சில ஹிந்து பெண்கள் இஸ்லாமிய இளைஞனைக் காதலித்துத் திருமணம் செய்து கொள்ளவிரும்புகிறார்கள்.
Wednesday, November 24, 2021
Hindu Girls marrying Islamic Men - Factual Facts to consider before a decision
Sunday, November 14, 2021
Khaaba a Hindu site with Shiv Linga
https://haribhakt.com/kaaba-a-hindu-temple-stolen-by-muslims/
https://hindushastra.quora.com/https-www-quora-com-Is-there-a-Shiv-ling-in-Mecca-answer-Akshay-1729?ch=15&oid=51029935&share=84481b36&srid=oVuh&target_type=post
Sunday, September 12, 2021
Ishaan Krishnan interview QA - additional Vadivelu style Memes
ஒரு ஏழாங்கிளாஸ் பச்சைப் பயபுள்ள, எதோ தெரியாத்தனமா வாய்விட்டுக் கேட்டுட்டாப்ல, அதுக்காக, இப்பிடியா போட்டுத் தாக்குறது? ஈஸ்வரா, நாராயணா, மகாதேவா மொமென்ட்
கோம்ஸ் இது உனக்காக தனிப்பட யோசிச்சது, சற்று முன்:
வோர்ட் டாக்குமென்ட் முச்சூடும் படிச்சபின், இஷான் அம்மாவிடம் சொல்லுவது (மைன்ட் வாய்ஸ்னு வெச்சுக்கோயேன்) :
'யாரும்மா இவர்? சிங்கப்பூர்ல இருக்காரா ? சென்னையில் இருக்காரா?
நான் இவரைப் பார்த்திருக்கேனா?
சிங்கப்பூர்னா எங்கேம்மா எந்த ஏரியாம்மா?
புக்கிட் பஞ்சாங்டா.
யூ மீன், ப்ளூ லைன்? டவுன் டவுன் லைன்?
அவரை எப்பவாவது நம்மாத்துக்கு கூப்பிடுவாயா? வருவாரா?
ஹூம் வருவாரே, ஏதாவது அக்கேஷன் இருந்து அப்ப கூப்பிட்ட மாமா வருவாளே?
எதுக்கு கேட்கறே, இஷான்? மாமாவை பார்க்கணும்போல இருக்கா?
அட போம்மா, அவர் வர்றதா இருந்தா சொல்லு, நான் நாலு நாளைக்கு இந்தப் பக்கமே வரலே, பூன் லே சாமா மாமா வீட்டுக்கு போயிடறேன். அவர் வந்துட்டுப் போனப்புறம் ஃபோன் பண்ணு, அப்பறமா வர்றேன்.
என்னம்மா இவர், தெரியாத்தனமா ஸ்கூலுக்காகத்தானே நாலு கேள்வி கேட்டேன், எனக்காகவா கேட்டேன்?
இந்தாளு இப்ப்டி பொரட்டி எடுத்திருக்காரு? சரியான டிக்சனரிம்மா இவர். எப்படிம்மா இவரை அவாத்துல சமாளிக்கறா ?
(அவ்.........வ், நான் என்னியச் சொல்லிக்கிட்டேன்)
க்ருஷ்: அங்க என்ன சத்தம்?
ஒண்ணுமில்லைப்பா, அம்மாக்கிட்டே பேசிண்டிருக்கேன் (அவ்...........வ்)
கொசுறு: இஷான், அந்த மாமா சாமா மாமா வீட்லதான் இன்னிக்கு பூரா டேராவாம். நம்ம மாமா எதுக்கோ பூஜைக்கு கூப்பிட்டிருக்காளாம் அதனால் கார்த்தால 10 மணிலருந்து சாயந்தரம் 8 மணி வரை மாமா அங்கேதான் இருப்பாளாம்.
என்னய்யா உலகம் இது? எங்கிட்டுப் போனாலும் கேட்டைப் போடறாங்களே, நான் பச்சை மண்ணு, எங்கிட்டுப் போவேன்?
இன்னும் ரெண்டு ஸ்கிட் யோசிச்சிருக்கேன், again Vadivelu slang, யோசிக்க யோசிக்க எனக்கே சிரிப்பை அடக்க மிடியல. 10 நிமிஷமா எனக்கு நானே சிரிச்சுண்டு இருக்கேன்😎😎😎
Read in Vadivelu slang
இன்று 12.09. 2021, 61ம் அகவையில் எழுந்தருளும் வைகைப்புயல் வடிவேலுவுக்கு சமர்ப்பணம்!!
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அனன்யா சில வருடங்களுக்குப் பிறகு:
அதாருய்யா என்ற அண்ணான் இஷானை கலாய்ச்சது, கதற வுட்டது?
வெளியே வாலே, உள்ற இன்னா பண்ணிக்கிட்டிருக்கே?
யாரும்மா நீயி, இன்னா வேணும் உனுக்கு?
என்னிய உனுக்கு தெரியாதுலே. என்ற அண்ணன் இஷானை நோக்குத் தெரியுமா?
