BILLIARDS AND SNOOKER -- 2 ::

HAT-TRICK CHAMPIONSHIP FOR KUMAR

BY P S SUNDAR

AJS Kumar has done Coonoor Club (CC) and Coonoor residents proud creating hat-trick emerging as Champion of Nilgiris district in Billiards tourney for the third consecutive year.   

The tourney was conducted by Nilgiri District Billiards and Snooker Association (NDBSA) jointly with Kerala Samajam Coonoor (KSC).

“As many as 26 players contested for ‘PC Mathew Memorial Trophy’ bagged by Kumar who also won award for the highest break-point”, KSC President Advocate Sridharan said after presenting the awards.

R Muralidharan (CC), Senthilkumar (CC) and Rakesh (YMIA) received awards respectively for the next three places.

Senthilkumar (CC) emerged champion in Snooker tourney.  “As many as 88 contestants vied for ‘Global Tea Brokers’ trophy annexed by Senthil who also won award for the highest break-point”, said NDBSA Secretary L Kannan after presenting the trophy.

Gunasekar (YMIA), Muralidharan (CC) and S Raj (Challenges Billiards Academy) received awards respectively for the next three places. 

HAPPENING - 2 ::

St. JUDE’S PRESENTS SCINTILLATING BHARATHANATYAM ARANGETRAM

BY P S SUNDAR

A scintillating Bharathanatyam Arangetram by five girls from different parts of Tamil Nadu conducted by St Jude’s Public School and Junior College, Kotagiri, enabled people from different districts to appreciate the budding artistes along with Nilgiri residents.

“The performers, Puja, Dhanya Sakthie, Madhumitha, Miruthanya and Shuvetha, are our students staying in our hostel.  So, we are conducting their Bharathanatyam Arangetram ourselves inviting their well-wishers from their home districts”, St Jude’s Chairman P P Dhanarajan told me.

“We gave intensive Bharathanatyam training to these students though Guru Gayathiri Punniayamurthy, a graduate of Kalakhshetra Chennai.  This is our first attempt to stage Arangetram now and already, there are requests for more”, Principal D Saro said.

As for me, this event had a special significance as it marked my Golden Jubilee as Chief Guest for Arangetram – I had been privileged to be Chief Guest for Arangetram of 46 students till now and with these 5, the total went to 51.

In my Chief Guest address, I referred to 10 aspects that stood apart at this Arangetram.  I highlighted the ragam, thalam and bhavam in repect of each of the five students.    The compliments I showered on the musicians, Guru, performing students, parents and the school management went down very well with the audience.   My thrust, as always, was to motivate the youngsters study the nuances of Bharathanatyam and excel, not stop with Arangetram.

The dancers kept the audience applauding all through their 12 renditions from Pushpanjali to ‘Vanthe Mathram’ in Mangalam. After Vinayaka Sthuthi, Allarippu, Jathisvaram, Sabdam, they drew prolonged applause for their 45-minute Varnam which stressed “Nee Allathu Thunai Illai puvithanile” (without you, there is no support for me in this earth).

After Keerthanam, the dancers mesmerised the audience in Siva Thandavam to the dedication, “Sambo, Siva Sambo”.   There was a captivating folk number, ‘Kuravanji’ before Thillana.

Gayathari Punniamurthi (Nattuvangam). Selam Sarada Sundar (Voval), Samaya Kumar (Mirudangam) and Vijayalakshmi Ravi Varma (violin) excelled in musical rendition.

I presented certificates to the students in the presence of their parents and Guru.

The school used its students as ‘Miss of Ceremonies’ (!!).  

Headmistress Shobana proposed a vote of thanks. 

And, this is the group::

ANNUAL DAY -- 2 ::

JUDGE STRESSES ON CARING FOR ELDERLY PARENTS

BY  P S SUNDAR

The accent laid by Crescent Castle Public School, Ooty, on its students to take care of their elderly parents when they grow up has been appreciated by Madras High Court Judge Justice V Ramasubramanian.  

