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Umpire Madanagopal IPL Call

March 8, 2020, 7:05 am
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Former National Topper in Domestic One Day Cricket gets an IPL call after 6 years following a couple of terrific Ranji Seasons
Madanagopal has now broken into the BCCI Top 20 Umpires Panel 

This IPL call could just be the Positive Turnaround in his Umpiring career 

The IPL is a great stepping stone and will boost Madanagopal's Confidence a great deal- S Ravi, Former Elite Panel Umpire

Six years after he made his IPL debut as a fourth umpire, former South Zone cricketer 45 year old JR Madanagopal, who made his umpiring foray in the same year as his former IOB team mate and close friend KN Ananthapadmanabhan (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/09/ananthapadmanabhan-kn.html), has just received a call today (Sunday) for this year’s IPL as the fourth umpire. Earlier this week, Ananthapadmanabhan received his first on-field Ranji Final call. This IPL call for Madanagopal comes in the wake of two terrific years in the domestic circuit (he moved into the top 20 Umpires ahead of this Indian domestic season). Even though he failed to get a knock out game in the Ranji Trophy this season, he will be officiating in the U23 national final later this month, the 2nd year in a row that he will be umpiring the final. In recent years, he has also umpired women's internationals.

It has been quite a surprise that Madanagopal has had to wait this long for his IPL (re) call for he has continued to have successful years in the Ranji circuit over the last few years. In many ways, his umpiring story has been much like the one from his playing days. Throughout his playing days, the axe was always held to his neck.

Frustrating Early Playing Days
Despite consistent scores in the 1st division league in the 1990s, Madanagopal had to undergo the ‘wait’ for his Ranji Debut. It was also the phase when he was shockingly left out of the TN Junior state team at the toss (his captain (wicket keeper), with whom I have toured and played cricket and whose many matches I have umpired in the last two decades had included Madanagopal in the playing XI but under the pressure of the team manager (who was renowned in TN cricket in the 80s and 90s for such ‘abnormalities’), Madanagopal’s name was replaced with a more ‘favoured’ one at the toss). It was a death blow for the cricketer from the districts to experience such an unsavoury incident in a game that he had understood from his childhood as a gentleman’s game.

Robin Singh saves Madan’s career
He was on the verge of quitting cricket. He had written the ICWA inter and had got through. There was a professional career in the offing on the accounting front. . It was also the time when he was on the verge of joining RBI and settling down in a career away from cricket (RBI had already dropped down from the 1stdivision in those times).  In that dark hour, it was Robin Singh who turned out to be his savior.  Spotting the potential in Madanagopal and his ability to score big runs, Robin asked him to give it a shot for another year. The Chief of India Pistons, Venkataramani, too had a professional chat with him and suggested that the player should not give up at that stage in his careerSticking on to cricket after having completed ICWA Inter, Madanagopal finally broke through into the Ranji Squad in the 1998-99 Season at the age of 24 (his brother J Gokulakrishan -http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/03/gokulakrishnan-j.html had made it into the Ranji team as a 20 year old). However, the six year phase of state cricket showed to him the systemic challenges that he had already experienced in a lighter form in his earlier days in the 90s.

500+ runs in his first two Ranji Seasons
He made his Ranji Trophy debut batting at No. 7 in Tirunelveli in November 1998 against Karnataka. After a failure in that match, he was dropped for the next match and was then included for a couple of matches and dropped again for the super league game in early 1999.  He was once again included for the 2nd match of the super league against Railways and scored a century in February 1999. He followed that up with a half century in the next match against Orissa. In the last game of the super league, he scored 71 and 199 against Maharashtra. In four innings, he had amassed 420 runs. By mid March, Madanagopal had played 6 Ranji matches and had scored two centuries in his debut season but had already been dropped twice from the squad.

Amazing run in One Day cricket
He made his one day debut for Tamil Nadu with a century against Kerala in December 1998 as an opener. But the very next match after his century, he was shunted to No. 6 where he got just a few balls to bat at the end of the innings. That symbolized his cricket playing career for Tamil Nadu, perpetually living on the edge and always facing the axe. 

Madanagopal has an amazing record in Ranji Trophy and One Day cricket for Tamil Nadu, something not too many have taken note and definitely even fewer have officially recognized. In his debut Ranji Season, he topped 500 runs in his first two Ranji Seasons and followed it up star performances in the next two seasons in the minimal opportunities that he got. In December 1999, he scored 84 in his one and only Duleep Trophy match!!! In both 2000-01 and 2001-02, Madanagopal was Tamil Nadu’s highest run getter in one day cricket. In both the years, he was among the top 6 run getters in the country in domestic one day cricket out beating most of the reputed names in the state. 

And yet at the beginning of the 2002-03 Season, he was dropped for the entire one day league season. Despite topping the run chart for two years in a row and being the 2ndleading run getter in the knock out for the state in the third year, Madanagopal was never in the Deodhar Trophy squad, quite a shattering blow for cricketing meritocracy in this part of the country!!! As has been his character, he has played his cricket silently without ever raising even once a voice in dissent at the shabby treatment meted out to him.

Umpiring – The Same Story
He took to umpiring in the 2nd half of the last decade, the same season as Ananthapadmanabhan. And yet, it has been the same story over the last decade - the story of his cricketing days has been played out all over again during his umpiring career. He made it to the top 25 earlier this decade on the back of terrific decision making in several high pressure Ranji matches that received commendation even from Sourav Ganguly, the current BCCI President. 
And yet, Madanagopal’s umpiring career has been chequered and rather stagnant despite consistent performances over the last decade. Much to his credit, just like in his playing career, he has gone about Umpiring in a quiet way trying to give his best and leaving the rest to destiny. 

With support for Meritocracy, he could have easily played over 50 Ranji matches. He surely should have played in the Deodhar Trophy on the basis of his unmatched cricketing performance of that period but more ‘favoured’ names were chosen ahead of him. He bore it all then, silently and without any signs of annoyance, continued to persevere. And it is that same perseverance that is helping him now in his umpiring. While he has been umpiring for a dozen years in the domestic circuit, the  Ranji knock out matches and Duleep /Deodhar Trophy matches - that eluded him during his playing days -have proved largely elusive once again. After having donned the fourth umpire’s hat in the 2014 edition of the IPL and then raising up to officiate in the Ranji Trophy  Semi Final (along with Ananthapadmanabhan) in the 2016-17 season, it has been a long wait for Madanagopal for this IPL recall.

To stay away from the frustration of continuous rejection in the IPL, Madanagopal even made a trip to the Himalayas during the previous edition of this tourney that helped him find inner peace. Also during the umpiring off season, he got back into coaching engagement with a stint at the TNPL along with Gokulakrishnan.

This IPL will be a Stepping Stone for Madan
Finally, this year, Madanagopal will be part of the IPL once again. Former Elite Panel Umpire S Ravi (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2013/08/s-ravi-set-for-umpiring-test-debut.html) who has watched Madanagopal from close quarters for over a decade believes that this IPL could prove to be a turning point in his umpiring career.
Ravi told this writer from Rajkot on the eve of the Ranji Trophy Final that this fourth umpire opportunity in the IPL this year will be a great stepping stone for Madan and should boost his overall confidence “Madanagopal has had a few terrific years in umpiring. While things may not always go the way of umpires in terms of opportunities, one should continue to give his best when he is on field, which I think Madan has been doing over the years. Being alongside international umpires in this year’s IPL will help his Learning and Understanding even further and he should use to this to also improve his overall networking skills with players and umpires. This is a great opportunity for him to mingle with international umpires and to watch them perform in the backroom in terms of match preparation, handling high pressure situations, their way of managing conflicts and the manner in which they rise up to the challenges relating to Player and Match Management. This experience will hold him in good stead in his endeavour to further climb the Umpiring Ladder. The ride to the top and staying up there is not easy  and Madan will have to show a great deal of patience. But he will be richer for the IPL experience.”

Madanagopal’s has been a great cricketing success story of a rank outsider from the districts playing over 30 first class matches for Tamil Nadu and being in the top ranks of the national average in domestic one day cricket in successive years. As an umpire, he has already officiated in around 60 Ranji Trophy matches. This IPL could just be the positive turnaround for Madanagopal, the Umpire.
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Anbil Divya Desam Brahmotsavam Revival

March 13, 2020, 7:50 pm
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30 Year Old Aravamudhan Bhattar anchors the revival of Vaikasi Brahmotsavam inspired by the support from Srirangam Temple Chairman Board of Trustees Venu Srinivasan and JC Pon Jayaraman

Anbil's original inhabitant Satish Varadarajan drives the construction of the new Chariot along with many new Vahanams with a large financial contribution - Anbil's Local Community and Original Inhabitants' interest in the temple a redeeming feature

The new Chariot could see a trial run very soon with the Chariot Festival on Vaikasi Visakam expected to attract several thousands of devotees from Anbil and nearby villages

Come this Vaikasi Visakam, the Chariot at the Sundararaja Perumal Divya Desam in Anbil praised by Thirumazhisai Azhwar alongside Thiru Kudanthai, Thiru Evvul, Thiruper and Srirangam, could run for the first time in several centuries with the revival of the annual Brahmotsavam. Inscriptions at the temple point to the running of the Chariot in the 11th Century AD during the Chozha rule, when lands were donated for the conduct of the Brahmotsavam. The dry run of the Chariot around the outer prakara could take place anytime soon after the local community come together to decide on the next steps on the revival of the Brahmotsavam.

A once Vibrant Divya Desam
In the not too distant past, there was a vibrant agraharam in Anbil. A Vedic Patshala was an integral part of the Anbil and a mimaamsa conference too had been held there. Historically, this had been a prosperous temple town, but by the turn of the century, hundreds of original inhabitants had left this Divya Desam seeking greener pastures elsewhere in bigger cities, reducing this ancient temple town to just a few traditional Vaishnavite families. Many of the historical utsavams too had become a thing of the past. Joint procession of Sundara Raja Perumal with Lord Purushommar of Uthamar Koil to Coloroon on Maasi Magam remains the biggest festival of the year.

Revival efforts by a young priest
With the sudden and untimely death of Varadaraja Bhattar, who had performed service for close to two decades, his son Aravamudhan took charge of the temple five years ago at the young age of 25. Even as a young boy, while he was being initiated into the Pancharatra Agama in Thiru Vellarai, Aravamudhan felt saddened by the constant query posed to his father by the local community on the absence of the Brahmotsavam and the Chariot Festival in Anbil. His father Varadarajan Bhattar was keen to revive some of the historical utsavams but could not do so during his lifetime.

Soon after he took over, he approached Pon Jayaraman, the JC at the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple, which administers the Anbil Divya Desam, and presented to him details from inspirations, of the historical utsavams at Anbil. Much to his surprise, he received an immediate nod from the JC to the revival initiatives. 


The last couple of years have been challenging in terms of him having to both take care of the daily poojas as well as initiate steps towards reviving the Brahmotsavam. There were many who were apprehensive of the young priest being able to face up to this daunting task. He has been involved in the process of bringing together the local community in Anbil and the original inhabitants, now located in different parts of the world and their participation has been the most redeeming feature of this revival exercise

Says the 30 year old Aravamudhan Bhattar“Even though I was alone at the Anbil temple, the JC of Srirangam has constantly encouraged me to try and get back the vibrancy at this Divya Desam. Almost all the new Vahanams that will carry Sundara Raja Perumal are now in place. The new chariot, that has exquisite sculptures depicting historical stories, is now ready for the trial run around the outer prakara.”

Original Inhabitants drive the revival with financial support
An original inhabitant of Anbil, Satish Varadarajan immediately agreed to drive the construction of the new Chariot when he heard from Aravamudhan Bhattar that the temple was looking to revive the historical utsavams. He also responded by funding the construction of new Vahanams ahead of the Brahmotsavam. Over the last couple of years, the temple has been undertaking the construction of the new Chariot and the Vahanams under the watchful eyes of Aravamudhan Bhattar. Like this devotees, many other original inhabitants of Anbil have expressed to support the revival of the utsavams at the temple. The local community has already supported the construction of the Chariot with small contributions in the process including those such as taking care of transport charges and labour charges.

Hanumuntha Vahanam, Kalpaka Vriksham and Elephant Vahanam are wearing a fresh look at the temple.The Serthi Mandapam, where the Lord will make his way on the 7th day of the Brahmotsvam as well as on the occasion of Panguni Uthiram, has been reconstructed. 

A young full time paricharakar at the Madapalli
Buoyed by the efforts of Aravamudhan Bhattar, JC Pon Jayaraman has now posted a young Paricharakar, Srinivasan, who had previously been at the Madapalli in Srirangam, to manage the Madapalli in Anbil paying him a sizeable Sambhavanai through Venu Srinivasan’s TVS Trust. The presentation of Thaligai to Lord Vadivazhagiya Nambi is also taking a traditional turn and getting back to old times. 

Local Community’s interest in the Chariot Festival
Several thousand devotees have already expressed interest to pull the chariot during the Brahmotsavam, such is the interest among the local community in Anbil and around. Not only that, both the local community and the original inhabitants of Anbil have already committed to taking care of the entire Brahmotsavam expenses, which comes as quite a relief to the Bhattar. Some historical lands belonging to the temple have also been recovered in the recent past making the temple financially stronger. 

Revival of other Utsavams
Once the Brahmotsavam is revived, Aravamudhan Bhattar is hopeful of reviving the Pavitrotsavam and Dolotsavam as well. The story goes that historically the utsavams in Anbil were as vibrant as those in Srirangam. With the efforts of Aravamudhan Bhattar and the strong support from the local community, it is possible that the vibrancy could come back to Anbil in the future.

The revival of the Brahmotsavam and the Chariot festival is the first step in that direction.
 How to reach
Anbil is located about 15kms from Srirangam, near Lalgudi. Express Trains stop from Chennai stop at Lalgudi. Express buses ply every 15 minutes from Chatiram bus stand in Trichy to Lalgudi. From Lalgudi, there are frequent mini bus services to Anbil (6kms). In times gone by, devotees used to cross the Coloroon to reach Koviladi Appakudathaan Divya Desam on the Southern side of the river.

The temple is open from 7.30 am -12.30 pm and 4 pm-8 pm

A version of this story featured in The Hindu Friday Review dated March 13
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Periyava Mylapore Kapali 1957

March 19, 2020, 1:52 am
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From driving the launch of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan to identifying ancient Shiva Lingams in the city that had lay hidden, from listening to Legendary Musicians, from showcasing his sensitivity to human emotions at The Hindu office to finding the Biggest ever crowd around the Kapali temple on the occasion of Sankara Jayanthi, Periyava's Trip over 60 years ago was event filled 

While Maha Periyava found many of the city residents not being able to follow the traditions, he was very happy that they understood their shortcomings 'When one feels strongly about the shortcomings, that on its own amounted to a great realization. And that was a great first step in the right direction.'
                           Kapali Temple / Mylapore Photo Archives

It had been almost three decades since his previous trip to Madras and devotees were eager to see him in the city. It was K. Balasubramanian, son of the Founder of Sanskrit College who visited Kanchipuram and impressed upon Maha Periyava the importance of his presence in Madras given the expectation of the people as well as the possibility of spreading Dharmic messages to a larger audience. Periyava was apprehensive of the changing lifestyle in the city and the issues relating to the rituals to be followed every day.  It was only after great persuasion did he relent and agree to visit Madras in 1957. It turned out to be his longest stay in the city and a powerful and impactful one at that for there were several long standing decisions taken during his stay. The Chaturmasya Vritha of Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal in Chennai in mid 2019 ( last year) marked the 60th year since the completion of that long trip of Periyava to the city.



During his stay, he walked the length and breadth of the city in the process launching several initiatives that have stood the test of time. From driving the launch of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan to identifying ancient Shiva Lingams in the city that had lay hidden, from listening to legendary musicians to finding the biggest ever crowd around the Kapali temple on the occasion of Sankara Jayanthi, his was an event filled trip.

 
Two decades ago, Upanyasakar Ganesa Sarma, an authority on Maha Periyava, presented a Pravachanam on Periyava in Sapthaham style spread over 7 days and in 7 cantos. He has since presented this across the world on 200 occasions. He has also written Periyava Charithram in Hari Katha style and also penned books on Periyava. 