இஷானா, ஆரது? பேர் புச்சா இருக்கே? அவரு போட்டோ எதானு வெச்சிருக்கியா? பார்த்தா நெனைவு வரும் தாயே.
இந்தா, பார்த்துக்க, நல்லா யோசிச்சுச் சொல்லு.
இவனா? இந்தப் பயபுள்ள நல்லாத் தெரியுமே? இன்னாவாம்?
யோவ், வென்று, என்ற அண்ணன் என்னாய்யா பண்ணினான் உனுக்கு? ஏழாப்பு படிக்கச் சொல்லே ஏதோ இஸ்கோல்ல டீச்சர் மக்கா கேட்டாய்ங்கன்னு நாலு கேள்வி கேட்டாப்ல. நீ பட்ச்சவன் தானே, இன்னா பண்ணி இருக்கோணும் நீயி? உனுக்குத் தெரிஞ்ச கேள்விக்கு தெரியும், அப்பிடி இப்பிடின்னு நாலு வரி பதில் கொட்த்துட்டு எஸ்ஸாயிருக்கோணும் நீயி. பதில் தெரியலியா, சாய்ஸ்ல உட்டிருக்கோணும், நீயி.
ஆமாம் தாயி, நாந்தேன் 10 கேள்விக்கும் சரியா வெளக்கம் சொன்னேனே, அதுல எதுனாச்சும் ப்ராது ஆயிப்போச்சா தாயி?
யோவ், 10 இல்லேய்யா, 11 உனுக்கு கணக்கும் சரியா வராது.
மத்த கேள்வில்லாம் விட்டுடுய்யா, அந்த 6 வது கேள்வி அதுக்கு நாலே நாலு வரில் பதில் குட்த்திருந்தீயன்னா, நான் ஏன்யா நாலு வருஷம் கழிச்சு என்ற அன்பு அண்ணன், பாசமிகு அண்ணன், அவனுக்காக இப்போ திருப்பாச்சி அருவாவோட வரப் போறேன்?
இன்னாது, திருப்பாச்சியா? ச்சொல்லவேயில்லே? என்னம்மா ஆச்சு? பார்த்தாப் பச்சைப் புள்ள போல இருக்கியே, திருப்பாச்சி அது இதுன்ற?
யோவ், நான் ஆரு தெரியுமா? என் பின்னணி தெரியுமா உனுக்கு?
என்னம்மா, கண்ணுலயே பயம் காட்டறியே? இப்ப என்னாச்சும்மா, வெவரமாச் சொல்லும்மா.
அடப் போய்யா, உன்ற 11 பதில் படிச்சு என்ற அண்ணன், அதுவும் அந்த 6வது கேள்விக்கு நீ குட்த்தியே லெங்க்த்தா ஒண்ணு, அதுல மெயின், சப்செக்சன், சப் சப் பாயின்ட்டு வேற.
அவன் என்னவோ இஸ்கோல்ல போயி நீ சொன்ன மேனிக்கே ப்ராஜெக்ட்டை தள்ளி விட்டான்.
அவன் ப்ராஜெக்ட்டை படிச்சுட்டு அங்கிட்டு நாலு வாத்தியாரு, ரெவ்வண்டு டீச்சரம்மா அம்புட்டுப் பேரும் சோலியே வேணாம்னு ரிஜைன் பண்ணிட்டு போயிட்டாங்கய்யா.
என்னம்மா சொல்றே? அவ்வளவு கேராவா இருந்துச்சு நம்ம ஸ்க்ரிப்ட்டு?
அட ஏன் கேக்குறேய்யா, என்ற அண்ணன் அன்னிக்கு இஸ்கோலுக்குப் போனவந்தேன், அதுக்கு அப்பால ப்ராஜெக்ட் அது இதுன்னு யாராவது அங்க்கிளாண்ட போனேன்னு வெய்யி, இந்த ஊட்லயே வோர்ல்ட் வார் 3 வரும்னு என்ற ஐயனையும் அம்மாவையும் பயமுறுத்தி வெச்சிருக்கான்யா. இப்போ எனக்கு என்ற இஸ்கோல்ல அதே மாதிரி இன்னொரு ப்ராஜெக்ட் குட்த்திருக்காங்கய்யா. அதுக்கு உன்னாண்டதான் வர்றதா என்ற ஐயனும் அம்மாவும் பேசிக்கிட்டு இருக்காங்க.
அவங்க வந்தா 'ஒண்ணும் மிடியாது'ன்னு எஸ்ஸாயிடு. இல்லேன்னா என்ன தாயீ?
இல்லேன்னா நடக்குறதே வேற. உன் சங்காத்தம் வோணாம்னுதானே க்ளெமென்ட்டிலேருந்து கெளம்பி புவான்காக் வந்தோம், இங்கிட்டும் வந்து எங்களை சீண்டினா? ச்சும்மா விடமாட்டேன்யா. வர்றியா, வர்றியா, ஓங்கி அடிச்சா ஒண்ணரை டன் வெயிட்டு, பாக்குறியா, பாக்குறியா?