“The Judge complimented us for engaging our students in observing ‘Grandparents’ Day’ and ‘Helpers’ Day’ which educate them on caring for elders.  If this value gets embedded in children, there will be no need for elders to invoke The Maintenance of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007”, School Correspondent Umar Farouk told me.

Distributing prizes at school’s Annual Day, he urged parents to inculcate humane approach in their children.

In their presentations, the students appealed to parents to help them develop their mental and physical prowess.   

They brought  Shakespeare’s justice live through ‘Merchant of Venice’ and Tamil poet Ilango Adigal’s judgment live through ‘Kannagi in Silappathigaram’.

  

The students also presented variety entertainment programmes all of which laid stress on value-based living. 

EXAM TIME:

GIRLS OUTNUMBER BOYS, CHAPPALS ARE ALLOWED IN HILLY AREAS AND WISHING EVERYONE ALL THE BEST 

BY P S SUNDAR

              Totally, 8,616 students from 72 schools are appearing for Plus Two exam in Nilgiris district that began today and will go on till March 31.

This comprises 3,977 boys and 4,639 girls.

Of them, 2,387 boys and 2,787 girls take up the exam in Coonoor educational district while 1590 boys and 1852 girls appear in Gudalur educational district.

“Exams are being held in 22 centres in Coonoor educational district and 12 centres in Gudalur educational district.   In all, 40 chief supervisors, 34 departmental officers, 544 hall supervisors and 64 flying squad members have been appointed.  Complaints can be conveyed over phone: 0423 2443845”, Nilgiris Collector Dr P Sankar has said.

               Students appearing for Tenth and Plus Two public exams in Nilgiris can heave a breath of relief that they can write exams donning open type chappals or sandals.

“Parents also heave a sigh of relief because we had represented to exempt Nilgiris from the rule to force our children write exams on barefoot considering the chill climate.  We had pointed out that besides being uncomfortable, being barefoot on cold floors in Nilgiris for over three hours continuously would aggravate health conditions relating to tonsils, cough and cold”, M Vijaichand, who led parents’ representation, told me. 

“The Collector had forwarded our petition to the Chief Educational Officer (CEO) for necessary action.  Now, orders have come and we have thanked Chief Minister, Collector and CEO for their timely action”, he said.

The Government has allowed students to wear open-type chappals or sandals in exam centres in the hilly areas of Ooty, Coonoor, Kundah and Kotagiri taluks of Nilgiris, Yercaud in Salem, Kollimalai in Namakkal and Kodaikanal in Dindigul districts.

“This is welcome but it should be made applicable every year, not just for this year”, another parent I Thomas added.

I wrote mail to two relative girls taking up the exam now and Management Resources Group Think Tank Co-ordinator S Shyamala suggested my publishing my mail, mutatis mutandis, for the benefit of all.  Herewith the crux::

" As your Board exams have begun, we once again pray to the Almighty to bless you with enough strength, confidence and positive mindset to take this pack of exams just as a festival for celebration.

              Nothing to worry as we believe that the examiners do not know any question for which you do not know the answer. Which means, the entire question paper will be just to confirm that you know answers to all ..

             And, just finish off this exam with all seriousness to reflect the hard work you had put in thus far but simply do not worry about results as Mahabharatha and Bhagavad Githa, in particular, advocate ... There is no equivalent to the pleasure received when you deliver your best to reflect your hard work in preparing for this day. .. So, give your best for your own satisfaction and not for a pressure to score the highest or to get admission in the course/college of your choice (these will follow automatically) ...

              And, do remember, your parents and genuine well wishers (may we say, we come in this category) greatly appreciate all your hard work, sincere efforts and pristine intentions and will be with you lending required support to you forever! These exams are just yet another occasion for them (us) all to tell you how much we value you.

              
             All the very best ..  "