Rousing Welcome by The Hindu's Editor Kasturi
Ganesa Sarma looks back at Periyava's entry into the city "Periyava arrived in Madras in September 1957 to a rousing welcome hosted by The Hindu’s Chief Editor Shri. Kasturi Srinivasan. This was immediately followed by a Pushpa Pallakku procession around the four Mada Streets of Mylapore that went on till 2am."
Kasturi welcoming Maha Periyava in 1957 ( From The Hindu Kanchi Mahaswami Vol II)

Non Brahmin as President of Bhavans Madras
When he met with Shri. KM Munshi, the Founder of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in 1958, Periyava asked for a branch to be opened in Madras and directed him to Simpson’s Shri. S. Anantharamakrishnan. Says Shri. Ganesa Sarma “The building that is now Bhavan’s was to be out on sale. Just in time, Anatharamakrishnan bought the property on East Mada Street in Mylapore and gave it to Munshi to create the space for the first Bhavan’s in Tamil Nadu.”

Not only was Periyava responsible for the launch of the first Bhavan's in Tamil Nadu, he also sowed the seeds for the formation of the committee and the appointment of a Non Brahmin as the President "As the Bhavans was being set up in Mylapore, he said that it was likely to be perceived as being confined only to Brahmins and hence suggested that a non Brahmin be appointed as the President.” Periyava suggested Lakshmana Swami Mudaliar as the first President.

Golden Jubilee Celebrations
Periyava had ascended the Peetam in 1907 and devotees were keen to celebrate the Golden Jubilee in Madras but he was not keen at all “Before his arrival here, devotees gathered in Kanchi to celebrate the 50 years but he declined. Instead, he was keen to showcase and celebrate the achievements of Acharya Adi Sankara.”

It was thanks to the persuasive efforts of Shri. CP Ramaswamy Iyer and Shri. Rajaji that Maha Periyava finally accepted and the golden jubilee of his ascent was celebrated in Madras. 
Significant Contributions to City Temples
The now hugely popular Perumal temple in Koyambedu was not so at that point of time. It was referred to as Kuchalava Puri in ancient times and one finds the idols of Valmeeki, Sita and Lava – Kucha at the temple (a story on this temple follows).  There is no Rama idol at this temple

It was only after Periyava’s detailed description of its historical importance during his stay in Koyambedu did devotees see it in that light. 60 years on, devotee crowd throngs the temple these days.

It was during this trip that Kumbabhisekam was performed at the Subramanian Swamy Temple on Eldams Road,Teyampet.

Buys property at a high premium
When Periyava visited Mangadu, he was keen to start a Patshala near the temple as Adi Sankara himself had installed the idol there. Ganesa Sarma says that when the members of the Sankara Mutt complained to Periyava that the seller was quoting a high price, Periyava asked them to pay three times the price to buy the property as he saw it as a very sacred place.

When he reached Nanganallur on the way back from a trip to the airport, he asked a person to not wash clothes on a particular stone leaving everyone startled at this seemingly odd remark. Ganesa Sarma says it was yet another significant contribution of Periyava to the city temple. “When the stone was lifted and turned around, everyone was stunned to find a Shiva Lingam. 60 years on, the Artha Nareeswarar temple has become one of the more popular Saivite temples in the city attracting huge crowd.”

Inside the IIT Madras campus, he pointed to a stone and that too turned out to be a Shiva Lingam. He was also instrumental in the construction of the Ashta Lakshmi and the Aaru Padai Veedu temples in the city. When Mukoor Srinivasa Varadachariar spoke about the flourishing city of Bombay, Periyava suggested to him to build a Lakshmi temple in Madras “He asked for the printing of Ashta Lakshmi photos and to begin construction with the funds collected from the sale of these photos.” It was with this collection that the construction of the Ashta Laksmi temple began.


Periyava, Vikatan and the LIC
On the long walk to The Hindu, one of the members pointed at the LIC and remarked to Periyava that it was the tallest building in the city ( the building had just been constructed). This episode on Mount Road in front of the LIC showcased the perfectionist that he was, says Ganesa Sarma “He called out for Vikatan’s Sridhar who was walking just behind him and asked him for the number of floors leaving him a bit stumped. While he was actually counting the number, Periyava moved on. When Sridhar joined him a few minutes after, he told Periyava that there were 12.”

It was then that Periyava showed the huge crowd around him the kind of attention he pays to minute details “He told Sridhar that the recent edition of Vikatan had the sketch of LIC with 18 floors. That was the reason for his enquiry. Sridhar later said that no reader had pointed this in the week after the issue had hit the stands and that Periyava was the only one to have brought this to his notice, leaving him completely embarrassed.”


Periyava’s experience during The Hindu visit 

The episode at The Hindu showed his sensitivity to human emotions  “Periyava was to be shown the new machinery at the printing section at The Hindu. Just prior to his arrival, most of the members were asked to move out of the room to make way for Periyava, a decision that seemed to disappoint them for they were all eager to be alongside him. When Periyava entered the room, he called for all those outside the room saying it was they who would understand the functional aspects. It was a gesture that delighted everyone.”
                                At The Hindu Office - From The Hindu Book on Kanchi Periyava

One morning, when Periyava passed the house of the legendary Madurai Mani Iyer in Karpagambal Nagar in Mylapore, he entered the house. The legendary musician was asleep "Periyava told him that the members informed him that it was his house and he came inside to see if he could hear him sing that morning. When Mani Iyer informed him that he had not had bath, Periyava said 'You are always bathing in songs.' 

On another occasion, when he passed Viswanathan Iyer's house in Nungambakkam, he made his way to the backyard through his neighbour's house to listen to his songs. Once Viswanathan Iyer had finished and turned back, he was shocked to find Periyava standing there that left him embarrassed at the disrespect to the Saint. Ganesa Sarma says that Periyava explained the reasoning behind his action 'An artiste's flow should not be disturbed and the audience should remain in silence around a singer."

A shop on North Mada Street
When he spotted the Srivathi stores on North Mada Street, he asked the vidwans the meaning of the shop name - was it Swami's name or Ambal's, leaving them stumped. Periyava told them that it was the name of the owners of the shop - Srinivas and Padmavathi - as simple as that.


The Biggest Ever crowd at Kapali Temple
One of the biggest crowds around the Kapali temple was witnessed on the occasion of Sankara Jayanthi in 1958. The celebration was grand that included an abhisekam for the idol of Adi Sankara with a trip from Sanskrit College to Kapali temple and back on each of the five days of the Utsavam. The crowd on the occasion was so huge that only the heads of the devotees were seen around the Kapali Tank. 

City Fears Unfounded - Delighted at the stay
In a farewell remark, Periyava said that ahead of his trip, he had been apprehensive of being able to perform all his daily rituals in the traditional way. But his fears were unfounded. He left on a positive note for the city dwellers. Ganesa Sarma says that the people found his feedback very encouraging “While he found many of the city residents not being able to follow the traditions, what struck him was the fact that they were constantly saddened that they were not able to adhere to the traditions. He was very happy about that feeling amongst the people in the city and remarked that when one feels strongly about the shortcomings, that on its own amounted to a great realization. And that was a great first step in the right direction.”
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Kapali Brahmotsavam off

March 19, 2020, 10:19 am
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Kapali Brahmotsavam called off, Vahanam Street Processions off at Srirangam Panguni Utsavam
Pradhosham this weekend at Kapali Temple will be one without devotees

Rama Navami Utsavam that is slated to start next week will be cancelled across temples in TN
The virus that is bringing the country to a standstill has resulted in the calling off of one of the biggest Utsavams in the Temple calendar in Madras, the annual Panguni Brahmotsavam at  the Kapaleeswarar Temple in Mylapore. This was confirmed by a temple official a short while back. Talking over phone to this writer, the person said that the Utsavam has been officially cancelled. The Chariot Procession attracts tens of thousands of devotees as does the procession of the 63 Nayanmars. The Utsavam was scheduled to start March 28.

If the situation improves, the temple could consider holding the festival next month with Thiru Kalyanam taking place on Chitrai Pournami. But that is a long shot for now as the scenario looks quite bleak at the moment.

The Pradhosham which falls this Saturday will also be a quite event with only the Priests and the Othuvars involved in the Pooja process/ Thevaram recital.

Long Trips across the Cauvery
The Panguni Utsavam at the Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam scheduled to start next weekend is one of the four Brahmotsavams at the temple and is the one in the year when Lord Namperumal goes on his two longest processions of the year. The big highlight of the Panguni Utsavam is on the Panguni Uthiram day when Lord Namperumal makes his way to the Ranganayaki Thayar Sannidhi for the only day in the year when he provides a joint darshan through the night at the Serthi Mandapam. This is scheduled of April 6 this year.

No Street Vahanam Processions at Srirangam Panguni Utsavam
While Pon Jayaraman, the JC of the Temple said that the temple has called for a meeting of the service personnel tomorrow and that an official decision regarding the Panguni Utsavam would be taken after the meeting, a senior priest at the temple said that there would be no outside procession this year at least till 31st March. As per the Government directive, not more than 30 people can assemble. At the moment, on the first three days of the festival, Lord Namperumal would come to the Vahana Mandapam / Ranga Vilas Mandapam where he would be mounted on the Vahana of the day and remain stationary there to listen to the Ghosti presentation. At least for the first three days of the festival i.e till 31st March, there would be no devotees allowed inside the temple.
While the festival may not be called off like in Kapali temple, the night long annual trip to Jeeyapuram (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2018/03/srirangam-namperumal-jeeyapuram-utsavam.html) and another trip  to Uraiyur for the Serthi Utsavam at hte Kamalavalli Nachiyar Divya Desam (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2007/05/108-divya-desam-uraiyur.html) crossing the Cauvery are unlikely to take place this year. Both of these trips require the support of over 100 Sri Patham Thangis to carry the Lord during the procession that lasts several hours and that kind of large gathering is currently against the Government directive.
Panguni Uthiram (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/04/panguni-uthiram-debate-srirangam.html) attracts at least one lakh devotees and runs through the night with Lord Namperumal and Ranganayaki Thayar providing Serthi Darshan. It is the one day in the year when Lord Namperumal makes his way to the Thayar Sannidhi. The morning after the Serthi Lord Namperumal goes around the Chitra Streets on a Chariot Procession. Given the current scenario in the country, it is almost certain that these two events in Panguni will not take place this year. Even if it does, it is likely to be only a toned down version.

The annual Brahmotsavam at Pullam Bhoothangudi Valvil Ramar Divya Desam and at Ramaswamy Temple Kumbakonam will be among the many Rama Navami Utsava processions that will be called off.
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Tiruvarur Karaikudi express train revival

March 22, 2020, 1:37 am
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Decks are being cleared for the first Daily Express Train service on the Tiruvarur- Karaikudi rail route in over a decade
The New Express Train between Chennai and Shengottai will run via Tiruvarur, Pattukottai and Karaikudi
 Image result for prtraveller railway station


A historical rail route is likely to be revived later this year. For over a decade the Tiruvarur Pattukottai Karaikudi route had been shut down for broad gauge conversion. It was one of the last remaining sections in the Southern Railway that was pending the gauge conversion. In the decades gone by, the Kamban Express used to run from Chennai Egmore to Karaikudi via Tiruvarur and Pattukottai. Starting late evening  in Madras the Kamban Express would reach Karaikudi early the next morning running via Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur and Pattukottai. But this service remained shut for a large part of the decade gone by.

When the gauge was finally converted to broad gauge, the train travelers were in for a big shock. Only a single passenger train was introduced on this route with the train taking 6 hours to cover a distance of just over 150kms. The reason – There were over 50 unmanned level crossings in this section and the train had to run only at 20kmph on this route. This necessitated the appointment of gate keepers at all these level crossings.

Finally the decks seem to have been cleared for the introduction of the first express train on this route in over a decade. A Railway Official from Tiruchirapalli Division told this writer that this new express train service is currently pending approval from the Railway Board and that this daily express train between Chennai and Shengottai via Tiruvarur, Pattukottai and Karaikudi is likely to begin operations from the 2nd half of this year.

Once approved, the train is likely to depart from Chennai at around 6pm/7pm and reach Shengottai the next morning at around 7am/8am. This will serve as a great boost to travellers in the Mayiladuthurai and Tiruvarur region. The train will run through Thiruthuraipoondi, Peravurani, Pattukottai, Karaikudi, Manamadurai and Virudanagar. The express train is expected to run at an average speed of 50 KMPH.

With the launch of the first express train on the Tiruvarur – Karaikudi broad gauge rail route, one is hopeful that more express trains and DEMU/MEMU will be introduced in this section over the next 12 months.
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Temple Trustees appointment

March 25, 2020, 2:18 am
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Mannar Koil Head Priest Periya Nambi Narasimha Gopalan questions lack of transparency in the appointment of Temple Trustees 
Archaka Salaries continue to remain in the hundreds but governed by Political Trustees

It is that review phase in everyone’s life. It is time to understand what priests in remote temple towns have gone through since the 1970s. Most priests in high profile temples are now experiencing what priests in several thousands of temples in TN have been undergoing for decades. 'Perform aradhana morning and evening and wait for that elusive devotee for a Thattu Kaasu' to run one’s family has been the way of life of 1000s of priests in TN temples for decades. Archakas in several thousands of temples continue to be paid monthly salaries of less than Rs. 1000 and even this miniscule amount is paid infrequently.

While many activists have filed several cases in the last 5-10 years on temple related issues, not one has looked at the issue of low and unpaid salaries to these several thousands of archakas in temples in Tamil Nadu.

Periya Nambi Acharya Narasimha Gopalan who also doubles up as the lone Priest at the Kulasekara Azhvaar Rajagopalaswamy Temple in Mannar Koil near Ambasamudram went from ‘pillar to post’ a decade ago pleading with many on the filing of a case on a traditional issue. But no one came forward. Years later, he approached activists on larger issues relating to remote temples in Tamil Nadu. Activists refused to even implead in any of the cases filed by Acharya Narasimha Gopalan.

His father performed Aradhana at Mannar Koil in the 1980s for a two digit salary that remained unpaid. Narasimha Gopalan joined the temple at a salary of Rs. 245 which after a decade was increased to 750. Most of these remained unpaid for a long time on the grounds that there was not sufficient income from the temple.

When he filed a case in the Madurai High Court on the issue of priests’ salaries being much below that stated in the Minimum Wages Act, the HR & CE immediately raised his salary alone to try and shut him up (the case was about salary of priests in 35000+ remote temples in TN). This case is nearing completion and one is hopeful of an order in the near future.

Salary Scenario in TN Temples 
Therazhundur - Rs. 250 over a 30 year period ( Unpaid)
Thiruvenkadu - Low salary that he could not pay rent for cycle
Thiru Pazhanam- Rs. 250 over two decades ( Paid once or twice a year)
Mannar Koil - Rs. 250 to Rs. 750 over 15 years
Pathamadai - Rs. 19 per month
Kapisthalam - Rs. 16 per month over decades
Thiru Kannangudi - Rs. 900 over two decades

Except for the top 1000 temples, this is the scenario in the rest of the 30000+ temples in Tamil Nadu.
In well over 90 percent of the temples, the salary of the priest is in the hundreds and low thousands.

This week with the lock-down impact the lives of the archakas in remote temples in Tamil Nadu, Periya Nambi Narasimha Gopalan has raised the critical issue of the appointment of Trustees in TN temples.

Role of Trustees in Temples
The trustees are selected to administer the affairs of the temple and as a matter of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India, the devotees are entitled to have their temples administered by able trustees. 

Mannar Koil’s Periya Nambi Acharya Narasimha Gopalan has questioned the transparency involved in the appointment of non hereditary Trustees in Temples. In a letter to the Commissioner of the HR & CE and to the Secretary to the Govt- Religious Endowments Dept, he has requested to make public the qualifications and credentials of Trustees selected for the Temples in Tamil Nadu.                                                                                               
Current Scenario in Temples
For decades, 1000s of temples under the HR & CE administration have had no trustees and the affairs of the temples have been administered by “Fit Person” appointed by the Government.  These "Fit Persons' in most cases are government staff. Executive officer of one temple is appointed as Fit Person for another temple. There are also cases in temples where the Fit Person and the EO are the same. Parthasarathy Perumal Divya Desam in Thiruvallikeni is a case in point. The application for funds is signed by the EO of the temple and the same individual approves the applications and signs as the Fit Person.