அடி ஆத்தீ, என்னிய விட்டிடும்மா, நான் எதுவும் எளுதலே!!
அ...............து................து...........!!
Family Heritage & Traditions a QA session with Ishaan Krishnan, Singapore (Part 3 of 3)
7. What
was your occupation and how did you get into the field?
As mentioned earlier above,
I started working while I was pursuing under graduation in Commerce. I commenced work as an Audit Clerk learning
Accounting, Bookkeeping and Auditing. My
role involves bookkeeping for small & medium sized Business Enterprises to
conducting internal and/or statutory audits for large manufacturing companies in private
sector, and, also public sector undertakings and banks.
After graduation, I moved to
Mumbai to pursue better prospects while I was still pursuing my post-graduation
in Commerce.
Later, I got an opportunity
to migrate to Middle East / Gulf where I got familiarized with modern corporate
working culture with MNCs (Multi National Companies) of large Businesses and
Trading Houses where I have had the illustrious opportunity to learn more and
more technologies in Supply Chain Logistics, Financial Accounting and
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) kind of Applications.
8. How
did you happen to come to Singapore?
Over the two decades since 1990, I got expertise in above business
functions which helped my career progression as to what I am today, I gained
ample skills and knowledgebase to enhance myself into ERP technologies and
Applications Systems that gave me momentum to move to Singapore in 2006. Over
the years, I am still learning to upgrade and update myself considerably, in my
own way, to be UpToDate in the technology I am specialized in, so as to be a
viable resource to reckon with, on the go.
9. Do
you have any messages/ aspirations for the next generation?
Compared to me or my predecessors
in our two families, consider the generations together where history evolves by
itself, now, technology has evolved greatly in unimaginable proposition in 21st
century. We are talking of Artificial Intelligence, Robotic Process Automation,
Machine Learning, IoT (Internet of Things) besides other periodic enhancements
and improvements in every faculty of Manufacturing, Production, Trading &
Marketing and post-Sales Service and Services as an industry.
It’s imperative thus for young
generation in 21st century to be viable and always be willing to
learn continually while pursuing whatever you want to, as per your individual
academic or career ambitions. You cannot
afford to stop learning at any time of your career, until you reach your
pinnacles of life. Thus, Knowledge is
wealth, while Time is equally the force behind continuously enhancing one’s
skills and talent on the go. Keep abreast
of what’s happening around and never lose an opportunity to grow yourself to
enhance yourself professionally or in all what you would endeavour in life,
without foregoing your personal ambitions and career progression.
10. How
do you think the world has changed as compared to the past?
Thanks to technology and scientific
advancement over several decades and even over couple of centuries since
British era in India, overall, the lifestyle and standard of living has
improved a lot.
Technology has brought neo modern
innovations and discoveries whereby we now enjoy the benefits in multiple ways
in our day-to-day life, in various faculties, that also impacts our day-to-day
life.
History has taught us good and bad,
right and wrong, and what not on earth.
It’s up to us the humanity to
comprehend the history, historic significance of every Nation’s freedom fight
and/or liberation from oppressive forces, in some geographies, it was
dictatorial or autocratic regimes.
Across the board, the socio-cultural fabric of each demography has
changed a lot, due to adaptation of modern technology that Science has brought
us.
It’s also up to us the humanity to
understand the consequences of such innovations and discoveries in every walk
of life – be it business, trade and commerce, healthcare, socio-cultural
etymology to name a few. When you study in due course, in your pursuit of
seeking knowledge for academic perspective as well as personal well-being, you
need to consider the history of each demography as well as the geo-political
impact that each such advancement has indeed brought in, and, as to how we need
to tackle the bad over good, not necessarily ignoring the bad. We must learn
from the history, to mould ourselves in the right path and right spirits to
make our life even better for our own self and for the community at large,
period.
11. Do
you think it is important for the younger generations to know about family
culture/heritage?
Yes, indeed, one must always know
his familial or national history from where he comes from, where he belongs as
a community, where he endures his socio-cultural belief system and so on.
We might succeed in our academic
pursuits in whatever field we would endeavour to the best of our capabilities
and wherewithal.
Yet, we need to remember our
routes where our forefathers have lived - both paternal and maternal
hierarchies – and we shall never forget their sacrifices and compromises in
their day-to-day life in their times, without which, we are NOT here what we
are today.
That would lead you to know each
family culture and heritage that we inherit, where we need to inculcate the
sense of belonging to our ethnic values, familial values and principles and the
value system we have had, historically within the family.
Be it cultural, spiritual,
religious or political or geo-political landscape, the significance of our very
existence as humanity revolves around and rests in the community we belong, the
society we live in and hence we need to imbibe those good old values and value
systems, ethical principles that our forefathers carried for ages, it’s our
responsibility to carry on the mantle for several generations to come.
