Thirunelveli is one of the back ward districts as per the “India Development Indicators”.  There is no airport; no port, no manufacturing plants apart from agriculture. As majority of the district lies in the rain shadow region of the Western Ghats, the local peasants are at the mercy of the monsoon. To escape the cruelty of unemployment and caste oppression, many have migrated to cities. That is one reason we may find a lot of Thirunelveli Tamils in the slums of Mumbai and in the shops of Chennai.  To escape poverty and give a decent life for their children Thirunelveli Tamils have gone places and established themselves in various fields. Even those who live in that district are gradually selling off their land to Malayalis from the neighboring state. Malayalam Actress Radha and Ambhika have acres of land between Eruvadi and Thirukurungudi both come under the Thirunelveli District just to name a few.

 

May be my colleague refers to those who escaped poverty and reached the cities and work hard and looks intelligent for her!! Those left there in the villages are still facing government negligence and racist oppression in one form or the other.  This story may look familiar for most districts across Asia.