Trustees - What does the HR & CE Act say?
To become a trustee, a person has to meet the qualifications set out in Section 25-A of the HR & CE Act. Similarly, Section 26 stipulates certain circumstances disqualifying a person from being appointed as a trustee. A trustee for a temple is selected on the basis of the following factors:

He has to be from the local area, has to have good working knowledge of the local tradition peculiar to the temple, be conversant with the culture and heritage of the temple, enjoy good reputation among the local public, be able to allocate sufficient time for that temple and resources to administer the affairs of the temple.

The prospective Trustee should have made contributions in the past three years to the renovation / repair of the Hindu temples. The prospective Trustee should not have encroached any temple lands or indulge in any activity affecting the interests of the temples.

Most importantly the pre requisite to the appointment states that the prospective Trustee should be able to discharge his duties without any influence from any political party or any vested interests.

District Committees appointing Trustees
Recently, the State Government has appointed District Committees for selecting non-hereditary trustees for temples under the HR & CE administration and these committees have in turn started appointing trustees for the temples. Unfortunately, the members of the District Committee are recommended by the ministers, bureaucrats working with the ministers, blood relatives of the ministers and other functionaries of political parties. These District Committee members in turn award the trusteeship solely to the persons recommended by MLAs and MPs in the case of village temples and Ministers in the case of temples in the district headquarters. Persons without any of these recommendations are unlikely to be appointed as trustees.

The trustees appointed in the above fashion do not meet any of the qualifications prescribed under the Act as they are appointed merely on the basis of the political recommendations.

Trustee appointment- Lack of Transparency 
At the moment, no information, particularly, the qualifications and other credentials said to be claimed by the trustees selected is made available to the general public / devotees even though this information is crucial for the devotees to take a considered opinion on the suitability of the trustees appointed for their local temples.  If the trustees do not have sufficient qualifications and lack prior exposure to temple related works, devotees would have the right to remove them from the trusteeship. 

Questioning the lack of transparency in the selection process of trustees, the letter to the Commissioner has requested to make public the above information about the selected trustees by publication in the local newspaper, affixing on the main entrance gate of each temple, on the notice board of the Executive Officer and be available for inspection by the general public.

Going by the past track record, it is unlikely that Acharya Narasimha Gopalan will receive a reply from the HR & CE. And as has been the case over the last few years, he may head the direction of the Madurai High Court seeking relief in devotee’s interests.
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Temples lockdown 1960s 70s

April 4, 2020, 1:22 am
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The 'Unenforced' lockdown of the 1960s and 70s saw the wiping out of an entire generation of archakas in Tamil Nadu

No Devotees, No Thattu Kaasu, No Vastram for the Lord, Life Threatening Reptiles and a Battle for daily survival was the scenario at the TN temples in those decades
While a devotee-less temple seems like a new scenario to many, this was exactly the experience most priests in remote temples had six decades ago, when the entire original inhabitants began leaving those ancient temple towns seeking greener pastures. The current lockdown for devotees has taken priests in remote temples back in time to the 1960s and 70s when the temples were in an ‘unenforced’ lockdown mode.

Back then, priests in most Divya Desams and Paadal Petra Sthalams would perform daily aradhana and abhisekam and wait at the Sannidhi entrance for the devotees so they could take some Thattu Kaasu back home to manage the family expenses. Most often that devotee remained elusive.Many of the big utsavams had come to a grinding half for years. Priests did not have enough money for the next meal. They struggled to pay the house rent or even to take a cycle on rent. There were no communication tools in those days and hence rarely did the outside world get to know of the severe and unbearable challenges of these priests. Not for days or months but years and decades, the priests encountered this ‘devotees’ lockout scenario.

Therazhudur - Total Lockdown in the 1960s
Vasan Bhattar of Therazhundur Aamaruviappan Divya Desam is now a mentor to hundreds of priests and service personnel in the Chozha region. He has seen the temple in war like situation when even the daily survival was in question and says that the 1960s and 70s was the worst phase at Therazhundur “I saw my father struggling to get even a rupee as Thattu Kaasu. Salary was not paid to him for many years. There was no money to even light the lamp at the temple. Lord was left with one vastram for a whole year.  There was minimal ‘Thaligai’ for the Lord. Utsavams were stopped. Finding money for the next meal was a challenge.”
 முந்தி வானம் மழை பொழியும்
மூவா உருவின் மறையாளர்
அந்தி மூன்றும் அலை ஓம்பும்
அணி ஆர் வீதி எழுந்தூரே

He says that today there is so much of instant communication raising awareness among people about issues. There was none in those years of struggle. The priests of those dreadful decades fought a lonely battle in their respective temples. In the current scenario too, there will be financial challenges in the near term with the shutting down of the temples but we need to have faith in God like the priests of the 1960s and 70s.

Agamas during and after Lockdown
Vasan Bhattar says that the Agamas have laid out clear processes for aradhana and conduct of utsavams during war times and emergencies. If utsavams are being put off in such times, the agamas allow for it to be conducted over the next 6 months. He says that one has to feed the needy people in atonement for the non conduct of utsavams during the scheduled period. With Brahmotsavams not taking place in temples in Panguni, these should be necessarily conducted later in the year once the situation comes back to normal. Vasan Bhattar points out that more importantly these festivals should be done with the full and active participation of the people and not just as a formality for the records.

Life threatening times at Erettai Tirupathi
Industrialist Venu Srinivasan, who restored the entire Nava Tirupathi temples in the 1990s and transformed the lives of the priests there, remembers the time he entered the dilapidated Erettai Tirupathi (Twin Temples on the Northern Banks of Tamaraibarani) Divya Desam over 25 years ago to explore the possibility of restoration. While what one is witnessing currently is unprecedented, both in scale and magnitude, the scenario at Erettai Tirupathi was grave with Seshamani Bhattar putting his life at risk each day of the year.
தோக்கும் பக்கம் எல்லாம் கரும்பொடு 
செந்நெல் ஓங்கு செந்தாமரை 
வாய்க்கும் தண் பொருநல் வடகரை 

வண் தொலை வில்லி மங்கலம் 

“The priest, who came from Thiru Kolur, sometimes had to wade his way through the high tide in the Tamaraibarani to reach Erettai Tirupathi. He would be welcomed into the temple by dangerous snakes that moved around freely. There were no lights at the temple. The roof and the walls were in dilapidated state and could have fallen off anytime. There was threat to his life each day of the year. And for all this, there were no devotees in the temple town on most days in the year. The priest did not get any Thattu Kaasu except on the few utsavam days or some select days in the month. For all his efforts, his monthly salary was just a couple of hundred rupees.”

திருந்து  வேதமும் வேள்வியும்
திரு மா மகளிரும் தாம் மலிந்து
இருந்து வாழ் பொருநல் வடகரை
வண் தொலை வில்லி மங்கலம்

Thiru Kannamangai – No money to pay House Rent
84 year old PK Ramaswamy Bhattachar performed service at the Bhaktavatsala Perumal Divya Desam in Thiru Kannamangai for over six decades and continues to be at the temple to this day. 

எங்களுக்கு அருள் செய்கின்ற  ஈசனை
வாச வார் குழலாள் மலை மங்கை தன் பங்கனைப்
 பங்கில் வைத்து உகந்தான் தன்னை
பான்மையை, பனி மா மதியம் தவழ் மன்குலை

கடரை வட மா மலை உச்சியை
நச்சி நாம் வணங்கப்படும் கங்குலை
பகவைச் சென்று நாடி
கண்ணமங்கையுள் கண்டு கொண்டேனே

He remembers the decade long battle for survival in the 1960s “We struggled to pay a house rent of Rs. 5.To get even the basic provisions, I would cycle all the way to Thiruvarur (7kms away). The cancellation this month of the big utsavams in TN temples reminds me of my early days at Thiru Kannamangai when the Chitrai Brahmotsavam came to a halt and was not held for several years. There was neither money nor people to conduct the utsavams. In those years, my eyes used to light up at the sight of a single devotee. It was really a rare phenomenon to find a visiting devotee.”

Pullam Bhoothangudi
Till a few decades ago, there was no road access to the Jatayu Moksha sthalam of Pullam Bhoothangudi Divya Desam in sad contrast of it being a ‘Well Laid Out City’ with mansions as seen by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar. M Krishnamurthy Bhattar, who performed aradhana for five decades till his death in 1998, would delightfully bring home Rs. 2 that he received as Thattu Kaasu when a rare devotee made it to the Valvil Rama temple crossing the fields from Swami Malai. However, pressed by the need for daily sustenance, his wife Jayalakshmi would somehow find this hidden money and buy tamarind for that week’s Rasam. Angered at her spending immediately this hard earned two rupees, the Bhattar would go back to the temple to invoke the Lord’s blessings. Such was his way of life back in the 1960s and 70s. Looking back, the 87 year old Jayalakshmi wonders now as to how she managed to run her family with so little money in all those decades.

கற்பு ஆர் புரிசை செய் குன்றம்
கவின் ஆர் கூடம் மாளிகைகள்
பொற்பு ஆர் மாடம் எழில் ஆரும்
புள்ளம் பூதங்குடி தானே

The Utsavams too had come to a halt. In the diary of Krishnamurthy Bhattachar is found a jotting where he records with sadness his inability to perform the Pavitrotsavam during his life time. 

His son, the 48 year old Gopalan Bhattar, who joined the temple at a monthly salary of just Rs. 45, says that while the shutting down of temples for devotees is saddening, the lockdown kind of scenario is not entirely new to him for he spent his entire childhood at Pullam Bhoothangudi without devotees. He says with devotional pride that despite the lack of financial resources and the complete absence of devotee crowd, his father performed aradhana all alone every day of the year for several decades.  Lack of devotees was not a deterrent and his father faithfully performed his duty as per the agamas. Never once did he complain about the poor financial state or the absence of devotees.

மறையால்  முத்தீ அவை வளர்க்கும் 
மன்னு  புகழால் வண்மையால்  
பொறையால் மிக்க அந்தணர் வாழ் 
புள்ளம் பூதங்குடி தானே 

Paadal Petra Sthalam – No Devotees, No Salary
At the historical over 1000 years old Aabath Sahayeswarar temple in Thiru Pazhanam, 2kms East of Thiruvayaru, a temple praised by Thiru Gnana Sambandar, Appar and Sundarar, Raja Gurukal has been taking care of the poojas for the last 25 years since the time he was a teenager. For him, this forced lockdown is not any different from what he and his father have experienced in the last many decades. During the time of his father, who served at the temple for 55 years, the payment of even the low salary was infrequent. 

Even though this is a Paadal Petra Sthalam, only a few devotees visit the temple on most days even now and hence the Thattu Kaasu is minimal. He says that his forefathers looked upon the Lord and Ambal as their own parents and served then with love and devotion. It is only the devotion to the Lord and the opportunity for him to perform abhisekam at such a legendary temple where his ancestors had performed pooja that has helped his mind stay away from seeking greener pastures, mindless of the lack of income and a constant shut down feel given the absence of devotees.

In the current lockdown phase, abisekam is being performed with the Raja Gopuram closed. He says that the Pancha Bhootham has to be functional during pooja. However with the Raja Gopuram being shut down during abhisekam, the vibration will be lost and may not reach the people.

A Lockdown even in Madurai
If one thought that this unenforced ‘lockdown’ was the scenario only in remote temples, the situation till 1976 at the Koodal Azhagar temple indicated otherwise and presented a grimmer picture.  Despite being in the heart of Madurai and very close to Meenakshi Amman Temple, the situation was so bad that the Bhattars for a large part stood outside the Sannidhi each day of the week waiting for the devotees to turn up. 

And when only a single devotee arrived, the frustrated Bhattar at the Perumal Sannidhi would redirect him to the Thayar and Andal Sannidhi hoping that there would be a few more devotees by the time he finished these Sannidhis so the Bhattar could provide a combined darshan for 3-4 devotees. However, the redirected devotee would turn up again to find the same Bhattar standing in the same position.  It is unthinkable now that there was once a period in the not so recent past when the Bhattars were so down on motivation that they were not so inclined to opening the big door at the Koodal Azhagar temple and providing darshan to a lone devotee.

Support the Priests in Distress Period
Chennai based devotee Srinivasa Gopalan, who has been supporting several priests of ancient temples in remote locations for the last many years, has come forward this week to additionally support them during this distress period. On the reasons for his supporting such remote temples, he says ‘there are tens of thousands of temples in TN, most dating back many centuries and each with fascinating historical stories. This heritage needs to be protected and sustained.  The priests who take care of the daily rituals at these temples play a big part in protecting and sustaining the heritage. Government and the community have a key role in making it happen. Else, the heritage will be lost for good, in the next few decades.’

Support the Priests
In this hugely challenging scenario as well as for the long term, Srinivasa Gopalan feels that all priests must receive an amount that should be large enough for them to be free of financial worries for their day to day expenses; and also allow them to save for future requirement for major events in their family life like children’s education, marriage, major illness, etc. In emergency scenarios such as the one we are currently facing, they need to speak up. They will need to voice their difficulties to the local administration, local community leaders, Mutt Heads and Trustees and seek compassionate support.”

Challenges to emotional well being
As a devotee, Srinivas Gopalan is worried that being away from temples for a long time could affect the emotional well being “Most of us have a ‘favourite’ temple or two that we go regularly – may be daily, weekly or a few times in a month. It has huge impact on emotional wellness. Devotees can take the miss for a few weeks; if it extends for several weeks, it will take a toll on their emotional wellness, I think.”

In this hugely challenging scenario as well as for the long term, Srinivasa Gopalan feels that all priests must receive an amount that should be large enough for them to be free of financial worries for their day to day expenses; and also allow them to save for future requirement for major events in their family life like children’s education, marriage, major illness, etc "In emergency scenarios such as the one we are currently facing, they need to speak up. They will need to voice their difficulties to the local administration, local community leaders, Mutt Heads and Trustees and seek compassionate support.”

For priests who performed service in temples in the 1960s and 70s, the current scenario is a repeat from those times, in terms of financial challenges and absence of devotees. They came through some unbearably challenging times, one that would have broken most hearts and for that reason alone their devotional commitment from those times is highly commendable. While that phase saw a major wiping off of the next generation of priests who all moved into the corporate world, the ones that survived and continue to perform aradhana and abhisekam to this day are those who had complete faith in God and saw it as a passing phase. For both devotees and priests alike, it is that devotion to God and faith in him that is likely to help them see through this phase.
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Kapali Panguni Utsavam

April 6, 2020, 6:33 am
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A Mylaporean's Favourite Utsavam has been cancelled this year - This devotee Consoles herself in Panguni 2020 with a display photo of 'Alankaram of the Day' each day of the Utsavam
All the way from Erode for the Rishabha Vahanam
It is the evening before the Thiru Kalyanam at the Panguni Utsavam at the Kapaleeswarar temple. The weekend was to have seen the hugely popular Chariot Procession on Saturday morning and the Arubathu Moovar on Sunday evening. But the Utsavam was cancelled well in advance at least 10 days before the scheduled start leaving the devotees disappointed.  There are scores of them for whom the year is not complete without darshan of the Lord in front of the Raja Gopuram, through the 16 pillar mandapam and at the East Mada Street. One such devotee is S. Harini Yogalakshmi, a die-hard Mylaporean at heart.

Despite moving to Thiruvallikeni over a decade ago and stationed outside the city for a few years, she has never missed a single Brahmotsavam over the last three decades. As a Mylapore resident during her entire school and college days, she was devotionally engaged with the Lord each session of the utsavam.

The Gopuram Vaasal Darshan
For starters, she finds the sequence very special – the Nagaswaram Goshti that comes exclusively for the Brahmotsavam along with the temple vidwans, followed by the special vadhiyams and Sanka Nadham. The sambrani waves fills the air with a sacred fragrance. And then comes the most special moment of each day – the arrival of Lord Kapaleeswarar at the Eastern Raja Gopuram. She says that for a true Kapali Panguni Utsavam devotee, the Gopura Vaasal darshan  each morning and evening is pure bliss. 

Her dog's Namaste to Kapali
For a decade from 1997, she had a pet dog (Vellaiyamma) who Harini trained to say Namaste to the Lord during the Brahmotsavam.  The dog was a regular that entire decade especially on the first five days when the crowd was relatively less. Devotees on the East Mada Street near the Vanniyar Mandapam used to watch Vellaiyamma say Namaste to the Lord when the Gandhuravan showered flowers on Lord Kapaleeswarar.