A society that forgets its
history and its historic values can never shine and survive. There are umpteen evidences
of ‘where it is lost significantly’ that’s a different topic to discuss yet
another day, yet another session. Such
discussions would always bring you goosebumps to realize ‘who we are, where we
come from and where we belong’ , period.
Family Heritage & Traditions a QA session with Ishaan Krishnan (Singapore) Part 2 of 3
6. During
World War Two, how was the situation in the country and how did your family
manage to survive the hardship?
I need to recall so much from
my memories to the extent what transpired by a gentleman and a father-figure to
me. He is none of other than (Late) Shri
V Sankara Iyer, who is incidentally your great grandfather in the maternal
hierarchy. I used to visit his place
often during my childhood in Kumbakanam, where his youngest son, Swaminathan (you
know him as Sama Uncle) was and is still my close classmate and long-time
family friend and associate over 5 decades. We know each other since primary,
secondary, higher secondary and university education, besides, we have had the
opportunity to work together once during our initial career in the mid 1980s.
Shri Sankara Iyer used to share
lot of his youthful memories from his experiences he used to interact with many
people both in person and at professional level during his lifelong career. I
used to get such nostalgic memories from my maternal uncle (Late) Shri
Ramanathan Iyer, who used to be in Indian Armed Forces, where one of his military
circle friends was (Late) Shri Krishnamurthy Iyer, who is incidentally the brother-in-law
of (Late) Shri Sankara Iyer. You may now
relate to your connection to people who lived in those critical times of World
War II.
In those nostalgic discussions, I
have had the opportunity to listen to their nostalgic memories of World War II as
well.
To give you a nutshell of such
memories, to name a few. The
reminiscence of these brings me goosebumps even today. Such a historic
significance this has had in the Indian Independence history. Reading this, you
would realize where Singapore was having a significant role in this struggle
directly or indirectly, due to INA – Indian National Army – and their
significant presence in Singapore those days. Read on.
6.1
Significant memories from World War II
The
Second World War was the most widespread conflict in history. It was a global
feud lasting from 1939 to 1945. Nearly every country in the world participated
and so did India. Indian soldiers participated on almost all fronts, but very
few of them fought on Indian soil, except in Nagaland.
Field
Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from 1942
said, “The British couldn't have come through both wars I and II if they hadn't
had the Indian Army.” It is estimated that more than 87,000 Indian soldiers are
buried in foreign soil.
Ironically,
Madras citizens Lakshmi Sehgal of the Rani Jhansi regiment fought for the Axis
powers and Paramasivam Kumaramangalam (later head of the Indian Army) fought
for the Allied forces.
Historically,
Madras was a relatively peaceful state. The French took it in the 1740s, Hyder
threatened it half a century later and the German cruiser, Emden, bombed it in
1913. So, it was not prepared for the effects of a long-drawn war although the
theatre of conflict was far away.
Madras
had just one day of direct tussle in the six years of the deadly war, and yet,
it suffered from a hysteria never seen in her history. Madras had to bear its
share of the almost insupportable weight of the entire world waging war and the
threat loomed and the hue and cry over a distant war disrupted life for over a
decade.
Those
were years that the citizens must have borne with every evidence of distaste.
But to rest in the shade of peace and view those dangerous days from the
distance of 70 years is often bewildering and evokes much amusement as well.
On
the evening of 3 September 1939, Subash Chandra Bose, while addressing a public
meeting on the Marina beach, announced the invasion of Poland by Germany. To
the citizens of Madras, it was a distant war. Like Panipat or Plassey.
Two
distant alliances were fighting, and the war was slowly engulfing the globe but
it was still too far-flung for the city. Little did they think it would affect
their day-to-day life.
The
Viceroy of India, Linlithgow, declared that India was at war with Germany on 3
September 1939. Rajaji, the premier of Madras, objected strongly. Saying, “It
is wholly unsatisfactory and calculated to rouse resentment among all those who
are anxious to gain India's independence," his ministry tendered its resignation.
That was the first political fallout.
War
disrupts manufacturing and supply lines and triggers hoarding. So scarcities
are felt by the population. The frequent representations of the Madras Hotel
Association to the government give a clear picture of the food situation during
that period.
With
Burma under attack and shipping lines targeted by Japanese torpedoes, rice —
the staple food of the Madras presidency — became scarce. Idlies and dosas were
being taken off the menus of most hotels. Idlies — the staple dish of the city
— became scarce with strong rumours that the government would ban the food
item.
Wheat
was being imported as well as being moved in from the north. But the food
tastes of people were not very easy to change. Free cooking demonstrations of
wheat dishes were given at street corners.
Rava
idly and wheat dosas were invented during this period. Every type of home need
like firewood and kerosene was scarce. Even matchboxes were rationed.
The
government categorised weddings as a major usage of food and restricted wedding
invitation lists to 30 people. The organisers had to advertise to guests not to
turn up for weddings.
“I am not in a
position to issue invitations to relations and friends for the function. Those
who would like to convey their blessings to the bridal couple, may do so by
post which will be gratefully accepted as offered in person,” says a press
advertisement of the period.