Adhikara Nandhi- Her Favourite
Harini’s favourite right from her school days has always been the morning of the third day when as a young girl she would run from home to have darshan of the Lord atop Adhikara Nandhi. She says the ‘gambeeram’ of Lord Kapali dressed in white and blue with Chandra Bhanam, his hand atop the adhikara nandhi is incomparable.
The beating of the drum, the fragrance emanating from sambarani and the graceful slow movement of the Lord on Adikara Nandhi made the morning of the 3rd day her favourite at the Panguni Utsavam.  She also remembers the ‘twisted tongue’ of Nandhi and the ‘Pinnazhagu’ (the beautiful decoration on the back) of Lord Kapali that 3rd morning of the Utsavam. Missing this year's procession brought tears to her as she visualised his dramatic entry from the temple prakara on to the Raja Gopuram for the Deepaaradhanai.

From Erode for the Rishabha Vahanam
Marriage took her to Erode and she was away from the city for 5 years. But that did not deter her from being part of the Panguni Utsavam. She still remembers the first year after marriage when she came with her husband from Erode by Yercaud Express for the third morning of the Utsavam. Even before her husband could pay off the auto driver, Harini was running towards the Lord to have darshan of Rishabha Vahanam as the Lord was making his way back on to the East Mada Street on the 6th morning of the utsavam, such has been her devotional attachment to the Lord.

Sri Patham's special dance during the Naga Vahanam
Over the three decades that she has been at the Utsavam, her favourite location has been near the 16 pillar mandapam from where she would wait for the Lord to make his way to the Gopura Vaasal “Having darshan of the Deepaaradhanai is experiential especially of the Lord dancing his way to the 16 Pillar Mandapam with devotees lining up in large numbers either side of the Gopuram.” She also has a special liking for the Sripatham’s devotional steps during the Naga Vahanam on the fourth evening.
                                        
All through her life she has wondered at the devotional love Mylaporeans have for the Divine Couple - Kapaleeswarar and Karpagambal. She says that to a devout Mylaporean, the year is not complete if he or she has not had a darshan of the divine couple during the panguni utsavam. Throughout her school and college days, she and her brother distributed butter milk and rose milk to devotees at the utsavam, which she says is another special feature of the utsavam – that of devotees providing fresh drinks during the procession.

Bommai Chathiram
She considers the visit to Bommai Chathiram on South Mada Street as a must do on during the utsavam to get a feel of the old paintings and dolls. To date, the Yamaloga Thandanai portrait remains the biggest attraction, says Harini!

2020 Panguni - Missing this year’s Utsavam
Harini, a resident of Thiruvallikeni since her wedding, had been preparing for this year’s Panguni Utsavam since early February and had even planned her annual vacation from work for the last week of March so she could spend more time at the processions, both in the morning and evening. With her kids’ exams that were also scheduled to end mid march, she was eagerly looking forward to a devotional ten days with the Lord.

But with the cancellation of the utsavam, for the first time in three decades she is now left to look at old photographs, and satisfies her devotional engagement with the Utsavam by changing her whatsapp status everyday to the vahanam of the day!
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Chandomaye Football Coaching

April 14, 2020, 3:17 am
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'Locked Up in the Terrace' with the Football
Malola Kannan's daughter looks to make a mark in Football Coaching
In just 3 months she has turned extremely introverted kids into extroverts 
For the last two decades, Thiruvahindrapuram Malola Kannan's life has revolved around vedic and prabhandham chants. His Nalayira Divya Prabhandham (along with Navalpakkam Ranganathan) and Desikar Prabhandam audios are quite popular (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2015/02/navalpakkam-ranganathan.html). While he has been spending the lockdown period presenting Desikar Stotram and the like transmitted worldwide on the audio, his daughter has been locked up in the terrace most of the time with a football!!

19 year old daughter Chandomaye has taken a liking for football and has been travelling across the country and overseas playing competitive matches. Having started early, she very quickly graduated to play for the State and even made a trip a to Denmark with a private club when she was in her early teens. At school, she had won many tournaments and now continues to do so at college (MOP Vaishnav) as well. 

Locked- up  in the Terrace
With an aim to play for the University, she has been spending the Lockdown period sharpening her football skills at the terrace of her apartments on Pichupillai Street. With the help of videos, she has been practising for hours  along with her younger sister 16 year old Smrutimaye who has also a played for the State. 

Her daily routine also includes a 20 minute rigorous fitness training programme. The big terrace atop her flat serves as an ideal zone to practise 40 different football drills one of which is the art of knocking down water bottles with the back heal. In another session, she is seen practising the art of kicking the ball inside a dust bin or a cardboard box from a 3 feet distance.

Enters into Coaching
While she continues to play active football including scoring goals for the college team at MOP Vaishnav, she is now exploring a career in football coaching. A few months ago, Chandomaye made her entry into football coaching with a one year contract with the World One Football Academy and had been coaching over 20 Under 8 year olds until the Lockdown brought a temporary halt. She has also just written a D-Licensing test, the first step towards a professional coaching career. She says that women’s football coaches are in great demand these days and that is an option she will consider once she completes her graduation, though at the moment the adrenalin pumps at its best when she scores a goal for her team. 
Coaching 4 and 6 year olds!!!
Three months into her coaching assignment, she finds it extremely challenging “The attention span of 4 and 6 years is very less and one has to find different ways to keep them engaged every minute of the session."

Recently, she devised a Golden Sticker that she presents at the end of each training session to the exceptional kid of the day. She says that this serves as a great motivation for the kids to focus and do well at each of the training sessions.

Just 19, young kids are already looking at her as their mentor not just in football but also in inculcating an everyday discipline in them. She says that within a quarter, parents have come to her acknowledging that their introvert kids have become extremely extrovert at home and school and that their self belief has increased in a short span of few months,  something that Chandomaye is happy to hear.

It is quite a surprise that 

By same time next year, it is likely Chandomaye would have taken a call between a professional playing career and a serious knock at football coaching. 

This section will track her progress.
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BCCI Umpires Lockdown

April 16, 2020, 11:27 am
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Top BCCI Umpires form an informal group on the social media to debate old controversial decisions and likely challenging scenarios 
JR Madanagopal had just received news of his appointment as the fourth umpire in this year’s IPL. He is not the one to get easily excited. And yet this was a big moment for him in his career. It was long overdue for he had had strong years in the domestic circuit. In 2016 season, he secured 100 marks for his Quarter Final match and 99 marks for his Semi Final performance in the Ranji Trophy. And yet, he was not part of the IPL that followed a couple of months later. He was looking forward to be back in the IPL this year. In fact, after officiating in the final of the National U23 tournament, he came back to Madras and officiated in the first division league that was coming to its final stages.

India’s Top 5 umpire KN Ananthapadmanabhan had just got back to his home town in Thiruvananthapuram after officiating in his first Ranji Trophy final last month and he was looking forward to a full fledged stint in the IPL. In recent years, he has become a regular at the IPL. 
For a couple of others, there was a TNCA knock outs and final to look forward to. But all of them have been locked indoors for the best part of a month now with the lockdown across the country. 

These top umpires at the BCCI have now formed an informal group using the social media platform and have been engaging in intense debates on controversial cricket decisions from the past, challenging scenarios for umpires and imaginary situations. 

Ananthapadmanabhan from Thiruvananthapuram, Madanagopal and a couple of others from Madras along with Sai Darshan from Bangalore have joined together in a fruitful discussion, online, putting forth their respective opinions from their respective homes on each of these incidents and scenarios and coming to a conclusion on the interpretation of the Laws.

Ananthapadmanabhan who umpired in his first Ranji Final last month is also spending the lockdown period refreshing the new Tom Smith Laws of Cricket. Once in a while he puts up an interesting cricket video for discussion in the group for everyone to share their opinion. If they are unable to thrash out the differences, they take it to former Elite Panel International Umpire S Ravi who helps them out, says Ananthapadmanabhan

Traditional Games at home for Rajesh Kannan
Back in his home in Mylapore R Rajesh Kannan after over 2 decades of nonstop cricket is enjoying the lockdown break with his family, one that has taken him back to his school days in the 1970s when he used to spend time with family and friends playing traditional games of Tamil Nadu.
He has been out on the field all through the 1990s and 2000s first playing and over the last decade umpiring matches. 

The current scenario of being locked up indoors has evoked memories of the traditional games that he once played as a young school boy in the 1970s. This is quite a different experience from the one he has had as a cricketer and umpire being out in the hot sun and is all excited to be playing with his two daughters educating them on how these traditional games also help improve the math.

During the period of the lockdown, he has played several rounds of Dayakattam, Paramapatham and Pallankuzhi. 

But after over three weeks of lockdown, he too like Madanagopal is looking to get back soon on to the ground.
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Venkataraghavan@75

April 21, 2020, 9:56 pm
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In cricket, the number of matches one plays really depends on circumstances, team composition and such factors - S Venkataraghavan
Venkat's Hilarious Declaration, the 'Unsaid' words on LS and more

Legendary Cricketer and Umpire S Venkataraghavan turned 75 this week. Such was his commitment that he never missed a single (TNCA) league match for a couple of decades except when he was on national duty. It was largely Venkat’s performance and the high standards he set for himself and the entire team that earned Tamil Nadu the respect at the National level in the 1960s and 70s. The hours of hard work at the BS Nets with his spin twin VV Kumar and his relentless pursuit in search of perfection is now a legendary tale.  During the 1960s and 70s, in a Golden Era for TN cricket, VV Kumar and Venkataraghavan spun many a team out, working in tandem. The two developed a great understanding, worked well in tandem and complemented each other. When Venkat decided to impart spin, VV Kumar focused on straight ones, and when Kumar turned them big, Venkat would keep it straight and tight. Many a time, they 'planted' batsmen out setting them up for a particular kind of dismissal.

However, for all his achievements, both during his playing days and after, Venkat remained aloof and has largely been a misunderstood man. During his playing days, he would often go to a corner of a ground during the lunch breaks and have his home cooked Thayir Saatham under the shade of a tree. In his post retirement phase, he has rarely spoken to writers and preferred to stay quiet away from the limelight. Even during his glory days as an Elite Umpire, he rarely spoke. I have always wondered how and why he has always agreed to talk to me. Blessed I have been that he has spoken to this unknown person (writer) each time I have wanted to!!

Here’s a look back into a few gems from Venkat in his interactions with me over the last decade.

Venkataraghavan was delighted to recount to me the funny episode with the Hat-trick man of TN cricket B Kalyanasundaram  from the 1970s. Venkat saw Kalli as a perfect team man and always relied on him, both for containment as well as for taking wickets, depending on the situation of the match In his words "Kalli as the right man to have at the right time."

“The slight stature belied the pace he bowled at. His forte was accuracy, he could swing the new ball away and he would bowl cutters with the old ball. His contribution to my team during that entire 10 years was immense and he was a wonderful team man to have.”
Venkat's hilarious "Rs. 25" declaration, Leaves Kalli furious 
Venkat always wanted his teammates to up the standards and he believed Kalli could do well with the bat. He remembers one of the declarations in his long captaincy stint for Tamil Nadu that sent the entire team into rapturous laughter with one man alone furious at this decision "I still remember the amusing incident of the bet I had with Kalli on his batting capabilities. I challenged him to score 25 runs in a Ranji Match. Kalli was so determined to take up this challenge of mine and  showed great heart to (almost) reach this milestone. However, as luck would have it, I had to declare the innings when he was on 23 or 24. While the entire team had a good laugh about it, Kalli was quite peeved at my decision to declare.”

What impressed Venkat about Kalli was his determination to prove to his captain that he was a worthy bat. A couple of years later at the Agricultural College Ground in Coimbatore, batting alongside TN wicket keeper Bharat Reddy, Kalyanasundaram went on to achieve the milestone of 25 runs against Andhra Pradesh. 

Such was his greatness that to everyone's surprise, Venkataraghavan immediately walked up to Kalli and handed him Rs. 25 in front of the entire team. That was another incident that brought out the great character in the much misunderstood Venkataraghavan. He always lived up to his word. 

Feels let down by LS
Even before he had turned 15, Vidya Mandir school boy L Sivaramakrishnan had jumped from Fourth to First division / Globe Trotters.  When LS played against Venkat's YMA, the legend was very impressed with LS’ flight and turn. Soon the leggie bowled for hours under the watchful eyes of Venkat at the BS Nets (Chepauk). It was Venkat who provided the big early support to LS as a young kid. Given LS’ talent, he fully believed at that time (1980/81) that he would go far if he worked on his skills and stayed DISCIPLINED. 

On the morning of Feb 25, 1982, just minutes before the toss, TN Captain Venkataraghavan walked up to the diminutive 16 year old Vidya Mandir school boy in front of the pavilion at Chepauk and gave him the biggest news yet of his life ‘YOU ARE PLAYING TODAY’ told Venkat to LS.

Soon after reaching the ground, Sunil Valson had informed his captain that he may not be fully fit. Venkat had decided to go with just 4 bowlers for that knock out Quarter Final game and was keen that all the bowlers were 100% fit. He gave Valson 30 minutes to come back with a decision. When Valson indicated that he was not likely to be 100% fit through the four days, Venkat (after a quick discussion with Bharath Reddy) took the big call of playing the leggie in this knock out clash against a formidable Delhi side comprising of international players. And the rest as they say was history. LS picked up a magical 7 wickets bundling out a strong Delhi side in the 2nd innings. And was soon picked to play for India.

However, by the end of that decade the lack of discipline in LS left Venkataraghavan utterly disappointed. When cricketing downturn struck LS in the 2nd half of the 1980s, it was Venkat that he approached to get him back on track.

In all the conversations that I have had with Venkat rarely has he expressed bitterness about a cricketer (not even about Gavaskar’s 36 Not Out) but Venkat saw this boy as special and an extraordinary talent and the way he frittered away that talent left Venkate disappointed “ I can say a lot (about LS in the 2ndhalf of the 1980s) but it is likely to leave ‘people’ embarrassed. Hence let me not talk about those years.”

The words 'unsaid' told the story of LS from those days.

'A Big Asset to me' - Venkat on NP Madhavan
NP Madhavan, who finally went on to settle in Udumalpet, a rarity among cricketers, was a supreme talent who blossomed under Venkat in late 1970s and early 80s. It was against Venkataraghavan in 1987 that Madhavan played one of the best innings of his life on a matting wicket at the University Union ground – a knock of 185. 

In a chat with me in front of his house in Adyar, Venkat had the highest words of praise for Madhavan “He was a highly talented cricketer with wonderful stroke making ability. He was also a big asset to the team as a fielder. He was an attractive batsman to watch and should have definitely played many more matches for Tamil Nadu, given his talent and the potential that he held. In the limited opportunities he got, he scored a couple of quality centuries under my captaincy. In cricket, the number of matches one plays really depends on circumstances, team composition and such factors. But Madhavan was a terrific team man and I enjoyed having him in my team, even though he may have played only a few matches, much below what his talent warranted.”

Breaks the Great News to Ravi
Venkat has always been known as a very tough and unforgiving personality having set very high standards for himself both as a cricketer and an umpire. 
It was Venkat as the head of the worldwide Umpiring Panel who chose Ravi and elevated him into the Elite Panel, a great endorsement to this ever cheerful umpire from Madras. And hard it may be believe, it was Venkataraghavan who himself went up to Umpire S Ravi at Lords and informed him of his  elevation into the Elite Panel.  Not too many words just 'Well done Ravi,  You are there. All the Best".
   
Venkat has always been short on words but the few that he uttered will always remain in the valued possession of those who played with him. It is unlikely we will find another 'complete' cricketer like him in Tamil Nadu.
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Gavaskar Cricketing Role Model

April 24, 2020, 5:38 am
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Rajdeep Sardesai’s 'Gavaskar as a Role Model' interview
India's Cricketing Role Model - 36 runs in 60 overs, calls back opening partner, drops Kapil, bats Left Handed, refuses to call off the game till his century
(Photo from my paper archives from the 1970s)

In the week of S Venkataraghavan's 75th Birthday and in light of Sunil Gavaskar's lavish praise of Venkat, I (re) produce below a story I wrote way back in 2008.

(Reproduced from OCTOBER 2008)

One would have hoped for some new insights from Rajdeep Sardesai’s interview with Sunil Gavaskar (and Sachin Tendulkar) but it turned out to be a damp squib. Guess it was meant to be a ‘positive hype’ interview of the legend(s) of Indian cricket and the aim was not to provide any fresh perspective. In fact, it turned out to be truly disappointing.

Yesterday’s interview led me to ask if Gavaskar of the 1970s and 1980s was a role model for the next generation, as was kind of positioned in the interview( or may be he was a role model to emulate in terms of the number of runs he scored...but is 'Role Model' defined by the batting or bowling contribution alone) - Yes he did score runs and in tons and thousands. And no denying his great contribution in the number of runs he made, the quality of those runs, the soundest of techniques seen for an Indian opener, his almost flawless catching at first slip and his captaincy.
(Photo from my paper archives from the 1970s)

But was he a role model outside of the runs he made. Read the following:

1. In 1975, when India was chasing 300 plus in 60overs against England in the first World Cup under Venkataraghavan’s captaincy, Gavaskar scored 36 Not Out in 60 overs!!! Is that the mark of a role model- a team player?

2. In 1980-81, he forced his opening partner CPS Chauhan to walk off after being given out LBW to Dennis Lillee in a test in Australia. Was Australia’s biased umpiring in those days and/or Lillee’s provocation (if any) a justifiable reason for the world’s greatest opener to force his partner to walk off the ground in a Test Match!!!

3. In a domestic Ranji Trophy match in the early 1980s and a prestigious and high profile match at that (Bombay v Karnataka was one of the best duels in those days in domestic cricket), Gavaskar shocked one and all deciding to bat left handed, all of a sudden, leaving every one bewildered including the umpires!!! Is this a role model story???

4. In the mid 1980s, Gavaskar captaining India against the touring Zaheer Abbas’s Pakistan refused to agree to an early finish on the final evening when there was no chance of a result(other than a draw)- Reason….. Gavaskar was close to a century!!!! Zaheer protested….but ultimately match had to continue (because match could be called off only if mutually agreed by the two captains) and Gavaskar completed his century….Role Model????

5. Gavaskar dropped Kapil Dev from a test match for that one rash shot (which supposedly cost India the match) against England to teach Kapil a lesson and to make him more responsible….. Role Model!!! For someone who played 60 overs and scored 36 runs, any one playing a shot would be a villain…

While Rajdeep’s interview may have been a platform to showcase the greatness of these two great Indian cricketers and to that end I think it served its purpose, I wish he had brought out the darker or tougher moments of these two great cricketers and asked as to how they handled those days.
(photo from his Twitter Page)

Rajdeep also spoke about the two legends making runs against the toughest of opponents and asked if they moved a notch up playing against tougher opponents. Good line of thought….(Gavaskar against the West Indies and Tendulkar against Australia, but what about Gavaskar’s repeated failures in Australia when his team needed him the most)

For example, what was the dressing room scenario on the evening after Gavaskar batted 60 overs for 36 runs or did he ever regret asking his helpless opening partner to walk off in that test in Australia in an embarrassing moment for Indian cricket.

GRV's Role Model call back of Bob Taylor
There is no doubting that Gavaskar was the greatest opening bat of his generation and he thwarted many a new ball attack (and some of the best ones at that- yes Marshall, Roberts, Holding, Imran Khan and others…) in his fearless style in the non-helmet days. However, he was no role model. 

GRV recalling Bob Taylor in the Golden Jubilee test of 1980 was closer to a ‘Role Model’ scenario in what was once called a ‘Gentleman’s game’.
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Vincent D'Souza Mylapore Times 1991

April 24, 2020, 7:30 am
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How Vincent D’Souza stumped the Vikatan Photographer in the 1991 Rajiv Gandhi bombing episode with a 'STEAL' the Camera Cover Story
It was the night before we (YMCA TSR) were scheduled to take the Express Train to Bangalore for the annual Brijesh Patel Cricket Tournament. And then the news broke of the ghastly incident 40 kms away. And our cricket trip was cancelled. 

That horrendous summer night end of May 1991, MA Parthasarathy, brother of Vaishnavite Scholar MA Venkatakrishnan (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2019/05/ma-venkatakrishnan-thiruvallikeni-divya_16.html), was one of the few photographers present at the horrendous site in Sriperambudur when the human bomb went off on Rajiv Gandhi. MAPS (as he is fondly called by his friends), now a resident of Thiruvallikeni was a key photographer of the Vikatan Group and his camera clicked the hours following the bombing. His was the only camera to have captured the gory events in colour. 

MAPS had run out of the colour roll. His eyes lit up when he found the camera and a roll hanging on the dead body of Hari Babu, the man who had captured the explosive moments and whose photographs went on to provide the vital clues in the case.  MAPS was keen to check out if there was a colour roll in the bag. Also, the exclusive photograph was a precious commodity and worth in gold. MAPS was in a fix to also pick up the camera as it was lying unattended. And he was in a fix. The temptation was to pick up the camera and the exclusive shots that it contained and he almost went to pick up the camera from the body of the deceased when better sense prevailed and he let it be (The photographs from that camera went on to be published by The Hindu in the coming days!!! - that's a story for another day).
                       1991 Vikatan Photographer MA Parthasarathy

Vincent stuns The Vikatan Editor
A couple of days later the then young and the aggressive Vincent D’Souza, then the Madras Correspondent of The Week magazine (Manorama Group), like many other journalists from across the world, was at the Vikatan office to meet its Editor Madan to pick up some of the exclusive photographs that Parthasarathy had captured that night at the event site.

While Vincent had landed up there for the colour photographs (and these were featured in his story later that week) that only Vikatan was in possession of, what he went back that day was with a story that was to leave the Vikatan Editor furious and stunned.

What transpired that morning is fresh in MAPS’s memory “Vincent was waiting at the reception to meet Madan when I just entered the office. We casually exchanged info for a few minutes on the happenings on that dreadful night and I moved on with my work.”

Later that week, much to the shock of Vikatan’s Editor, a big half page box piece featured as part of the Cover Story in The Week narrating the experience of this 28 year old Vikatan photographer (MAPS) and how he had almost gone to ‘STEAL’ the camera from the body of the deceased.

As soon as The Week magazine hit the stands, MAPS was summoned into his Editor’s room. MAPS remembers the heated conversation he had with his Editor “Madan was furious and keen to send a notice to Vincent D’Souza for giving an 'STEALING ANGLE' to an informal casual chat with his photographer.”

After a long conversation, MAPS managed to convince his Editor that Vincent did what any newsy journalist would have done – create a story out of juicy information that had come his way by chance.

The Making of Mylapore Times
Vincent had all the makings of a great journalist – he had his eyes and ears to the news around him. In June of 1991, Vincent wrote six stories around the death of Rajiv Gandhi for The Week Magazine. Had he stayed around, it is likely he would have climbed the ladder into Big National and International publications. However, he took a different view.

He resigned as the Special Correspondent of The Week (he was also reporting for the BBC) to start the Mylapore Times. He said in an interview about six months ago on his move from renowned media groups at the prime of his career “The quest for knowing and living with local community in Chennai inspired me to start a neighborhood newspaper and I started the Mylapore Times. It started small and remains small even now but became a powerful print media locally.” 

It is that passion that has helped him curate the annual Sundaram Finance Mylapore Festival year on year for almost two decades.

Informative Connect during the Lockdown
It is no easy task to build a community newspaper from scratch and run it successfully for 25 years. It’s that ability to capture the news from around him that has always kept him going. And in this period of the Lockdown, it is that same quest and the persistence of his connect with the local community that has resulted in over 225 stories online in Mylapore Times providing information that the residents of Mylapore are looking for by the hour.
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Thiru Vathigai Veerataneswarar

December 30, 2019, 1:11 pm
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The temple where the Lord relieved Thirunavukarasar of his Stomach pain
Appar sung the first of the Thevaram Verses on Veerataaneswarar at this temple  
His life is a lesson in unflinching devotion and unwavering belief in God 
All the transformational episodes of his life are played out during the Appar Utsavam in Chitrai at this temple in a grand manner

Legendary Saivite Saint Poet Thirunavukarasar (referred to as Appar by his contemporary Thiru Gnana Sambandar) sang his very first Thevaram verse in front of Lord Veerataneswarar at Thiru Vathigai pleading before the Lord for relief from the unbearable stomach pain that he had been stuck with. 
கூற்றாயினவாறுவிளக்ககிலீர்
கொடுமைபலசெய்தனநான்அறியேன்
ஏற்றாயடிகேஇரவும்பகலும்
பிரியாதுவணங்குவன்எப்பொழுதும்

தொற்றாதென்வயிற்றின்அகம்படியே
குடரோடுதுடக்கிமுடக்கியிட
அற்றேன்அடியேன்அதிகைக்கெடில
வீரட்டானத்துறைஅம்மானே– Appar's First Thevaram Song

In his first verse, he accepts that he has done many wrongs in life but promises to perform lifelong selfless service night and day till the very end if he was to be relieved from the 'Soolai' pain that he was encountering then. And as a testimony to keeping one’s word with the Lord that serves as a devotional lesson to everyone even today, almost 1500 years later, he kept his word right till the end sweeping and cleaning the garbage at the Agnipureeswarar temple at Thiru Pugalur (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/11/thiru-pugalur-agneeswarar-temple.html), where he attained Mukthi.

By the time he had sung his 10th verse, he is a transformed Saivite and begins performing cleaning service at the Veerataneswarar Temple in Thiru Vathigai.

The Tragic Early years
Born as Marul Neekiyar (the one who dispels darkness) in Thiruvamur about 10kms West of Thiru Vathigai on the Panruti – Thiru Navalur (birth place of Sundarar) highway, Thirunavukarasar encountered tragedy in the early phase of his life. The wedding of his elder sister Thilagavathiyar, who was to mentor him all through his life, was postponed when the bridegroom, Kalipagayanar, a Pallava Chieftain from Kanchipuram had to go to war against the marauding forces from the West. Unable to bear the indefinite postponement, his father died and much to his shock, his mother jumped into the pyre. More tragedy was to follow. When she heard the news that her bridegroom was killed in the war, Thilgavathiyar too wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps but Marul Neekiyaar pleaded with her to mentor him and play the role of both his mother and father. And thus she began to live a life for him.

Conversion to Jainism
Unfortunately, it was the period of Jainism gaining strangle hold and Marul Neekiyar was swayed by their philosophy and followed in their footsteps much to the disappointment of his sister who had sacrificed her life for him. For years, taking the name of Dharmasena, he remained rooted to Jainism and travelled round the country  going on to become one of their leaders while Thilagavathiyar, frustrated and embarrassed at this negative turn of events, moved from Thiruvamur to Thiru Vathigai. It was here at the Veerataneswarar temple that she invoked the blessings of the Lord each day of her life to bring her brother Marul Neekiyaar back on to the Saivite path. Finally, she managed to please the Lord with the sincerity of her prayers and He promised to make her brother a legendary name in Saivism.

Marul Neekiyaar becomes Thirunavukarasar
Stuck with unbearable stomach pain and unable to find relief in the solutions provided by the Jains and with nothing working, he finally turned to his sister for solution and made his way back to Thiru Vathigai. Early into the morning, an devotionally excited Thilagavathi cleans the temple entrance and draws a beautiful white kolam welcoming his brother and seeking his transformation into Saivism. 

As he makes his way into the temple through the towering Raja Gopuram at the Eastern Entrance, he is devotionally stuck with the cleanliness and Kolam drawn by his caring sister. After applying the sacred white ash on his forehead, he presented himself, along with Thilgavathy, in front of Lord Veerataneswarar and poured his first ever verse cringing from Stomach pain and asking for relief. Through the verses, he promises to dedicate the rest of his life to selfless service of Lord Shiva. 

As another lesson to devotees, he does not feel embarrassed to speak the truth in front of the Lord and accepts the mistakes he has made in the past but he wants to be given an opportunity to redeem himself and offer in service to the Lord. 

சலம்பூவொடுதூபம்மறந்தறியேன்
தமிழோடிசைபாடல்மறந்தறியேன்
நலந்தீங்கிலும்உன்னைமறந்தறியேன்
உன்நாமம்என்நாவில்மறந்தறியேன்

உலந்தார்தலையிற்பலிகொண்டுழல்வாய்
உடலில்ஒருசூலைதவிர்த்தருளாய்
அளந்தேன்அடியேன்அதிகைக்கெடில
வீரட்டானத்துறைஅம்மானே

The sincerity in the devotional verses pleased the Lord and by the time he finished his verses, the stomach pain had vanished. And he was called out by the Lord as Thirunavukarasa, the one with the golden devotional voice. 

From that day, he became completely dedicated to Lord Shiva and began performing physical cleaning service and singing praise out of happiness that came of this service at temples. The legendary episode of the ‘to be’ Saivite Saint Poet Thirunavukarasar (Appar) surrendering himself before Lord Veerataneswarar asking for relief from the unbearable stomach pain, applying the sacred ash on his forehead, singing the first verse and being immediately blessed by the Lord is re enacted at this temple on the first day of the ‘Appar’ Avathara Utsavam in Chitrai that culminates in his Mukthi on Sathayam.

The transformation story played out on Day 1 of Appar Utsavam
On the morning of the 1st day of the Appar Utsavam in Chitrai, Thirunavukarasar dressed in a white dress, the only day in the year he is so dressed, comes to the Thiruneeratran Mandapam, where he is joined by sister Thilagavathiyar. The Shivachariar presents Thirupalli Yezhuchi verses at the Mandapam, the very same location where he sported the sacred white ash on his forehead for the first time. The Othuvar, specially brought in for this day, render the first Thevaram verse of Thirunavukarasar. This entire episode of Marul Neekiyar transforming into Thirunavukarasar is played out at this mandapam on that morning.

In memory of his transformation from Jainism back to Saivism, there is a historical Jain Idol at the Eastern entrance of the temple.

Jains threaten, Appar unshaken with unflinching devotion
Angered at this sudden transformation and unable to bear his selfless service at Saivite temples, the Jains tried to disrupt his services and tortured him repeatedly in many different ways, each of which is enacted during the 10 day Utsavam in Chitrai. On the 2nd day of the utsavam, the episode of Appar made to sit upon a huge flame is enacted. 

In this hour of despair, he shows unshakable belief in Veerataneswarar. He sings another memorable devotional verse saying that with the Lord having saved him from the life threatening stomach pain, he fears nothing else in life and no flame can consume him.

And much  to their shock and displeasure, the flames actually stay cool on him, reminding one of the episode from the Ramayana when the fire set on Hanuman actually gave him a chilly feeling.

They later send the King’s elephant to kill him but that too backfired on them for the elephant  trampled on the Mahout and returned to the Jains. All of these are played out on the 2nd day of the Utsavam.

The name Cuddalore - Thrown into the Sea
 On the third day of the Chitrai Appar Utsavam, yet another grave torture of him being thrown into the Sea, East of Thiru Vathigai is enacted. This is the day of the Theppotsavam. It is the only day in the year that Appar is seen in a Silver Kavacham. 

Unmindful of the threat of sinking in the sea, he goes with folded hands saying that there is no fear to one who believes in God. And much to the shock of the Jains, he is back alive. It is in memory of him coming out of the Sea unscathed, that the place came to be called ‘Cuddalore’.

Nothing from the King’s forces could unnerve him. The story goes that the Pallava King fell for the devotion of Thirunavukarasar and drove back the Jains and became a follower of Appar’s devotional verses.

His trip to Pennadam
He began his travel singing verses in praise of the Lord and went to the Pralayakareswarar Pennagadam (now Pennadam about 70kms West of Thiru Vathigai) where he inscribed his hands with the Trishul and Sacred Ash. This episode of his trip to Pennadam is played out on the fourth day of the Utsavam.

Meeting with Gnana Sambandar and The Name ‘Appar’
As he moved on, he met Thiru Gnana Sambandar in Sirkazhi, where his contemporary called him out as ‘Appa’. And the name stuck with Thirunavukarasar coming to be referred as Appar.
Thingalur
When he came to Thingalur, 2kms East of Thiruvayaru on the Northern Banks of Cauvery, he encountered something that he had not witnessed anywhere else. At every nook and corner of this Chandran Sthalam, he found references to his name. The place where ‘Butter Milk’ was handed out was called Thirunavukarasar Butter Milk Pandal and every other place was attributed to Thirunavukarasar. It was there that he found a great follower of his, Appoothi Adigal, who had named everything and everyone, including his two sons after Thirunavukarasarar. He was so committed to serving Appar that even when the snake had bit his elder son Appothi Adigal continued to serve the Saint Poet. Appar called for the son to be brought into the house and brought him back to life through the blessings of the Lord.