The
cinema industry was one that suffered most — mainly because the world’s largest
film manufacturers were in Germany and Japan, and they were at war with
Britain. In 1943, the government imposed a raw stock film control and ruled
that no cinema film should exceed 11,000 feet (the average length of a Tamil
talkie at the time was anywhere between 18,000 and 20,000 feet with 50 songs).
Directors
struggled with the craft of telling a story crisply or without too many songs.
The war period produced lesser talkies with fewer songs and the unwritten
restriction that heroes had to be good singers also faded.
It
laid the line for actors proficient at other aspects — like stunt scenes and
oration — to become heroes. MGR and Sivaji Ganesan found their feet post-war.
Conservation
was considered a major step towards combating scarcities. The railways actually
advertised asking people not to travel.
“The
last journey you made — was it necessary?” asked an advertisement of M&SM
(Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway) railway. Airways too advertised asking
customers to avoid needless travel.
The
scarcities gave rise to peculiar situations. War was a glutton for metal.
Wiring for radios and planes, casings for bullets and bombs to stop them from
fouling — all of these were made of copper.
Unfortunately,
more copper was in the coins circulating in the market than in the inoperable
mines. So, people realised that the intrinsic value of the coin was higher than
its notional value (six annas of copper was in a four anna coin).
This
led to a large-scale hoarding of coins and a shrinking of trade. The government
—unable to crack down on the coin hoarding — introduced the coin with a hole in
the middle.
Maria
Montessori, the education pioneer arrived in Madras mainly to escape the war in
Europe. Ironically, she was arrested as an alien, being an Italian whose
country had allied with Hitler.
Forcible
war fund collection was another irritant. Money was collected in Madras to buy
planes for the RAF (Royal Air Force). The aircraft were even called St George,
Anantapur, Bellary, Guntur, Kurnool, Madura, Malabar, Ramnad, and Trichinopoly
as a gesture of thanks.
A
city not used to military presence having thousands of troops — mainly
foreigners — with little knowledge of local customs, was a fertile ground for
conflict. Rival sects treated one another with cold hostility.
Some
hotels had placards saying “Out Of Bounds For Soldiers”. There were constant
rumours that the city would be handed over for military rule. That terrified
the population.
And
then, in late 1942, the war became a serious reality for Madras, which till
then was suffering only from scarcities. The Japanese Air Force and Navy were
conducting daring attacks in the Indian Ocean and had captured Singapore and
Andaman Islands from the British. The threat across the Bay of Bengal was
imminent.
The
first attack happened in Colombo. In April 1943, on the Easter Sunday, 75
Japanese planes dive-bombed on the harbour. Sir Andrew Caldecott, Governor of
Ceylon, speaking in Tamil, asked people to not panic. The death toll was only
50, “much less than the daily casualties from the street accidents in London,”
he tried to reassure.
The
same month, a single Japanese plane fired at Cocanada (Kakinada), a port town
700 km north of Madras, damaging two ships. and on the same afternoon at 1.45
pm, a small group of planes attacked Visakhapatnam.
In
spite of censorship, Madras was scared. Blackouts were issued in the night.
Defence of India Act made the Marina Beach a prohibited area between
lighting-up time and sunrise and anyone found there after sunset, which
ironically included fishermen, were fined. Trenches were dug along the roads
for people to hide after air raid warnings were given.
The
lights on the Marina Beach were fully extinguished. Glass windows had to be
removed. Trees were not supposed to be cut. To hide the city from a Japanese
bomber seemed the primary motive.
In
the midst of all this, the city resorted to a pestilential pastime of
rumour-mongering. Every noise was suspect. Every bird in the sky was
frightening.
However,
Madras was not altogether unprepared for the eventuality of an aerial attack.
Preparations went on in full swing. Some very drastic ones too. Madras had a
century-old zoo. The municipal corporation started wondering, “What if a stray
bomb opened up the zoological garden?”
Realising
that wild animals let loose would be a major problem to the city, the
governments issued a culling order to dispose of the animals. The zookeepers
must have dispatched the animals with mixed feelings.
Herbivores
were dispatched by special trains to Erode and carnivores by guns. Three lions,
six lionesses, four tigers, eight leopards, four bears and a black panther were
shot in the matter of an hour.
The
British government thought an air attack and a seaborne invasion of Madras was
imminent. But of what interest was Madras to the Japanese? It was just a sleepy
town in the corner of the empire. Perhaps, the Japanese intelligence knew more
about Madras and particularly its suburb Avadi than the locals under
censorship.
Avadi
is described in 1946 as the largest military base of its kind in India and
possibly the British empire. Built at the cost of Rs 8 crore, it covered 20
square miles and was entirely self-supporting with water and electricity.
It
had multiple airfields and a huge railway within. Three transit hospitals
nursed the allied soldiers hurt in the war. The Avadi base employed 10,000
people in an ordnance depot and could repair guns, tanks, lorries and even
amphibious aircraft (seaplanes landed in the nearby Red Hills water reservoir).