This entire episode that played out in Thingalur is presented on the 5th day of the Appar Utsavam with Appar going out on a procession in the morning to Thilagavathi Nandavanam opposite the temple complex. The devotees are presented with Butter Milk through the day. On his way back, the devotionally dramatic episode of the snake bite and Appoothi Adigal’s son regaining his life is presented in front of the temple.

Presents Songs and gets food for the Lord’s devotees
As he moves along to Thiruveezhi Mizhalai, he finds the Lord’s devotees in dire straits, struggling to meet even their daily needs. Unhappy on seeing their plight, he invokes the blessings of the Lord through a set of verses. Much to their delight, the Lord shells out in Gold ensuring that everyone is fed in full.

This is played out on day 7 of the Utsavam along with the episode of the Lord shutting the door on Thiru Gnana Sambandar after his very first song while opening the door after Appar’s songs.

Continuing his cleaning service, he moves to Thiru Pazhayaarai where the Jains strike again hiding the idol of the Lord. Once more, his unflinching devotion to Lord Shiva came through as the Lord came out of his hiding on hearing the devotional voice of Appar.

 On the final day of the Utsavam, the episode of Appar receiving Kailaya darshan is presented. He was stuck with old age and could no more walk up the Himalayas and crawled up like a kid and then even used his chest to push himself up the steep mountain. So pleased was the Lord with his devotion that he asked him to dip himself in the nearby Theertham and as he came out he had been ‘shipped’ to Thiruvayaru (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2014/11/thiruvaiyaru-pancha-natheeswarar-temple.html) from where he had Kailaya Darshan. Finally, just after midnight on Chitrai Sathayam, Appar attaining Mukthi at Thiru Pugalur  is played out in a grand manner at the temple.

 AshtaVeera Sthaanam
Thiru Vathigai is one of  the Ashta Veerasthana Sthalams where Lord Shiva killed Asuras after a battle with bow and arrow. Thiru Kurukkai (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/09/thiru-kurukkai-verateswarar-temple_13.html) and Thiru Kandiyur (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2016/09/kandiyur-brahmma-sira-kadeeswarar.html) are two among the Ashat Veeratanam temples. 

 Three asuras had gained the boon of invincibility anbd continuously attacked the rishis and prevented their penance. Lord Veeratesawarar came on a chariot with Chandran and Suryan as the wheels and with Brahmma as the Charioteer to kill the asuras. It was Sara Narayana Perumal, west of this temple, who handed the bow and the arrow to Veerateswarar for him to kill the three asuras in smiling posture. Two asuras attained Mukthi and serve as Dwara Palakas at this temple. This episode of Tripura Samhara is played out on Vaikasi Swathi on the 9th day of the Brahmotsavam with Tripura Sundara Murthy providing darshan atop the Chariot similar to the way he killed the evil forces from atop the chariot after Sara Narayana Perumal (http://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2009/07/thiru-vathigai-sara-narayanan.html) comes and presents his bow and arrow. This is the only day in the year this Utsava Idol comes out of the temple on a procession. 

In Chitrai, Tripura Samhara Murthy provides darshan at the Vasantha Mandapam as part of the Vasanthotsavam inside the temple.
 This is one of the Thevaram Sthalams that historically had Lord and Ambal providing Kalyana Kolam darshan to Sage Agastya, the others being Kanchipuram and Vedaranyam. In memory of this historical event, both of them are seen in a grand Kalyana Kolam Posture behind the beautifully sculpted Moolavar Lingam. 

Episodes relating to all Ashta Veerata Sthalams are sculpted on the outside walls of the prakara, giving devotees an insight into the episodes relating to each of the Veeratana Sthalams. 
The Vimanam atop the Moolavar Sannidhi is a delight to architectural experts with its shadow not falling on the ground. It is believed that Raja Raja Chozhan studied this Vimanam before beginning construction of Brihadeeswarar temple in Thanjavur and the one in Gangai Konda Cholapuram.

The temple is open from 6am to 12noon and from 4pm to 9pm. Contact Gnanasekar Gurukal @ 94439 88779/ Kalyan Kumar Gurukal @ 94863 90376 / Srinivasa Gurukal @ 94427 80111.
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HR & CE Temple Funds

April 26, 2020, 1:37 pm
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Charity Begins at Home 
The TN Government has to first direct the temple funds towards meeting the basic minimal needs of the Priests before they can lookat the larger Society 

It's unlikely that the temples will be thrown open anytime soon to large devotee crowd - Utsavams and Street Processions too may take months to revive resulting in prolonged hardship for priests and temple service personnel
Last week’s direction by the HR & CE Commissioner to the ‘rich’ temples in the State to hand over a part of their funds (Hundi collections) to the TN Government Corona relief fund has shaken the archaka community. With the temples under ‘devotee’ lockdown (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/04/temples-lockdown-1960s-70s.html) for over a month, the archakas who were already under stress with the pitiable salary paid to them by the HR & CE are facing a bigger challenge now with the going away of the ‘Thattu Kaasu’.

In the Thirukural is a verse ‘ஆ பயன் குன்றும் அறுதொழிலோர் நூல் மறப்பர் காவலன் காவான் எனின்’ denoting the importance of the role of the ruler of the Land. If the ruler does not take care of his subjects and does not give them their fair dues, the cow count will decrease and the Brahmins whose job it is to chant and teach the Vedas will leave and go to other jobs.

While HR & CE receives about 16% of the income of the temple to meet its expenses and for its administrative services, the salary of priests in the HR & CE administered temples has remained static for decades. The fortunate archakas now receive in the low 1000s while most in the 40000+ temples continue to receive salary in the 100s. 

The revival of temples that started as a slow process in the 1990s turned into a devotional wave in the 2000s with devotees now thronging temples in huge numbers especially those that are positioned as providing relief to their problems – Parikara Sthalams, Prarthana Sthalams and the like. The thattu kaasu for archakas belonging to such temples has increased manifold in recent years. But so has the corpus of the HR & CE with temple funds (fixed deposits) running into around Rs. 300 crores.

But a large number of temples including Divya Desams and Paadal Petra Sthalams have still not seen the light of the day with archaka salary and thattu kaasu still being below par.

Abysmally low salary and Zero Thattu Kaasu now
The current salary paid to priests and temple servants in remote temples managed by HR & CE  is so abysmal that even the basic survival is becoming increasingly difficult for these priests. A priest at the Vilvanathar temple in Pathamadai is paid a salary of Rs. 19 per month while at the historical and ancient Kailasanathar temple in Brahmadesam, the priest is paid a salary of just over Rs. 200.
The renowned Vasan Bhattar, who is a father figure to hundreds of Priests in the Chozha region has been at the Therazhundur Divya Desam for over 30 years, himself gets only around Rs. 300 as his monthly salary. In many temples in the state, salary is paid only once in 6 months or once a year around Deepavali.

Thiruvenkadu - Low salary that he could not pay rent for cycle
Thiru Kannapuram - Pension not paid for three decades since retirement
Thiru Kannangudi - Salary of Rs. 900 over two decades

Private Sambhavanai more than official Salary
Even in the now popular Nava Tirupathi Divya Desams on the Eastern Side of Tirunelveli, the official salaries from the HR&CE to most priests continues to be lower than the monthly 'Sambhavanai' paid by Venu Srinivasan!!

One has to wonder as to how a priest can run a family with such a low income all through his life. In most remote temples, the priest is left all alone to take care of all the daily maintenance work as well in addition to performing the pooja.

For long there has been the critical need to revise upwards the salary of these priests to a reasonable level. It is hoped that the HR & CE will realize the unfair treatment meted out to priests in thousands of temples across the state and fix a fair pay scale that will give financial respectability to the priests. But that is towards safeguarding the longer term future of the priests.

Funds diversion during Lockdown
During the period of the lockdown, it was Venu Srinivasan’s trust that rose up again and surprised the priests in the Nava Tirupathi region and elsewhere (including Srirangam) with an additional Sambhavanai in the beginning of April but the question remains as to how much can one or a few trusts do (https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/aid-for-priests-and-vaidikas/article31360982.ece) – a story where this writer’s lock down story was tagged - and for how long and in what size. Surely, that is not a sustenance model that the archakas can bank on.
While there has been some relief with contributions coming in from private individuals and trusts, the priests may come under a lot of stress in the near term. Given the current trend, it is unlikely that the temples will open up for large devotee gathering anytime in the near future. It may be months before devotees in full force are allowed back into temples. The utsavam and street processions too are unlikely to happen anywhere in the near future. Given this scenario,  the HR & CE that administers a large number of temples in the state has to step in and ensure that the archakas and service personnel are taken care of, financially.

Financial Plight of archakas
The State Government's relief measures for the priests and the service personnel in TN temples, especially those in remote locations so far in the last one month has been meager. The priests who have been serving in temples for several decades at a salary in the hundreds have not received any special attention even during this lockdown (except for one payment of Rs. 1000) while they continue to perform daily pooja every day of the month through the period of the lockdown.

In the current scenario, when the financial plight of the priests is so bad with a salary that is below the daily ‘minimum wages’ and with no Thattu Kaasu for over a month, is it right for the Government to take away the funds belonging to temples for common relief measures, elsewhere. One does not have an objection with the Government’s intention of serving the needy in this exceptional environment but at what cost. It falls to the government to initiate steps in order to secure for the priests in TN temples a decent living and minimum wages. And to ensure the financial sustenance in such times.

Surely, the adage ‘Charity begins at Home’ is applicable here and the funds of the temples – the hundi monies presented by devotees - will have to first be directed towards meeting the basic needs of the several thousands of priests in TN temples, those that have been serving tirelessly at the temples for decades before funds can be redirected to others in the Society.

Else with a salary below minimum wages and with no thattu kaasu, the priests will continue to remain a frustrated lot and a voiceless one at that.
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D Murali Journalist

April 30, 2020, 3:19 pm
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His revolutionary idea of inviting CEOs to his office and doing open air interviews at Nageswara Rao Park found favour as he rolled out 100s of insightful interviews but a whistle blower act cost the CA rank holder his job

Can we, as men, decide to raise our individual voice, rather than keep quiet, when gender injustice happens in front of our eyes? Can we rise above our individual interest and blow the whistle when gender prejudice grabs the air time and pollutes the work atmosphere around us-D Murali in an audio address a year after his exit
It is the period of the lockdown and as I went back in time this week, I chanced upon something that was saddening. But as I unraveled the story over the next 24 hours, I began to salute the man whom I had known professionally for close to two decades. This story is about one who was ahead of time as a journalist and whose bold revolutionary tale hit road blocks mid way. Unmindful, he  resurfaced and has cheerfully survived the decade after. 
      
CA rank holder D Murali joined The Hindu’s new financial daily Business Line very early on in its journey in 1996 – within two years of the paper’s launch. A Chartered Accountant, he launched many new sections in the financial daily that by itself were new to financial journalism in the city – topics that were close to his heart at that time – Taxation, Accountancy and the like.

Very soon, his innovative thoughts got the better of him. He launched a section called ‘60 secs chief’, where the CEO of a firm had to answer questions that a reader could read in 60 seconds. It soon became a big hit with several CEOs featuring in it. He followed it up with several new sections (Number Crunch, Swati CA, Books2Byte and so on) that he anchored for many years.
 
It dawned on him that the views of the experts in the corporate world had to be captured and presented to the audience. That he saw as his role. 

Not often in the city was a company CEO invited to media houses for discussions. For long, it has been the practice of the writers to visit the CEO at his office and not the other way around. Murali wanted to break that myth. He wondered if the idea would work and if the CEOs  accept an invitation to his office for a chat on the company and the industry.

And thus was born a revolutionary idea and the result must have surprised Murali even beyond his wildest dreams for he ebegan to host one or more CEOs
at his desk at The Hindu Group’s headquarters in Madras each day of the year.

Companies ranged from the several decades old traditional firms to young new born start ups. Murali made it his definitive model. He video recorded the interviews and posted them online. It was disruptive. It was unheard of in the past.

Corporate Interviews at Nageswara Rao Park
When Sundaram Finance launched the mikeless Sunday Kutcheri in the Park, Murali was present early morning on Sundays to capture the presentation of the budding musical talent. Taking on this concept of events at the park, Murali experimented with the idea of ‘interviews at the park’ as his evening interviews moved to the park. He would meet personalities at the chess square of the Nageswara Rao Park, amidst the chirping birds and record their stories (https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/IT-is-a-critical-innovation-lever/article16481002.ece).

Biz Ed of HT @ BL
One day, this writer brought along N Madhavan, the business editor of The Hindustan Times to meet Murali at his office (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pfjfKkxFro). The interview left Madhavan stunned. He remarked that even in the North and the West (of India) such a concept had not been thought of. 

At press conferences, Murali brought his now famous tripod to shoot the CEO's address. Suddenly, in a matter of a few years, Murali had interview several 100s of CEOs and posted those online.

The visiting CEOs to his office increased manifold and that raised eyebrows amongst his colleagues. Following this, PR execs were rejected entry into his meetings!!!

Co-authoring stories for BL
During this period, Murali asked if this writer would be interested in co - authoring stories for the paper. And thus I came to write a number of joint stories with him for different sections of the paper in a very short period of time. The pace of the stories was mind boggling. But it was shortlived and came to an abrupt end. To date, this writer has not asked him the reason!!!

Through those early days of his innovative journalistic model in the 2000s, Murali was clear. He did not consider himself an expert. Repeatedly he told me this during the many professional interactions I had with him during his period with Business Line.  What he was looking for in his interactions with industry folks was for their thought leadership - among entrepreneurs, authors, and domain experts, across industry verticals. And he considered it his responsibility to showcase their insights through his stories.

Murali was not possessive about the personalities he met and threw that thought process out of the window and sent open invitations to his colleagues to join him for his daily meetings. Surprisingly, very few took up his offer. It was a case of missed opportunities.

The Exit
And then on the morning of the Kutcheri in the Park in September 2012 (http://sundaykutcheri.blogspot.com/2012/09/sahana-presents-sunday-kutcheri.html), he broke the news to me at the Nageswara Rao Park that he was no more with BL. I did not ask him the reason then or his future plans.

As I now look back in the years following his exit, when he was present at the Sunday Kutcheri in the Park and the Sundaram Finance Mylapore Festival, I found no signs of remorse in him. For someone who interacted with him quite closely, professionally, I wonder now as to why I did not ask him the reason in those years (and for many years) that followed.

His video model continued uninterrupted and has gained momentum over the last decade. He has always been at his cheerful best. Sometimes, one finds him past 10 pm at the Marina walking to keep himself fit. To date, he has posted several thousand interviews and posts online ranging from corporate stories to Art, from Chamber stories to chats with the cab driver in the Himalayas. And he  continues to be a regular at the corporate briefings and elsewhere.

For a man so used to attending press briefings and seminars day in day out, this lockdown in 2020 should have been a dampener being stuck to the confines of his home. Not for Murali, for he has always found an innovative way to make life interesting for himself and useful for others. In the period of the lockdown, he has been creating educative video content for Sanskrit learners, via chanting of the Srimad Devi Bhagavata Mahapuranam (https://lnkd.in/fBiPVQA?trk=public-post_share-update_update-text) and Valmiki Ramayanam (https://lnkd.in/fHAe6DB?trk=public-post_share-update_update-text). Earlier he had created a similar educative video on Sundara Kandam (Ramayanam). Given the impact of the lockdown, Murali wonders if some of the big corporate seminars / events and even the press conferences would happen again anytime in the near future. He says ‘Doubtful’!!! And is of the view that both the corporates and the journalists will have to prepare themselves for a different model of interaction as they go forward into the life after Corona.