There were even theatres and swimming pools for the staff.
Censorship
didn’t last long in Madras. Thousands of refugees from Burma landed there. And
with them came stories of Japanese cruelties in conquered areas. People were
scared to the hilt. Obviously to their mind, Madras lay next in line, helpless
like meat on a butcher’s table.
When
the government issued an advisory on 13 April for people to move away from
exposed positions, even Gandhi advised: “There is no cowardice in orderly
withdrawal. Moving to villages will help the city defence to work better.”
Then
commenced the biggest evacuation in the history of Madras. The rural areas
seemed like paradise in comparison and five lakh people moved away from the
city. Trains were full. The highways were demarcated for fast and slow traffic.
Those exiting by bullock carts used the Kodambakkam-Sriperumbudur route for
slower traffic and automobiles used Madras-Poonamallee-Kundrathur Road meant
for fast traffic.
The
government was under no delusion either. The collector, high court and the
government moved away from their Beach Road premises. Banks moved inland or
shut shop. Businesses lowered their shutters.
There
ensued a shortage of locks, for people wanted to secure their homes before
leaving Madras. There rose a gang of robbers who specialised only in stealing locks
that were being sold at a premium in the black market.
But
in two to three months, luckily for Madras, the tide turned in the war. The
Japanese were being beaten clearly in the Pacific and were on the back foot.
Madras was not a Japanese priority any longer when they needed to defend the
territories they had captured.
Many
of the evacuees started returning to Madras. By July-end, news about evacuees
and their problems almost disappeared from the newspapers and it was clear that
the city had almost come back to its normal self.
However,
there was an anti-climax to this series of events. There was a torrential
downpour in the month of October and the city was severely flooded. The two
rivers Cooum and Adyar even linked up and the city was under a blanket of
water.
And
when the city was grappling with flood rehabilitation measures and cleaning up
the mess, the Japanese struck, though in a feeble way.
On
the night of 11 October 1943, a single Japanese reconnaissance plane dropped a
few bombs resulting in, what the government claimed as, ‘light damages and casualties’.
Strangely,
the ARP (Air Raid Precautions) unit did not sound any alarm or warning siren to
alert people. The government took two weeks to explain this failure, finally
saying it had not operated the alarms since the floods had damaged the
electrical supply.
With
no alarms and no newspapers, the people did not even know they had been bombed
for a week. Less than 10 persons had been killed, other than some livestock.
But soon, rumours spread that the Japanese had bombed the reservoirs, and hence
the flood.
In
1945, when the Japanese surrendered, Governor Hope took a salute at the Monroe
statue during the victory march past. Soldiers danced on the streets. The
people were relieved and special pujas and abhisekas were
done in the temples of Madras in the name of the king emperor.
The
World War marks an epoch in the history of Madras. It was not written in blood
as in other parts of the globe. But it left Madras’ residents deeply seared by
fate's unkindness as a faraway war changed their lifestyles for five long
years.
For
those years, their disposition was far from cheerful, and though there were few
casualties, their life was soured.
Thus,
The World War marks an epoch in the history of Madras. It left Madras’
residents deeply seared by fate’s unkindness as a faraway war changed their
lifestyles for five long years.
For
those years their disposition was far from cheerful, and though there were few
casualties, their life was soured.
6.2
Role of Indian National Army for India’s
Independence
The long struggle
towards freedom of India is enfolded with the forgotten and undying spirits of
freedom fighters. Indian National Army or the Azad Hind Fauj is one such group
which is buried in the pages of the struggle.
Azad Hind Fauj, the army organisation was founded by Mohan Singh and comprised
Indian prisoners of war in Singapore.
Azad
Hind Fauj was another name of Bose’ Indian National Army which was inspired by
the concepts of Netaji who planned to take foreign help to get rid of the
country of British reign.
The
Fauj was revived with the determination and leadership of Netaji and entered in
the freedom fight portray in 1943. On the birthday of the ultimate
revolutionary of India, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose here is some facts about
his Azad Hind Fauj.
World
war II was at its peak and Britain just had lost Singapore to Japan. With the
slogan “Asia for Asiatics” Japan wanted to capitalise their strength against
British with Indian soldiers. About 45,000 Indian soldiers gathered and
Japanese Army called to form Azad Hind Fauj in 1942.
A year after the
army took a new avatar under Bose. Netaji escaped house arrest in Culcutta and
reached Singapore, and took leadership of the Azad Hind Fauj. The army was then
declared to be the Army of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose.
6.2.1 Fauj of Youth
By
the time the Azad Hind Fauj was formally established, it had a strong strength
of 85,000 troops. Bose believed in the power of the youth. He inspired the
soldiers to give up on everything and be part of the fight of the nation. By
the time the Azad Hind Fauj or Indian National Army was formally established,
it was strong with 85,000 troops.
6.2.2 Use of Azad Hind Radio
The
fauj selected radio station to encourage countrymen to fight for freedom. It
formed Azad Hind Radio to broadcast news in the most common languages of the
Indians.