8 years later - The Breaking News to me
I did not ask him for several years on his reason to exit BL, especially as he seemed to be doing well churning out stories each day of the year for the paper. And then this month, quite accidentally during the lockdown, I landed up on his page and found a story (on his home page) that I had written with him for BL well over a decade ago and the story of his sudden, unforeseen exit from the paper.
 YourStory expands its editorial team, D.Murali joins as Managing ...
In the hours and days that have passed since, I lay in shock, shaken reading through the sequence of events that led to his exit. And I went back and looked at some of my own blog stories I had written over the last decade on issues similar in philosophy to what he had brought up - a story that I posted at 3 am, a couple of hours after that dreadful night of January 16/17 2017 when the Adyapakas of Thiruvallikeni went slow on the Prabhandham as a way of protest against the priests (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2017/01/parthasarathy-koil-adyapakas-arrogance.html) and another story on how vested interests was destroying cricket in TN (https://prtraveller.blogspot.com/2020/01/tn-ranji-cricket-fall.html).

Explaining our role in life
He tried to fight for a cause that he believed in strongly, unmindful of the consequences. Subsequent to his exit, in an audio address, he explains, beautifully, burning issues that should touch the hearts of each one of us and that we as humans should be concerned with. He posted the transcript (of his audio address) too in the Public Domain.

He said that his forced exit was abrupt because of a whistle-blowing exercise he had undertaken through a group email within the newspaper raising issues of gender and racial prejudice within the organisation.

One has to wonder as to why a man with 15 years in the firm had to send a mail to all the staffers.

And as I listened to the audio address presented in beautiful fluent English through the hot summer night in April this week (8 summers after the episode), I felt proud that a man who I had known and respected for many years had let go a high paying job on grounds of principle, and wondered as to how many would have it in us to take such a call in life.

In his audio address, he says his boss asked him something very inhuman and immoral “Why should you be agitated (about gender prejudice)? You are not a Malayali! You are not a woman!”  his boss told Murali all those years ago.

Alas, what a retrograde thinking! Murali said of this above comment in that audio address in 2013. “If this be our thinking, as Tamils, why should you be agitated with what happens to Biharis or Gujaratis? As Indians, why should you be worried about the atrocities in other countries? Should Asia be bothered about the crisis in Europe? Why at all should the Americans lose sleep over hunger in Africa?”

He says that there is a greater realisation now that the good of all is what is good for oneself “Health and development mean a lot to all of us as much as air and water. And, to repeat the eternal Karmic message, what goes around, comes around.”

He asks “Can we, as men, decide to raise our individual voice, rather than keep quiet, when gender (and racial) injustice happens in front of our eyes? Can we rise above our individual interest and blow the whistle when gender prejudice grabs the air time and pollutes the work atmosphere around us?

'Blowing a Whistle' is a risky proposition as Murali found out under a decade ago. Yet, it was a philosophical call he took for he believed then that the bigger and a long-term risk was not standing up right then when something was not right. Another man would have been shattered at the manner of his exit from a newspaper but not Murali. While he did not seem to garner any support at the time of his exit, he has no regretful look back at the past for he has now moved on to more exciting things in life.

Interestingly, he has in the recent past brought together hundreds of journalists in a whatsapp group where he alerts them with news of the day as it happens. Many including TV channels have used his alerts to lead with their news. Such has been his contribution to the field of Journalism staying always ahead of time.

This journalist stood his ground for what he believed was a right cause taking a principled stance on an issue of high importance. Very few in life exchange a high paying job with 'Philosophy'. Once upon a time, D Murali did!!! 
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AVM Sampath

May 9, 2020, 5:23 am
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Through his six decades association with the film industry, the 'Sound Engineer' at AVM stood for Honesty and Dharmic Principles 
AVM name the New Recording Studio at Avichi College as 'Sampath Studio'
National awardee Audiographer AVM K Sampath was a workaholic all his life and was at home only the 2ndSunday of every month. That was the big day of the month for his daughter Meera during her entire childhood. She would eagerly wait for the 2ndSunday to arrive and spend the entire day chatting with him. He would share songs with her and ask for her feedback. For the rest of the month, he was all about work.  But despite his long absence from home, the always 'background man' had special love for his daughter Meera and always took good care of her from the background. So profound was his understanding that when sad scenes featured in movies, he ensured his office staff took her away from the movie hall to the snacks zone of the theatre only to bring her back as more happy scenes arrived. That love and care for her extended till the very end of his life and it was to her that he spoke the final sentences of his life.

School Days - His
Sampath had his school education in Trichy. Once when he attended a light music programme, the different kinds of music played out that evening interested him and he went up the stage to check out the way the sounds were created. Impressed with his curiousity, the producer of the show called him by his side and suggested that he should pursue music if that interested him.

After completion of Class X, he moved to Chennai and joined a license course in audiography in adyar. The principal at the college warned him of the difficulties of the course but Sampath was relentless in the pursuit of his passion. During those days, he would carry heavy music equipments as part of the training programme. Much later in his life, he would stand by the railway line to record the running of the trains and the sound of the engines, sometimes even the sound of two trains running in opposite direction such was his commitment to his trade.

He joined AVM in the mid 1950s when he was in his early 20s and had an association with them for over five decades. He recorded well over 5000 songs for AVM, was a Recipient of State awards, thrice and a National award for a Malayalam movie. He featured in Server Sundaram – the only time he was seen in a movie. After the completion of the day’s work, Nagesh would drop him in his car near the Mambalam Station railway gate. Very often, as Sampath got down from the car in dark of the night, huge crowd would surround him thinking he was Nagesh only for them to find that the legendary comedian had stumped them as he drove away quietly in his car.

Always Work came first
Meera recalls the good heartedness of her father in full measure at her wedding “Play back singer Mano was to perform at our reception. But it was the time when he received an opportunity to perform in the UAE. When appa came to know about this, he told Mano that work always came first and that for no reason he should turn down that opportunity. Mano had committed to playing at our reception and his name had even been printed on the invitation. But appa forced him to go and perform in Dubai. All through his life, his message to everyone was that one should be committed to one’s job. Even though I missed Mano’s performance, I was delighted at my father’s gesture.” 
Flying visit at the reception
Son in law and COO of Assurant India Srikanth Srinivasan remembers the day of his wedding reception in Madurai “We were just a few minutes away from the schedule time of the reception and Sampath Mama was nowhere to be seen. He was so passionately involved with the recording work for Director Bhagyaraj (who was one of his favourites), and his commitment to work was such that he landed at the hall just in time and headed back to Chennai early next morning.”
Sound Pillar of AVM
AVM Sampath’s only nephew Ravi Ramaswamy had a close association with him from his school days in the early 1970s. He says that Sampath mama was the ‘Sound Pillar’ of AVM. Even though he did not have fundamental knowledge of music, he showed extraordinary passion and commitment and straddled smoothly from the old world to modern digital equipments, an indication of his ability to adapt himself to changing technologies in the recording world. Ravi considers Sampath completing voice mixing of three films – Avatharam, Magalir Mattum and Paattu Paadava- in a single call sheet with Janaki amma as a memorable achievement.

He says that his uncle was extremely affectionate, very strict in his principles, never showed favoritism to anyone and was always wedded to his job responsibilities. Such was the trust reposed on him by the AVM family that they rarely interfered in his work and gave him complete freedom. In recognition of his work, the AVM family handed the AVM RR theatre to him (and JJ Manickam) on a revenue sharing model for him to run it independently.

Welfare of the workers till the very end
His final service to the workers which even the family was not aware till it was brought to their notice during his final moments came in April during the lockdown “He was worried about his colleagues during the period of the lockdown. During the last month of his life, he ensured support to 315 members. Till the very end, his heart went out to his colleagues. He always wanted them to be happy” says Meera.

The final interaction with his daughter
Over the last few years, memory loss took the better of him but his family doctor asked them not to disturb him from his routine as his life revolved around the workers even after he touched 80. A week before he went into coma, he knew his end was near. He called her by his side and told her “I have lived a happy life. Please take care of your amma and keep her happy.” A few hours before he went into coma, he called her by name in a thanking gesture of her birthday wishes. 

New Recording Studio named after AVM Sampath
AVM family, who run the Avichi College of Science and Arts has decided to name the new recording studio that is coming up inside the campus as ‘Sampath Studio’ in recognition of his contribution. Just prior to the lockdown, Sampath lent his technical brilliance and assistance to design, construct and commission a modern recording theatre for the students of the college.  The work had progressed at a quick pace but unfortunately the lockdown brought a halt to the work. And before he could see it through to its final completion, Sampath breathed his last. 

The man who created ‘Sound of Music’ had to be given a compulsive farewell with no sound at all, said Ravi.

Raja - His Favourite Disciple
Sound Engineer K Balasundar (Raja to those in the film industry) who had been under the tutelage of AVM Sampath for two decades now runs his own recording studio and has done recording work for around 50 films in the last two years. He says that his Guru Sampath Sir always stood by the righteous, practiced truth and worked tirelessly every day of his life. Not once did he waver from the Dharmic path. “He told everyone about his way of life and work. A dishonest or untruthful person could not come anywhere near him. 
“Almost as his son, I served him till the very end of his life and I will always endeavour to follow the dharmic path that he taught all of us” says Raja.

Sampath recently told him ‘I may not live to see that event but you will receive the National award one day.” Raja says the confidence and belief his Guru had in him has inspired him immeasurably and he will strive every bit to make his Guru’s words come true.

A Staffer’s Delight
AVM Sampathwas always a worker’s man and ensured they were happy at all times. Twice he rejected lands offered to him, first by AVM and subsequently by FEFSI as he wanted them to give the land to those who did not own him, such was his large heartedness. Hence when he passed away on May 1 his son in law Srikanth Srinivasan found some peace within himself “While the death saddened us and several thousands of members from the film industry, we found some peace given the Day he passed away. He was closely associated with CAASI (Cine Audiographers Assn of South India) and always sought the welfare of his colleagues. Hence, May Day was always his favourite day of the year. Being a Staffers’ man, he would have been happy that he passed away on May Day as he considered the day as a very special one of the year.”

Tears roll down as Meera recounts the final few sentences of his life “Just a few hours before he went into coma and with memory loss at its peak, he uttered this, the last communication of his life ‘There is a call sheet for SP Muthuraman. Even though I am feverish, I should go and finish the recording for him.’ It was probably a recollection of some recording from the decades gone by. Till his last breath, his voice chanted the audio recording mantra”. 

That summed up his commitment to work and to the film industry. Sincere efforts never fail was his motto and he lived by those principles till the very end.
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Leg Byes Deliberate Padding Law Conundrum

May 14, 2020, 1:08 am
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Run Out on a Deliberate Padding raises contradictory opinions 
                                                                 From ICC Web Site
A difference of opinion has emerged between the ICC and the MCC on a particular law relating to the disallowance of runs for deliberate padding.

In a scenario, where the striker batsman, who has supposedly padded up deliberately, is run out at the non striker's end while attempting to complete the first run, the ICC ruling has directed for the 'disallowance' provisions to come into play and for the 'Not Out' batsman to return to his original crease and for the new batsman to take strike the next ball. 

MCC's Clarification
However, the MCC Laws of cricket, of which former Elite Panel Umpire S Ravi is a technical committee member, has issued a clarification that because the run has not been completed, there is no question of disallowance and for the deliberate padding provision to be invoked. In such a scenario, the non striker who had crossed while attempting the first run will face the next ball.
This writer's view on this issue:

1. If a run out is given, then deliberate padding should not come into play as the law is quite clear in its wording that deliberate padding 'dead ball' decision and disallowance is to be invoked only in two scenarios:

a. when the batsmen have completed the first run

or 

b. When the ball has crossed the boundary.

Since neither the first run has been completed nor the ball has crossed the boundary, the deliberate padding dead ball provision cannot come into play. 

BCCI's direction to Umpires
BCCI is currently following the ICC provisions and hence for all matches played in India, the current scenario of striker being run out at the non striker's end will result in the umpire asking the not out batsman to come to his original position (non striker's end) and the new batsman will take strike the next ball.

Also, in this case as per the current ICC (and BCCI) direction, the umpire does not signal dead ball after the run out even though he is invoking provisions of deliberating padding disallowance. Even as per the current ICC ruling, the provision of umpire not signalling dead ball after the run out but at the same time invoking the deliberate padding provision is not consistent with the law.

What about the Dead Ball Signal? 
If the ICC's current decision is to indeed to invoke the disallowance provision  because of deliberate padding and the not out batsman is asked to return to the original end, then the same signal ( dead ball) that would have been made had they completed the first run and when the run out decision was not to have come into play should be invoked here as well .

While the above ICC provision is being debated, this writer is of the view that in this case, with the batsmen not having completed the first run or with the ball not having crossed the boundary, the ICC should issue a clarification to the umpires that the deliberate padding provisions will not come into play in this scenario and that there does not arise the question of disallowance (since a run was not completed, there is no question of disallowing an uncompleted run).

This section will wait and watch the developments on this issue.
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Prahladh Devotional Drawings

May 15, 2020, 6:13 am
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Aged 10, Thiruvallikeni resident Hindu Sr. Sec School Student Prahladh spends his free time devotionally sketching Lords of Divya Desam and Paadal Petra Sthalams

In the last five years,  the onlygift he has sought from parents has  chart papers and sketch pencils as his mind is forever visualizing a Lord of some temple that he had seen in the recent past

It is just past six pm on a Margazhi evening at the Parthasarathy temple in Thiruvallikeni. A 10 year old boy has just had darshan of the West facing Narasimha, praised as Thelliya Singar by Thiru Mangai Azhvaar. And much to the surprise of other devotees at the temple as well as the Bhattar at the Yoga Narasimha Sannidhi, the young boy began sketching the Lord on an A4 sheet of paper with a pencil in hand. He had had just one glance of the Lord that evening.

Even as the devotees looked on, the boy drew a beautiful sketch of Lord Narasimha in a matter of minutes. The big crowd and the noise around him was no distraction to him as his mind was focused on the Lord he had just captured a few minutes back. The pencil drawing really moved the long serving Bhattar who immediately invoked the blessings of Lord Narasimha and handed a prasadam to the boy who narrated the story to his parents later that evening.

A Pencil Sketch of Srirangam Ranganatha aged 5                       There are those in life who are blessed to be drawn towards the Lord right from the time they are born. In the case of Thiruvallikeni resident S Prahladh, this has been true metaphorically as well. He was just a 5 year old when he first came across an old photograph of Ranganathaswamy of Srirangam in his South Facing Sleeping Posture. And before his parents realized, he had picked up a plain paper and begun sketching the Lord with his pencil. When the parents came back to his room, they were stunned to see the hand drawn sketch of Ranganathaswamy. They simply could not believe that their son had such devotion in him. Over the last five years, the devotion towards God has grown manifold and he spends a majority of his free time each day drawing the Lord of the Day.  

Draws Nellaippar at the hotel room 
 A couple of years ago, when the family decided on a temple trip to Tirunelveli and around, Prahladh was devotionally moved after darshan of Lord Nelliappar and Gandhimathi Ambal. He came back to the hotel room and immediately began sketching them. Before the day had come to an end, he presented to his parents a sheet of paper that contained the drawing of Nellaiappar. 

From Parthasarathy to Chakkarathazhwar 
It amazes his parents that every temple they visit, he captures the Lord in his mind and immediately begins sketching the Lord from memory. His huge collection of sketches includes Parthasarathy Perumal of Thiruvallikeni, Kapaleeswarar of Mylapore, Durgai of Patteeswaram, Ranganathaswamy of Srirangam and Chakkarathazhwar of Thiru Mogur. Unlike most kids his age, Prahladh seeks nothing other than chart papers and sketch pencils from his parents for his mind is always visualizing a Lord of some temple that he had seen in the recent past. 

Melkote Narasimha captivates him
In December last, the family made a trip to Melkote. And when they went atop the hill for a darshan of Lord Narasimha, Prahladh refused to return. He simply could not take his eyes away from his favourite Lord Narasimha. And by the time he returned to Chennai, he had already sketched out Narasimha atop the Melkote hill leaving his mother in happy tears. On Narasimha alone, he has sketched in all his many different forms from many different. 

Lockdown- Paper and Pencils run out of stock 
While lockdown has proved to be a big challenge for the world at large, it has provided a rather unique and unheard of challenge to his parents. Locked inside the house for over a month, Prahladh began sketching Lords from different Divya Desams and Paadal Petra Sthalams each day of the lockdown. Soon he had run out of A4 papers, chart papers, pencils and sketches leaving the parents in a shocked state. The parents could not even meet his simple requirement of plain white papers and pencil as all the stationary stores remain closed.