6.2.3 Army which truly empowered Women
The
army was a believer in women power. Rani of Jhansi Regiment was formed as
all-women-soldiers under the Azad Hind Fauj. The women were given training like
night marches, bayonet charging, tactical combat, weapon skills and made ready
for the battle.
6.2.4 Contribution and impact
The exceptional courage, determination and
sacrifice the Azad Hind Fauj showed, reached the people of India and the nation
witnessed a surging wave of revolution. The impact of Azad Hind Fauj on Indian
revolution is not military but it seeded the spirit of courage and
determination in Indians.
References to most of all information above, please check below links.
https://www.visitsingapore.com/see-do-singapore/history/memorials/indian-national-army-monument/
https://www.oneindia.com/india/explained-the-role-of-the-azad-hind-fauj-in-indias-freedom-3019642.html?story=1
https://swarajyamag.com/world/when-madras-was-bombed-by-the-japanese-during-the-second-world-war
(To be concluded)
Family Heritage & Traditions an QA session with Ishaan Krishnan Singapore (Part 1 of 3)
Let's try answer this question to nextgen..................... (of course this is coming from Ishaan, son of Gomathi Krishnan (Sama's niece)
Dear Mama,
Thank you for your time and input to help me with this project. As part of this project, we are trying to understand the family heritage and personal experiences through key moments in history. I would be thankful if you could help provide your experiences and perspectives as responses to the following questions.
Where were you born?
What were your childhood days and living conditions like?
What is one of the most memorable experiences during your childhood days?
Were there any festivals that were celebrated with great significance and joy?
What do you think is an important tradition in your family?
During World War Two, how was the situation in the country and how did your family manage to survive the hardship?
What was your occupation and how did you get into the field?
How did you happen to come to Singapore?
Do you have any messages/ aspirations for the next generation?
How do you think the world has changed as compared to the past?
Do you think it is important for the younger generations to know about family culture/heritage?
Thank you.
Best regards,
Ishaan
Son of Gomathy
My response as shared to him as a word document, being archived here, for future reference.
Note: Exception Question No. 6 concerning World War II all other questions were responded myself. For WW II specific query, I had to refer to Internet besides recollecting some information from my own nostalgic memories, based on interactions during childhood with couple of elderly persons.
1. Where
were you born?
I was born in Kumbakonam, Thanjavur
District, a temple town located 275 kilometres or 170 miles (approximately)
from Madras (presently known as Chennai), the capital of Tamil Nadu State.
2. What
were your childhood days and living conditions like?
I come from a lower middle class
family with familial routes based in and around of Kumbakonam. Kumbakonam is a popular temple town in Tamil
Nadu, where nearly 108 or so big to small temples you may find within the main
town and nearly 1008 including surrounding villages in the vicinity of 15
square miles.
Besides historic temples – both
Saivite and Vaishnavite theology – Kumbakonam is home for its ethnic brass
vessels and household utensils, brass or bronze made Hindu spiritual deities
which are popularly known as Panchaloga (five metals as a combination used in
the making of their statues of deities).
These deities are normally used in all popular temples as ‘Urchchava
Murthi’.
With the socio-economic conditions
at time of independence of India in 1947 and thereafter for almost several
decades until 1991, we were having a mild to moderately poor but at a higher
pedestal in terms of standard of living as compared to below poverty level one
may find elsewhere.
Average family income those days
used to be Rs 3500 to 6000 max (in today’s terms, equivalent to S$ 70 to 120
approx). I remember certain household
food and other commodities and groceries prices used to be like this:
a) One litre
cow’s fresh milk used to sell at Rs. 1.20 all the way it went up gradually upto
Rs. 6.00 in those days during my childhood (during 1970s, 80s).
b) One litre
kerosine used to sell at 35 paise and it gradually increased over the years
upto Rs. 2.00 (during 1970s,80s).
c) One litre
petrol used to sell at Rs. 6-9 all the way upto Rs. 25 as my vivid memory goes
d) One litre
cooking oil (either Gingelly oil – Thil Thel in Hindi or Sesame Oil, or,
Vegetable oil ) used to sell at Rs. 0.80, 0.90 and 1.20 and all the way it used
to sell at Rs.3/- per litre once.
e) One USD
used to quote Rs. 9/- with my vivid memory says I have seen how the petro
dollar gradually increased over the years, so was Indian Rupee too.
f) My father
used to say one bag of rice (75 to 100 kilograms in weightage) used to sell at
Re.1/- during his youthhood (say during WW II timezone), and also price of Gold
used to be Re.1/- for a sovereign weight (8 gms).
g) All these
prices of commodities I recall during 1970s, 1980s all the way upto 1991.
h) Due to
Globalization and Liberalization of Indian Economy in 1991, India’s fortunes in
terms of economic development changed the landscape and enhanced the gross
domestic income of families to sky fold I would say. So was inflation and
recessionary trend in parallel where we are seeing 1 USD is selling approx..
Rs. 72/- today (S$ 54 or so).
Reason to quote historic pricing as
above, is to signify the standard of living those days pre- and
post-independent India where on an average, each family had children and
siblings count ranging from 6-12, so the sole breadwinner of the family has to
cater to his own siblings besides his own children. With his meagre income, he/she the
breadwinner managed to run the show with whatever income he brings in, to the
household to meet all exigencies including medical expenses, for few, there
would have been critical illnesses where certain families would have managed to
seeking support from government in whatever way they can so as to sustain a
decent living.
When it comes to family income
contributing to GDP – Gross Domestic Product in pure economic terms, India’s
growth was as such, it had to face multilateral competition among China,
Europe, USA and of course, ASEAN nations too.
India’s main source of income those
decades in the first 4-5 decades was Agriculture and allied ancillary trading
or services industry. Due to
industrialization slowly picking up mid 1960s and 70s, India’s economic growth
gained its momentum to where it is today contributing to world economy in a
significant position. India is now posed
to be among the top 10 Nations in the World where you cannot think of Economics
without India.
India being a consumer economy, it
has gained and sustained its momentum over the decades, despite struggling to
survive among stiff competition from ASEAN, China and other industrialized
Nations.
3. What
is one of the most memorable experiences during your childhood days?
I did my entire schooling –
primary, secondary and higher secondary levels in Kumbakonam only. I also pursued my graduation while working at
the same time, through distant learning. For obvious socio-political
considerations, I wasn’t blessed to study in a proper regular university or
college associated with any University. Yet, I managed to pursue my academic
pursuits both Under Graduation and Post-Graduation while being Kumbakonam.
My childhood has seen several Ups
and DOWNs in terms of poor economic or financial shortcomings, yet, I used to
study well giving focus on my academic pursuits.
Still, I used to spend time
considerably in sports and street cricket and other popular street games among
street mates and/or classmates. Cricket, Kabbadi, Marbles, Gilli Dhand used to
be our popular outdoor games, and to some extent we also played certain indoor
games like Carom, Business etc.
We used to visit temples where
besides spiritual worshipping of deities, we used to walk around the large
corridors of Hindu Shrines in and outside multiple rounds as there were two
squares surrounding Praharas in each large temple. Playing is forbidden in the interior square,
but, we were allowed to play in the exterior square so we used to play cricket
by and large.
4. Were
there any festivals that were celebrated with great significance and joy?
Yes, In Indian context, there used
to be lot of festivals in Hindu tradition more particularly, that were
celebrated round the year, at all times. Each quarter of the year used to have
its own significant set of festivals depending on weather and climatic
condtiions, like, Spring (Apr-June), Autumn (Jul-Sep) Fall or Monsoon,
Pre-Winter (Oct-Dec) and Post-Winter
(Jan-Mar).
We used to have several festivals
as such, viz.
a) Adi Perukku
– where all rivers would flow with full water stream so we used to enjoy taking
bath and swim freely
b) Villages
used to have native events and celebrations worshipping nature according to
their conventions and traditions invoking Goddess Durga and Maakali in various
forms.
c) Then comes
Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Vinayaka Chaturthi, Navarathri (9 nights invoking
Goddess Durga, Lakshmi & Saraswathi), Deepavali (Diwali in North India),
Skantha Sashti (Lord Muruga or Shanmugha), Margazhi full month invoking Lord
Shiva and Vishnu reciting Thiruppavai and Thiruvembavai etc spiritual songs and
poems scripted several millennium ago by knowledgeable scholars, Mahara
Sankaranthi (Pongal festival), Thai Poosam and Maha Shivrathri, Sri Rama Navami
among others.
d) Other
cultures and communities used to celebrate Easter, Christmas, Ramadan (Hari
Raya Pusa) and Haj (Hari Raya Haji), Sri GuruNanak Jayanthi (Sikh Community),
Budha Purnima (Visaga Day) among others.
e) Each
festival comes with its own specialized festive moments with worshipping each
deity in its own way besides offering lot of spiritual songs and poems
recitation and of course, each such celebration ends with offering sweets and
snacks with full of regional flavour in each part of India –
East/West/North/South. Sharing those sweets and snacks among family and
friends, neighborhood has been the most enjoyable moments in our community
always.
5. What
do you think is an important tradition in your family?
Being brought up in an orthodox
social atmosphere with a minimal economic or financial outlook, our lifestyle
has always been simple. Following our
Hindu sanatanic values, Vedic ethical values and spiritual practices, we used
to live in a humble at the same time respectable lifestyle with a ‘Live and Let
others Live’ attitude always.
When it comes to tradition, we used
to follow all spiritual and religious dictum as is carried on for ages over
several generations together and we take pride in still following those customs
and traditions, which by and large revolves around God Worship and believing in
God, regardless our segment where it falls in or which school of thoughts we
are taught to follow by our spiritual Gurus and elders.
Part 1 concluded. Part 2 & 3 continue in next post.