When the lockdown 3.0 came into force this week and the stationary shop opened, the first thing his parents did was to buy chart papers, A4 sized plain papers and pencils for him that would satiate his drawing interests for at least a couple of months, leaving the 10 year old Class VI student of Hindu Sr. Sec School, Thiruvallikeni gleaming with joy. 
Shiva with Family

Cartoonist Keshav - The Inspiration
Prahladh says that his inspiration came after looking at the sketches of the popular cartoonist Keshav. He never misses an opportunity to take a close and in-depth look into the drawings of Keshav. He is hoping that one day in the near future, he will be able to meet the man who has been an inspiration to him over the last five years. 

Prahladh’s Godly drawings now run into several hundreds. His parents have even allocated a separate almirah to store his sketches. While the lockdown has meant that he cannot have darshan of Narasimha and Parthasarathy of Thiruvallikeni and Kapaleeswarar of Mylapore, he continues to sketch them from his memory of their Brahmotsavams from the years gone by. 

In addition to his interest in drawings of the Lord, Prahladh is also into Vedic Learning. He had learnt Rudram Chamakam and Sree, Bhoo, Purusha, Durga, Narayana Navagruha, Nakshathra and Neela sukthams from the late Nanilam Rajagopalan Ganapadigal. Currently, he is learning arunaprashna (Surya Namaskaram) from Sri Krishna Ganapadigal. 

At 10, Prahladh truly is a one of a kind Devotional Kid with his eyes and thoughts firmly set on the Lords of Thiruvallikeni and Mylapore.
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Promodh Sharma Cricketer turned Entrepreneur

May 16, 2020, 2:04 pm
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Quit cricket at 20, Managed a  multi million dollar global business firm by 40

Cricket Politics, Discrimination, 'Forgotten' episodes led him to quit cricket early but the hard lessons from the cricketing arena drove him to build a global business that is recognised as one of the best in apparel sourcing in the world

First division cricketer from the early 1990s, Promodh Sharma is truly one of a kind person. Like most teenagers of the time, he too was one with high hopes of making it big when he made his entry into cricket just before he turned 15 and dreamt every day of donning the India cap – His mother always told him to aim for the sky ‘Even if he missed it, he would land on the treetop’!! Promodh was practical, though. While he thought he had a chance to progress to the state level, he was acutely aware of the challenges on hand. PSBB was known to be one of the stronger school teams in the city in the late 1980s. However, Promodh belonged to a branch – PSBB KK Nagar- that was not seen as strong in cricket and for most part looked down by the more ‘popular’ players from PSBB Nungambakkam. This really meant that he was never going to have the same chances as those coming out of schools like Santhome, St Bede’s or Don Bosco which had ‘stronger lobbies’. It was this phase in his life that taught Promodh to swim against the tide, for he was always fighting with his back to the wall. 

Given this scenario that existed then in the 1980s, he promised to himself to quit serious cricket if he did not graduate to a certain level by the time he was completing his college. And Promodh did what no other budding cricketer of his time managed to do. While most of his compatriots went through the cricketing grind till they were 25 before they took a career call, Promodh quit serious cricket at 20 that had been his life and breath for over 5 years and set out to build a corporate career. In the next two decades, almost unnoticed, this middle class boy from T. Nagar built a global multi milion dollar apparel sourcing firm. Here’s the story. 

The Summer of 1987- YMCA TSR Club 
The first time I met Promodh Sharma was in the summer of 1987. He resided in the Alacrity apartments opposite the Somasundaram ground in T. Nagar. We cycled every morning that summer to the YMCA TSR club in Nandanam. Even as a teenager, I sensed the toughness in him. He would not bend down to anyone. He would give it back to those who tried to pull him down. Very few could tie him down on or off the field. He was always vocal. Challenging situations brought out the best in him. 

I saw the first glimpses of his cricketing prowess when we played together in a match for YMCA TSR against Gandhi Nagar Starlets team that included among others Sanjay Rajan, whose father (the late Rajan Bala) coached Promodh at school and whom he holds in high esteem even today. In the 30over a side match that day at the stadium ground in YMCA, Promodh and I put on a partnership of close to 200 with him scoring a big century. That was one of the many match winning knocks Promodh was to score in the next 5 years. 
Madras High Court Advocate TS Ramaswamy who ran the YMCA (TSR) club, a cricket academy that went on to produce many big cricketers including S Sriram, R Ashwin and S Badrinath, was impressed with his gutsy approach after watching Promodh scored another ton. It was after that century that TSR suggested his name to Swaraj Cricket Club and thus Promodh got into the TNCA league in 1987-88 when he was in Class X. In the first match he played for Swaraj, he got the MOM award with a match winning knock of 40. He played many a crucial knock that year and over the next few years took steady steps towards reaching the first division league in Madras.
His foundation lessons as a batsman came from MK Iqbal of Vadapalani Sports Club (his son- a left handed batsman- later played with us for YMCA TSR) who also was all about being principled and ethical. Iqbal imbibed great values in Promodh that stood the test of time and helped him face big challenges in life, later on. 

The Best Years of his cricket - Late 1980s
The best years of his cricket also coincided with his joining the YMCA TSR Club. It was this phase in his cricketing life where he learnt a lot in terms of mental strength and application, qualities that helped him enormously during the testing times in business life later on. TSR always liked the fighting spirit in Promodh and would continuously needle those instincts that was to bring out the best in him. While TSR did not know much of the nuances of the game, he knew a way to inspire and motivate young cricketers to perform, says Promodh who continues to draw lessons from those days at the TSR club in managing the challenges in his entrepreneurial life. It was TSR's motivational ways to get the best out of his players that helped YMCA TSR beat a much more fancied Brijesh Patel academy to win the tournament in Bangalore.

It was in the later half of the 1980s that Promodh played some of his best cricket at all levels. 

The underdogs PSBB KK Nagar won the APSC championship, an inter CBSE schools tournament beating their very strong Nungambakkam counterparts primarily on the back of Promodh's match winning knocks. In the final of the All India cricket tournament organised by Brijesh Patel in Bangalore, Promodh scored a crucial role forging a big partnership with his dear coach's son (Nayaz- Iqbal's son) batting with a broken finger against a strong Karnataka side that included players who soon went on to play for the state. It was also a series when he gave it back to the Bangalore players who repeatedly bullied him. When Brijesh Patel Cricket Clinic’s wicket keeper bullied him (aka Kiran More in 1992 World Cup), Promodh held up the game and remarked “You speak better than you keep” that shut the keeper up for the rest of the tournament. 

Introduction to Cricket Politics 
By then though, Promodh had already encountered the first mega drama of cricket politics that was to leave a bitter taste in him all his life. He was on the verge of selection in the city schools team. In the original squad that was selected, he was in the reserves i.e just outside the squad of 15 players. That’s when the renowned cricket writer of the time Rajan Bala, who was also the coach at PSBB, broke a story on the age scandal in TN cricket. And thus cricketers in the original squad had to be pulled out. 
Rajan Bala ( wiki)
                                     
The sequence of events that followed shocked Promodh no end and is vividly in memory to this day“A few of us from PSBB were in the reserves in the original squad. But when the new squad was announced, the ‘original reserves’ continued to be in the reserves of the new team as well. Clearly, we paid a price for our coach Rajan Bala pulling the strings on the TNCA.” 

As he looks back at those days from the mid 1980s, one of the happy memories was from being coached by Rajan Bala which he recalls as his greatest experience “He did wonders for your spirit and was a person who allowed us the opportunity of playing 2 day games even as youngsters. His presence had a big impact on my cricket and my outlook to life. ” 

His school coach ‘forgot’ his name!!!
That was only the beginning. A year or so later, Promodh had once again got into the TNCA city schools reserves but much to his shock he was dropped from his own school team as his coach, a former TN cricketer and who now runs one of the biggest academies in the city, told Promodh that he ‘forgot’ his name. A boy who was in the reserves of the city schools team was dropped from his own school team (we will keep the specifics of that for a later story!!!). As he did then and in many later episodes in his life, Promodh answered with his bat. In the next two years, he was the highest run getter in the tournament. Over 30 years after the episode, Promodh remembers getting the wicket of South Zone u19 cricketer LU Arun in the final of the APSC tournament with his slinging action and following that up with a match winning knock with the bat. 
My association with him continued in the TNCA league as we play third division cricket together for Rakesh Kapoor's team (Ashish Kapoor's father) - MUC. On difficult bouncy pitches playe in MUC's home ground near Parrys, he scored runs in tough situations through the 1989-90 season.

By the time he was in college, he had moved up the ladder to play for Kunal Engineering (Rising Stars) in the first division league. However, in a rough season for him, his experience turned out to be bitter. Here too he bore the brunt of ‘discrimination’. It was a tough call for a teenager like him in those days. His father had been ill and in bed for a long period. For each of the practice sessions, he made a long trip from his college, MCC, in Tambaram to the Kunal nets in Ambattur. The aged coach, who was a renowned and respected figure, sent him late in the order on most occasions that season but when the opposition had fiery fast bowlers and on green tops the coach sent him top of the order. The year with Kunal shook his confidence in fair play and he was disgruntled with the way the game was played here and the amount of politics that surrounded the game. He knew he was not as talented as many others but always had the self belief and saw himself as a very determined and fighting cricketer. It was after the match against SBI that he decided to call it quits, a decision that came soon after his father passed away. 

Death knell for his cricket career 
He was sitting quietly in the dressing room thinking that he would go as usual as No. 7 but when 2 wickets fell for 2 runs against the fiery I Rajkumar, his coach asked him to pad up and rush in immediately. He battled long and hard that innings and came back unscathed but after the treatment meted out to him, he found that while he had the will power to fight a battle on the field, he did not have it in him to battle it out with the coach and the system day in day out. While he was saddened to quit cricket without fulfilling the little potential he had, he knew that without support it was always going to be an uphill battle. From a young age, he was brought up to walk proud and never be subservient to anyone and in those days perhaps it was not a character which was appreciated in the cricketing circles. 

Promodh has all his life been a fun loving person. At most times, he would not hesitate to go to the opposition to shake their hands after a milestone. Off the field, he was chums with most in the opposition. Unfortunately, for a cheerful personality as Promodh, the big take away from his final years in cricket was the amount of politics and favoritism that he encountered at every level of the game. That for him took away a lot of the fun from the game. 

Gives up his cricketing passion - enters the Corporate World at 20 
Soon after graduation, he joined Celebrity Fashions (then the parent company of India Terrain) at 20 at a salary of just Rs. 1800 and with a Lamberetta to ride around the city on work!!! Top first division cricketers his age were paid around Rs. 5000 by the big private clubs. While his father had passed away while he was still a teenager, his mother, a staffer at Alacrity Housing had always been a pillar of strength for Promodh throughout his childhood and his years as a budding cricketer. While the money in his first job was not big, he was lucky to be mentored by V Rajagopal who groomed him to be a leader. At work, he found someone that he had not in previous five years in cricket. He was not yet 25 when he had already begun travelling around the world marketing their products. Just as he had done in cricket over the previous 5 years or so, he slogged at work, an effort that did not go unnoticed. He had moved up to become the head of marketing and partnerships. 

Turns Enterpreneur at 30 
5 years of cricket and almost a decade of having 15 hour days at work including extensive global travel took a toll on him. And he decided to take a break. Just at the time he was turning 30, he quit his job at Celebrity Fashions and went on a holiday to Sri Lanka with his wife Nirupama. It was during the vacation in Lanka and after his chats with his wife, a psychiatrist by profession, that he realized his strengths in marketing and overseas client relationships. It was his cousin Sheila who pushed him into a start up. It was another big call to turn enterpreneur. With the blessings of his mentor Rajagopal, he launched Fifth Avenue, an apparel sourcing firm with an initial capital of Rs. 2Lakhs. 

He understood the overseas customers’ mindset and believed he could bridge the gap between global clients and Indian factories. He was confident that he would be able to create value for the global customers and good business for the Indian manufacturers and he built a business around this model. He delighted his first customer, a German firm ‘Trampolin’ who had previously had a bad experience with India and its manufacturers. He started small but in the very first year he provided such a delightful experience that Trampolin soon became a large client, at a time when the market itself was not great. 

Wife managing the ‘Diesel’ Brand 
Soon he bagged a large deal to manage Diesel’s entire sourcing from India, an engagement that was fully taken care of by Nirupama. In a period of just three years, Promodh and his wife took Diesel’s sourcing from India from just 1 million to 23 million. 
There was no looking back since. Like in cricket, Promodh faced many bouncers in business too but he ducked under or hooked it hard as he had during his hey days on the playing field. Soon, the biggest of global brands such as Benetton, Sixty and Calvin Klein Europe came on board. His sourcing firm’s products that included sports brands were found on the shelves of the most premium stores across the US, Europe and Asia. In the decade following the launch, Promodh had truly gone global. With the customers stationed overseas, he moved his headquarters to Hongkong and he now sits atop a posh two storied building where he meets top CEOs from the apparel sector to discuss their sourcing requirements from India. 

The Lockdown and the Opportunity for India 
Having been locked down in a palatial bungalow in Hongkong for the last two months, Promodh with his now three decades on the ground global experience both with the biggest of global apparel brands and the Top Indian manufacturers sees the issue of the Corona virus as having serious global ramifications. Promodh has worked with the who’s who of the apparel manufacturers in India and sees this as a great opportunity for them “China has been the factory of the world and there are few businesses which do not get material from China either fully manufactured or as specialised parts. Countries and Business houses which were China centric are now forced to look at risk mitigation and viable alternatives in the medium and long term. The world can be made to see India as a serious alternative."

If entrepreneurs, businesses and the Government work together and move forward decisively, he says India has a giant opportunity which can truly spur our growth. Having worked closely with the Indian market for close to three decades, Promodh says that India has the right Demographic, language advantage and the creativity, and that ‘with the right attitude we can put ourselves in an enviable position.’ 

Since quitting serious cricket in the early 1990s, Promodh made a re-entry albeit for fun after he became an entrepreneur managing a TNCA lower division league team in Madras just as a weekend relaxation and to stay in touch with a sport that he loved so much. In a match that I umpired at the St. Bedes ground, one where Promodh had once struck a match winning half century way back in the 1980s to take his school into the final, I found that he had lost none of his fiery touch on the pitch. During those two years of running the league team, he offered cricket opportunities to budding teenagers from remote towns in Tamil Nadu and played the role of a mentor. Promodh now continues his association in Hongkong where he is involved with the Discovery Bay Cricket Club working with youngsters and building a team. 

Cricket to almost a 100 million dollar business 
At 20, most cricketers his age took the call to stretch their cricket career by a few years in their effort to don the State colours, but for many that proved elusive. A few managed to play Ranji, but most fell by the way side in cricket having spent the 5 additional years that delayed their entry into the corporate world. As I looked back at my cycling years with him, Promodh Sharma has always been someone who wanted to be the best in what he did. In cricket, which he was very passionate about from childhood, he definitely did not want to be an also ran. And quit cricket at 20 a bold call for someone who had lived and breathed cricket through his previous five years to move into the corporate arena just as he came out of his teens. 

Given what he had experienced on and off the field over the five years of his short career, he has always held the decision to give up cricket as the most sensible decision of his life even though it was heart breaking at that time. He also saw it that many deserving cricketers simply did not recover from their inability to match their own expectations and that of their family. The lack of mental strength meant that they ended giving up not just cricket but also took the cricketing defeat to heart and lost out on life. 
Promodh Sharma has clearly proved to be an exception as he drove the hard lessons he learnt in 5 + years of cricket something that no University or MBA would have taught and overcame the disappointments in cricket and turned around the 2nd phase of his life into a mega corporate success story. He has consistently over the last two decades used the cricketing lessons from his days with Rajan Bala, MK Iqbal and TS Ramaswamy and the fighting spirit that they all taught in his every day work life focusing just as hard in the corporate set up as he did in cricket. 

The result - he had built a multimillion dollar business with global operations by the he was in his 40s, one that has been recognized globally as a leading Sourcing Management Company in Apparel. He now anchors the Fifth Avenue Group as the Executive Chairman of the business he founded in 2000 that is now close to a 100 million dollars and one that ships over five million units out of the Indian shores including from the apparel manufacturing hub in Tiruppur!! 

Personally, it is a delightful moment to write about one with whom I went along in our cycles across the cricketing grounds in the city, one with a never say die attitude to life and who has shown to the world that with dedication, commitment and self belief, it is possible to rise to the top despite having been pushed aside and sidelined in an early phase of one’s life.
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